No more closed doors!

No more closed doors!

By Ronnie Convery

Archbishop Nolan has received the pallium – a small collar-like vestment worn only by Metropolitan Archbishops – from Pope Francis at a solemn Mass in the Vatican, and pledged himself to make the Holy Father’s call to action his own.

The Archbishop was one of 36 new archbishops from round the world who gathered with the Pope in St Peter’s Basilica in a powerful expression of unity and solidarity with the Holy Father.

The Archbishop told Flourish: “It was a very powerful and moving moment to be present with the other archbishops from every corner of the earth to pledge our fidelity to the Pope and to hear his powerful message.

“It was a message not only aimed at the new archbishops around him but to the whole Church. The Pope was strong in his appeal … no closed doors. The Church is open to everyone. That’s a powerful message that we can all take to heart.”

Like Saints Peter and Paul, the Church must go out to evangelize and not be bound by the chains of routine and spiritual mediocrity that stifles the Gospel message, Pope Francis said.

At times, Christians may be overcome by laziness and “prefer to sit and contemplate the few sure things that we possess, rather than getting up and looking to new horizons, toward the open sea,” the Pope added.

The Holy Father said the ongoing Synod process - which was involved discussions and discernment in every diocese - is a call for the church not to be “turned in on itself, but capable of pressing forward, leaving behind its own prisons and setting out to meet the world.”

The feast day celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica began with the traditional blessing of the pallium.

The pallium symbolizes an archbishop’s unity with the pope and his authority and responsibility to care for the flock the pope entrusted to him. The palliums are made from wool shorn from lambs blessed by the Pope each winter on the feast of St Agnes and reared by nuns in Rome. They lay on the tomb of the apostle Peter overnight before being blessed and handed over to each new Archbishop by the Pope.

It is anticipated that Archbishop Nolan will be formally vested with the new pallium by the Papal Nuncio in Glasgow later this year.

According to the Vatican, archbishops from 32 countries came to Rome to receive the pallium, including prelates from Africa, Asia, Latin America as well as European churchmen presiding over archdioceses such as Paris, Tuam, Turin, Cardiff and Glasgow.

The Pope’s homily was hard hitting. He said: “At times, as a Church, we are overcome by laziness; we prefer to sit and contemplate the few sure things that we possess, rather than getting up and looking to new horizons, toward the open sea. Often, we are like Peter in chains, imprisoned by our habits, fearful of change and bound to the chains of our routine.”

Departing from his prepared remarks, the Pope emphasized the need for the church to welcome “the blind, the deaf, the lame, the sick, the just, the sinner; everyone. Everyone!”

“In the church, there is room for everyone! And many times, we have become a Church of open doors but to bid farewell to people, to condemn people.”

“Yesterday,” he said addressing the archbishops, “one of you told me that for the Church, this isn’t a time to say farewell, it’s a time of welcome. If they haven’t come to the banquet, we must go out to the street,” he added.

Speaking off the cuff, the pope warned of the dangers of “falling into clericalism.”

“Clericalism is a perversion; the priest who behaves in a clerical manner has taken a wrong path. Clerical laity are even worse. We must be attentive to this perversion of clericalism,” he said.

Addressing the archbishops appointed over the past year, Pope Francis encouraged them to be “vigilant sentinels” over their flock.

“As good shepherds, you must be in front of the people, in the midst of the people and behind the people,” the Pope said, “but always with the holy faithful people of God.”

Carmelite nun’s hymn for Carfin

By Brian Swanson

A Carmelite nun has written a deeply moving hymn to celebrate the centenary of Carfin Grotto – despite never having visited the shrine!

Entitled Our Lady of Carfin, it will be sung for the first time at the Mass of Celebration later this year and it is designed to serve as a pilgrim’s spiritual and practical guide to the grotto’s major shrines.

Sister Josephine O’Connell, 75, who has been a Carmelite sister for 57 years, made online visits to the shrine to familiarise herself with the most visited shrines to give her inspiration for her hymn.

Sister Josephine, who is a member of the community at the Carmel Monastery in Dysart, Fife, then collaborated via Zoom with Kevin James Cameron, musical director for Motherwell diocese, who wrote the music.

She said: “I wanted to write a hymn for pilgrims because Carfin is and always been a place of pilgrimage.

“Although I have never been to Carfin Grotto, what I have read and seen on line was very moving – such a peaceful place of faith – and so when it came to writing the words down they just seemed to flow – God was surely over my shoulder inspiring me.”

Sister Josephine, originally from County Clare in Ireland, moved with her parents to England when she was four, and by the age of 18 she had entered the Carmelite community in Liverpool.

In 1994 she transferred to the community at Dysart and during the 2019 visit of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux she was asked by Father James Grant, Guardian of the Grotto, to write a new hymn for the Carfin Anniversary celebrations in October.

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has already announced that the grotto will be officially designated as Scotland’s National Marian Shrine to co-incide with the visit of the relics of St Bernadette to the Grotto – the only site in Scotland to receive them during a rare UK visit.

Sister Josephine added: “Father Grant had heard something else I had written – I’ve written verses and hymns all my life – and he was kind enough to say he liked it and so I was very happy to write a new hymn for the celebrations – I thought it was a great honour.

“But really it’s Kevin who should get the credit – he’s a lovely young man and he has written a really beautiful tune to go with it.

“I don’t know yet if I will attend the Mass in October but the rest of the sisters and myself will watch on line and that will be the first time I’ll hear it sung.”

Kevin said: “The tune I’ve composed is very strong, very Scottish sounding, and with Sister Josephine’s words I’m sure people will find it inspiring.

“We have already sung it at various services at Carfin to get people used to singing in at the anniversary mass and it’s proving to be very popular.”

Archbishop denounces ‘shameful’ plan to send refugees to Rwanda

By Brian Swanson

Archbishop Nolan has spoken out against UK Government plans to deport people seeking asylum to Rwanda.

Last month the European Court of Human Rights stepped in at the last minute to halt plans by Home Secretary Priti Patel and Prime Minister Boris Johnson to send asylum seekers to the African country despite worldwide criticism of the scheme

Archbishop said: “The policy of forcibly deporting to Rwanda people who have come to this country in search of safety and security is morally wrong.

“It is an offence against human dignity and against all the best traditions of welcome of this country.

“I share Prince Charles’ revulsion at the news that these forced deportations are to go ahead.

“They represent a new low in the UK’s recent policy of creating a hostile environment for people arriving in this country and the practice should be halted immediately.”

Later the Archbishop visited the Dungavel detention centre where refugees are being held while they await their fate. He signed a card of good wishes and handed in a food parcel as a gesture of solidarity.

He said: “I am shocked and appalled that the British Government could have come up with such a scheme. It seems so incredible and so unwelcoming. Here we have people in need, people fleeing warfare and danger and this is how we treat them?”

Shocked

The Archbishop’s stance was backed by Bishop Brian McGee of Argyll and the Isles who issued a statement reminding the Government that families throughout the country had forebears who were economic migrants.

Condemning the UK Government for what he called its ‘day of shame’ he said: “My history is no different from that of most Scottish Catholics, for most of us descend from immigrants. Very few of them would have passed today’s stringent Home Office tests! It is hypocrisy to deny others the opportunity afforded to us. What would our forebears think of us? To close our eyes to the desperate and the poor is to deny the Christ we profess to love.”

The leaders of Pax Christi UK, including Flourish columnist Marian Pallister, issued a statement urging people to take action to prevent future deportations. They said: “The protest journey is just starting. The Home Office intends to push forward its Rwanda policy and to make it illegal to seek asylum in the UK, which goes against international law. We would encourage people to pray for those under threat of deportation, and to act by writing to their MPs, signing the petitions seeking a change of policy, and demonstrating non-violently in public arenas”.

Caritas awards presented to our young heroes

By Brian Swanson

The venue was smaller, the numbers fewer but as the disruption of Covid begins to fade to a folk memory, the Caritas Awards ceremony 2022 held in public for the first time in three years, was as joyfully faith-filled as ever.

It was a first too for Archbishop Nolan who offered his reflections to around 300 final year pupils from the Archdiocese at a service in St Andrew's Cathedral.

And in a ringing endorsement for the many acts of love and charity that the young people had carried out in their schools, parishes and the wider community during the year of working towards their awards, he told them: “You are the creators of a better world.”

That was the kind of remark that would have been greeted with foot stamping, whistles and applause in the 3000-seater Clyde Auditorium where the awards ceremony are normally held.

They are faith sharing joyful rumbustious affairs, attended by proud parents, all the Scottish bishops, government ministers and local dignitaries, with light shows and entertainment.

But with long-term planning needed and uncertainty lingering over Covid it was decided to present the Caritas medals in individual dioceses this year giving the ceremony in St Andrew's Cathedral the intimate atmosphere of a family gathered together to give thanks for faith strengthened and renewed by acts of kindness and charity.

These included organising food banks which began during the first Covid lockdown and still exist as a lifeline in many parishes, founding and leading school prayer groups, visiting the sick, raising money for charity and working with refugees and the homeless.

Addressing the young people directly Archbishop Nolan went on: “The great thing about the Caritas Awards is that while you have been engaged in attentive acts for others, showing love to them, you have learned so much about yourselves and what you are capable of.

“Who knows where your experiences will take you but one thing is certain – you have been and will make a difference to the world by continuing to follow the message of Jesus.”

Earlier the pupils, head teachers, and school chaplains were welcomed to the service by RCAG Youth’s Mairi-Claire McGeady who said: “As your sister in Christ, I want to thank each of you for the part that you’ve played, most especially over this year, in loving others as Jesus has called you to, through each individual choice to serve someone else in your local community.

“At times we can think that our actions don’t matter, that they are so small that they can’t possibly be making a difference. However, I want to encourage you that God has created you, called you by name and entrusted to you a mission that is unique and unrepeatable.

“That means that no matter how small, each love fuelled action you take, has eternal consequences and changes this world for the good …

“Today we are gathered to give glory to God for the gift that each one of you are as his beloved sons and daughters and in thanksgiving for how each of you, action by action, have been playing your part to share His love with your neighbours and build his kingdom on earth.

“We are also here to pray for you as you embark on this next season of life with Jesus, that you may know His closeness and blessings and that you may continually choose His life-giving love.”

The Caritas award scheme, organised by SCES, the Scottish Catholic Education Service, was initiated following the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Scotland in 2010.

The Holy Father had urged young people in Scotland during his trip to become ‘saints of the 21st century’ by volunteering time in their school and faith communities, offering practical support to others, and by demonstrating that these actions of loving service are inspired by faith in God.

On the evidence of the faith displayed in the Cathedral at Caritas 2022 his simple yet heartfelt description “Love – Caritas – is an extraordinary force” which has provided encouragement to the hundreds of young people who have taken part since the beginning will surely continue to inspire future generations.