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| Aquinas Lecture |
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This year's Aquinas Lecture is entitled: "Faith, Reason and the Tasks of Education in a secular Age: A Christian Response to the New Atheism." and is given by Prof Bob Davis of Glasgow University on Monday 30th January at 7.30pm at University of Strathclyde Chaplaincy Centre, St Paul's Building, John Street Glasgow.
Entry free. Refreshments served afterwards.
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| Celtic Roots Mass |
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Next Sunday, 29th January, the annual Mass
welcoming citizens and visitors to Glasgow and the Celtic Connections Festival 2012 will be held at St Aloysius Church, Garnethill at 4.00 pm. The event is supported by choirs and instrumentalists and is a joy-filled sung Mass. The St Mungo Singers and Glasgow parish choirs will be joined by the choir of St Mungo’s, Alloa; Aisling Ghael and friends, with piper and harpist. The Vestments which will be used include the Sacred Threads ‘Vestments of the Celtic Saints’. Homilist is Fr Michael Hutson.
All welcome.
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Archbishop Conti's Letter for Christian Unity Week
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To mark the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Archbishop Conti has published the following letter:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The urgency of Christian Unity has never been so acute as in recent weeks. Amidst the civil tensions world wide there is a growing sense of solidarity among Christians. It is opportune that the church’s calendar gives us this time of year to renew and to re invigorate our efforts on the path to the full and visible unity of the Christian Churches.
We are particularly grateful to the churches in Poland who have prepared the materials for us We will all be changed and which we may use in services, prayer moments, bible study and in other ways during the Octave for Unity January 18th – 25th. The people of Poland have been used to changes in their political and civic lives, but the changes to which they refer are spiritual ones – changes of attitude to one another, changes in conduct. Through all their troubles they have always managed to hold on to what is essential, above all their Christian faith. That faith means constant renewal in our love of God and neighbour.
This leads us to consider that we too need to change to bring about the unity for which we pray: ‘Father, may they all be one’ (Jn 17,21) may require a renewal of the forms of church life that we are used to.
This year 2012, marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most profound moments of renewal in the Catholic Church, the Second Vatican Council. Recalling the events of the Council can inspire us to seek the renewal, which is necessary today, for Christian Unity. Pope Benedict has indicated that this is to be a Year of Faith …… a moment of grace and commitment to a more complete conversion to God, to strengthen our faith in Him and proclaim Him with joy to the people of our time.
May this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity be a moment to acknowledge together with Christians worldwide the transforming love of God for each one of us and to continue in our efforts to bring His message of love to all the world that is waiting for the Good News. |
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City Centre Churches Open Doors days during Unity Week
St Aloysius, Garnethill will be open to all on Thursday, 19 January at 7.00 pm for a prayerful tour of the church. Tea available afterwards.
Anderston Kelvingrove will be open on Friday, 20 January from 2.00 - 5.00 pm. There will be a tour of the building used by several church organisations and community groups, followed by tea/coffee and a brief prayer for Christian Unity.
St Patrick's Anderston is open each day from 8.00 am until 5.00 pm (with the exception of Wednesday, when it closes at 12 noon) so anyone can drop in anytime. Tours available on Saturday, 21 January from 11.00 am until 1.00 pm with an informal service based on the Week of Prayer leaflet at around 12.45 pm.
The Quaker Meeting House will be open between 2.30 pm and 5.30 pm on Sunday 22 January.
There will be an exhibit on Elizabeth Fry, information sheets about the building and some of its former users. There will be 15 minute Meetings for Worship based on silence at times during the afternoon - refreshments available.
St Andrew's Cathedral, Clyde Street is open any weekday for a visit. On Monday, 23 January from 3.00 - 4.00 pm there will be a guided visit and short prayer service for Christian Unity, followed by refreshments.
18 - 25 January 2012 |
Molendinar Lecture |
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| Archbishop Conti has delivered the inaugural Molendinar Lecture on the topic "Glasgow: A Tale of Two Cathedrals". The event, held in the City Chambers, saw a large audience hear the Archbishop give a historical, artistic and theological address crafted round the buildings of Glasgow Cathedral in High Street and St Andrew's Cathedral in Clyde Street. The Molendinar Lecture was part of the St Mungo Festival currently running, and it is hoped that it will become an annual event. The full text of the Archbishop's lecture can be found here
January 2012 |
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General Election Statement by the Bishops of Scotland |
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The political choices we face today are not the choices your parents and grandparents faced.
They would never have voted for any candidate who refused to protect unborn human life, who supported experimentation on human embryos, or planned to assist unfortunate people to commit suicide.
They would never have voted for a candidate who would undermine marriage and family in the way that has happened in recent years with cross-party support. They would never have voted for candidates who rejoiced in same sex unions. They would never have voted for candidates who would stop the Church offering adoption services. They would never have voted for candidates who were clearly hostile to the values they held dear.
Your parents and grandparents voted for those they believed shared the same fundamental Christian values as they did. It is for us to do likewise to shape a society where the dignity of each individual and life itself is respected.
As Catholics we know the importance of protecting every human life and of the value that married family life gives to society. These values were once widely shared but times have changed. Many of those standing for election, of whatever party, do not share our basic principles and values.
That is why we say to you: when you vote, make your faith count. Vote with your faith to protect human life; to support marriage and the family; to protect religious freedom; to protect Catholic education. Vote with your faith, and uphold the right of conscience and religious freedom.
In urging you to let your faith count at the ballot box, we ask you to think carefully before you cast your vote. Which candidate displays values closest to yours? Which candidate will best respect and protect your religious freedom and your freedom of conscience? Which candidate do you trust most to do a good job for you and your community?
As your bishops, it is not our intention to tell you which party to vote for. It is our duty to encourage you to engage with the political process and to vote for the candidate who best represents the values we, like our parents and grandparents before us, hold dear.
Archbishop Mario Conti has issued a Pastoral Letter reiterating the 'Make your Faith count' message. |
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Archbishop to receive Honorary Doctorate from Glasgow University |
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Archbishop Conti is to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the University of Glasgow this summer.
The award is in recognition of his significant contribution to the life of the University through his preaching, support of the Catholic Chaplaincy and the Faculty of Education and the development of Inter Faith Relations. The award also recognises Archbishop Conti’s work with the ecumenical movement as President of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and as an active member of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.
Born in Elgin in 1934, Archbishop Conti studied at the Gregorian University in Rome before being ordained in 1958. After working as an Assistant Priest at St Mary’s Cathedral, Aberdeen, he was appointed Parish Priest of St Joachim’s, Wick and St Anne’s in Thurso in 1962. Nominated Bishop of Aberdeen in 1977, he was appointed Archbishop of Glasgow by His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 2002. He is also an Honorary Professor of Theology at the University of Aberdeen and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Also honoured is Glasgow graduate, Rev Kathy Galloway who will receive an Honorary Degree in recognition of 40 years of academic and professional work in the fields of social justice, inter-religious learning, media and the creative arts and to the ecumenical movement.
Clerk of Senate & Vice Principal of the University of Glasgow, Graham Caie said: “The University is delighted to award Doctor of Divinity Honorary Degrees to Archbishop Conti and Rev Kathy Galloway in recognition of their contribution to the ecumenical life of Scotland and their close ties to the University of Glasgow.”
Archbishop Conti said: “I am very honoured to receive this degree and I am grateful to the University authorities."
The Honorary Degrees will be awarded at a ceremony in the Bute Hall at the University of Glasgow in June 2010.
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