Hospice 'puts faith into action'

Hospice 'puts faith into action'

By Ronnie Convery

A new chapter in the story of compassion and care provided by St Margaret of Scotland Hospice in Clydebank was written last month when Archbishop Nolan cut the ribbon to open its new Specialist Palliative Care Centre.

Despite hurricane-force winds a specially-erected marquee survived the storm and allowed a special Mass to be held to mark the milestone.

For more than 75 years, St Margaret’s has provided specialist palliative care to patients with advanced illness and those with complex medical and nursing needs, supporting thousands of families through some of the most challenging times in their lives.

In his sermon, Archbishop Nolan spoke of how the staff at the hospice put into action the Gospel command to love God and neighbour by expressing their love of God through care for their neighbours who are ill.

“No patient here is told ‘there is nothing more we can do for you’,” said the Archbishop.

“Instead patients are reassured that there is much that can be done for them as they love through the great transition period of their lives, preparing for the fulness of life with God.”

The opening of the new facilities follows a major redevelopment programme designed to enhance the care, comfort and wellbeing of patients and families for generations to come.

Dignity

Among the new developments are 20 modern, comfortable inpatient beds designed to enhance dignity, comfort and wellbeing for patients and their families and improved family spaces, including the addition of a roof garden.

The redevelopment represents one of the most significant investments in the Hospice’s history.

Hospice Chief Executive, Sister Rita Dawson MBE, CEO said:

“This marks the beginning of the next chapter in the history of St Margaret of Scotland Hospice. The transformation of our Hospice and the opening of the new ‘Professor John Welsh Specialist Palliative Care Centre’ reflect our commitment to providing the highest quality specialist care in surroundings that offer comfort, dignity, peace, and hope.

“Every aspect of the work has been designed with our patients and families in mind. We wanted to create an environment that feels welcoming, calming and uplifting at a time when people need it most.

“We are incredibly grateful to the many individuals, trusts, foundations, businesses, and community groups whose generosity has helped make this vision a reality. This achievement belongs to them as much as it does to the Hospice.”

The Professor John Welsh Specialist Palliative Care Centre has been named in recognition of the outstanding contribution Professor John Welsh has made to research, teaching and the delivery of specialist care across Scotland.

He served for more than 20 years of service as Medical Director at St Margaret’s, and he continues today as Chair.

New painting captures spirit of Ogilvie

By Brian Swanson

Sustained applause and gasps of admiration greeted the unveiling of this stunning new painting to mark the 50th anniversary of St John Ogilvie’s canonisation.

Painted by Gerard M Burns, acclaimed as Scotland’s foremost figurative artist, it reveals a clear eyed and devoted modern-day Jesuit ready to do God’s will.

The model for the painting was Father Christopher Brolly SJ who was ordained in June last year at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Newcastle.

Father Christopher, 37, two years older than Saint John Ogilvie when he was hanged at Glasgow Cross in 1615, is currently completing his priestly studies in Boston College and was unable to attend.

But for his parents, Theresa and Martin, who travelled from their home in Newcastle to join over 200 guests in Glasgow City Chambers, it was a highly emotional moment as they saw the portrait of their son for the first time.

Theresa said: “That’s just him – an incredible likeness that Gerard has captured but it’s more than that – you can see his joy and his hope when you look at it.

“Christopher is so committed – especially to education and teaching and that’s what the portrait shows to me. And it goes without saying that we are very proud of him.”

Joy

Martin added: “Joy is the first word I thought of when I saw it – ten years and more in formation and that joy has never left him.”

The painting, paid for by an anonymous donor, was commissioned by the Jesuit community of St Aloysius Church, Garnethill, home to the National Shrine to St John Ogilvie to mark the 50th anniversary of his canonisation.

It will be permanently displayed at nearby St Aloysius College, where Gerard Burns was principal art teacher for 12 years.

The artist told Flourish: ”This has been a collaborative project from start to finish and words that were used all the time were ‘legacy’ and ‘hope’ – something that would last long after the anniversary.

“It was very important that we created something hopeful and not linger on the saint’s martyrdom.

“I hope we have succeeded but everyone who sees the painting will see something different – something that we have not seen – and as the years pass interpretations will change.”

The painting, which will have a QR code displayed alongside it telling the saint’s story, took Gerard six months from start to finish which included many weeks of discussion on what the finished portrait should look like.

Franciscans’ sad farewell to Glasgow

When the Franciscans first came to Glasgow in 1472, the city was a small medieval town clustered around the Cathedral.

Their friary on High Street quickly became a centre of preaching, learning, and care for the poor. That first chapter ended abruptly with the Reformation of 1560, when Catholic worship was outlawed and religious orders were driven out.

The friars returned three centuries later, in 1866, establishing a mission in Cumberland Street to serve the poorest families in the Gorbals, then one of Europe’s most overcrowded districts. Their ministry laid the foundations for a renewed Franciscan presence in the city.

The parish of Blessed John Duns Scotus grew out of a further change in circumstances. Named after the great Scottish Franciscan theologian of the 13th century, the parish is located on the former St Luke’s church site and is the result of the amalgamation of a number of parishes including the original St Francis Parish, Cumberland Street.

Centuries

Today, Fr Michael Nicholas, and Fr Jim Hasson remain at Blessed John Duns Scotus, carrying forward a Franciscan tradition that stretches back more than five centuries. Their fellow friar, Fr Donal Walsh OFM, passed away last month following a long period of illness (see obituary, page 19).

Fr Caoimhín Ó Laoide OFM, until recently Parish Priest of Blessed John Duns Scotus is frank about the challenges. “Over the past 30 years in Ireland, I’ve been involved in closing houses that had existed for 750 years. It’s a huge change in the Church in Europe.”

Yet he remains hopeful. “Religious life moves in seasons. As the poet Shelley says: If winter comes, can spring be far behind? As Religious, one of the things we can be tempted to believe is that our projects must be successful. But really, our calling is to be faithful, not necessarily successful.”

Faithfulness has sustained the Franciscans before. “When the Reformation began, the Franciscan presence lessened and stayed small for 300 years before it grew again. We are called to be like yeast in the Kingdom of God and yeast takes time to rise. It works slowly but is impactful.”

He acknowledges the challenges of secularisation. “It impacts on our ability to attract new vocations, but at a more basic level, our Catholic culture faces the danger of losing an understanding of the fundamental concepts of Christian life.

“People often lack the language to talk about faith. Concepts like redemption, incarnation, and salvation are not well understood. Neither are confession, repentance, forgiveness, grace, or sin and guilt.”

Modern culture adds further pressures. “Technology, social media and the AI revolution bring new challenges. There’s a danger of handing over too much of our humanity to systems and structures. Materialism and the sexual revolution have left many people disadvantaged.

“Many men struggle with commitment, whether it be in relationships or in joining a Religious Order. Typically, they stay with us for a few years, but a disinclination to opt for one choice to the exclusion of other life choices causes them to leave.”

The Franciscan vows, he says, speak directly into this world. “Poverty, chastity, obedience run counter to the main drivers of modern life: money, pleasure, personal freedom. They remind us that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves.

At the key moments of life – birth and death – we see this most clearly, and it’s where the Church communicates the deepest truths: that there is more to our lives than what we see and understand here and now.”

After 45 years as a Franciscan, Fr Caoimhín describes community life simply: “We have common prayer, the Divine Office, lauds, vespers, and Mass. We cook meals and eat together and care for each other when illness hits. We also have quiet time to reflect on our ministry and our relationship with God. It is a good and enriching life.”

He is quick to praise his former parishioners. “At Blessed John Duns Scotus the parishioners show deep commitment to the running of the parish, which is done entirely on a voluntary basis.”

Fr Caoimhín and Br Niall have returned to their native Ireland, and the Franciscan Provincial Minister, David Collins, has announced that the remaining Franciscan friars will also return to Ireland after Easter 2027.

“The Franciscans have given a lot over the years,” says Fr Caoimhín, “but what we have received is far greater.”

Throughout the years, the Franciscans have demonstrated remarkable resilience, enduring adversity and finding ways to overcome even the most difficult of circumstances. While this marks a farewell for now, their legacy will remain, and who knows what the future may hold?

Perhaps, one day, they will return.

Cathedral Mass marks Italy’s remembrance day

St Andrew’s Cathedral played host to a historic Mass to mark Italy’s first National Day of Remembrance for the civilians who perished when the Arandora Star was sunk in 1940.

The Mass was attended by the Lord Provost of Glasgow Jacqueline McLaren, the Consul General of Italy Luca Fratini, and was concelebrated by Cathedral Administrator Canon David Wallace, and Fr Eugenio Montese.

The Mass was followed by the laying of wreaths and a moment of reflection at the memorial dedicated to the 100 or so Scots Italian civilian victims, in the Cathedral’s Italian Cloister Garden.

Among those present were relatives of some of the men who left Glasgow in June 1940 and never returned including a lady of 97 who saw her father taken away in the night.

Ronnie Convery, Director of Communications for the Archdiocese and also Hon Consul of Italy, said: “It was especially poignant to welcome visitors from all over the country to the world’s largest monument to the tragedy and to remember the late Rando Bertoia – the last survivor of the Arandora Star. He spent his life living and working quietly in Glasgow and was present when the garden was opened.

“The date of October 11 was chosen by the Italian Parliament for the new annual Day of Memory because it is the anniversary of Rando’s death.

“When the monument opened, he was an honoured guest along with the First Minister, Ambassadors, Consuls and even the chorus from La Scala in Milan. Yet he remained humble and kindly, refusing to get involved in polemics.

“He was a true champion of peace and reconciliation and it was so lovely that his anniversary was chosen by the Italian Parliament to mark this day of memory.”