The way ahead

Faith flourishes in Pollok

By Brian Swanson

With banners held aloft, flags flying and the joy of their faith evident for all to see, almost 400 members of Glasgow’s St Thomas Syro-Malabar community brought colour to the streets of Pollok last month as they celebrated the feast of their patron, St Thomas the Apostle, and St Alphonsa, India’s first female saint.

Many of those taking part in the Mass of Thanksgiving with Archbishop Nolan wore the traditional dress of Kerala, Southern India where the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church was founded in 52 AD.

The Glasgow community have been based in St Conval’s for the past six years and the annual feast day is seen as one of the major highlights of the year for the community.

The festivities began with a nine-day Novena, with the main feast being celebrated on the final day with a traditional procession from the church following the Thanksgiving Mass.

One of the trustees of the community told Flourish: “It was wonderful that the Archbishop honoured the community by being the main celebrant, delivering a powerful sermon and imparting the final blessing.

“The event was a resounding success, with nearly 400 people in attendance, reflecting the deep faith and unity within the community.”

The move to St Conval’s, which was completed by Christmas 2018, could not have been achieved without the enthusiastic backing of Parish Priest Fr Michael Kane. He said: “The Syro-Malabar community put families at the very heart of everything they do – they are enthusiastic, deeply committed and incredibly well-organised.

“They spend hours planning programmes and courses for children, teenagers, families, engaged couples and newlyweds.

“And they are all very well attended – the people really want to be there.”

Moira’s Bible may hold clue to lost family

By Brian Swanson

A family tree written in a treasured family Bible owned by a 90 year old lady who was Glasgow’s first woman bus driver… with these clues the search is on to trace the late Moira Wilcox’s relatives.

Though she had no visitors during her 18 years in Craigbank Nursing Home, in Possilpark, devout Catholic Moira was a popular and sociable resident but when she died recently it fell to staff arrange her funeral after efforts to trace any living relatives failed.

Her large brass-bound Bible was to have been placed in the coffin with her for cremation, but it was saved thanks to Father Paulinus Oechukwu, parish administrator of St Teresa’s of Lisieux and chaplain to the nearby nursing home.

Father Paulinus said: “A few days before her passing, I was called upon to administer the last rites to her.

“When I held her Bible, I sensed that I was in possession of something extraordinary – a treasure that should not be lost. I took the Bible back with me, and to my astonishment, I discovered within its pages a genealogy – a family tree.

“This deeply moved me, prompting me to realise that this precious piece of history could not be destroyed… It contained detailed information about her family history so it seemed to me important to ensure that such a valuable testament is preserved rather than lost.

“It is my hope and prayer that some member of her family who reads this will come forward.”

Father Paulinus, ordained in Lagos four years ago, served as an assistant priest in Lagos University for four years before moving to Scotland where he completed a doctorate in Cancer Research and Precision Oncology at Glasgow University last year.

Delivering the homily at Moira’s funeral at Glasgow Crematorium he said: “The Bible Moira treasured is now a precious legacy, not just for her, but for all of us. It serves as a reminder that even in our moments of solitude, we are part of something greater – a family that transcends time and space, united in faith and the love of God.... her story has become part of the Church’s story, an assurance that we are never truly alone, that our lives are woven into the fabric of God’s family.”

It has now emerged that Moira was a familiar and popular figure among a generation of Glaswegians as one of the city’s legendary clippies before becoming the city’s first ever female bus driver back in the early seventies.

Nursing home manager Claribel Durairaj said “She may have been alone but she was never lonely because we were her family.

“She was very proud of being the first woman bus driver in Glasgow and once we arranged as a surprise for one of the vintage corporation buses to come to the nursing home.

“She just came alive when she saw it and got very excited and said ‘That’s my bus, I used to drive that bus!” – it was wonderful to see her reaction.”

Records held by the nursing home show that Moira and her mother lived in a number of council house addresses in the city including Parkhead, Shettleston and Pollokshaws.

If you have any information about Moira’s family please email Brian.Swanson@rcag.org.uk

The way ahead

By Ronnie Convery

The work has been done, the results have been analysed and now a clearer picture has emerged of the future of parish provision in the Archdiocese.

This month Flourish can reveal the likely shape of parish life over the next decade, following an extensive consultation process involving clergy and parishioners from every parish in the Archdiocese.

Archbishop Nolan had asked parishes in local areas to meet and discuss frankly their pastoral needs as they look ahead, given the declining number of priests and the need for each parish to be a vibrant, active, and evangelising unit.

They were also asked to consider the expected steep decline in active parish clergy over the next decade which is likely to fall from almost 80 parish-based priests at present to fewer than 50 serving in the next decade.

Taking these circumstances into account, Deanery Resource Groups were asked to gather parishes into three Groups based on long, medium and short term viability.

Group One contains parishes which will remain fundamental to pastoral care into the next decade and beyond due to their greater size, location or other key factors which make them well-placed to respond to significant needs over a large pastoral area.

Group Two contains parishes which will be key to supporting the provision of pastoral care throughout the archdiocese covering important geographical areas. These parishes can be expected to remain in this key role over the medium term.

Group Three lists parishes which will be less central to pastoral care in the archdiocese due to their smaller size, location, or other key factors. These parishes may face closure, amalgamation, or realignment at some point in the future

Archbishop Nolan said: “I am very grateful to everyone who took part in the consultations over the last year. These recommendations will help us to plan for the future.

“While we would all love to maintain every building we have at present, no matter the cost; and we would all love to have a plentiful supply of priests to staff every parish, the truth is that we can’t!

“We have limited human resources and limited financial resources so it is essential that these resources be used where they can have the greatest effect in providing good pastoral care and effective evangelising hubs.

“It is important to note that the groupings being published do not in any way constitute a ‘hit list’. There is no masterplan to announce mass closures of parishes.

“But when events come along – that might be the loss of a priest, or a major repair bill or some other significant circumstance – we will use the list to decide how best to use our resources, and inevitably that will see the reduction in the number of parishes.

“I would point to the example of the parish I chose to live in when I came to the Archdiocese – St Patrick’s. It’s a lovely church, full of historical resonance, with a devoted group of parishioners. But it faces huge bills which it has no realistic way of paying and caters for a very small number of people who could worship at churches nearby. Much as we hate to admit it, there is no viable way forward for that parish and so it will likely face closure in coming years.

“There are similar cases across the Archdiocese where a priest is needed elsewhere for a bigger congregation, or the escalating costs of repairs, or heating and other bills are way beyond the capacity of the parish.

“I would say this to parishioners who find their parish has been listed in Group Three: the inclusion of your parish in this group does not mean that this parish will imminently close.

“Rather it indicates that given the restraints that are being put upon us, the retention of this parish in the future is less likely, given the overall framework of pastoral care in the archdiocese.

“Our ultimate aim is good pastoral care and evangelising communities that are viable into the future. To get there we will have to make painful decisions, but there is really no alternative as we look forward to the middle years of the 21st century.”

Bishop Andrew’s Dunkeld welcome

By Brian Swanson

It is a mere 80 miles from St Andrew’s Cathedral in Glasgow to its namesake in Dundee, but for the new Bishop of Dunkeld the journey is about more than just the road and the miles to that fine city.

His many friends in Glasgow, and indeed Bishop Andrew McKenzie himself, are still getting used to the fact that in a matter of weeks he has gone from being Administrator at Glasgow’s St Andrew’s Cathedral to being chosen by the Holy Father as the 10th Bishop of Dunkeld, succeeding Bishop Stephen Robson who has retired.

As anyone who has attended the ordination of a bishop will know, these are solemn, sacred affairs steeped in rituals designed centuries ago… and yet those who gathered in St Andrew’s Cathedral, Dundee on the Feast of St Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr will agree that the ceremony of episcopal ordination also had the feel of a family affair.

The bishops, clergy and deacons wore the blood-red vestments recalling the feast-day martyr, while his proud parents, extended family, and coachloads of parishioners from his former parishes including St Joseph’s, Tollcross, and St Joachim’s, Carmyle wore something different – the most joyful of smiles.

Other guests included First Minister John Swinney, his wife Liz and son Matthew who are regular attenders at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Dundee. There was a warm exchange of good wishes after the Mass ended.

The lead consecrator was Archbishop Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh, in whose province the Diocese of Dunkeld lies, assisted by Archbishop Nolan and Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell.

The ordination began with the reading of the mandate of appointment signed by the Pope and it ended with sustained applause of welcome for Bishop Andrew who responded with these words: ”Over the past few weeks I have been a little overwhelmed with all that is going on so I spoke to a good friend and I said: what if I can’t do all that?

“He stopped me in my tracks by saying ‘Andrew you are not a superman – God doesn’t want supermen and women.’

“So I will not try to be a superman – but with God’s grace and with your help I will do my very best to be your good and faithful bishop.”

His new diocese could hope for nothing better than that.