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  PassionistsGlasgow

father frank's log...

26/3/2022

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FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 20th – 27th MARCH 2022

Last Friday, after two long years, we were at last able to celebrate a Memorial Mass for dear Father Lawrence, who had died exactly two years before, to the day. Restrictions then, and also restrictions on the first anniversary last year, had meant that family and parishioners had never been able to properly gather to bid him farewell. On this occasion, we welcomed a large contingent of his family from Ayrshire, and there were also many parishioners, and members of the extended Saint Mungo’s community, who had made a real effort to be there, some of them even getting out of their sick beds to come - but not with Covid, I hasten to add.
 
I took the call from the Marie Curie early on the morning of 18th March 2020, to say that Lawrence had passed away, and it was a tough call to make to his brother, not just because his death was quite sudden and unexpected, having only gone into the Marie Curie the day before, but also because the family were still mourning the passing of Fr Lawrence’s sister, who had passed away just a very short time before. Lawrence’s sister had died 8 weeks after her diagnosis, up until when she was a regular visitor, trying to coax him down to Irvine for a stay so that she could spoil him rotten, but at that stage he was more content in the familiarity of his own space. Lawrence died two years and four months after his diagnosis. No one saw it coming that she would die before him.
 
Lawrence’s death occurred between the Feasts of St. Patrick and St. Joseph and, in a sense, he has a link to both. In the course of his life Lawrence had held a British passport, a Botswana passport, and a European Union passport, but at the end he held an Irish passport, remaining a proud Scot, proud of his years in Botswana, but proud also of his Irish heritage, and so, claiming Patrick as the root of his faith and as his patron. St. Joseph is the quiet man of faith, protector of the Holy Family, and of the church, which describes Lawrence as well, he was a quiet man of very solid faith, very protective of family, and of the many people who came to him in the church for prayers, for blessing, for guidance. Quiet, hidden acts of kindness and compassion were very typical of Lawrence as many will know.
 
Lawrence was professed as a Passionist brother when he was just 22. He remained a brother for around 17 years, but then chose to study for priesthood. I was a student with him and I remember well his great dedication to his studies, and how genuinely he felt called to be a priest. He was ordained in Irvine in1981, just short of his 40th birthday. Almost immediately he had to celebrate the requiem Mass for his father, Patrick. For just short of another 40 years, then, he was as an ordained Passionist priest, serving God with great dedication, in many different places and in many different ministries. Lawrence took a keen interest in politics and often wrote to MP’s, especially around issues that he felt strongly about, like abortion. To this day, we still get letters to him from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, whom he was obviously supporting in some quiet way. The last person to speak to Lawrence, on the phone, the night before he died was Sister Therese, a Cross and Passion Sister. In her letter of condolence, she sent some Kalahari-desert sand from Tsabong and asked if I could pour it into Lawrence’s grave in acknowledgment of those years of service to the church in Botswana. With the agreement of the family, who knew Sister Therese well, that is what we did.
 
Expressions of condolence came from some of the younger men who were students at the time he came home to study for priesthood, and to whom he was a kind of older brother figure, as well as the “Holy Goalie”. They have been in contact again recently, and I was reminded by them that Lawrence was also a CB radio buff, and that when he was on the airwaves, his “handle” was Jelly Baby. Now I know why there was always a packet of Jelly Babies in his room. Also, some time after his death, we discovered that a star in the constellation, Canes Venatici, in the northern hemisphere, is now called Larry, 25 May 2020, in honour of Fr. Lawrence Byrne CP. There was even a little silver star that came with it. We later discovered that this had been arranged by one of those many people towards whom Lawrence had shown great kindness, compassion and support over the years. We all still miss him; family, Passionist brethren, parishioners and beyond. So, Larry, until we meet again, farewell.

As ever, protect yourselves, your loved ones, and others, and protect Christ in your lives.
 

 

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FATHER FRANK'S LOG...

19/3/2022

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FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 13th – 20th MARCH 2022
​

I have just finished celebrating the 10 o’clock Mass on the Feast of St. Patrick. We were joined at the Mass by some of the pupils and staff from St. Mungo’s Primary School who are trying to come over more often during the season of Lent. Before Mass began, the children went around and handed all the people in the church, including me, a St. Patrick’s Day card which the children had made themselves. There were varying Irish themes on the cards and my own was of a lovely Irish dancer in full flow. After Mass the children were led over to the statue of St. Patrick and given a little lesson. I had found a lovely chasuble to wear that had sparkling threads of green, white and gold. As the children came out of the church after Mass one little girl looked up at me and asked me if I was the pope. The obvious answer was “not yet”. I was reminded however that the opening words of St. Patrick’s Confessions: “My name is Patrick, I am a sinner”, are very much reflected in those words of Pope Francis right at the beginning of his pontificate when he was asked by a journalist, “Who is Jorge Bergoglio”, and he quickly replied, “I am a sinner”. Truly good people know they are sinners because they know the holiness of God. I’m not so good, but still, “My name is Frank, I am a sinner”
 
Not that long ago most Catholics in Scotland would have had some kind of Irish heritage, and so, celebrating St. Patrick would have been understood as celebrating the roots of our faith. Nowadays, of course, Catholics in Scotland can come from every continent and island on the planet, which is a wonderful richness of diversity that we have yet to tap into fully. While I consider myself very much to be a Scot, at the same time I am proud of my Irish heritage. I had pause to think about this when I was doing my best to fill out the census form for myself and for our Passionist community in Bishopbriggs. In and around a host of questions about nationality and ethnicity, and linked perhaps to the question about religious affiliation, we are asked what nationality we most identify with. I hadn’t any hesitation in putting Scottish as my answer, but I have no doubt that a good number of Scottish Catholics will have put Irish, and that would be totally understandable. Father Lawrence, a proud Scot, had an Irish passport.
 
My main struggle with the census was to find where I fit in as a Catholic priest, but also as a non-salaried member of a religious order. In all the questions about employment history there is no place for actually being able to explain that this is who and what I am. I know that in the Irish census forms there is a box to tick marked “other”, which then opens up to allow you to elaborate, but such a facility doesn’t seem to exist on the Scottish census form. At one stage I found myself answering questions about my employment 50 years ago when I was working for Olivetti. I then decided that this was a bit daft, and so I went back and approached the questions another way, having taken some advice from someone whom I thought would know better than me. I have answered the questions, as have the rest of the community, as best, and as honestly as we can, and our census is now submitted with days to spare.
 
I do appreciate, however, what the census is, and what it hopes to achieve, and I have been indebted to the online Irish census of 1901/1911 in gleaning some helpful information about my Irish heritage. Having an unusual name like Keevins helps narrow down the parameters and I have been able to easily locate my County Sligo ancestors and I am interested to see how even Christian names have been consistently repeated down through the generations, even if there are signs that this will no longer be the case for future generations bearing the name of Keevins. If you haven’t already done so, enjoy filling out your census form.

So, as ever, protect yourselves, your loved ones, and others, and protect Christ in your lives.

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father frank's log...

12/3/2022

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FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 6th – 13th MARCH 2022
​

It’s difficult to write about anything in these times that doesn’t seem too trivial, when there is a horrendous and unnecessary war still raging in Ukraine. In a recent log, just as the invasion took place, I told you about our small Passionist community in Western Ukraine, 3 Ukrainian nationals and a Polish national, who were getting ready to welcome and shelter refugees from the east. That is now the reality, with refugees in every part of the monastery, some staying only one night and then moving on to the Polish border next day, others staying longer. There have also been families arriving seeking shelter for the women and children, while the men, after making their Confession and receiving Holy Communion, go off to fight and defend their country. The 3 Ukrainian nationals in the community are on standby and could be called up to fight at any time. This is just a snapshot of a much bigger, and more terrible picture, but still and all we keep them constantly in our prayers, and continue to heed their request to pray for the cessation of hostilities, and for lasting peace in a region so badly affected by many decades of wars and occupation. At present, they have about two-weeks-worth of supplies.
 
I’m running a one-man show this week with Father Antony at meetings in Dublin, and Father John still to complete the necessary protocols to begin his ministry in St. Mungo’s. It was all the more frustrating, then, that I used up almost two hours of my time yesterday that I will never get back again, trying to arrange a direct debit with our energy suppliers for the house in Bishopbriggs, as advised, to try and save something on the huge price increases that are coming our way. Firstly, I tried to do it online. However, every time I entered our account number and postcode, I got a message saying that one or other was wrong, which of course they weren’t. After six attempts I decide to phone. Naturally I was put on hold with horrible music, and a voice every now and again telling me my call was important to them, and that they would be with me as soon as possible, while at the same time recommending that I could do it online – but sorry, I’ve tried that. I put the call on speaker phone and then tried to go into the chat facility on the help line. Before chatting, they wanted to locate my account and so wanted my response to some questions, the first being my full name. I felt I could answer that one easily enough, but then the chat facility wouldn’t allow me to enter it. After various failed attempts I abandoned that course of action too. At this stage my phone was still on speaker and it had now been over half an hour since I called. I was still listening to the same horrible music and the same voice telling me how important my call was. My last hopeful line of attack was to send an email, which is what I then did. It took three hours for the usual automated response to come back telling me that they would try to reply within 5 days, but that it might take longer, and advising me to use the online facility – sorry, been there, done that, and got the t-shirt, as they say. Now, 45 minutes after I first phoned, I abandoned all hope of getting an answer there too, and so I hung up. In the context of what is happening in our world, this might seem a triviality, but I know that for many people these rising costs are a major cause of anxiety, and so, every little bit saved on the bill would be a help. If only it were simpler to do, and I still have to try and do it for my housebound brother – help!
 
For now, out at the Passionist house in Bishopbriggs, Father John has been keeping Father Justinian company. They celebrate Mass together, have a light lunch together, numerous chats, and have even enjoyed a trip to Troon for a meal with Father Justinian’s family. Last Friday we had our regular Indian takeaway but Father John was not all that impressed, and is threatening to make as a meal that will be properly hot. We are looking forward to it, I think.

So, as ever, protect yourselves, your loved ones, and others, and protect Christ in your lives

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father frank's log...

5/3/2022

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FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 27th FEBRUARY – 6th MARCH 2022

This log will complete a Triduum of accounts of recent visits to St. Andrew’s Cathedral. The first visit was for the 1st Anniversary Mass for the late Archbishop Tartaglia, when you might remember I made a couple of faux pas by not recognizing prominent people behind their masks. The second visit was for a period of prayer with the new Archbishop-elect, as he was then, Bishop William Nolan, who, in an act of serendipity, we had included on the front of our St. Mungo’s parish calendar for 2022. To complete the Triduum, I made my way down to St. Andrew’s once again last Saturday, to concelebrate at the Mass of Installation for the new Archbishop. On this occasion, we were joined by priests from all over Scotland, as well as by representatives from every parish in the Archdiocese. The cathedral was packed with, without a doubt, the biggest crowd assembled in two years, since the first lockdown in March 2020.

The Mass was presided over by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. I had only ever met him once, during the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 2012. I was parish priest of Mount Argus at the time, and the cardinal was looking for somewhere to give a talk and celebrate a period of prayer with a group that had come with him from Westminster. I was able to offer him what we call our Chapter Room in Mount Argus. He was very happy with it, and he wrote me a very gracious letter of gratitude afterwards. He wrote to Pope Francis offering his resignation as archbishop as of his 75th birthday on 8 November 2020 and, as is customary; Pope Francis has asked him to stay on as archbishop until the appointment of a successor.

The Installation Mass was celebrated simply and beautifully. Archbishop Nolan spoke very well, covering many topics, as did the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, who is a gentleman of Verona. He had earlier read out the Papal letter of Appointment and presented Archbishop Nolan with his pastoral staff. I was delighted to see the new Archbishop’s choice of motto, Sibilus Aure Tenuis. Back in 1989, the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the bible was published. I was Director of Postulants in Dublin at the time, and my classmate was a rising bible scholar. He came to my room one night, extremely excited at how this new version of the bible had translated 1 Kings 19:12. It was already a beautiful text, about Elijah, standing at the mouth of a mountain cave, and experiencing God in, what was at that time, most commonly translated as the gentle breeze. But now, in this purportedly more accurate translation, Elijah experienced God in the sheer silence, and that is what Archbishop Nolan has chosen as his motto. Here is where God is to be found. I was thrilled when I read it.

After the Mass I met our two representatives from St. Mungo’s. They were going to meet their husbands for lunch in a nearby Italian restaurant and invited me to come along and join them. I reckoned I just had time for a quick lunch before making my way back to the church for Saturday afternoon Confessions, and said I would meet them there. After divesting I made my way to the restaurant, only to find it closed for renovation. I tried to phone, but to no avail, and so I just headed for St. Mungo’s. On the way they called me back and said they had relocated to another restaurant, but by that time I felt it would be too tight on time to turn back. However, I will keep reminding them that they owe me a nice Italian lunch. 

Back at Bishopbriggs, we are, later today, at last ready to welcome Father John Varghese, as the new member of our community. Hopefully we can get through all the necessary protocols quickly and see him ministering in St. Mungo’s very soon. The rest of us are all fine. 



So, as ever, protect yourselves, protect your loved ones, and others, and protect Christ in your lives.
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    FATHER FRANK KEEVINS C.P.

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