The call of Bernadette

The call of Bernadette

By Ronnie Convery

Come to Carfin … that’s the appeal being made to Catholics this month as the Lanarkshire shrine welcomes the relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes and marks its 100th anniversary.

A special national pilgrimage is planned for the last weekend in September to coincide with the arrival of the relics of the little French visionary whose experiences led to the foundation of the shrine at Lourdes.

Bishop Joe Toal of Motherwell said: “Normally we have the National Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes at Carfin on the First Sunday in September and clergy and faithful from across Scotland and beyond have participated.

“It is always therefore a Day of Celebration of our Catholic faith as we gather to worship God and pray for the needs of the Church and the World…

“This is a very special year though and the National Pilgrimage has been moved to the last Sunday in September, Sunday 25th. It is a special year as it marks the Centenary of the Grotto and that, in itself, is reason enough to encourage a strong and wide participation in the Pilgrimage.

“Sunday, September 25th, will be very special as the Relics of St Bernadette will be with us at Carfin that day and will remain there throughout the rest of that week. It has been decided therefore to have the Pilgrimage on that day”.

Archbishop Nolan is encouraging parishes and individuals to make the mini-pilgrimage to Carfin to greet the relics. He said: “The Carfin story is hugely inspiring – and there could be no better way to mark 100 years of our own national shrine than to welcome the relics of St Bernadette.

“I would say to people who maybe haven’t been to Carfin for years to go along and experience the new facilities, the new shrines and feel the great surge of energy that comes from sharing our faith in such a special setting at such a special moment.”

Mass in Honour of Our Lady of Lourdes and St Bernadette, and in thanksgiving for the 100 Years of the Grotto, will be 3pm, with the Rosary Procession afterwards. The Bishop of Motherwell will lead the Liturgy and will be joined by Archbishop Nolan and bishops and priests from across Scotland.

The smiling Pope is now Blessed

By Ronnie Convery

I wasn’t old enough to remember where I was when JFK was shot. But I remember precisely the tea and toast I was consuming at 8am one late September morning in 1978 when the local radio news broadcast the headline, ‘The Pope is dead’.

My first reaction was that this must be some kind of embarrassing broadcasting hitch – the news of August 6 (when Pope Paul VI really had died) had somehow been rebroadcast a month later. What an error!

I was wrong. The new Pope, the smiling Pope, had indeed died in the night.

The death of John Paul I shocked the world. Sinister theories abounded. Had he been killed by the Mafia because he was going to close down the Vatican bank? Were mysterious groups in Rome so worried by his plans for renewal they had poisoned him? Whatever the truth … it was quite shocking to lose two Popes in two months.

Fast forward to September 2022 and the shortest-reigning Pope in recent history becomes ‘Blessed John Paul I’ this month - 44 years after his sudden death.

Albino Luciani, Patriarch of Venice, was elected to the Papacy following the death of Pope Paul VI in the summer of 1978. He served for just 33 days, but in that month his smile, his simple wisdom and his evident goodness won over the world.

A few of his simple sayings during still cause me to reflect … “We are the objects of undying love on the part of God. We know he has always his eyes open on us, even when it seems to be dark. He is our father; even more he is our mother. He does not want to hurt us, He wants only to do good to us, to all of us. If children are ill, they have additional claim to be loved by their mother. And we too, if by chance we are sick with badness, on the wrong track, have yet another claim to be loved by the Lord.”

A Pope who dares to say that God is maternal as well as paternal was – and is – powerful to read.

The man who was to become Pope was born on October 17, 1912, near Belluno in Northern Italy , to a family of modest circumstances. He was immediately baptized by the midwife because his life was in danger. His father John, a man of socialist views, worked as a seasonal migrant.

Much has been written about the unexpected death of Pope Luciani and its causes. The suspicions and confusion were fostered by the decision of the Vatican authorities – taken by surprise at the events on the morning of September 29 1978 – to give, in the official press release of the Press Office, a version that was not true.

It said there that the pope had been found dead by his secretary, the Irish priest, Fr. John Magee. Instead, he had been found by Sister Vincenza Taffarel, accompanied by Sister Margherita Marin, who were concerned because the pope had not yet gone to pray in the chapel at the usual time.

At the collection of documents for the beatification, the testimony of Sister Margherita Marin, the only one still alive among the four nuns present in the papal apartments that day, was finally taken and her narration dispels all doubts.

Also included is the statement of the Pope’s doctor, Renato Buzzonetti, who certified the John Paul I’s death and considered it a sudden, natural, instantaneous death, which occurred around 11pm from acute myocardial infarction. A heart attack.

An extensive medical history of Pope Luciani’s health throughout his life until his last days is also added. Basically – despite the plots and theories and blockbusters – his sudden death was not foreseeable.

The new Blessed is the latest in a long line of 20th century Popes to be named Blessed or Saint. Indeed when the Bishop of his home diocese first spoke to the Vatican about opening the cause for the beatification of John Paul I, it was pointed out to him that, in addition to the already canonized Pius X, the causes of Pius IX, Pius XII, John XXIII and Paul VI (and later John Paul II) were underway and, perhaps for the time being, these popes would suffice!

In November 2017, Pope Francis recognised Papa Luciani’s “heroic virtues,” and in October 2021 a decree concerning the miraculous healing of a little girl in Buenos Aires suffering from acute encephalopathy. This opened the way for the beatification.

Pope’s plea on migrants: “No one must be excluded”

Dear brothers and sisters!

The ultimate meaning of our “journey” in this world is the search for our true homeland, the Kingdom of God inaugurated by Jesus Christ, which will find its full realization when he comes in glory…

In our daily efforts to do the Lord’s will, justice needs to be built up with patience, sacrifice, and determination, so that all those who hunger and thirst for it may be satisfied …

No one must be excluded. God’s plan is essentially inclusive and gives priority to those living on the existential peripheries. Among them are many migrants and refugees, displaced persons, and victims of trafficking.

The Kingdom of God is to be built with them, for without them it would not be the Kingdom that God wants.

Building the future with migrants and refugees also means recognizing and valuing how much each of them can contribute to the process of construction.

I like to see this approach to migration reflected in a prophetic vision of Isaiah, which considers foreigners not invaders or destroyers, but willing labourers who rebuild the walls of the new Jerusalem, that Jerusalem whose gates are open to all peoples.

In Isaiah’s prophecy, the arrival of foreigners is presented as a source of enrichment …

Indeed, history teaches us that the contribution of migrants and refugees has been fundamental to the social and economic growth of our societies. This continues to be true in our own day. Their work, their youth, their enthusiasm and their willingness to sacrifice enrich the communities that receive them.

Yet this contribution could be all the greater were it optimized and supported by carefully developed programs and initiatives. Enormous potential exists, ready to be harnessed, if only it is given a chance…

The presence of migrants and refugees represents a great challenge, but at the same time an immense opportunity for the cultural and spiritual growth of everyone. Thanks to them, we have the chance to know better our world and its beautiful diversity.

We can grow in our common humanity and build together an ever greater sense of togetherness. Openness to one another creates spaces of fruitful exchange between different visions and traditions, and opens minds to new horizons. It also leads to a discovery of the richness present in other religions and forms of spirituality unfamiliar to us, and this helps us to deepen our own convictions…

The arrival of Catholic migrants and refugees can energize the ecclesial life of the communities that welcome them. Often they bring an enthusiasm that can revitalize our communities and enliven our celebrations. Sharing different expressions of faith and devotions offers us a privileged opportunity for experiencing more fully the catholicity of the People of God.

Dear brothers and sisters, and, in a special way, young people! If we want to cooperate with our heavenly Father in building the future, let us do so together with our brothers and sisters who are migrants and refugees.

St Aloysius’ to be restored

By Brian Swanson

A £350,000 interior refurbishment of St Aloysius, Garnethill, routinely described as the most beautiful church in the Archdiocese, is currently underway which will see seven layers of paint removed dating back to 1910 when the only Jesuit church in Glasgow was built.

New specialist paint, designed to combat damp which has led to flaking of the plaster, will be applied and new energy efficient LED lighting installed.

Given the scale of the work and the use of scaffolding towers, disruption is inevitable but is planned to be kept to the minimum with week day Masses held in the Ignatian Spirituality Centre in nearby Scott Street, while the Saturday 5pm Mass and the Sunday Masses will continue to be celebrated in the church.

Part of the church will be allocated for services at week-ends apart from the week-end of the 3rd and 4th September, September 8th and 9th and 15th and 16th Oct when the church will not be available.

On these week-ends the 5pm Saturday and 9pm Sunday Masses will be in the Ignatian Spirituality Centre, whilst the 10am and 12pm Masses will be in St. Aloysius’ College hall

Funerals which would normally be held in St Aloysius will be held St. Patrick’s Anderston instead.

The repairs are being paid for by £230,000 from the parish funds plus a donation from the Jesuit Province of £100,000.

The work on the A-listed church, expected to be completed in time for Christmas, is the latest in a series of refurbishments, both interior and exterior, which began in 2004, and which included the discovery of two original 10ft x 10ft canvasses by an unknown artist hidden under a layer of wallpaper which showed Jesuit founder St Ignatius Loyola and St John Ogilvie bowing before the Madonna and Child.

Local artist Nichol Wheatley and his assistants spent eight weeks on scaffolding 80ft off the ground painting the figures of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John as an angel, lion, ox and eagle on the corners of the dome.

The dome itself was regilded by craftsman Scott Telfer and Stewart McLaren, and a mosaic of the Last Supper above the altar and the church’s magnificent stained glass windows were deep cleaned by specialists.

In 2015 a new organ was bought in a joint venture between the church and St Aloysius’ College and paid in part by a significent donation from Glasgow hotelier and former college pupil Maurice Taylor.

Further restoration work was carried out in 2019 which involved urgent masonry repair work to the bell tower which was paid for by donations from parishioners of £100,000, £93,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £140,000 from Historic Environment Scotland.