Papal Visit to the United Kingdom:

 As you will be aware the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI will visit Britain in September of this year. It is an official visit at the invitation of Her Majesty the Queen, who will meet him when he arrives in Edinburgh on Thursday September 16th. The pastoral side of the visit will begin that afternoon with an outdoor Mass in Glasgow, at approximately 5pm. It is important that to determine now how many people in each parish intend to be present at this Mass – invitations will be given to all who wish to be there. It is also important to book buses to take parishioners there, as soon as there is an indication of how many wish to travel. There will be no access for private cars within walking distance of the park. Indeed it should also be noted that there may be a half hour walk from where the buses are parked to the Mass venue. It is hoped a shuttle service will be provided for those who travel by public transport from the city centre to the park.

 The Holy Father will leave Scotland immediately after the Mass and will spend the following three days in England – the visit is being planned as a single event between Scotland and England, and there may be possibilities of attending the events in England, particularly the Mass for the Beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman.

Planning has already begun to make the Pope’s visit to Scotland a joyous and faith-filled occasion and it is hoped that many of the faithful will attend, along with friends from other churches whom  they may wish to invite. Inevitably some expenses will be incurred in this visit and the Bishops’ Conference has decided to have a national special collection on Pentecost Sunday, May 23rd, and we ask for the generous support of all the parishes. More details will be made public as and when we have them.

 Clergy News and Appointments:

We welcome Fr Colin MacInnes, home at present from Ecuador for medical examinations. We wish him well, and thank him for his help in South Uist and Eriskay through Holy Week.

We extend our sympathy to Fr Calum MacLellan on the death of Hector his brother – may he rest in peace. We continue to be very grateful for Fr Calum’s help in various parishes, especially in Glencoe during Lent.

Fr Andrew Barrett will become Parish Priest of St. Mary’s and St. Finnan’s on 1st May adding it to his present parish of St. Mary’s, Arisaig, where he will continue to reside.

Fr Donald Ewen Campbell will retire and reside in the recently renovated flat at Kilmory in the grounds of St. Mary’s, Arisaig. In thanking Fr Donald for his years of priestly ministry in a number of parishes across the Diocese, we wish him every happiness in his new home and we know that we can continue to call on his services in assisting Fr Andrew and doing supplies in other parishes.

Fr William MacLean will succeed Fr Ross Crichton as Diocesan Religious Education Adviser and Director of Religious Education. We thank Fr William for taking on this post and Fr Ross for his work over the past year.

Mr Roy Maxwell has been appointed as the Catholic Church’s representative on the ACTS Finance Committee – we are grateful to Roy for taking on this extra commitment on behalf of the Church in Scotland.

 St. Andrew’s Deanery/Diocesan Vocations Mass:

As mentioned earlier this will take place on Wednesday April 28th in St. Andrew’s Rothesay – at 12 noon. It will be good if some people can travel for this Mass, especially in this Year of the Priest. If you cannot come, please endeavour to keep this as a special day of Prayer for Vocations in your own parish, and pray for our own seminarians – David Connor, Tony Wood and Stanislaw Pamula.

Blair Douglas’ Gaelic Mass will be broadcast on Radio nan Gaidheil on Easter Sunday at 3pm.

Blessed Mary MacKillop’s Canonization:

Although people may not be travelling to Rome on the trip advertised by The Sisters of St. Joseph they will still need to contact them for tickets for the Mass of Canonization and other celebrations in Rome –those travelling should contact Srs Audrey and Therese at 01392 700989 for their tickets.

Revised English Translation of the Roman Missal:

A pack has been distributed to clergy explaining the changes which will be brought in when the new English translation of the Roman Missal is introduced – probably some time next year. An interactive DVD “Become One Body One Spirit in Christ” is being produced with 400 minutes of catechetical material in preparation for the New Missal – a short promotional video introducing this resource can be found at this website .


 With my best wishes and every blessing for Holy Week and Easter,
 
Rt Rev Joseph Toal,

Bishop of Argyll and the Isles.