Tributes paid following death of Archbishop Mario Conti

Tributes have been paid to Archbishop Mario Conti, Emeritus Archbishop of Glasgow, who has died.

Bishop Hugh Gilbert, the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland and Bishop of Aberdeen said: “It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti.

"His presence as a bishop has been a constant for so long, it is difficult to remember a time when he wasn’t an active or retired member of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.

"As the current Bishop of Aberdeen I have many fond memories of him during his 25 years as Bishop of Aberdeen.

"Although he became Archbishop of Glasgow in 2002 his ties to the North East of Scotland remained strong.

"His interest in and knowledge of Scotland’s Catholic history was well known and his commitment to preserving the cultural heritage of the church was unwavering.

"In his retirement, he was a source of great wisdom and pastoral support to his successors both in Glasgow and Aberdeen.

"His work in ecumenism and interfaith matters as well as his affection for the Italian community in Scotland were among his defining characteristics. On behalf of the Bishops of Scotland, we commend his soul into the hands of God and pray that he may enjoy eternal rest.”

Archbishop Conti died on Tuesday evening after a short illness, at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

He was 88 years old. He had been a priest for 64 years and a bishop for 45 years.

He was one of the last surviving bishops in the world to have been appointed by Pope (now saint) Paul VI.

After 25 years in Aberdeen as Bishop he was named as successor to Cardinal Tom Winning as Archbishop of Glasgow in 2002, serving for 10 years.

WATCH: Highlights from Venerable Margaret Sinclair Pilgrimage

Here are highlights from the wonderful Pilgrimage in honour of Venerable Margaret Sinclair, which took place at St Patrick's, in the Cowgate, Edinburgh.

Pray for her intercession and let's make her Scotland's next blessed!

World Day for the Poor

On Sunday the Catholic Church throughout the world marks the sixth World Day of the Poor. This annual commemoration was instituted by Pope Francis and is intended to act as reminder to all Catholics of their duty to care for those less fortunate than themselves.

This is an abridged version of the Holy Father’s Message that appeared in The Flourish, the Official Journal of the Archdiocese of Glasgow.

Letter of Pope Francis for World Day of the Poor

Several months ago, the world was emerging from the tempest of the pandemic, showing signs of an economic recovery that could benefit millions of people reduced to poverty by the loss of their jobs.

A patch of blue sky was opening that, without detracting from our sorrow at the loss of our dear ones, promised to bring us back to direct interpersonal relations and to socialising with one another once more without further prohibitions or restrictions.

Now, however, a new catastrophe has appeared on the horizon, destined to impose on our world a very different scenario.

The war in Ukraine has now been added to the regional wars that for years have taken a heavy toll of death and destruction.

Conflict

Yet here the situation is even more complex due to the direct intervention of a “superpower” aimed at imposing its own will in
violation of the principle of the self determination of peoples.

In this situation of great conflict, we are celebrating the Sixth World Day of the Poor. During his visit to Jerusalem, Paul met with Peter, James and John, who had urged him not to forget the poor.The community of Jerusalem was experiencing great hardship due to a food shortage in the country.

The Apostle immediately set about organizing a great collection to aid the poverty-stricken. The Christians of Corinth were very understanding and supportive. At Paul’s request, on every first day of the week they collected what they were able to save and all proved very generous.

From that time on, every Sunday, during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, we have done the same thing, pooling our offerings so that
the community can provide for the needs of the poor.

It is something that Christians have always done with joy and a sense of responsibility, to ensure that none of our brothers or sisters will lack the necessities of life.

Faith into Practice

Where the poor are concerned, it is not talk that matters; what matters is rolling up our sleeves and putting our faith into practice
through a direct involvement, one that cannot be delegated.

At times, however, a kind of laxity can creep in and lead to inconsistent behaviour, including indifference about the poor. It also happens that
some Christians, out of excessive attachment to money, remain mired in a poor use of their goods and wealth.

These situations reveal a weak faith and feeble, short-sighted hope. We know that the issue is not money itself, for money is part of our
daily life as individuals and our relationships in society.

Rather, what we need to consider is the value that we put on money: it cannot become our absolute and chief purpose in life.

Attachment to money prevents us from seeing everyday life with realism; it clouds our gaze and blinds us to the needs of others. Nothing worse could happen to a Christian and to a community than to be dazzled by the idol of wealth, which ends up chaining us to an ephemeral and bankrupt vision of life.

Social Justice

None of us can think we are exempt from concern for the poor and for social justice. When the only law is the bottom line of profit at the end of the day, nothing holds us back from seeing others simply as objects to be exploited; other people are merely a means to an end.

There no longer exist such things as a just salary or just working hours, and new forms of slavery emerge and entrap persons who lack alternatives and are forced to accept this toxic injustice simply to eke out a living.

We can easily discern the lack of satisfaction that many people feel because they sense that something important is missing from their lives, with the result that they wander off aimlessly in search of it.

In their desire to find something that can bring them satisfaction, they need someone to guide them towards the insignificant, the vulnerable and the poor, so that they can finally see what they themselves lack.

True love

Encountering the poor enables us to put an end to many of our anxieties and empty fears, and to arrive at what truly matters in life, the treasure that no one can steal from us: true and gratuitous love. The poor, before being the object of our almsgiving, are people, who can help set us free from the snares of anxiety and superficiality.

On 15 May last, I canonized Brother Charles de Foucauld, a man born rich, who gave up everything to follow Jesus … We would do well to meditate on these words of his: “Let us not despise the poor, the little ones, the workers; not only are they our brothers and sisters in God, they are also those who most perfectly imitate Jesus in his outward life.

They perfectly represent Jesus, the Worker of Nazareth. They are the firstborn among the elect, the first to be called to the Saviour’s crib. They were the regular company of Jesus, from his birth until his death…”

May this 2022 World Day of the Poor enable us to make a personal and communal examination of conscience and to ask ourselves whether the poverty of Jesus Christ is our faithful companion in life.

FRANCIS

Lunch club launched at Christ the King, Grangemouth

Parishioners at Christ the King Church in Grangemouth are serving up lunch to lend a helping hand as a response to the cost of living crisis.

They launched a Saturday Lunch Club in the church hall in Drummond Place tp provide hot food in a warm and welcoming space.

Parishioner Clare Murray said: "I was really conscious of the cost of living crisis and the need to do more to support people in need.

"The Church is really essential to the community. It was an idea we had a couple of months ago and when we mentioned it to Fr Benedict Umeohana he was happy to support it.

"We have fantastic facilities so we thought it would be the ideal space to do what we can to help by providing soup and a sandwich in a warm space."

Already 18 people from the Church and wider community have come forward to volunteer, and there have been kind donations.

Clare added: "We received a £200 donation from the Falkirk Celtic Supporters Club to pay for the first few weeks of food and we have other donations lined up as well. Word is getting out."

Hot meals

Similar initiatives have started in other parts of the Archdiocese.

St Pius in Kirkcaldy welcomes people every second Tuesday 2:00pm-4:00pm for tea/coffee, cake and a chance to have a blether in a warm, welcoming space.

St Mary's in Leslie has a similar drop-in initiative that takes place every Monday from 2:00pm-3:30pm

At St Margaret's Church in Dunfermline, a 'Bonnie Brew' initiative is set to be launched on 28 November, taking place each Monday from midday to 4:00pm.

It will provide a hot meal and refreshments, puzzles and crafts in a warm and relaxing atmosphere.

In South Queensferry a Connections Corner initiative has been started at Queensferry Parish Church, part of the Warm Welcome inititaive in the town.

Participants include the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP), Queensferry Library, Dalmeny Kirk and Priory Church.

It provides cake, coffee and conversation along with board games and magazines. Opening hours are Mondays and Wednesdays, 10am-2pm.

SSVP

The SSVP continues its year-round outreach in many parishes in the Archdiocese, including the Fife Furniture Project, which provides, furniture, white goods and more to households for free.

Haydn Carr-Pollock, from the SSVP, said: "Our St Michael's Conference in Linlithgow, in co-operation with West Lothian Foodbank, held a fundraising event for the foodbank a couple of weeks ago, raising £1,500.

"In Bathgate, the SSVP conference donated £300 so that three Ukrainian children could be provided with clothes and footwear for winter.

"That's just a couple of examples of the work that goes on in the Archdiocese by the SSVP."

Haydn will begin his role as Archdiocesan SSVP President on Monday 14 November.

Outgoing President Richard Steinbach said: "I am sure you will join me in wishing Haydn all the best in his new role, as he finds his feet, getting to know everyone. With God's Grace, and the Holy Spirit watching over him, he will take the Society forward in 2022 and beyond."

Does your parish run initiatives to help those in need? Let us know. Contact matthew.meade@staned.org.uk. Cost of living crisis - resources here.

Event: Enjoy an advent concert by candlelight

The Schola Cantorum of St Mary's Cathedral is on tour this Advent!

The choir will perform three special concerts by candlelight, delivering beautiful festive choral music at the following churches:

  • FALKIRK St Francis Xavier's Church, Wednesday 7 December, 8pm.
  • KILSYTH St Patrick's Church, Saturday 10 December, 8pm.
  • DUNFERMLINE St Margaret's RC Church, Friday 16 December, 8pm.

Michael Ferguson, musical director of the Schola Cantorum, said: “These candlelit concerts will be peaceful and uplifting – an opportunity to escape the Christmas frenzy and enjoy some wonderful, atmospheric music from these special singers. All are welcome.”

Tickets: £5 standard or £10 family, available on the door or from Eventbrite https://bit.ly/3T7wRRY

 

The Schola Cantorum is unique in the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh, and is one of the few in the Catholic Church in Scotland existing principally to sing the repertoire of the historical treasury of sacred music to the highest possible standards in cathedral worship.

The ensemble not only embodies excellence in choral singing, but also a commitment to sharing the musical fruits of two millennia of Christian worship with the Catholic community and beyond.

The octet’s debut album, With Angels and Archangels, is out now.

Cost of Living Crisis: available support

The cost-of-living crisis is affecting everybody, but its most severe effects are being experienced by the poor and marginalised.

In March churches in Scotland released a joint statement which urged “both the Scottish and UK Governments to set aside political differences and come together in a spirit of pragmatism and compassion to seek effective solutions” to the cost-of-living crisis.

More recently, Archbishop William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow, called on the UK Government to give an assurance that benefits will go up in line with inflation.

Concern

Through her Preferential Option for the Poor, the Church gives a special form of primacy to the poor and marginalised as the focus of particular concern, especially during uncertain and difficult economic times.

The responsibility for this concern rests with society as a whole, though government has a special responsibility given its position of influence.

Overall inflation, including the cost of food, has increased significantly in recent months. Several factors have caused this increase, not least Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and disruptions to supply chains caused by the pandemic.

Whilst global food prices have eased recently, it will take time for this to filter down to supermarkets and the situation in Ukraine remains volatile.

The rising cost of fuel is also a source of deep worry for people. In August, it was announced that the energy price cap would be raised by 80 per cent in October, increasing the typical household bill to around £3,549 per year.

A further increase was expected in January and April 2023, with average energy bills reaching as high as £6,500 a year.

The energy price cap limits how much energy suppliers can charge domestic consumers on variable tariffs for their fuel. It is set by the independent regulatory authority for gas and electricity, Ofgem.

Energy Price Guarantee

The UK Government has committed to limiting the cost of electricity and gas through the Energy Price Guarantee until April 2023. This will take a typical bill from £1,971 per year to £2,500 per year. Whilst this will still be challenging for many households it is a welcome reduction from the £3549 previously expected.

Below we set out the support currently available from the UK and Scottish Governments, including weblinks. Please note this list is not exhaustive and is subject to change. Further information is available on both government websites.

Citizens' Advice Scotland

If you are worried about the cost-of-living crisis and would like more help, Citizens’ Advice Scotland offers advice and support.

Money Saving Expert website

Please also be aware that other local advice and support services may be available in your area. For example, local charities, including many churches and faith organisations such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul, offer support via food banks and additional services for health and well-being. The MoneySavingExpert website is also a useful source of information.

Warm Welcome UK

Over 2,500 organisations have registered with Warm Welcome UK to open up ‘warm hubs’, free, warm, welcoming spaces, during the winter months. Click the link for more information.

UK Government Support

Cost of Living Payment

A cost-of-living payment is available for those in receipt of any of the following benefits: Universal Credit, income-based Jobseekers’ Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income support, pension credit, child tax credit, working tax credit.

Those eligible may be entitled to a payment of £650, paid in two lump sums of £326 and £324, paid separately from benefits.

The cost-of-living payment will not be made if you are in receipt of New Style Employment & Support Allowance, Contributory Employment & Support Allowance, or New Style Jobseekers’ Allowance, unless you get Universal Credit.

If you have a joint claim with a partner, you will receive one payment of £326 and one payment of £324 for your joint claim, if you are entitled.

Please check here for more information, including expected payment dates.

Disability Cost of Living Payment

You may receive a lump sum payment of £150 if you are in receipt of any of the following: Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance for Adults, Disability Living Allowance for Children, Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment, Armed Forces Independent Payment, War Pension Mobility Supplement.

Please check here for more information.

Pensioner Cost of Living Payment

If entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment for Winter 2022/2023 you will get an extra £300 in November 2022. This is in addition to the Cost-of-Living Payment you get with your benefits or tax credits.

Please check here for more information.

Energy Bills Support Scheme

The Energy Bills Support Scheme provides a £400 non-refundable discount to eligible households to help with energy bills over the 2022/2023 winter. Around 99 per cent of households are eligible. The remaining 1 per cent will receive equivalent support.

The discount will be applied to the monthly household electricity bill for six months, starting in October 2022 (£66 in Oct and Nov, and £67 in Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar).

Prepayment meter users will get equivalent vouchers which need to be redeemed.

More information on support available from the UK Government can be found here.

Scottish Government Support

Scottish Child Payment

The Scottish Child Payment of £20 per week is available for each child under 6 years and for those in receipt of certain benefits or payments. This payment will be increased to £25 per week for every child under 16 years of age from 14 November 2022.

Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods

These are payments to help towards the costs of being pregnant or looking after a child.

Scottish Welfare Fund

This fund provides grants to those age 16 or over on a low income or receiving certain benefits. The Crisis Grant helps people with unexpected emergencies such as a fire, flood or losing your job. The Community Care Grant helps you or someone you care for to start to live, or to carry on living, a settled life in the community. For more information on all Scottish Government benefits, please visit here.

This article is from the Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office and can be found on its website.

Students visit Edinburgh for holy relic of St Margaret

Archbishop Cushley welcomed students from the Catholic Society of St Andrews University today (Thursday 2 October) to collect a holy relic of St Margaret.

They visited St Margaret's Chapel at the Gillis Centre, Edinburgh, with university chaplain Fr Michael John Galbraith.

Students venerate the relic of St Margaret with Fr Michael John Galbraith.

He said: "When I heard the relics were available, I jumped at the chance because our Canmore Chaplaincy is dedictated to St Margaret.

"The students here today are very involved in life at the chaplaincy and very devout in their own faith - they are delighted to visit Edinburgh and receive the relic of St Margaret, which will be displayed for veneration at the Canmore chaplaincy at the university."

Archbishop Cushley told students about the background of the relics of St Margaret.

Maria Alexandra Vlachogiani, a third year Maths student, said: "A lot of Christians find their home at the chaplaincy in St Andrews and Fr Michael John is always there to support us."

The Archdiocese was approached by parishes dedicated to St Margaret after the relic fragmented while being removed from its reliquary at St Margaret's Church in Dunfermline in 2019.

The monstrance holding the relic of St Margaret and the official certificate confirming its authenticity.

That meant smaller relics were made available and parishes from Scotland and further afield (including Chile) petitioned the Archdiocese to entrust a relic for veneration by the faithful there. The smaller relics are from the scapular bone of the Saint.

The students in the main picture are Ella Balet, Blake Boehne, Veronica Harris, Christopher Levesque, Jovana Joseph, Matthew Matisz, Hannah Menezes, Jarrett Miller and Maria Alexandra Vlachogiani.

Find out more about the Canmore Catholic Chaplaincy at https://www.canmorecatholicchaplaincy.com or follow them on Facebook.

Prayers for loved ones on All Souls

Archbishop Cushley today offered Holy Mass for the repose of all the faithful departed of the Archdiocese at Mount Vernon Cemetery.

In his homily, he said: "We gather on All Souls to remember all who have died, and in particular those who have departed in the last 12 months.

"It is our belief as Catholics that the Mass and prayers offered for the dead are not useless or without merit, rather, they are not only an act of remembrance, but also an important part of our duty to the faithful departed.

"That sense of duty has brought you here today, praying for them, placing flowers on their grave, tidying up the headstone and so on.

"It is a good and noble thing to do, and it always gives me great comfort to accompany you."

He added: "No matter the end of those we have in mind today, no matter how young or old, prepared or unprepared; no matter how successful they were; no matter if their end was prolonged or sudden; a tragedy or a blessed release; we believe that all of them have been entrusted to the Father into the loving embrace of His son on the Cross.

"Today and throughout November, taking account of our own end and of the resurrection at the end of times, we pray for those who have gone before us.

"We assume the yoke, the light burden, of praying for the dead, of offering sacrifice for the forgiveness of their sins and for the repose of their souls.

"And with affection and humility we commend them all to the tender embrace of the Risen Lord.

"Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen."

From All Souls’ Day to 8 November, there is a plenary indulgence for visiting a cemetery and praying for the dead there. The indulgence is granted together with the usual conditions of prayer for the Pope, detachment from sin and confession and Holy Communion around the time of the visit.  You can apply the indulgence to the dead.

Join Archbishop Cushley in Eucharistic Adoration

Archbishop Cushley invites Catholics to join him for Eucharistic Adoration at St Margaret’s Chapel at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh.

The event is to pray for “insight, courage and joy in our mission,” and takes place 6-7pm on the following Sundays: 18 December, 8 January, 12 February, 12 March.

In the Archdiocesan Synod Report, published earlier this year, he said: "Arising from the synodal process in this Archdiocese, there is, I believe, a real need to deepen the prayer life, the spirituality, and discernment of every individual in this Archdiocese.

"I feel we may have made a start on this process this year by reinvigorating the Forty Hours’ devotion in the Archdiocese, but much remains to be done."

Holy Hour

He added: "To this end, I will institute a monthly Holy Hour at the Gillis Centre to which I invite all the faithful to come and pray with me before Our Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament.

"As it says in the very motto of the City of Edinburgh, Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain (Ps 127:1). Together let us ask the Lord to bless our endeavours and raise up committed disciples in this Archdiocese".

The Working Document of the Continental Stage of the Synod 2021-23 was recently published and can be read here.

Holy Hour with Archbishop Cushley. 6-7pm at St Margaret's Chapel, 18 December, 8 January, 12 February, 12 March. 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB. No registration required, just turn up. Free parking onsite.

Diocesan medals for Portobello parishioners!

Diocesan medals have been awarded to four parishioners at St John the Evangelist Church in Portobello for their outstanding contribution to parish life.

Frances McDevitt, Alice Codling and Gena and Tom Gallagher were presented with the medal by Archbishop Cushley at Mass on Sunday.

The parishioners were nominated by parish priest Canon Jock Dalrymple.

He said: "Frances McDevitt this year celebrated 50 years as our gifted, generous and reliable organist.

Francis McDevitt has been the church organist for an half a century.

"Born and brought up in the parish, she is a most faithful parishioner in every way. She co-ordinated the Fundraising Group for our Tower Project, now successfully completed, and is the very competent Secretary of St John’s Pastoral Council."

He continued: "Alice Codling has been Pastoral Assistant at St John’s for the last three decades.

"As well as being a wise and faithful counsellor, first to Mgr Rae and then to me, she has co-ordinated our parish Adult Formation and ran our very active RCIA group with considerable skill, creativity, and patience.

Alice Codling with Archbishop Cushley.

"If one person has ‘held’ the history of the parish since she moved here from Preston in Lancashire in her early married life, it has been her."

Faithful

Married couple, Gena and Tom Gallagher shared a diocesan medal for their brilliant joint work.

Gena and Tom Gallagher with Archbishop Cushley.

Canon Jock said: "Tom has been our chief welcomer/passkeeper for many years, co-ordinating a faithful team, while together he and Gena were responsible for the parish piety stall for over two decades.

"Tom has also supported Gena in running our very active Thursday Club for the elderly, for thirty years.

"In addition, Gena has had a wonderful ministry with the sick, taking communion to them, visiting them in hospital and doing their shopping."

Altar servers at St John the Evangelist, with Deacon Eddie White and Archbishop Cushley (pic: Linda Moran)

The Archdiocesan Medal for Outstanding Service to the Church was established in 1975 by Cardinal Gordon Joseph Gray, then Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh.

Since then, just over 100 or so medals have been awarded for “outstanding voluntary service” to the Church at a local level.

Pics: Deacon Eddie White.