All we are praying is give peace a chance

Have your say on our new Catholic museum

By Brian Swanson

Parishioners throughout the Archdiocese are being asked to respond to a survey with their views on the new Scottish Catholic Museum which will be relocated next spring from Blairs, Aberdeenshire, to a new home in the East End of Glasgow.

The building, in the Calton area, will also house the agencies of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.

Noted Catholic commentator, Professor Gerard Carruthers of Glasgow University, is chair of the steering group which organised the survey.

He said: “We aim to report to the Bishops by Christmas on the survey feedback and with a draft vision statement to be used in the development of the new facility which will bring together museum and archives functions to produce added value, including interaction between both for the benefit of research, exhibition, and education.

“The Glasgow location is also intended to provide a site more readily available for visits to a much larger share of the population. With the museum collection we are moving from one historic heartland of the faith to another.

“It is to be hoped too that the new location will bring added opportunity for public talks and other knowledge exchange activity.” 

The decision to move the museum and its collection, which includes a priceless portrait of Mary Queen of Scots, was taken following a survey which concluded that £2m worth of repairs would be needed at its current location in St Mary’s Chapel, Blairs, which closed in 2022.

Its new home will be the former St Mary’s Primary School in Orr Street behind St Mary’s Calton, in Abercromby Street.

The move to bring the agencies together in a central location is designed to promote the identity of the Bishops’ Conference and the presence of Catholic Church in Scotland at a national level.

Among the agencies involved is the Scottish Catholic Heritage Collection Trust which is co-ordinating the responses from historians, partners, stakeholders, parishioners and members of the public.

A spokesman for the Bishops’ Conference said: “The Scottish bishops hope that the new Museum of Scottish Catholic History, will be able to tell the story of the Church in Scotland over the centuries. 

“Hopefully, many Catholics will engage with this survey as their responses will greatly help in the development and design of the new museum. “

You can respond to the consultation at forms.office.com/e/6D7EuB8EvU

Pope: Make 2024 a year of prayer ahead of the Jubilee of 2025

By Ronnie Convery

Pope Francis has announced that next year – 2024 – is to be marked as a ‘Year of Prayer’ in preparation for the next Holy Year of 2025.

The Pope made this announcement when he met with a group of shrine rectors and workers at the Vatican last month.

“I wanted next year, in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee, to be entirely dedicated to prayer,” he told them.

The Pope said that “guides” will be published, “which will help rediscover the centrality of prayer.”

I recommend them to you: they will be a good read, which stimulate prayer with simplicity and in accordance with Christ’s heart.

Meanwhile a mobile phone app has been launched which will be required for pilgrims coming to Rome to take part in Holy Year pilgrimages and pass through the Holy Door and gain the Jubilee indulgence.

The official mobile app for the 2025 Jubilee Year, “Iubilaeum25”, is available for free download from the App Store for iOS and from the Android Play Store.

The app, available in six languages, will allow access to all the latest news on the Jubilee, and allow the user to register as a pilgrim for the Holy Year and obtain the Pilgrim Card for free.

Once registered on the portal, users will also be able to sign up for Jubilee events and pilgrimages to the Holy Door.

Users will also be able to ‘save’ the events they are interested in, access their personalized area more quickly and obtain the unique QR code needed for access to the Holy Door.

Meanwhile ahead of the Jubilee 2025, the application process for those who wish to serve as volunteers during the Holy Year will be opening shortly. These applications will be managed by the Dicastery for Evangelisation. Guidelines for the selection of volunteers will be published on the official website www.iubilaeum2025.va

Medals mark years of service at St Brigid’s

By Brian Swanson

Two parishioners from St Brigid’s Toryglen have been presented with Archdiocesan medals for decades of hard work and devotion to their parish.

The medals were awarded to Hugh Cullen, 81, a parishioner for 54 years, and Anne Hendry, 86, a parishioner for 57 years.

Parish Priest Father Gerard Byrne, told Flourish: ”Hugh and Anne are typical of those who work quietly behind the scenes because of their faith – we are all very proud of them.”

Addressing the congregation at the Mass where the medals were presented Father Byrne said: “Hugh helped with pass-keeping for many years, quietly but faithfully assisting five parish priests of St Brigid’s, taking on the role with great enthusiasm and pride.

“Sadly, his health took a downturn last year, and has had to take a step back from his work in the sacristy and I can say that his daily presence around the parish is greatly missed by me and by the parishioners but I am so pleased that this award recognises his great contribution to the parish.”

Hugh’s daughter Annemarie told Flourish: “Even when dad was in hospital he was thinking about the parish.

“When he was quite ill one time he kept reminding us that Father Byrne needed a new supply of altar wine – that’s how devoted he was!

“He is over the moon to have the medal and we are delighted for him as well.”

During her years of devoted work in the parish Anne Hendry, a mother of six with 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, was a member of the coordinating team for charismatic renewal in the Archdiocese for many years, and founded a parish charismatic prayer group in the early 1980s.

She also co-ordinated the readers’ rota for many years until she took retirement.

Father Byrne said: ”Anne always ensured that there were enough lay faithful to proclaim the word of God during the liturgy, and that training was giving to those entrusted with this important ministry. I hope that she always knew how much she was (and is) appreciated by me, her Parish Priest and by the parish community as well.”

And there was another surprise for Anne on the night when two of her great grandchildren, Liam Welsh, 18, and his brother Alfie, 15, who are altar servers at St Brigid’s, were chosen to present her with the medal.

Her daughter Anne Marie, who sings regularly at Mass in St Brigid’s, said: “Faith and family have always been important to mum and although she was delighted to get the medal it was not something she expected – and she definitely didn’t expect Liam and Alfie to present it.”