The tower of silence

The tower of silence

By Brian Swanson

In the shimmering sunshine of a Sunday afternoon, in the garden of St Mary’s, Calton, history was made, history remembered.

A dignified crowd, several hundred strong, was there to watch the blessing and unveiling of a striking steel sculpture commemorating those who died and the countless displaced Irish families who suffered in the years of the Great Hunger 170 years ago.

Astonishingly, given the huge numbers who fled to Glasgow this is both Scotland’s and the city’s first memorial specifically dedicated to An Gorta Mór – the great hunger.

It is called, entirely appropriately, The Tower of Silence. In the past, few spoke up for the ones who suffered, but the sculpture by Donegal artist John McCarron will speak for them for generations to come.

It was to St Mary’s, opened in 1842, making it the second oldest church in the Archdiocese after St Andrew’s Cathedral, that the Irish flocked in those traumatic days, to be nurtured and cared for in the familiarity of their faith; it was here that Brother Walfrid founded Celtic FC to pay for food for their children, and here it is that the descendants of those the memorial commemorates still worship.

Blessed

The ground where the statue is situated was offered by parish priest Canon Tom White and his parishioners. He told the audience that the people of the Calton would cherish and care for the sculpture for years to come before Monsignor Hugh Bradley, the Archdiocesan Administrator, blessed the sculpture, and with it, the memory of those who suffered, those who died, and those who lived to carry the faith with them to their new home.

The story of the memorial was delivered in a powerful speech by Jeanette Findlay, chair of the committee who fought for six years to make their dream a reality.

So much sadness after St Simon’s fire

By Ronnie Convery

It survived two world wars, air raids and countless national and local emergencies, but on the night of July 28, St Simon’s church at Partick Cross succumbed to an enemy that could not be resisted as fire destroyed the little building which has a special place in the hearts of countless Glaswegians.

The ferocity of the blaze, which took away roof, walls and fittings, left nothing but charred wood, metal and stone when the flames were extinguished. The Polish shrine to Our Lady of Czestochowa, the stained glass of Lorraine Lamond, the refurbishments overseen by the legendary Fr Paddy Tierney – all were reduced to black ash in the cold light of day.

The loss of St Simon’s will be keenly felt by parishioners across the city who have links to the parish and also by members of the Polish community who worshipped there every Sunday, though provision was immediately made for them to celebrate Mass in Polish in nearby St Peter’s in Hyndland Street, as they had during the pandemic. Masses in Polish will now be celebrated at St Peter’s, as follows: Friday 7pm. Saturday vigil 7pm. Sunday 2pm until further notice.

Canon Peter McBride said: “The tragic events have left all of us with a numbing sense of disbelief and shock. Into this pain we invite the Lord (whose house it was!) and offer a grateful prayer that no-one was injured and no life lost.

“Our greatest relief was that Sister Mary [who resided in the adjacent presbytery] escaped the blaze relatively unscathed and for us as a parish community that takes precedence over our sense of loss.

“No decision has been taken as to the viability of rebuilding our church and this decision is not ours to take… we just offer thanks that we are in the fortunate position of having St Peter’s church nearby which allows the uninterrupted celebration of daily Mass.”

Public figures wasted no time in expressing their sorrow at what had happened: Robert Hynd, Moderator of the Presbytery of Glasgow (Church of Scotland) said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the congregation of St Simon’s. Denominations are meaningless at times such as this and we will offer whatever support we can to help in their recovery from this tragic event.”

Scottish Government Health Secretary Humza Yousaf tweeted: “I know St Simon’s had a special place in the Polish community’s heart. Solidarity with our Catholic community in Scotland.”

Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, tweeted: “Really sad to see this, but thankfully no one was hurt. Thoughts and prayers with all those that have a connection with the church, especially our Polish community.”

A spokesman for the Archdiocese said: “The destruction of St Simon’s church by fire will be a blow to people far beyond the west end of Glasgow. Though small in size, St Simon’s was well-frequented and was the spiritual home of the Polish community in the west of Scotland who had established a shrine there.

“It was also a focal point for the local community, and especially the homeless who benefited from a café on site which had to be suspended during the pandemic.

“The cause of the fire is as yet unknown and the future of the site will be a matter for discussion in coming weeks and months.”

All change at St Aloysius

By Brian Swanson

Saint Aloysius, Garnethill, the only Jesuit church in the Archdiocese, is set to welcome one of its returning sons when Father Gerry Mitchell SJ moves back to his home city later this month to serve as the new parish priest in the church where he was ordained 38 years ago.

Father Gerry, who brings with him a reputation as a dedicated anti-poverty campaigner during his time in London parishes, will replace Father Dermot Preston who will shortly be moving to the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle after three years at St Aloysius.

When Father Dermot Preston takes up his new appointment in Newcastle he leaves behind him a parish in good heart with much achieved during his three year term at St Aloysius.

Working with a group of dedicated volunteers he was able to secure a Heritage Lottery grant of £93,000, £140,000 from Historic Scotland plus £100,000 raised by parishioners to pay for urgent repair work to the church’s famous bell tower.

The work followed a major restoration of the 111 year old church which were completed in 2004.

When the grants were awarded Father Dermot said: “The parish community have raised over £100,000 for the Campanile through fundraising activities and personal donations, so with the generous grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, we hope to focus our next stage of fund-raising on the interior decoration and lighting within the Church. This award is a wonderful culmination to a lot of hard work by many people in the Church community for which I am very grateful.”

Another significent development during Father Preston’s time at St Aloysius has been the growth of the English language or ESOL classes for asylum seekers and refugees held in the Ogilvie Centre next to the church.

From a handful of students and a small number of volunteer teachers there are now 500 students from countries including Sudan, Eritrea, Vietnam,Iraq, Kurdistan and Egypt with around 40 tutors working remotely because of Covid.

During the pandemic volunteers have also been able to operate as a food bank, delivering donated clothing and household goods to families and even providing refurbished donated bicycles to a number of students.

Father Dermot, 63, is a former Provincial of the British Province of Jesuits who was also worked as Jesuit Regional Superior in Guyana, South America, and for many years was vocations director for the British Province.

Novena joy as services resume

By Brian Swanson

In a church laden with lilies, parishioners of Blessed Duns Scotus in the Gorbals were once again able to gather together to take part in a much-loved Catholic tradition.

The Blessing of the Lilies, marking the end of the St Antony Annua Novena was postponed last year on the Saint’s Feast Day on June 13 but easing of restriction allowed the celebration to take place last month instead.

Images of St Anthony, known as the Wonder-Worker of Padua and best known as the patron saint of lost objects, depict him holding the Child Jesus and with lilies which are seen as a symbol of purity.

This year’s preacher was Father Adrian Peelo, a Franciscan friar from Ireland, seen here with parish priest Father Ed Highton.

Father Ed said: “We now have the Novena every Tuesday both at the 10am Mass and at 8pm with Rosary, petitions, sermon and Benediction. It is growing back slowly to what it was before the pandemic especially now that we can have more people at Mass.

“The people come from all areas in and around Glasgow so we can say that slowly slowly we are returning to normal.”

During his time in Glasgow Father Adrian also took of the opportunity of visiting the Poor Clares at Bothwell.