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CARDINAL WINNING'S FUNERAL
 
One Scottish Newspaper covered the story in this way
 
To sights and sounds rarely witnessed by the banks of the Clyde, the funeral Mass for Cardinal Thomas Joseph Winning was celebrated in a spirit of fervent prayer and joyful hope at St. Andrew's Cathedral on Monday 25 June.

A white robed army of priests, 300 strong, processed in the blistering noon sunshine along Clyde Street into the cathedral, snaking their way past the Cardinal's remains and venerating the altar.


They were followed by bishops, archbishops and cardinals, including Cahal Daly, emeritus archbishop of Armagh, Desmond Connell of Dublin and Adrianus Simonis of Utrecht, Holland.

The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, was the last to enter the cathedral as the main concelebrant.

Representing Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Edward headed the guest list inside the cathedral along with Glasgow's Lord Provost, Alex Mosson, Scottish Secretary, Helen Liddell, who was present on behalf of the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and Scottish First Minister Henry McLeish.

Others included the Northern Ireland Secretary, John Reid, Michael Martin, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Scottish National Party Leader, John Swinney, Strathclyde Police Chief Constable, Sir John Orr and the chief of the Fire Brigade.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, John Millar, led guests from other Christian traditions, while members of the Jewish and Muslim faiths also took part.
Amid all the security, this was still a family occasion as the Cardinal's sister Margaret, her children and grandchildren, led the mourners.

They were supported by parishioners from across the Archdiocese, the diocesan curial staff and representatives of religious houses and numerous lay organisations. The presence of headteachers and senior secondary pupils underlined the Cardinal's commitment to Catholic education.

They heard Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Pablo Puente, express the condolences of Pope John Paul 'to the Scottish people who have lost a great Scot', saying he had a deep love for his country and her people.

In his homily, Bishop Joseph Devine of Motherwell described Cardinal Winning as 'the superstar of the Catholic Church in Scotland in the 20th century.' He said that he had packed the content of at least four lives into his 76 years, and that in his vocation as priest which he lived for 52 years he was 'pure gold.'

The Mass was followed by some 2000 people outside the cathedral on a giant screen and the live television broadcast was taken in six churches in various parts of the archdiocese where people took part and received Holy Communion.

At the final commendation, Cardinal Murphy-O' Connor sprinkled the deep wood coffin with holy water before incensing it.

Cardinal Winning's remains were then borne from the church by his relatives to the strains of 'God we praise you! God we bless you!' As it emerged into the sunlight applause rippled its way along the street in thanks for a life of devoted service and in support of the Cardinal's grieving family.

The Cardinal's coffin was carried round the side of the cathedral which was flanked by rows of priests and taken into the Chapter House and lowered into the crypt, to join his great friend Bishop Charles Renfrew and three of his predecessors as Archbishop of Glasgow - Charles Eyre, Donald Campbell and James Scanlan.