Light of thenorth advent 2015

Light of the NorthDont be left in the Dark Get the liGht of the north

I s s u e 3 0 , A u t u m n , 2 0 1 5

Light of the NorthI am the Light of the World

Archbishop Emeritus, Mario Conti shares his favourite hymnsPage 20

Bigger on the Inside

Carol ZaleskiPage 24

Each copy of the Light of the

North costs over 1.00 to produce and we would ask you to consider this

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R.C. Diocese of Aberdeen Charitable Trust, a registered Scottish Charity no. SC005122

Saints Louis and Zlie Martin -Sr Anna Christi

Page 4

Surprised by MercyBishop Hugh Gilbert OSBPage 3

Light of the Northdiocese

David Broadfoot MBE

If you have access to the internet do take a look at some of the many inspiring talks and homilies given by Bishop Hugh Gilbert and other members of the clergy and which are now available on You Tube. These include videos of the Diocesan Faith Formation Seminars led by Bishop Hugh which cover a wide range of topics such as Why does God allow evil? and The Seven Deadly Sins . To access these videos just go to the You tube site and search for the Diocese of Aberdeen channel.

HUGH

Since the announcement of the South Range Appeal at Pluscarden Abbey and the establishment of the appeal office at 216 High Street in Elgin, David Broadfoot MBE, the appeal Development Director, has produced a strategic plan taking the appeal process through till autumn 2017. The plan is based on 4 central pillars to raise what is now the revised figure of 5 million.

The first pillar is submitting a bid for 1.5 million to the Heritage Lottery Fund and this is currently being driven forward by John Gleeson, a long-time supporter of the abbey and a senior partner with Gleeson Historic Buildings Consultants. John is an expert at navigating the minefield that is the Lottery Funding criteria!

The second pillar is the raising of 1.5 million from private donors and charitable trusts and this is being led by the Development Director. With the Development assistant, Alison Clark, researching a database of charitable trusts, the Director will be briefing groups of possible private donors UK wide and this process kicks off on Tuesday 3rd November in Edinburgh. Any interested groups within the diocese, or further afield, who would like the Director to come and deliver a presentation should get in touch with the appeal office (details below). Whilst the briefings are clearly aimed at donors it is equally important that word of the appeal is spread and to that end church groups, Rotary Clubs

etc. are, and must be, included. The third pillar is crowd funding which aims to raise 0.5

million and will kick off when the quantities of saleable items are known (Slates etc.) and the website, which is currently under construction, is up and running. The Director is undertaking a crowd funding course to ensure that maximum advantage will taken of this method. All this will be enhanced with the use of social media (Facebook and Twitter) which are also being set up by a social media expert.

The final pillar is a major event aimed at raising the final 1.5 million and is currently in the planning stage. This historic and innovative project will provide a major PR hook for the entire fundraising effort and above all it will mean that the appeal supporters in UK and worldwide will be able to come together and actually participate in physical fundraising as opposed to the whole exercise being one of sitting up and begging. Details of this exciting event will be revealed in the coming weeks!

The final plans for the appeal, the work of architect Philip Mercer, a well known expert in the field of restoring heritage buildings, have now all been agreed by the abbey and they are being submitted to Moray Council for approval. This project, one of the biggest of its kind undertaken in Moray in recent times, has been given the backing of Moray Council, Moray Chamber of Commerce and Moray Speyside Tourism.

David Broadfoot MBE [email protected] Clark [email protected] Appeal Office 01343 555038 Manned Tuesday and Wednesday but with an answer phone facility.

Pluscarden Abbeys South Range Appeal

Architects computer generated image of the new South Range at Pluscarden Abbey

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diocese

Our cover this issue which depicts the Adoration of the Shepherds was painted by the Dutch painter, Gerard Van Honthorst in 1622. Early in his career the artist travelled to Italy where he came under the influence of the great Caravaggio. It was Caravaggio who inspired his interest in unusual lighting and the dramatic effects of light and shadow to create nocturnal scenes. For this Honthorst was given the nickname

Gherardo delle Notte (Gerard of the Night).In order to achieve a balanced composition the three shepherds to the left are grouped in one

triangle while the heads of Mary, Joseph and the ox form another triangle to the right. This traditional, yet strikingly realistic, representation of the visitation of the shepherds draws

the viewer into the stable with the shepherds. We can sense the wonder and delight that these astonished rural folk feel in the presence of the newly born, the incarnate Messiah. The incorporation of the babys shining, bright light speaks to the theme of Christ as The Light. Honthorsts use of light in the midst of dark night may be better understood when we learn that he had been described by a contemporary as very reserved and melancholic. In this Christmas season, may we reflect, perhaps as Honthorst did, upon the great gift of the Christ-child, who brings forth light and hope even in the dark and melancholy corners of our lives.

up front

If you turn to page 19 of this issue Clare Benedict raises the often discussed question, Why did Christ choose Peter to lead the Church? Its an intriguing question and one might also be tempted to ask, Why did Christ choose any of the disciples?

It has been suggested that, if Jesus had sent his twelve disciples for recruitment profiling, this might well be the response he would have received: Thank you for submitting the rsums of the twelve men you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization. All of the candidates have now undergone extensive psychological testing and have been interviewed in depth by our Vocational Aptitude Consultant. The data has now been processed and the results conclusively demonstrate that most of your nominees are lacking in the requisite background, education and natural ability for the enterprise you have in mind. Unfortunately, we would consider none of the candidates to be team players. Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper and Andrew has no leadership qualities. The two brothers James and John place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas shows a sceptical attitude that would tend to undermine morale. Matthew has been blacklisted by the Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus, definitely have radical leanings and registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale. One of the nominees however, Judas Iscariot, shows real potential. He is obviously a man of ability and resourcefulness, has good people skills and has contacts in all the right places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible and we would recommend him to you.

In this season of Advent, which above all else is about hope, that assessment of the twelve apostles surely offers us encouragement: the knowledge that, in spite of all our shortcomings, we too possess gifts and often unforeseen potential; that, despite our flaws, we are loved as the first disciples were and have our place in the divine plan.

To turn now to this Advent issue of the Light of the North, do read Bishop Hughs introduction to the Jubilee Year of Mercy on the following page. In addition, Sr Anna Christi tells the story of Louis and Zlie Martin, the parents of Thrse of Lisieux, who were canonized in October (page 3). Sr Janet Fearns Advent Magnificat which is accompanied by a truly faith inspiring photograph is not to be missed (page23). Also, reporting from Djibouti, Fr Peter Barry, our resident birdman, experiences two of his rarest encounters!

A Very Blessed Advent, Cowan

contents

New Refectory/Lecture Hall


Surprised by Mercy Surprised by joy is a phrase we know. It opens a poem of

William Wordsworths and was taken by C. S. Lewis as the title of his 1955 autobiography, the account of his conversion to Christianity. Pope Francis, it seems, wants us to be surprised by mercy. In this Jubilee Year, he writes, let us allow God to surprise us. Mercy is Gods surprise. Its not what the human being naturally expects God or life or others to deliver. But it is the heart of God. This is why Pope Francis has called for this Year. It runs from 8 December 2015 to 20 November 2016. It begins therefore, on the feast of Marys Immaculate Conception, when the mercy of God set Mary outside the sway of sin. It ends on the solemnity of Christ the Universal King when we glimpse the final effect of Gods mercy, the liberation of all creation from slavery to death. Gods mercy is his surprising response to a world marked and marred by sin and death.

What is mercy? For St Thomas Aquinas, mercy (misericordia in Latin) is what answers to miseria. Miseria is not just misery, a sense of feeling emotionally wretched. It is more. It is the opposite of what the Ancients called beatitudo or the vita beata, blessedness or the blessed life. These, says the Bible, are what the human being is made for, called to, destined for. Miseria is everything in us and around us that contradicts, thwarts, holds us back from what we most essentially long for and from what God has in store for us. Miseria is the fallen human condition; our predicament; the mess we are in and spread around us. Its our unlikeness to God, our absence from the primal garden where all was well; its our personal and collective slaveries in Egypt and exiles in Babylon. And misericordia / mercy is the humble human word for Gods astonishing response. To speak humanly, its what wells up in the heart (cor) of God and shines in his eyes when he looks at us. This is beautifully disclosed at the beginning of the story of the Exodus: Then the Lord said, I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters; I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey (Ex 3:7-8).

That quotation leads on to something else St Thomas underlines. Gods mercy is no mere sad, head-shaking, hand-wringing feeling sorry for us. It is something active. It is something God shows in action. Gods mercy aims to repel or expel, St Thomas says, everything lacking, every shred of miseria that can cling to us. It transforms situations. It is a power. Hence the famous prayer, used on the 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time, which begins: O God, who

reveal your power above all in your mercy and forgiveness And this power does not stop, as it were, at cancelling out the bad. It both removes the negative and imparts the positive. It replaces lack with abundance. It brings us into a better place. It opens up for us the good and broad land for which our whole being longs and which will be given us, in ways beyond our conceiving, in the new heaven and earth of the Kingdom of God. If we are to be merciful like the Father, then we too must do mercy. Thus the Church speaks of the 14 spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

A third thing St Thomas says: A merciful person is affected by the miseria of others as if it were his own. I have come down, the Lord says to Moses, come down to share the miseria of his people and lead them out of it. For us, that evokes the Incarnation, when the eternal Son of God came down from heaven and by the Holy Spirit was made incarnate of the Virgin Mary. In Christ, God wears a human heart. He surprises the woman caught in adultery by forgiving her. He surprises Peter, full of his denial, by asking for his love. In the humanity of Christ, in his anger and tears and compassion, in his teaching and miracles and prayer, and most of all in his passion and death, God is affected by [our] miseria as if it were his own. In fact, theres no as if about it. It is his own. He takes it into himself, is immersed in it, goes down to the world of the dead with it. Then comes the greatest surprise of all

This is the chance the Church is giving us in a special way this coming year. This is the Holy Door she is opening for us. To discover Gods mercy. To learn it, imbibe it, feel it, realise we are nothing without it. To show it to each other, in matters small and large. To create a culture of it.

Mercy is not what we expect. Mercy requires an admission not everything is perfect, even in ourselves. Mercy seems weak. It annoys us, strangely. The grace of this year may be for these blind spots and hardnesses to disappear. As Cardinal Kasper has written, Mercy courts every human being to the very end; it activates the entire communion of saints on behalf of every individual, while taking human freedom with radical seriousness. Mercy is the good, comforting, uplifting, hope-granting message on which we can rely in every situation and which we can trust and build upon, both in life and in death. Under the mantle of mercy, there is a place for everyone of good will. It is our refuge, our hope, and our consolation. May the merciful Lord surprise us!

Yours devotedly in Christ,

Bishop Hugh OSB

A Letter from Bishop Hugh Gilbert O.S.B.


Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia at Greyfriars

Sr Anna Christi

Many people are familiar with the beautiful story and person of St. Therese of Lisieux, whom Pope St. Pius X called the greatest saint of modern times. Less known is the inspiring story of her parents, Louis and Zelie Martin, who were canonized this past 18th October during the Ordinary General Synod on the Family. In their truly heroic lives of holiness and surrender to Gods will, Louis and Zelie modelled for their daughter the little way of confidence and love, which she lived and articulated in The Story of a Soul. Who were these inestimable parents, as Therese called them, and how did they use the challenges of married life to rise to sanctity?

Louis Martin (1823-1894) was a quiet man, given to contemplation and focused work. He had tried to become a contemplative monk, but his difficulties in learning the requisite Latin deterred his entrance. He was a successful watchmaker by trade and enjoyed fishing and travelling, taking journeys as far as Turkey in his later years. He was 35 when he met and married Zelie Guerin.

Louis was a man of profound surrender to the will of God. Death and separation purified him repeatedly of any false sense of control. Sadly, he and Zelie lost four children in infancy. He also lost Zelie to cancer, leaving him with five daughters, ages four to sixteen, to raise. Therese then developed a psychological illness in which her life was despaired of. Happily, a miraculous cure from Our Lady of Victories restored her health. One by one, his daughters entered cloistered religious life, in which they would be physically separated from him forever. In his later years he suffered from cerebral arteriosclerosis, a hardening of the walls of the arteries of the brain and while he often had perfect lucidity, at other times his behaviour was humiliating to himself and his family. It was his fatherly love and abandonment to God which allowed and encouraged his family members to follow the path chosen for them by God.

Where Louis was quiet and contemplative, Zelie was active and industrious. She had also considered a religious vocation, but the superiors discerned her vocation was marriage. To support herself, Zelie became a successful entrepreneur with Alenon lace-making, competently completing her own work, supervising her employees, and managing her shop. It was while passing Louis one day on a bridge that an interior inspiration overwhelmed her with a sense of

destiny. Mutual friends encouraged them to meet and the happy twenty-seven year old Zelie found her lifes vocation with the pious and dignified Louis Martin.

Zelie loved her life as wife and mother and also displayed heroic surrender to Gods will. Of her five remaining children the eldest, Pauline and Marie and youngest, Celine and Therese, were pretty, vivacious, and clever. But the middle child, Leonie, was a source of constant concern. Prone to irritability and instability, she suffered from eczema over her entire body. She was expelled four times from school and later, three times from religious life. Zelie worried about this child, knowing a mothers love could guide Leonie successfully into adulthood. As she accepted her own death and looked forward to heaven, Zelie released her children into the providential care of God. Her surrender was to bear fruit. Leonie finally succeeded in entering a Visitation convent, where following the little way of confidence and love articulated by her sister Therese, a miracle of grace was wrought in her. She is now declared venerable, and her cause for beatification is open.

The daily life of the Martin family was suffused with the presence of Christ and his mother, Mary. Work was seen as a blessing and a

Saints Louis and Zelie Martin

The Story of a Family

Light of the North

On 23rd August, Bishop Hugh Gilbert presented the Caritas Award to four young people from St Margaret's Parish in Shetland. Sarah Maguire, Louise Lavery, Harry Lavery and Aiden

Grogan had devoted over four hundred hours of their spare time to helping in the Parish and community, meeting regularly for prayer and discussion about their faith and then putting what they had learnt into action.

And there was plenty of action! Their activities included organising and taking part in Advent and Lenten prayer services and preparing and serving lunch for senior citizens. They also raised over 1500 for SCIAF by walking 19 miles, washing cars, packing shopping and selling raffle tickets etc. and raised over 500 for Asha Niketan School in India. In addition, they assisted the Salvation Army to prepare food parcels, helped clear and prepare the Chapel ready for its refurbishment, arranged coffee mornings, served a Christmas festive season meal for parish seniors and produced an Advent themed puppet show, which was shown to both senior citizens and children.

Work within the Church included serving at the altar or reading, running a Fair-trade stall, cleaning the Church and cutting grass and helping count the Parish collections. Pheew!

The group also received the Saltire Award for their efforts and two of the group have also received the Duke of Edinburgh Award and will be taking part in World Youth Day 2016.

Their hard work has been appreciated by everyone and they all wish to continue helping and supporting the Parish in the years to come.

diocese

way to provide for the family. Attending daily Mass and gathering for family prayer, reading the lives of the saints, and promoting the practice of virtue were hallmarks of the Martins formation of their children. The children were encouraged to give little sacrifices to Jesus to prepare them to surrender to Gods will as their parents did. The family celebrated together, were affectionate, and appreciated each others gifts. The constant dark shadows of death and illness saddened them, but acceptance helped them to bear the grief. The goal of the entire family was heaven, where they would all be

reunited in endless bliss. By putting God at the centre of their lives, the Martins were not deprived of anything that made life truly beautiful and great, it made their lives more meaningful and joyful.

Louis and Zelies hallmark acceptance of Gods will served as an inspiration to their daughters and now are an inspiration to the entire Church. Knowing the difficulties in raising children, managing a business, and running a home, they will certainly intercede for us who long to reach heaven as they did. Saints Louis and Zelie Martin, pray for us!

In August 1994, Archbishop Mario Conti, then Bishop of Aberdeen, celebrated the annual Highland Deanery Mass at the medieval Collegiate Church in Tain. Twenty-one years later, on Saturday 22nd August, he was welcomed back to preside at this years Pilgrimage Day.

The Deanery Mass was held in Tain this year in order to provide the climax of a season of events commemorating the importance of the Collegiate Church of St. Duthac. The church was filled with pilgrims and clergy from the surrounding parishes of Tain, Dingwall, Alness, Invergordon, Brora, Wick and Thurso, Fortrose, Beauly, Inverness, Culloden, Nairn, Aviemore and Fort Augustus.

The Pilgrimage celebrated the granting of the Papal Bull, issued by Pope Innocent VIII to Tain in 1492 which confirmed the collegiate status of the church1. The term, Bull comes from Latin Bulla referring to the lead seal attached to papal documents. Papal recognition of the Church and Shrine at Tain led to a most active

1 See last summers issue of the Light of the North and Philip Wards historical account of this unique document.

period of Pilgrimage, encouraged by the numerous annual visits of James IV and it became a place of royal pilgrimage by Scottish Monarchs throughout the centuries with Tain becoming Scotlands first Royal Burgh.

On his arrival, the Archbishop was pleased to be shown around the Museum and Pilgrimage Centre and was able to inspect the original Papal Bull, accompanied by the Dean and the Museum Manager. At the weekend, pilgrims were also able to view a replica of the Papal Bull in its original silver frame at the museum and buy copies of the rare Vatican document written in Latin and now translated into English, Gaelic and several European languages for the benefit of visitors.

The Archbishop was joined by Tains Parish Priest, Fr. Richard Reese, and other clergy from the deanery for the Mass at 12 noon. The Mass celebrated The Queenship of Mary and the Archbishop preached on our devotion to Our Lady as well as emphasising the importance of pilgrimage to the site of St. Duthacs life and work.

Directly after the Mass, the clergy and congregation formed

Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti celebrates Highland Deanery Mass

Hard work recognised with Caritas award

Light of the Northdiocesea procession and followed a route down to the shore below the present town, where the early medieval settlement had been established. Here, on a small hill, the ruined chapel marking the place of St. Duthacs birth was chosen for final prayers, a hymn to St. Duthac and the singing of the Salve Regina.

The assembled pilgrims then made their way back into the town and were entertained to refreshments by the local parishioners in the present Catholic Church, St. Vincents. There was an opportunity

for people to meet old friends and particularly for the Archbishop to greet many members of his former diocese.

This years Pilgrimage Day was particularly blessed with beautiful weather, and many of the visitors remarked on the attractive surroundings in the Royal Burgh of Tain.

Philip Ward

Fr. James Bell, Dean of the Highland Deanery leads the procession from St. Duthacs Collegiate Church to Old St.

Duthacs Church ruins.

Childrens confirmations

Archbishop Mario inspects the original Papal Bull accompanied by Fr James Bell and Museum Manager, Sheila Munro

Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti with clergy from the Highland Deanery

Final prayers, a hymn to St. Duthac and the singing of the Salve Regina at the site of the ruined chapel

The confirmations took place at Saint James the Great Episcopal Church on Sunday 6th of September at a Mass concelebrated by Bishop Hugh Gilbert and Fr Gerard Murphy, Parish Priest of St Marys, Stonehaven.

It was a beautiful service in which the children played a full part, delivering the readings, the psalm and their own bidding prayers.

After the service the children celebrated with their friends and families in the church hall with tea and cake.

The children were prepared for confirmation by Fr Gerard and Catechist, Pia Cora.


A portrait of the Rt Rev Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB by the artist Stephanie Vandem was unveiled to a small gathering of friends, in early September at Bishop's House in Aberdeen.

Stephanie spoke about the project that started a couple of years ago: I exhibited at Blairs as part of NEOS (North East Open Studio). Vikki Duncan was the curator and she took me around to view the collection. As a portrait painter, I made an observation that there were no portraits of more recent Bishops and as we chatted away, Vikki told me how Bishop Hugh was a more humble and not a 'flashy' kind of person, if you know what I mean? Something in me started to think that it could be really interesting to paint someone whose job was to 'think' and ponder about 'right and wrong', and perhaps portray a 'simpler' aspect of Christianity, that sort of thing.

I left it there for a couple of years. Then one day the idea came back to my head and I approached the Aberdeen Diocesan Office, enquiring if Bishop Hugh would allow me to paint a wee study of him. I was interesting in capturing his 'inner world', that of quietness and contemplation.

To my surprise he said yes. So, we met and chatted and the process began. I made lots of studies of his face and we started to explore different locations that would best convey something about himself and his work. We settled for an image of him in his private flat at his desk, facing away from the viewer, reading. Some elements of the image struck me

as interesting and symbolic such as the wooden blocks to lift his desk, the half hanging curtains, his sandals and the bright light coming from the window onto his books and face.

Bishop Hugh began to consider the idea of an 'official' image, and it was decided that rather than face away from the viewer, a portrait might be more appropriate in the form it is now, for an official image. It turned into an official commission that was unveiled in early September.

Stephanie added I tried to keep some of the elements from the more 'intimate' image and combine a traditional style with a more contemporary look to convey the relevance

Artist captures Bishop in a reflective mood

Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB with artist, Stephanie Vandem

On Monday the 12th October the Secular Franciscan fraternities from Ellon and Inverness joyfully participated in a Profession Mass in the beautiful surroundings of St Margaret's, Huntly, at which Hazel Naughton made her Rite of Profession to the lay Order ( a rite also known as the Permanent Commitment to the Gospel Life).

Ellon and Inverness fraternities are within the Scottish Region of the National Fraternity of Great Britain which is also part of the worldwide Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis (OFS), founded over 800 years ago by Saint Francis of Assisi. The OFS is represented by fraternities in all countries of the world where the Catholic Faith is practised.

The members of her family joined with the fraternities at the Mass concelebrated by Rev Max McKeown OFM Conv and Rev Chris Brannan. The readings for Mass were from the Memorial ofSaint Francis.

Hazel said: "A day of wild joy, a day of challenge, a day of trust. The end of a 3-year journey. And then suddenly it became the beginning of a lifelong journey to live the passionate love Francis had for Brother Jesus, to share with the whole world the amazing joy of the Incarnation."

Glen Reynolds OFS, from Christ the King fraternity in Ellon commented, "Hazel's commitment to the gospel life publicly

proclaimed during the celebration, reminds us of something which is also made present every day in the Eucharist: After the example of Christ and in union with His own act of thanksgiving, we are to present ourselves before the Father as living sacrifices of praise given for the life of the world."

A joyful Hazel Naughton OFS (centre) with Rev Chris Brannan, Rev Max McKeown OFM Conv and her family and friends

Hazel makes profession to Franciscan lay order

Light of the Northdioceseof it nowadays. Hence the treatment of the background being all about the colours present in his study where the furniture translated into colour, the blue and white making reference to outside/sky/heavens. And the book he's holding incorporates his love of reading and thinking: upon the word. The text on it is also of importance as it refers to Bishop Hugh's motto. I wanted to convey a simple look so we kept the metal chair and used his less formal attire.

The whole process took about a year and was partly captured

by STV and in a You Tube link: https://youtu.be/v33Z7dL4KAAI really appreciated the opportunity to paint Bishop Hugh

and to explore the challenge of portraying a public figure while respectfully revealing a little of the private person. I hope the painting will remain relevant for future generations in the years to come.

Glen Reynolds

Installation of the first parish priest to be appointed to St Columbas, Culloden

On Wednesday 12th August Fr. Domenico Zanr was installed as Parish Priest of St. Columbas Culloden. The Principal Celebrant was the Right Reverend Hugh Gilbert OSB, Bishop of Aberdeen, with Vicar General Fr. Stuart Chalmers, Rev. James Bell, Rev. John Allen, Rev. Richard Reese, Fr. Andrzej Harden SJ concelebrating.

Fr. Domenico chose the Votive Mass of Jesus Christ the High Priest for the Celebration, with some favourite and familiar hymns including Alleluia Sing to Jesus and O God, We Give Ourselves Today.

A large congregation gathered for this historic event and to witness Fr. Domenicos Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity as Bishop Hugh addressed both Fr. Domenico and the St. Columbas Parish congregation with the questions of Allegiance and Support for their new parish priest.

Bishop Hugh Gilbert, spoke warmly about the succession of priests who had encouraged and assisted in the growth of the Culloden community. He spoke of, the meaning of Parish as the centre of the community it represents, and offered his blessing to the congregation for the continued development and fundraising towards a priests house on the church site at Culloden.

The sun shone brightly during the Mass, lighting the altar and lectern, and remained throughout the evening, enabling the congregation to enjoy refreshments served on the outdoor patio area.

A wonderful celebration, and for many, a once in a lifetime chance to take part in the installation, not only of a parish

priest, but the first parish priest of a new church. St. Columbas, Culloden is Scotlands newest Catholic

Church, built in 2008 and consecrated on 1st November 2008, All Saints Day. The new church was granted full parish status in 2015 by Bishop Hugh Gilbert, with Fr. Domenico Zanr becoming its first parish priest. The multi-national congregation at Culloden is made up of parishioners from the expanding community of Inverness East, including, Culloden, Smithton, Westhill, Balloch, Nairnside and the proposed new town of Tornagrain, close to Inverness Airport.

It brings to three, the number of churches in the Inverness area: St. Marys; St. Ninians and now, St Columbas which serve the growing Catholic International Community in the Highland Capital.

Mass at St. Columbas Culloden is at 9.30am each Sunday morning, where a warm welcome awaits visitors and locals.

Fr Domenico Zanr addresses the congregation during his Installation Mass

Pluscarden Abbey has a large wooden altar table it no longer needs. The table was used for the Mass in honour of St. John Ogilvie in the Keith Stadium on 4 July. The monks of Pluscarden would be very grateful to any priest who felt able to find an appropriate home for this altar table, and to come and take it away.

Please contact Br. Michael: [email protected], or Fr. Benedict: [email protected] or ring 01343 890 257.Bishop Hugh Gilbert and Fr. Domenico Zanr share a light -hearted moment

Altar table free to good home


Aberdeen Circle, the 107th of the Catenian Association, was founded on 27 April 1931 and, until alphabetical changes in the Catenian Directory from Circle to Provincial order, it was affectionately known as the First Circle in the Book.

The evening began with the 900th Circle Meeting at Bishops House in the West End of Aberdeen, followed by Mass in the private chapel attended by 50 members, wives and guests. Mass was concelebrated by Very Reverend Stuart Chalmers, Vicar General of the Diocese of Aberdeen and Father Isaac Nsiah from Ghana, who has just arrived in the diocese for a two year period. Afterwards dinner was provided in the Bishops drawing room and the company settled down in prospect of a splendid evenings entertainment.

Circle President, Steve Stuart presided over the evening and, after a few words of introduction from Father Stuart, member George Brand launched into a potted history of the Circle. Statistically, he revealed, there have been 191 members in total over the last 84 years with 43 members serving as President, three serving as Director, and one proudly as Grand President, the late Peter Laing. The Circles senior member was present, Mario Vicca with his wife Joan. Although it was noted that the Circle has a great history of entertaining Grand Presidents and their ladies, regrettably Grand President Peter Woodford and Ann could not be present, but they had very much enjoyed their tour of all the other Scottish Circles just three weeks previously.

One or two notable occasions were shared with the company by George who then referred those present to the back of the dinner menu which highlighted significant meetings and anniversaries celebrated over the years. The 500th meeting in April 1980 was indeed a milestone, when the Circle reached the dizzy heights of 51 members. The meeting was recorded in Peter Lanes History of the Catenian Association which chronicled developments between

1908 and 1983. One of the photographs chosen to illustrate Catenian activities was Aberdeen Circles 500th meeting and Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated in St. Marys Cathedral, Aberdeen by Cardinal Gordon Gray. The following year the Circle celebrated its Golden Jubilee, with equal ceremonial and social activity.

George also proposed a toast to the guests, thanking members of the clergy for their attendance and expressing appreciation for the celebration of Mass at the beginning of the evening. Catenian guests present included: Province 22 Director Eddie ODonnell and his wife Catherine, from Stirling Circle; Provincial President Peter Bleasdale, from Glasgow, Harrow and Glasgow Giffnock Circles and Circle President David March and his wife Patricia representing West Lothian St. Mary who are all well known in Scottish Circles. Two prospective new members were also present with their wives, Sean and Mary OBrien, and Bill and Gill Barrie. Director Eddie ODonnell replied on behalf of the guests and President Steve Stuart rounded off the evening with some of his famous limericks.

Aberdeen Circle meet for the 900th time

Smiling faces at the close of the evening

May the mountains bring forth peace and the hills, justice! (Ps 72) Im sure the psalmists words would resonate well in the heart of every pilgrim who has visited Montserrat. They certainly did in mine. This holy place sends each person away with a heart full of peace, joy and serenity.

Where does this peace come from but the grace that Our Lady bestows on those who pilgrimage to her shrine? At one oclock every day the boys choir, Escolania de Montserrat sing the Virolai, the hymn to Our Lady of Montserrat which contains the words, star of Montserrat, light up the Catalan land, guide us to the sky. She has lit up the Catalan land for she is at the heart of Catalonias identity and culture and she attracts about two million pilgrims every year, even people from the remotest parts of the planet, like the Scottish Highlands, to come and feel the awe and wonder of Gods majesty and beauty.

Montserrat, literally called the serrated mountain is a remarkable place because of its unique rock formations but mainly because of the statue of Our Lady and the Benedictine monastery which has been here since the eleventh century; it has existed in various shapes and forms, as it has been

through a Napoleonic war which saw its destruction, and the Spanish Civil War during which some monks were killed, but now it has been restored to glory. Nestling in the towers and crags of the mountain, today it is an imposing, breathtaking, spectacularly beautiful sight. Currently, there are about sixty monks at Montserrat and of all them are Catalan. Montserrat is the second most popular place of pilgrimage in Spain, after

Montserrat: One of Gods Holy MountainsChristopher Doig

Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB with seminarians, Emmet ODowd and Christopher Doig

Light of the NorthdioceseSantiago de Compostela and is the centre of Catalan culture and identity. It is almost impossible to separate the monastery from the Catalan peoples identity. The most visible sign of their love for Catalonia is the museum housing a significant and eclectic collection of paintings, all of which were donated by the Catalan people or acquired from other monasteries.

The Bishop and we, seminarians, spent some days there for a holiday-retreat this summer. I wasnt quite sure what to expect when going there but whatever was in my mind was blown into pieces as the days unfolded. I thought that staying in a Catalan monastery for a few days would be a familiar experience . . . and it was - we

got up early and said our prayers, we had our lunch and went for walks but in that ordinariness of life there was something extraordinary: beautiful simplicity. That is the way to holiness: carrying out your duties and doing the most ordinary of tasks with love. There was, however, another aspect to our wonderful retreat: the monastic hospitality, which meant that every kindness was shown to us. The monks really went out of their way to make sure we felt at home, and so, without knowing what was coming up next, our whole stay was planned with guided tours of the museum, the library (which has half a million books, but they dont have a Polish Missal), the boys choir school (the oldest in Europe), a hike up the mountain with the novices, one of whom was nicknamed Brother mountain goat, and an introduction to the spiritual exercises of Montserrat, that is, tasting the monasterys own liquors while trying to teach the monks some Doric.

Having shared my reflections on this unforgettable opportunity to experience the Benedictine way of life in Catalonia, let me end with an adaptation of the Canticle of Daniel:

O all you monks of the Lord, O bless the Lord,And all you choristers, O bless the Lord,And you, caves and rocks, O bless the Lord,And you, bats and mountain goats, O bless the Lord.To Him be highest glory and praise forever.

Statue of Our Lady of Montserrat also known as La Moreneta ( the

dark little one)

In September, after weeks of prayerful preparation, a group of pilgrims from around the Diocese of Aberdeen joined others from Newcastle, Jedburgh and Leicester to participate in what has become an annual ecumenical five day pilgrimage following in the footsteps of thousands of pilgrims to the peaceful Holy Island of Lindisfarne.

Reverend John Woodside, a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Aberdeen who resides in Banff, is an experienced spiritual formator, guide and pastor and coordinates and facilitates these ecumenical pilgrimages that are becoming increasingly popular. Deacon John explained, These contemporary ecumenical pilgrimages have been taking place for some 15 years and places are always quickly filled by people from throughout the UK and beyond.

Traditional pilgrimage were journeys to holy places undertaken from motives of devotion in order to obtain supernatural help, or as acts of penance or thanksgiving and these elements are incorporated into this programme which blends some cultural expectations with a contemporary Celtic-style spirituality. This provides an opportunity for some time out, individual space and fulfilment, with the additional prospect of pilgrims discovering their personal place in the world. For some, what may begin as a solo or group journey grows into a memorable communal experience on the way that becomes a life-changing occurrence, particularly for those who originate from places where church and community life has all but disappeared. Our pilgrimage is an opportunity for deepening relationships with God, and the people who journey with us, living for a few days within a peaceful and joyful atmosphere of Christian community and hospitality.

Father Colin Davies, currently parish priest for Thurso and

Wick, celebrated daily Mass with both pilgrims and locals at Saint Aidans RC Church on the island. He was on his first pilgrimage to Lindisfarne and said: Ive been waiting a long time to go on this particular pilgrimage and it has met my expectations, and more!

Further encouraging comments from the pilgrims reflect their experiences. Brian Osborne from Jedburgh said, We are most blessed to have been participants in a spiritually uplifting few days which have more than recharged the batteries, and Jackie Wilkinson, a veteran of the great pilgrimage to Compostela, commented, Such good memories of the wonderful pilgrimage we made to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.

This small Christian community has now dispersed, but planning is already underway for next years pilgrimage to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Would you like to participate? Maybe if you needed encouragement, it comes from another pilgrim, Jimmy Cameron, of Elgin. Been a great week with so much fun, grace and joy. Lindisfarne is not called 'The Holy Island' for nothing! Home tomorrow and back to daily life but with a spring in our step. Anyone wants to know about it, just ask.

For more information, please see http://drostan.weebly.com

Pilgrimage to Holy Island of Lindisfarne

Lindisfarne pilgrimage - More than just recharging the batteries

Light of the North

Bishop Wiesaw Lechowicz, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Tarnow and the Polish bishops' representative for Polish Ministry abroad visited St Marys, Inverness as part of a tour of UK Polish Chaplaincies.

The Bishop was accompanied by the Rector of the Polish Catholic Mission in Scotland, Fr. Marian kawa from Glasgow.

Bishop Lechowicz was impressed with the strong Polish links in the Highland Deanery and was delighted to see so many Polish saints featured within the stained glass at St. Mary's, including St. Faustina, St. Edith Stein, St. Maximilian Kolbe, and St. John Paul II.

By happy coincidence the bishop happened to visit Inverness on the feast day of Blessed Jerzy Popieuszko and expressed his admiration for St Marys Polish window which commemorates the martyred Polish priest.

Polish bishop visits Inverness on chaplaincy tour

Pictured in front of an image of Our Lady of Kalwaria are Fr. James Bell, Fr. Domenico Zanr, Bishop Wiesaw Lechowicz,

Fr. Marian kawa, and Fr. Piotr Rytel.

In July 1969 I was preparing to travel to Nigeria to work in the emergency relief operations during the Nigerian Civil War. At the same time, on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 16 July, in the midst of the agonising suffering of a most ravaging war, the Daughters of Divine Love were founded by Bishop Godfrey Okoye CSSp. The Daughters of Divine Love are rooted and grounded in the love of God and neighbour. They have as their motto,Caritas Christi urget nos.- the Love of Christ compels us or urges/constrains us.

In 2015 there are over eight hundred sisters throughout the world in professed vows, easily recognisable in their blue habits and veils. The sisters work as teachers, radiographers, midwives, nurses, doctors, librarians, bursars, housekeepers, parish sisters, working in prisons and in all aspects of care and prayer. DDL can be found in England (ten houses from Aston to Wood Green by way of Gateshead and Streatham and other locations in between). From November 2015 three sisters will be based at St Marys, Inverness for apostolic work in the Highlands - a Scottish house. Thanks be to God, and Bishop Hugh!

In 1970, after the war had ended, I met Bishop Godfrey Okoye on several occasions- one was at a Mass which he celebrated for two of our relief workers who had been killed in the hostilities (Jonathan Ambache, a Jewish medical student, and Deacon Malachy Riddle, a Catholic seminarian). After the Mass we had a reception during which Bishop Godfrey and I had discussions about aspects of the on-going rehabilitation. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that over forty years later I would be visiting his foundation, the Daughters of Divine Love, at their Provincial Curia in Wood Green. It was the second time of meeting the Superior, Sr Linda DDL- she had been in Inverness a few months earlier doing a recce. Now I was at a homecoming, being entertained by the sisters in the generous traditions of the Ibo people of eastern Nigeria. The years slipped away, at least in my memory, and there was much rejoicing as we feasted on fried plantain, peppered chicken, black-eyed beans, mushrooms and rice with prawns and fried fish- no palm wine, but a delightful Italian red encouraged conviviality.

When the sisters, Daughters of Divine Love, are installed at the Convent in Huntly Street in Inverness there will be a special Mass to which everyone is invited. Bishop Hugh will preside, and it is scheduled for Saturday 21 November at 11am at St Marys, Inverness. You are most welcome,

Caritas Christi urget nos. Fr James Bell

A Scottish house for the Daughters of Divine Love

Daughters of Divine Love sisters with Fr James Bell

James Bell with the founder of the Daughters of Divine Love, Bishop Godfrey Okoye CSSp

diocese

Light of the North

A group of nine pilgrims from the Inverness parishes travelled to Krakow in June to follow aspects of the life of St John Paul. From the outset, with Mass at the Sanctuary of St John

Paul, the group were able to see at first hand aspects of his historic, world-changing pontificate. The blood-stained cassock was an awesome reminder of his courage and the compassionate mercy he showed towards his would-be murderer. Seeing this massive shrine, with its many chapels and striking art-work we realised just how much the Polish people admire and love the legacy of Pope John Paul II. He is a central focus for much popular devotion.

So also is St Faustina, whose illuminations about the Divine Mercy, are given prominence at the nearby Lagiewniki Sanctuary. Several of the group found that the familiar and companionable way that many Polish people regarded the Divine Mercy devotion was an inspiring perspective opening it out beyond narrow pietism. This Devotion was a great encouragement during the dark days of Nazism and later, of Communism.

No pilgrimage to Krakow should avoid the horrific ghastliness of Auschwitz. Our pilgrims were in sombre mood, and needed the reflective, and hopeful message that we found at the St Maximilian Kolbe Centre run by the Conventual Franciscan Friars at their Retreat House at Harmeze. After Mass the friars entertained us to a Pilgrim Supper of soup, cold cuts, salads and cheeses.

Dining together was an important part of the pilgrimage- after a tour of the childhood home of the young Karol Wojtya at Wadowice a much needed al fresco lunch nourished our thirsty bodies and perhaps our souls. The famous cream cakes are among several memories of some outstanding treats. So too was lunch at Czestochowa, after Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady- in an Italian restaurant! There we met up with some old friends which added to our sense of celebration.

In the footsteps of Pope John Paul we visited Zakopane, where a cable car took us almost to the summit of Mt Kasprowy Wierch (6,513 feet). There enshrouded in mist some of the group had their own transfiguration experience, saying the Divine Office, and praying for vocations. It is an awesome place.

Awesome in a different way are the Salt Mines at Wieliczka, complete with cavernous chapels, and shrines which testify to the deep faith and incredible industry of the Polish people.

Exploring Krakow itself is a feast for the eyes and the soul. There are so many churches, so many cultural experiences of music and drama, such variety of museums and places of historic interest. A week, a year is hardly long enough! There is something for everyone, and although the city is well served by trams and buses, taxis and horse drawn carriages every pilgrim should have good strong shoes as many miles are covered, and in our time much of it was in really warm weather.

The Jewish Quarter, the old ghetto, has many illustrations of the former way of life when so many Jewish businesses flourished. The most obvious industry is now cultural tourism. Jewish families visit the area from all over the world rediscovering their roots. So Yiddish music, kosher restaurants, much dining and drinking are features of the

Stepping out with St John Paul

ghetto that many tourists and pilgrims also enjoy. We did!The refreshing breezes in the hill-side Franciscan Sanctuary

of Our Lady of Kalwaria were welcome. There we were able to celebrate Mass, and explore the Way of the Cross, at the Stations situated in the forests and hills. So attached were we to the cool climate in that prayerful place that the 2016 Young in Heart Pilgrimage to Poland will stay in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska during the World Youth Day. About sixteen intrepid oldies will again follow in the footsteps of the Polish saint, Pope John Paul, again praying for young people and deepening our own faith for service.

The Highland Deanery has strong links with Poland and this was the third pilgrimage to Poland in the last three years. They have been planned with the help and guidance of our Polish priests, seminarians and Polish parishioners in Inverness.This particular pilgrimage proved to be a very useful fact finding mission ahead of the planned 2016 World Youth Day activities, when the Highland Deanery and Aberdeen Diocese will be well represented.

Fr James Bell and Duncan Macpherson

The Jericho Benedictines 1/8 page

Dining together proved to be an important part of the pilgrimage

diocese

Light of the NorthIrish pilgrims help keep the faith alive

The St Andrews Community, a lay community based at St Marys Cathedral in Aberdeen, organise a very popular, annual youth pilgrimage to Ireland. This years pilgrimage proved to be a great success with a group was made up of 72 pilgrims, including leaders. After the trip some of the young folk wrote the following report on the nine day pilgrimage which the Community would like to share with you and to ask your prayers for the continued fruits of this and other work with Gods own children.

August 2015

Dear Saint Andrew Community, I was a part of the youth pilgrimage to Ireland and I just thought to write this letter of appreciation to thank you all for a wonderful week.

After Mass at St. Marys Cathedral we took the plane to Dublin and then journeyed to Sligo, our first destination and where we were to stay in Holy Hill Hermitage with the hermits. The hermits gave us a warm welcome and we closed off the first evening with prayer and worship. The next day, the 9th of August, we embarked on a seven mile walk around and said our prayers as we walked. On the 10th of August we set out for a three hour drive to Antrim to see the Giants Causeway. The day was wet and rainy but with inspirational words from the sisters we had a really good day. The sisters taught us a new

virtue every day throughout the week and helped us to try to express these virtues in our everyday lives.

On Tuesday the 11th of August we set out for Croagh Patrick. The group heard a background talk about it and we found out that the mountain has lots of significant meaning. Before attempting the mountain climb we each were given a stone with a cross on it and learned about the mountain. The rock gave us hope reminding us we were walking on a pilgrimage and not to complain. We didnt climb the full mountain because that would take 10 hours to climb so we set off for the shoulder of Croagh Patrick, thats where Saint Patrick the patron saint of Ireland banished all the snakes. Some of the ground was wet and mucky but that didnt stop us from climbing. We had the fire in us that we needed to spread out towards the world and climbing this mountain was the first way to start.

On Wednesday the 12th of August we went go-karting as a treat for climbing up the mountain! After go-karting we set off for Knock.

We had stayed at Holy Hill for three days and when we were leaving we said thanks to the hermits for letting us stay. Our prayers and our faith grew stronger in the Lord. As we were on the road for

Knock we prayed and you could feel the Holy Spirit infilling each one of us. When we reached Knock, the first thing we did was to go and see the site of the apparition of Our Lady and when we finished praying we looked up and saw a star in the sky.

Our second day in Knock was a free day and we went shopping with the group. Not only did we have Mass every day with our priest, we also had a special Mass in the Basilica in Knock with many other pilgrims. We got to witness the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. Later on that day we received a sacrament ourselves, the sacrament of penance (reconciliation). We were faced with the Eucharist in the monstrance and face to face with Our Lord. It was beautiful and you could tell everyone was touched with the Holy Spirit. We also circled around Knock praying the rosary with the parish congregation and the parish priest, all holding candles and the statue of Our Lady of Knock. After circling the church grounds we knelt before the apparition wall and said the Hail Mary.

Our last day in Knock was on Friday the 14th of August and we attended a final Mass before leaving for a two hour drive to our final destination in Ireland.

When we arrived we all stood out because the sisters and our young leaders gave us red community jumpers at the beginning of the trip. The Youth 2000 event was amazing! We all were together as a group and everyone noticed us. The next day was truly wonderful. The group all prayed harder and worshipped like we never did before. We heard talks and we had Mass and an amazing healing service.

When the group got home later on that night we each had our own testimonies, every one had something to share about their wonderful experience in Ireland and for some of us a wonderful time with the Scottish pilgrims. Our testimonies all came from different perspectives as we all had different lives and how God chose everyone

Pilgrims attend Mass celebrated before the Wall of the Apparitions

Hardy young pilgrims enjoying the beautiful Irish countryside

Pilgrims in red hoodies stand out from the crowd at Youth 2000

diocese

Light of the Northof us individually to lift each others faith. We made life-long friendships that will never be forgotten and our faith grew stronger than ever before because we are the future and we need to spread the faith. It all starts with us young people. We need to go spread the Word and bring more people to retreats like this so they can grow stronger in the Lord, because every one of us who came to Saint Andrews Community pilgrimage went home with a fire burning in our hearts and in our minds. God used different people throughout this week to inspire us and to speak to us and to show us that God is the Way, the Truth and the Life and we need to change the world by bringing people to Saint Andrews Community pilgrimage to show them that God is the way to heaven and thats what is important in life.

At the start of the week all of us were strangers but now we are family, family in Christ and we need to spread the light. I just want

to thank all of the community for spending their time and money and helping us to grow closer to Jesus Christ. Most of us went into the pilgrimage having very little faith but this week showed us that there is a God and we all have faith in Christ, not little faith but extraordinary faith and were going to spread the Good News of the Lord. Our faith started off with a teenager and it will continue in the hands of teenagers. It was a truly amazing week and we cant wait for Poland 2016 and the Saint Andrew Community Pilgrimage next year and even more years to come. We keep you all in our daily prayers.

Thank you, From Michelle, Leslie and the whole SAC2015

The Scottish launch of the 2015 edition of Persecuted and Forgotten?, a report published by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) took place on 15th October at St Marys Cathedral, Aberdeen.

The report assesses the deepening plight of Christians in 22 countries of concern and can be accessed: http://www.acnuk.org/persecuted.

The evening began at 7pm with the celebration of Mass by Bishop Hugh Gilbert, after which victims of Christian persecution from Iraq, Syria and Nigeria gave testimony in the Cathedral Hall. The speakers, all of whom had first-hand experience of Christian persecution were: Father Douglas Bazi from Iraq, who was tortured by Al-Qaeda and now works in Iraqi displacement camps; Father Ziad Hilal SJ from Syria who oversaw ACN projects in Homs, Syria and Victoria Youhanna, a 15 year old Nigerian school girl and former prisoner of Boko-Haram.

The event was particularly well attended by 250 concerned individuals from across the Aberdeen Diocese.

First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, sent a message of support for the evening: This report by Aid to the Church in Need provides welcome evidence-based analysis of the sustained persecution of Christian minorities. Only by publishing reports such as this and identifying the extent and scale of the problem can

we hope to take steps to address the persecution of minorities that sadly still exists across the world.

For further information about ACN and their work please contact Lorraine McMahon or Michael J Robinson on 01698337472 or email [email protected]

Persecuted but not forgotten

Launch of the Persecuted and Forgotten? report at St Marys Cathedral, Aberdeen (Picture courtesy of Michal Wachucik )

Bishop Hugh Gilbert celebrated Mass on 3 September 2015, the Feast of St. Gregory the Great, for those in the Diocese of Aberdeen who are members of the Association of Pontifical Orders in Great Britain. This includes Knights and Dames of St. Gregory the Great and Pope St. Sylvester.

It is the eighth year that Mass has been celebrated on the feast, but this was the first year that invitations were also sent to all who have been presented with Papal Awards, including the Benemerenti and Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medals.

The occasion was an ideal opportunity for members from around this geographically widespread Diocese of Aberdeen, to attend Mass together in St. Sylvesters Church, Elgin, and afterwards enjoy some refreshments at the nearby Laichmoray Hotel.If there are any other members of the Association of Papal Orders in Great Britain within the Diocese of Aberdeen, or recipients of Papal Medals, who might like to attend the annual Mass and lunch, would they please contact George Brand, either by telephone on 01224 630159, or email at [email protected]

Mass for Papal Honours

George Brand, Bishop Hugh Gilbert and Father Isaac Nsiah with members of the Association of Pontifical Orders

diocese


Jim Guyan

Heres How to ...........

Pensions -What are my options now?

A series which looks at some

practical issues and concerns of everyday life.

Freedom and Choice was the main headline for the change in legislation by the Government. This new legislation introduced ways by which your pension plans can be accessed. The legislation mainly applies to those in defined contribution schemes, group personal pensions and personal pensions. Before I state some of the major changes, please do not be confused by all the media hype which this topic has been the subject of since the changes came into force. The bulk of the coverage has concentrated on how policy holders are now able to access their pension funds in their entirety. Obviously the fear was that pension holders would simply withdraw all their funds out of their pension pot and buy the Lamborghini and have that world cruise. Obviously this is not the purpose of the new pensions

freedom. After all, the main objective of the fund is to help maintain a standard of living in retirement. It is therefore even more important to seek independent financial advice in order to make sure that the decisions you make regarding your pension are the best in relation to your own personal circumstances.

Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace

Light of the NorthRegarding the changes nothing has changed in relation

to the amount of tax free cash which you can take from your pension pot from the age of 55. This is still up to a maximum of 25% of the value of the fund. The other 75% of the fund remaining however is taxable (depending on each individuals circumstances). The amount of tax you pay depends on how much your taxable income is above your tax free allowance.

You no longer have to purchase an annuity, you now have the freedom and choice to withdraw the remainder of this fund as and when required. You do however still have the facility to buy an annuity and the annuity providers now have some interesting offers available which should be reviewed with your financial advisor. Briefly these can be short term annuities with guaranteed funds at the end of the term. This would then enable you to sit down and review circumstances going forward at that time.

You also have the new facility of draw-down whereby you can simply set up regular withdrawals from the fund to be paid out to you with the balance of funds still being invested. There are obviously risks involved with this and again care should be taken as to the appropriate fund being utilised.

Another major change in the legislation is regarding the death benefits under pension plans. If a policy holder takes

his tax free cash and thereafter goes into a draw-down facility, in that situation should the client die before age 75 then the remaining fund will be paid out tax free to the stated beneficiaries. Should the policy holder die after he is 75 and there are still funds remaining within the pension pot then again these can be accessed by the beneficiaries but there may be marginal income tax to pay depending on the beneficiary tax situation. The aforementioned is only a brief introduction into the changes that have been made regarding pensions.

To summarise, if you are approaching retirement or indeed you are at an age where you have options available to you regarding your pension plans then seeking independent financial advice is imperative in order to make sure that the decisions you make are appropriate to you.

Jim Guyan has been in the Financial Services Industry for over 30 years and is Head of the Financial Services department within Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace .

Jim Guyan is Head of Financial Services with Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace.

Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

M

MYHETIRU

OVAFY

SN

My definition of a hymn is the praising of God in song, or perhaps the raising of the mind and heart to God in song, since, with the example of the psalms, not every (sung) prayer is praise; many are petitions; some are complaints!

That definition incorporates the chants of the Mass. The Church encourages the celebrant and the congregation in its majestic liturgy to sing the most important prayers, such as the Pater Noster and the Preface, the latter setting the tone for every celebration including ferial days, and so sadly so infrequently sung by celebrants. Whereas the Preface changes according to the Liturgys mood, there are fixed texts traditionally set to music, some of them very simple in their musical expression, more elaborate for feast days, and always in

my opinion lovely, and in the Churchs liturgical directives, to be preferred above all other chants. I refer to the Kyrie, the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei, and, for the celebrant, the Doxology, which concludes the Canon of the Mass.

While extra-liturgical songs are permitted, and even encouraged (but not to the exclusion of the chants mentioned above) they must always be in tune with the mood and texts of the Liturgy of the Seasons and the Feasts of the Church, and also of the parts of the Mass at which they are sung. At the Offertory, if a hymn is to be sung, it should reflect the liturgy of that part of the Mass and express in some way the offering of our service to the Lord. On the other hand after Holy Communion the singing of a version of Our Ladys Magnificat would reflect her thanksgiving to God for his goodness for He that is mighty hath done great things for me and would be entirely appropriate in that setting.

My Favourite Hymns Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti chooses some of his best-loved hymns.

liturgy

Light of the NorthAllowing the definition of Hymn to include all song suitable

for liturgical use, I would happily choose in the first place some of the chants provided in the Missal (new translation) and the songs closely associated with the great traditional feasts of the Church. The setting for the Kyrie has a beauty born of simplicity and is thoroughly singable. The normal setting for the Preface has also, when sensitively and ably sung, a haunting loveliness. Of course there are many settings for the Common of the Mass dating back over a thousand years and it is a joy to hear them sung at Pluscarden and other monasteries which have retained the Plainchant.

There is a range of Latin hymns in the St.Andrews Hymnal (Burns, 1964) among which are such favourites as Attende Domine, which has a plaintive character so suitable for the Season of Lent, and how could one forget Vexilla Regis, Ubi Caritas et Amor and O Filii et Filiae, associated with Holy Week and Easter, and Pange Lingua, one of St. Thomas Aquinas great hymns for Corpus Christi, a veritable treatise on the Holy Eucharist sung to a majestic tune?

This choice of accompanying music brings one naturally to think of renderings into English of such noble traditional hymns and given later musical settings such as Adoro Te Devote, O Godhead Hid, with John Storers tune.

Ave verum Corpus is another great hymn, not only on account of the 14th century text, simple and profound, but also on account of the tunes associated with it, whether the Plainchant melody or Mozarts setting. This hymn has a particular association now with St.Andrews (Glasgow) Cathedral where the text is painted on the dado which leads the eye and the heart along the Western aisle where there is a Piet right up to the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament which is dedicated to St.John Ogilvie, Scotlands martyred saint. It seems particularly appropriate since the closing part of the text expresses the hope of the Lords presence at the moment of death for those who have in life a foretaste of his presence (St.John Ogilvie was arrested for celebrating Mass). This reminds me of my liking for the Hymn On the Battlefields of Scotland in the Hour of Victory a truly rousing number for his Feast-day, words by a Religious of the Sacred Heart, Mother Long, and a melody ascribed to a Jesuit, Fr. Lakeland.

I love Praise to the Holiest in the Height to the tune by R.R.Terry, with the wonderful rousing opening phrase of the melody expressing the opening words and their sense of being lifted up. One could perhaps see, in the first line, a foretaste of the whole hymn in which man looks to the Divine. Theologically the text is sound and the narrative gives a good impression of the Christian journey. The hymn shows a true marriage of words and tune.

Come down, O Love Divine, is a hymn that has special associations for me as it was sung at the opening procession of my Ordination as Bishop of Aberdeen. The text on the discrete workings of the Holy Spirit is reflected by the gentle contours of the melody. The natural accentuation of the words is reflected by the outlines of the tune.

There is a marvellous corpus of Hymns to Our Lady, from the lovely hymns associated with the conclusion of Compline, from Salve Regina to a personal favourite, Of One who is so Fair and Bright, Ave maris Stella, in English and Latin from the medieval period (to music by Fr. Duffy, a priest at Blairs when I was a seminarian), to one you would expect me to love, Our Lady of Good Succour, lovely words (as altered by Fr.Bill Anderson) to a worthy tune by another sister of the Sacred Heart, Mother Michalek, words by Mother Forbes RSCJ.

The Chorales of the Lutheran tradition, and in particular O Sacred Head Sore Wounded are wonderful with their sense of majesty, pathos and beautifully set words. The impact of a congregation singing the Passion Chorale on Good Friday afternoon cannot be over-estimated.

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder is a hymn with many associations. I recall a holiday in the Alps when faced with the majesty of creation, I broke into this song (out of earshot!). It is theologically sound especially as it moves to the final verse - and has a good, sing-able tune (adapted from a Swedish folk melody). This hymn means a great deal to me.

Amongst more recent word settings, Gelineau and Taiz chants have an important place; the first for setting Psalms (particularly memorable is the setting of The Lord is my Shepherd), and the second when contemplation is needed, as, for example, at the Adoration of the Cross. Some of the more recent hymns by members of the Jesuit community have become favourites, especially those of Father James Quinn. In the hymn Christ be beside me, to the tune Bunessan, there is a wonderful sense of wholeness both tune and words coming together in well conceived harmony.

The context of hymns is important as, for example in the Hymn written for the eve of Easter - Colours of day, (by Sue McClellan, John Paculabo and Keith Ryecroft) with the stirring chorus light up the fire and let the flame burn, open the door, let Jesus return. Whereas on other occasions, these words might lack the same impact, and could even be inappropriate, on this occasion the hymn is highly effective and can be sung with tremendous effect. However, some while ago I was somewhat surprised to hear, at a wedding, the words dona eis requiem part of the setting of the Pie Jesu which, attractive though the melody is, seemed inappropriate in that particular context!

There are, however, hymns in which the words are good but for which tunes are less successful, and also the opposite is the case. But I am optimistic about the many fine artists being attracted to the Church, and hope that, as clearer guidelines are adopted, new hymns will continue to strengthen what is an old and distinguished tradition.

Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti, was in discussion with Roger B.Williams.

liturgy

Dear Lord,

I am 12 and want to be a priest.Im quite good at schoolAnd I say my prayers.Help me to grow up to love you,To offer my whole lifeAs you did.I know it will not be easyBut you will help me.I might be a bit young

But Ill grow up.You were young once -A bit like me. And your mum had plans for you,Let her have plans for me.When I kneel down, bless me;When receiving Communion, love me;When in Confession, forgive meAnd, whilst growing up, protect me. Amen.

Prayer for Priests with Fr John Allen

Light of the Northeducationandformation

Clare Benedict

I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (Mt 16:18-19).

A question often discussed is Why did Christ choose Peter to be the earthly head of his Church? It is a question, surely, that even the other apostles perhaps discussed privately among themselves. By any criteria, either 2000 years ago or today, Peter was not the most likely candidate for the job. He was an uneducated, probably illiterate, fisherman who seemed to blunder along in the wake of Jesus, regularly getting it wrong or putting his foot in it, being rebuked not only by Jesus but, in the famous scene of the Transfiguration, even by God Himself. Peter had a difficult apprenticeship; he was definitely not the star of Jesus RCIA group.

It is Peter who expresses distress when Jesus talks to his disciples about his own forthcoming Passion and who makes a clumsy attempt to pull him aside from that bleak destiny: God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you (Mt 16:22), only to be rebuked by Jesus in no uncertain terms: Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things (16:23). One might wonder if Peter recalled these words when he was facing his own cruel death many years later in Rome. At the Transfiguration, it is Peter who decides that hed much rather stay safely on the mountaintop with all his needs provided in Jesus (his beloved Teacher), Moses (the Lawgiver) and Elijah (the Prophet), than go back down to the valley where nasty things happen and all is toil and pain. And God the Father speaks from the cloud and rebukes him: This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him! Peter is all too human; his is a temptation to which we can all fall prey, the desire to stay on the mountaintop, detached from worldly cares and suffering. But through Peter we are reminded that the road to Heaven must go by way of the Cross.

Although we are told that all the disciples (except John) distance themselves from Jesus when he is arrested, put on trial and crucified, it is Peter whose betrayal of the Lord is set out in some detail. He had earlier protested to Jesus that he would follow him anywhere and willingly face death at his side, but Jesus knew that the courage of this endearingly eager but blundering follower would fail when put to the test. Sure enough, Peter thrice denies even knowing Jesus

and, in Lukes heart-wrenching description the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly (Lk 22: 61-2).

Why, then, did Jesus choose Peter to lead his Church? Why not John, the Beloved Disciple? Or Andrew who, according to St John, was the first of the brothers to recognise Jesus and who immediately rushed off to tell Peter that he had found the Messiah? Or perhaps Matthew, with his education and acquaintance with the authorities, might have been a more obvious choice. But the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart (1Sam. 16:7). It is the Father who has chosen Peter for this most special of vocations and Jesus recognises this immediately. In their very first encounter, according to John, Jesus looked at him and said, You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas (which means Peter) (Jn 1:42); and, according to Luke, after being prompted by Jesus to net an unprecedented haul of fish, it is Peter who, in awe, hails Jesus as something more than mere man, for when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus knees, saying, Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man! (Lk 5:8).

To be recognised and called by name by God must always be a frightening and confusing experience and Peter must frequently have felt bewildered when he heard such words or found himself come out with such utterances. And the divinely inspired words of this touchingly human fisherman are preserved to give us all hope and courage at times when our faith may be faltering or when we seem to be surrounded by enemies and mockers. Though he does not understand Jesus hard saying about eating and drinking the flesh and blood of the Son of man, St Johns teaching on the Eucharist, when many of the disciples shake their heads in disbelief and leave Jesus, it is Peter who declares Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God (Jn 6:68-9). And Matthew tells us how, when Jesus asks his disciples who they believe him to be, it is Peter who replies out of the blue, it seems You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. One can only imagine the expressions on the faces of his comrades! Jesus response indicates that his Father has made his choice, and so the Son appoints Peter as the leader of the Church which is to be born on Calvary and confirmed at Pentecost.

Though it is Peter who openly denies Jesus, it is Peter who later makes his threefold confession of love to the Risen Lord and is mandated to Feed my lambs tend my sheep Feed my sheep. Thereafter we see the amazing difference that comes upon Peter when the Holy Spirit descends upon him at Pentecost and touches him with divine fire: with his very first homily he inspires three thousand souls to accept baptism, and then goes about the Lords work, preaching, teaching and healing in the name of the Lord. In his Letters we find that inspired encouragement of newly baptized Christians, reminding them of the priceless gift they have been given and their glorious inheritance. Thereafter, at the end of his life, we are told in the apocryphal Acts of Peter the popular tale of how Peter, leaving Rome in fear of his life in the midst of Neros persecutions, encounters Christ carrying his cross, asks him Quo vadis, Domine? Where are you going, Lord? and is told I am going to Rome to be crucified again. Peter returns to Rome and, deeming himself unworthy to die the same death as his Lord, is crucified upside down. Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.

Why Peter?

Light of the Northeducationandformation

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

The Jesus Prayer is part of a tradition which stretches back nearly 2000 years to the Early Church, with its roots in the Gospels, taking account also of words and concepts contained in the Old Testament. It is a tradition which has taken heed of Our Lords own advice given to his disciples when they asked him how to pray Lord, teach us to pray; a tradition which became established throughout eastern Christianity, spreading to the west, and which sought to find stillness in the presence of God, in which, by subduing all earthly passions and preoccupations, the pray-er would eventually arrive at union with God. Any short prayer could be used to focus the mind in the heart, but the Jesus Prayer is the form we find in frequent use by the Middle Ages and which enjoyed a huge renaissance in the Orthodox Church in the 19th century, and in the West in the 20th century. The prayer is repeated over and over again until it becomes as natural as breathing and is said to the beating of ones heart.

An important element in this type of prayer involves calling on the Holy Name. A name has always held special significance for humankind since the beginning of our history, when Adam is given the privilege of naming the animals God has created; and he and Eve themselves receive the first names in history, names that indicate who they are. In Scripture we often read of individuals, favoured by God and called to do His work, being given new names, names that indicate the new role that God is calling them to perform: e.g., Abraham (from Abram) in the Old Testament and Peter (from Simon) in the New Testament. Likewise today, candidates for confirmation adopt the name of their chosen patron saint, an indication of their deepening involvement with the Lord and His Church.

The idea of the Power of the Name has been with us certainly since Old Testament times and was a concept held by pagans also. A name has always been believed to give us our identity, our individuality; it is what makes me, me, and you, you. Thus we find in ancient Egypt that the penalty for sacrilege was the most severe possible to have ones name removed from all records; after execution, no marker bearing ones name was left and it was forbidden, on pain of suffering the same fate, to utter that name ever

again. The soul of the unfortunate was then believed to be doomed to wander for all eternity, his only hope that one day someone would say his name and he could then return to his body. In a similar way, we reduce convicted criminals to surnames, denying them their individual human dignity. Those who administered the Nazi concentration camps and the Russian labour camps and their ilk went even further, their victims becoming mere numbers, thus totally eroding their humanity.

A perception of the Old Testament God has been that He seemed, on the whole, remote, despite repeated attempts on His part to come close to His people. A few chosen individuals enjoyed special relationships with Him Abraham, with whom He made His Covenant, Isaac, the Prophets but it was to Moses that God came closest to revealing His identity, His name:

Then Moses said to God, Am I to go, then, to the sons of Israel and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you. But if they ask me what His name is, what am I to tell them? And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM You are to say to the sons of Israel: I AM, the God of your fathers has sent me to you. This is my name for all time; by this name I shall be invoked for all generations to come (Ex 3:13-15).

To the Hebrew people, the name of God held power; in the Psalms, for example, the Divine Name appears as a refuge, a help, an object of veneration:

How great is your name, O Lord our God,Through all the earth (Ps 78). The nations all encompassed me;In the Lords name I crushed them (Ps 117).

Our help is in the name of the Lord,Who made heaven and earth (Ps 123).

There was, then, a relationship but, because of their immense awe of God, the name was rarely invoked, uttered only by the High Priest in the Holy of Holies once a year; it was, on the whole, kept secret or on occasion replaced by Adonai, and in the Septuagint, the Greek translation, by Kyrios, Lord a title transferred in the New Testament to Jesus also. Remoteness was never of Gods choosing; as Moses tells the Children of Israel: For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is whenever we call

Eileen Grant

Calling on the holy name

Light of the Northfaithandculture

In the mainly French speaking part of south west Switzerland is the town of St. Maurice. It was called Agaune by the Romans, because of its location in a narrow pass which was the main way from Rome to Helvetica, Gaul and Germany. Around the year 290 to 300, a Roman legion from Thebes (modern

day Luxor in Egypt) were based here. The Roman Emperor issued orders to kill Christians. Maurice and his men were Christians, and refused to carry out this order. Maurice is believed to have sent the following message to the Emperor:

O Emperor, we are your soldiers, but we are before all else servants of God. We owe you military obedience, we owe Him innocence. We receive from you the pay for our labour; from Him we received life. We cannot with you disavow God our Creator, our Lord, and your Creator as well, whether you wish it or not. If we are not constrained to offend Him by such crimes, we will still obey you, as we always have done; if not, we will obey him rather than you. We have always

fought for justice, for the respect and the life of innocent people; this for us has been the reward for our dangers. We have fought in faithfulness. But this faithfulness, how to preserve it for you, if we refuse it to our God? We have firstly pledged our oath to God, then we have pledged our oath to the Emperor. Be aware that our second oath is illusory, if we violate the first. You order us to persecute Christians. You do not need to seek any further; we are here! Here we are with weapons in our hands, and we will not resist. Because we prefer to die rather than to kill; perish innocent rather than live guilty. If you still pronounce new decrees against us, if you give new orders, if you bring new threats, fires, tortures, swords, we are ready to undergo all of them. Christians we declare ourselves: we cannot persecute Christians.

Of course refusing to carry out orders meant that other soldiers were sent and Maurice and his men were killed. Their bodies were left as they fell, as a sign of disgrace. When the soldiers had gone, the local people came and buried them.

Around 380 the first Bishop of the area, St. Thodule, brought their bones to an Ossuary close to the cliff and built a sanctuary, which is still there today. Towards the end of the 4th century, the first church was built here.

Sigismund, King of Burgundy, founded the Abbey here in 515, and it has been in continuous use ever since 1500 years of continuous praise, the oldest monastery in the Occident still in use. Groups of

monks came from other monasteries to form five relays to give perpetual praise. After the Gregorian reform, the order became Augustinian, and still is today.

Over 1500 years there have been many changes of course. In 575 the monastery was damaged by the Lombards. It was enlarged at the end of the 6th century, and also in the 7th century, at the end of which a new basilica was added facing west east (all previous buildings faced east west) raised above the level of the nave and covered the crypt which held the martyrs reliquary tomb. In the 11th century a bell tower was added. However, damage was not unusual from falling rocks from the cliff, especially in 1611 when huge rocks just about destroyed the Abbey. In 1614 through to 1624 the seventh church was erected on the site, facing north south, away from the cliff, and this is today the south part of the current basilica. In March 1942 a boulder hit the tower spire which

The Abbey of St Maurice dAgaune

St. Maurice 15 centuries of praiseThe Abbey of St Maurice dAgaune in Switzerland, the oldest

Christian monastery still in operation in the western world, is celebrating the 1500th anniversary of its founding in the year 515. Ron Smith takes time out to visit this

Light of thenorth advent 2015

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