Catholics urged to reject ‘dangerous’ assisted suicide

The bishops of Scotland say Catholics must urge their MSPs to reject the recently published assisted suicide proposals.

They make the call in a pastoral letter that will be read out in all of Scotland’s 460 Catholic parishes, at all Masses on 27 & 28 April.

The bishops describe the proposal put forward by Liam McArthur MSP, as “dangerous".

They call on MSPs to focus their energies on improving palliative care which the bishops say is “underfunded and limited”.

When vulnerable people express concerns about being a burden, the appropriate response is not to suggest that they have a duty to die.

The letter states, that a law which “allows us to kill our brothers and sisters takes us down a dangerous spiral that always puts at risk the most vulnerable members of our society, including the elderly, and disabled, and those who struggle with mental health”.

The letter cites evidence from other jurisdictions where assisted suicide is legal, including Oregon, where consistently around half of people who choose assisted suicide do so because they feel they are a burden on their families or on their communities and healthcare system.

“When vulnerable people, including the elderly and disabled, express concerns about being a burden”, say the bishops, “the appropriate response is not to suggest that they have a duty to die; rather, it is to commit to meeting their needs and providing the care and compassion they need to help them live”.

The bishops point out: “When our society is already marked by so many inequalities, we do not need assisted suicide to put intolerable pressure on our most disadvantaged who do not have a voice in this debate.”

Please contact your MSP today to stop assisted suicide becoming legal in Scotland. Guidance on contacting your MSPs is available at www.rcpolitics.org/assistedsuicide, or email office@rcpolitics.org for more information. 

Archbishop supports Order of Malta Fundraising Ball

Archbishop Cushley joined 200 guests at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh for the Order of Malta 2024 charity fundraising ball.

The Order, one of the Catholic church's oldest and largest charities, operating in 120 countries around the world, was raising funds for its work in Scotland.

This includes initiatives like Dial-a-Journey in Stirling & Falkirk, that provides a transport service for those with mobility needs who are often unable to use public transport.

The Ball was supported by Lady Celestria Hales and Mark Watson-Gandy, the President and the Chancellor of the Order. Also attending were the Earl and Countess of Mansfield, the Earl of Morton, and Sir Jack and Lady Stewart-Clark.

The Companions of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (CoM) is a key volunteer force for delivering the charitable work of the Order of Malta in Great Britain — a Catholic religious order and charity. Its mission is ‘to practise our faith and to practise charity’.

Find out more on the Order of Malta UK website here.

SATURDAY: Deeply Devoted

Deeply Devoted  is an event that will throw light on the background and efficacy of the prayers and practices that can help bring us closer to God and to live a life of holiness.

From the Holy Rosary, to Eucharistic Adoration, to the simple act of lighting a candle for a loved one, the Catholic tradition is rich in devotional practices.

The main speaker is Fr Kevin Douglas, who will speak on Devotions in the morning. We will also hear from Deacon Paul Brady of Glasgow Archdiocese and talks from members of the Archdiocesan Catechetics Commission, who have organised this event.

Register here for this FREE event by midday on Thursday 25 April.

The event takes place on Saturday 27 April 2024 at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB (map below).

***

SCHEDULE

Morning

10:30am: Doors open/ tea & coffee

11:00am: Unpacking Catholic Devotions, with Fr Kevin Douglas

11:45am: Choice of sessions led by Catechetical Commission members:

1. Delving into the Divine Mercy: origins and practice of this beautiful and increasingly popular devotion.

2. A Saint for all Seasons: exploring devotion to saints - and how to find the one for you.

12:30pm: Lunch (light lunch provided).*

Afternoon

1:15pm: Talk and Q&A session led by Deacon Paul Brady on Sacramentals: exploring why Catholics use candles, statues, prayer cards, holy medals, rituals and lots more.

2:00pm: There’s Something about Mary: exploring Marian devotion.

2:30pm: Guided devotional prayer in St Margaret’s Chapel: The Divine Mercy followed by a decade of the Rosary and Marian prayers.

3:00pm: End.

This a free event, open to all. There is free parking onsite.

*Free lunch provided (small sandwiches and fruit). If you have food allergies/intolerances please being a packed lunch.

Deeply Devoted is organised by the Catechetics Commission of the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh. Queries: please email Christine Clark at chrissyclark77@aol.com

Synod event: Spiritual Conversation

The Archdiocesan Synodal Team invites you to Spiritual Conversation, an event taking place at Ss John Cantius & Nicholas, Broxburn, on Saturday 4 May

Event schedule

1030: Holy Mass

1110: Synod 2024: Where are we now?

1125: Meet Fr John Deighan & the Synod team

1140: Spiritual conversation in groups

1240: Sharing the fruits (feedback)

1300: End

The conversation

The overall theme of our Spiritual Conversation will be The Role of the Laity in the Context of Our Archdiocese.

To help us explore this theme, we have formulated four questions, drawing on A Synodal Church in Mission, the synthesis document of the October 2023 Synod. We recommend downloading the event guide which has all the following information.

Here are the questions:

(1) “In their immense variety, the charisms of the laity represent distinct gifts to the Church from the Holy Spirit that must be called forth, recognized, and fully appreciated” (from A Synodal Church in Mission). To what extent are we already doing this? How could we do it more effectively at parish and diocesan level?

(2) The Synthesis proposes an expansion of existing lay ministries (such as the ministries of lector and acolyte) as well as the creation of new ones (such as a ministry assigned to married couples to support marriage and family life, and a ministry of “listening and accompanying”). In the context of our Archdiocese, would this be an effective way of calling forth and recognizing the charisms of the laity?

(3) Are we doing enough to equip our lay people to be confident witnesses to Christ in today’s world? If not, what more could be done?

(4) The Synthesis proposes that the role of women in the Church be expanded, especially with regard to decision-making (although it does not open up the possibility of female priests). To what extent has this already happened in our Archdiocese? To what extent do we still have work to do?

The Format

In the first round of discussion, each person will have an initial two minutes in their group to offer their views on any of the above questions. That’s a short time, so we recommend you pick one question to focus on.

In any event, your two minutes will be more beneficial to those who are listening if you have an idea of what you want to say in advance. Therefore, prior to this event please prayerfully reflect on the questions. Then come along and speak from the heart!

When considering what you want to say, please remember that the scope of the Conversation is limited to our Archdiocese.

Prepare

The reading material in the event guide will to help you prepare. 

So please take time ahead of the event for prayerful reading and reflection.

In this way, our Spiritual Conversation will be (a) as informed as possible and (b) infused with prayer.

We look forward to seeing you!

Spiritual Conversation is a synodal event organised by the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh. It takes place on Saturday 4 May 2024 at Ss John Cantius & Nicholas, 34 West Main Street, Broxburn. Register here. Event guide here.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations (Good Shepherd Sunday)

World Day of Prayer for Vocations (also know as Good Shepherd Sunday) is this weekend, 21 April.

We pray for our parish priests who have answered the call to dedicating their lives to serving God and the people of his Church. We pray for the Religious Men and Women who serve God both at home and abroad.

Please also keep in your prayers seminarians from the Archdiocese:

A special collection for the Ecclesiastical Students' Fund will take place at Masses this weekend. You can donate online at bit.ly/studentscollection

Pope Francis' message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations can be read here.

He calls on everyone to: “Let Jesus draw you to himself; bring him your important questions; let him challenge you by his presence; More than anyone else, Jesus respects our freedom.”

The day is dedicated in a particular way to imploring from the Father the gift of holy vocations for the building up of his Kingdom: “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” (Lk 10:2)

If you want to find out more about the priesthood or religious life, speak to your parish priest or contact Fr Andrew Garden at vocations@staned.org.uk (0131 663 4286) or Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO at religiousvocations@staned.org.uk (0131 623 8902).

Edinburgh priest's pastoral support after Sydney tragedy

An Edinburgh-based priest is in Sydney offering pastoral support following the shopping centre stabbings that saw six people murdered.

Fr Ninian Doohan, of St Patrick's in The Cowgate, was among those on the scene shortly after the attack in Bondi Junction on Saturday 13 April, emerging from Bondi Junction train station minutes after the chaos had taken place, writes The Catholic Weekly.

A delay in catching public transport to go shopping meant he missed the attack at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping complex by less than 15 minutes, arriving to see a large crowd and emergency response presence.

Parishioners pray and grieve at St Patrick’s Church, Bondi, in the wake of the horrific knife attack. Photo: Patrick Lee/The Catholic Weekly.

Fr Doohan is in the city, where he previously studied at the University of Sydney, as a holiday replacement for the parish priest of St Patrick’s Church in Bondi.

Several members of the congregation wept as he offered words of comfort in his homily at the 10am Sunday Mass.

At least two parishioners knew 38-year-old victim Ashlee Good (below)—the mother of the nine-month-old baby currently recovering from the attack at Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Despite the best attempts of bystanders and doctors to save her life, Good died from her wounds at St Vincent’s Hospital, after pushing her baby into the arms of strangers.

While he felt “totally inadequate to the task” of pastoral support in the face of such horror, Fr Doohan urged the congregation to reach out for support and offered to be available to anyone who wished a pastoral visit.

“The only thing that sounds clear in my mind is that God put me in the close proximity of horror and tragedy so that therefore I can be with one with you, and with them, and not an outsider to it,” he said.

Fr Ninian posted this update on Instagram after the incident.

“I ask that we would all be prepared to ask God for forgiveness and also be prepared to give forgiveness and to participate in his mercy.”

“That challenge to live in and with and through his compassion, even when it is beyond our comprehension and even when injustices have been committed against us.”

The man responsible for the stabbings Joel Cauchi, 40, was shot dead by police at the scene.

Bishop-Elect of Dunkeld Fr Martin Chambers (1964-2024)

Fr Martin Chambers, a priest of the Diocese of Galloway who was shortly to be ordained as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Dunkeld, has died aged 59.

Bishop Frank Dougan, of Galloway Diocese, said: “It was with a heavy heart and the deepest sadness that I learned today of the death of Fr Martin Chambers, a priest of the Diocese of Galloway and the Bishop-Elect of the Diocese of Dunkeld.

"I know his family and the people of Galloway diocese who knew him and loved him will be deeply shocked and dismayed at his untimely death.

"Together we give thanks for the selfless service he gave to our diocese; we recognise the enormous contribution he made to support some of the poorest communities in Ecuador and we pray for the repose of his soul.”

“To know Martin was to know a man of love, enthusiasm, humour and a deep faith which enlivened all that he did.”

Pope Francis nominated Fr Martin on 2 February 2024 as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Dunkeld. His Episcopal Ordination was scheduled for Saturday 27 April, 2024.

He latterly served as parish priest at Our Lady of the Assumption & St Meddan’s, Troon (2023-2024)

He established the Martin Chamber Ecuador Trust in 2006 to support the lives of those who live in the poorest conditions in Ecuador and worked on the missions in Ecuador’s largest city, Guayaquil from 2004-2009.

He added: “On behalf of the Dioses of Galloway I offer our deepest condolences and the promise of our prayers to Martin’s family as they come to terms with his loss, our prayers too are with the people of the Diocese of Dunkeld, who were preparing to welcome him as their bishop.

"We give thanks to God for the great service of a selfless priest and pray for his eternal rest.”

The Very Rev Andrew Canon Monaghan 1941-2024

The Very Rev Andrew Canon Monaghan died peacefully last night (Wednesday 3 April) in the care of family members after a short illness. He was 82.

Canon Monaghan was ordained to the priesthood at St Mary’s, Bathgate, in 1964.

He studied for the priesthood at St Andrew’s College in Drygrange (1958-1964).

Prior to that he had attended St Mary’s Primary and St Mary’s Academy in Bathgate before continuing his studies at the junior seminary at Blairs (1954-1958).

The first parish Canon Monaghan served was St Francis Xavier’s in Falkirk where he spent nine years, before moving to St Cuthbert’s in Edinburgh (1973-1975).

He also served as chaplain to the Sacred Heart Convent in Dalkeith from 1975 to 1985 and then as chaplain to St Joseph’s Hospital in Rosewell from 1985 to 1999.

His final parish before retirement was at St Mary’s in Pathhead (1999-2017).

Archbishop Leo Cushley informed clergy this morning about Canon Monaghan’s passing.

The funeral will take place on Monday 15 April at 12.45pm in St Mary's Church, Bathgate.

May he rest in peace.

The Very Rev Andrew Canon Monaghan, 1 December 1941 – 3 April 2024.

Divine Mercy Sunday

Divine Mercy Sunday (7 April) is the Sunday after Easter each year.

It was first announced in an April 2000 homily given by Pope John Paul II for the Mass celebrating the canonization of Maria Faustina Kowalska.

St Faustina Kowalska was a Polish nun who received prophetic messages from Christ.

By Phancamellia245 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47145752

These messages included revelations about the infinite mercy of God and her obligation to spread the message to the world as recorded in her diary, “Divine Mercy in My Soul.”

John Paul II granted plenary and partial indulgences to the faithful who observe certain pious practices on Divine Mercy Sunday each year in a June 2002 decree.

He did this to ​​inspire the faithful in devotion to the divine mercy.

What is an indulgence?

An indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sins that have already been forgiven, and it can be plenary or partial.

Plenary indulgence

A plenary indulgence can be obtained by going to a church on Divine Mercy Sunday “in a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for a sin, even a venial sin,” and participating in the prayers held in honor of Divine Mercy, the 2002 decree says.

Those practices could consist of devotions such as the Divine Mercy chaplet, Eucharistic adoration, and the sacrament of confession.

The faithful could also visit the Blessed Sacrament either exposed or in the tabernacle and recite the Our Father, the Nicene Creed, and a devout prayer to Christ. The example of a devout prayer that is given in the decree is “Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!”

In order to receive the indulgence, the three usual conditions of going to confession, receiving Communion, and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father must also be met.

While it is appropriate that the two sacraments be received on the same day, the Church permits them to be received up to about 20 days before or after the day the indulgenced work is performed.

Can’t make it to a church? Be not afraid

For the sick or others who are unable to make it to church that day, a plenary indulgence may still be obtained.

One must intend to make a confession, receive Communion, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father as soon as possible, while praying one Our Father and the Nicene Creed before an image of Jesus.

In addition, one also must pray “a devout invocation” to Christ such as “Merciful Jesus, I trust in you.”

Partial indulgence

A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who on that day pray “a legitimately approved invocation” with a contrite heart.

As is written in the decree, this invocation could be “Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!”

This is an abridged version of an article on CNA.

WATCH: Fr Ninian's call to the priesthood

Father Ninian Doohan, a priest at St Patrick's, The Cowgate, Edinburgh, reflects on his journey of discerning and answering the call to priesthood in this Shalom World interview.

He emphasises how God's call unfolds gradually over time, requiring a response to the grace already given.

From his childhood in Glasgow to his formation in Australia and Belgium, Father Doohan's path was marked by encounters with God's presence, often amidst challenges and uncertainties. Watch below or on YouTube via Shalom World.

If you are interested in exploring the priesthood contact our Director of Vocations Fr Andrew Garden at vocations@staned.org.uk