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father frank's log...

16/4/2022

FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 17th APRIL – 8th MAY 2022

As usual, Father Frank’s Log is taking a break for a few weeks over Easter to allow time for the preparation of ceremonies and a wee bit of a breather afterwards. We are all still trying to get our full energies back after Covid and, from talking to others who have been through it all before, that can take a little while.

As you will read in the Newsletter, Father John will be returning to India on Easter Tuesday to take part in his own Provincial Chapter. More properly, we should call it a Congress, as Father John belongs, not to a fully-fledged Province, but to the Vice-Province of St. Thomas, the great apostle to India. The Vice-Province belongs to a bigger Passionist entity called. PASPAC. PASPAC is an abbreviation which stands for “Passionists in Asia and the Pacific Configuration.” It is a culturally rich configuration of self-governing entities, consisting of 10 countries, including, among others, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea & Vietnam, aiming to promote dialogue and solidarity on many different levels, and to foster initiatives and common action for the life and mission of the Passionist Congregation globally, which is why we have been happy to welcome Father John here to Glasgow to be a part of our mission in Scotland. In the past, when the Passionists were trying to get established in India, some of our men went out from Ireland and Scotland to help them out, and so, it does seem fitting that we should welcome them in return, and we are grateful for their help, but also for the cultural enrichment that we know they can bring.

I know it seems very soon for Father John to be going back when he has only just got started but, when he left India last September, at that stage destined for Holy Cross. Belfast, we never expected that it would take so long to get Home Office approval to change his place of work to Glasgow, after Father Gareth was moved to Belfast, and then to negotiate all the safeguarding protocols. However, it’s important to be patient, and to do all these things properly, and we will look forward to his return in May, when he will really be able to delve into his ministry here, and to develop all the qualities we know he will bring to it.

Out at Bishopbriggs, as I say, we are still recouping post-Covid energies. We had a simple, but very enjoyable celebration for Father Justinian’s 91st birthday. The next day, on the flimsy pretext of an invitation to go to his brother’s house to watch the Grand National, there was yet another “surprise” celebration with many other family members. I hope my social life is as good when I am 91. In fact, I don’t think it was even that good when I was 21!

Anyway, this was never intended to be a full log, just an opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Easter with the many blessings that come with it. The log will return for Sunday 8th May. Until then, as ever, protect yourselves, protect your loved ones, protect others and, of course, protect the Risen Christ in your lives – Alleluia, Alleluia!

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Father frank's log...

7/4/2022

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FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 3rd – 10th APRIL 2022

Last Tuesday we re-opened St. Mungo’s after our Covid isolation period. It was good to get back, and heartening to see our faithful regulars coming in the door. Of course, nothing is ever simple these days, and our patrons had to contend with major works being carried out next to the church. It appears they have to excavate, investigate and dismantle a drain. The hole is incredibly deep, and it took me back to our church refurbishment in 2019, when we were replacing the heating pipes, reconstructing dwarf walls, and putting in the new flooring.
I remember going into the church one day with my hard hat on, accompanied by the foreman, and when I looked at how deeply they had dug down into the foundations, my heart sank even deeper, and I began to doubt my wisdom in pursuing this task at all. The foreman was very reassuring, however and, in the end, it worked out exceedingly well. I have to say that, this time too, the workmen are being very sensitive to service times, and not wanting to cause any more noise or disruption than is necessary, and I hope they will continue to be sensitive when we get to the Sacred Triduum at the end of Holy Week. I’m sure they will.

I was very saddened to hear of the death, last Sunday, of Father Jim Dean, the parish priest of St. Robert Bellarmine’s and St. Bernard’s. Father Jim was ordained in 2017, shortly after I returned to Glasgow, having previously been a permanent deacon since 2009. When he began studies for priesthood, he spent some time in Heythrop College in London where he got to know Father Gareth and Father Antony, who were also studying there at that time. I got to know him well as he was the chair, and I was the vice-chair, of the Saint Mungo’s Older Folks Centre for Wellbeing. He could always be guaranteed to keep a meeting moving swiftly along. This was usually because he was in a hurry to get back to something in St. Robert’s. He was always very pragmatic and unflustered by any issues that came up. Sadly, our final task was to work with the rest of the committee towards the sequestration of the Old Folk’s Centre, which failed to acquire the necessary grants to keep going, and to resume after lockdown. I last spoke to him as we vested together in Clyde Street, prior to the installation of Archbishop Nolan, and we sat together throughout the ceremony. He had a good sense of humour, and he enjoyed my story about the time I gave a mission in St. Robert Bellarmine’s, which of course is in Househillwood. This was in the mid 1980’s. During the mission I paid a visit to the local secondary school. The next day the head teacher called to say that some of his pupils had daubed on the school walls: Frankie goes to Househillwood. (If that’s lost on anyone, there was a well- known band at the time called Frankie Goes to Hollywood). I knew that Father Jim had health issues, but I was still shocked and saddened by his sudden death.

On a brighter note, Father John has at last completed all the necessary safeguarding protocols and has been granted faculties to minister in the Archdiocese. On the day we re-opened the church, he said his first Mass in St. Mungo’s as principal celebrant, having previously only been able to concelebrate. Immediately after Mass, he was administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a kindness to someone who had turned up not knowing the proper times. We are also preparing to celebrate the 91st birthday of Father Justinian this Friday, 8th April. We will let him choose the menu for our usual Friday night community meal. Sadly, we don’t have Father Gareth to organize the birthday cake, which may be just as well, as he would usually provide a cake to his own liking, rather than to the liking of whoever’s birthday it was. April 8th is also my father’s anniversary, having died on that date in 1960, while cycling to work in Consett, County Durham. It will be a day of bittersweet thoughts and memories.

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

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father frank's log...

1/4/2022

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FATHER FRANK’S LOG – 27th MARCH – 3rd APRIL 2022

It had to happen sometime. Last Sunday morning Father Antony and I tested positive for Covid-19 and we had to close the church at short notice. On the Wednesday and Thursday before, we had been visited by our Provincial and by Father Paul Francis. On the Thursday morning, as we came out of Morning Prayer, Father Justinian’s carer was waiting to tell us that he had tested positive and would have to go into isolation, and that we would all need to take a test. At that time, we all tested negative. We tested negative Friday and Saturday as well, which was a relief, as I had to celebrate a wedding on the Friday. On those two nights we were on call for the Royal Infirmary, and it is certainly providence that we weren’t called out. I didn’t sleep so well on Saturday night, and so I got up early and tested myself. I was positive. I told Father Antony who, at first, thought he might be able to say all the Masses that day and test himself in the evening but, just to be safe, he took a test then, and he too was positive. Notices were hastily put up at the church by volunteers. People were greeted as they arrived for the expected Masses to let them know the story. Notification was immediately put up on the website. I was taking phone calls and explaining. It was the best we could do.

Father John, at that stage, was still testing negative, but he was convinced he was positive, and I don’t think he was just feeling left out. We had many messages of understanding and support. Deacon Joe arrived out with a whole load of shopping and a bundle of new test kits. When Father John tried one of the new kits, he too tested positive. Even though we all have Covid now, we are still isolating from each other to a large extent, just for safety. It seems to be affecting each of us in different ways, with different sounds of coughing, sneezing, wheezing and barking, emanating from each room; and different levels of fatigue, loss of appetite, and ennui, on display from each of us. A couple of nights ago I was up at 3am changing every item of bed clothing, including the duvet, as they were all saturated in sweat. Last night I had to change my pyjama top twice. The other lads seem to be sleeping fine. Today I feel I may have turned a corner but, after any kind of activity, even trying to write this log, I end up having to lie down. My sleep pattern is totally disrupted.

After testing positive last Sunday, Father Antony and I had contacted the NHS with our results. I don’t know if it was because of my age, but, unlike him, I then was bombarded with text messages and emails, until eventually I was called by a lovely lady who had a number of questions to ask, which I was happy enough to answer. She then advised that I should do the 10-day isolation and return to work next Tuesday 5th April. I had also contacted the Provincial and Father Paul Francis. The Provincial, so far, is fine, but Father Paul Francis has now tested positive and is in isolation. At least he made it back to Dublin and was not stranded in Glasgow. Where he lives, at Mount Argus, a number of community and staff have tested positive, but this was before he came back, so he wasn’t the carrier. I also had to put arrangements in place for the care of my younger brother. My older brother, the doyen of Scottish sports journalism, much loved of course by Celtic fans on social media, has been a stalwart, as has his dearly beloved wife. They have gone up every day, despite their own extensive caring duties towards assorted grandchildren, and will continue to do so until I am able to resume my responsibilities. Two things have become clear. Firstly, a positive test for Covid can cause a lot of disruption across the board. Secondly, and more importantly, the goodness and kindness, so much on display in the early days of Covid, has not gone away. This is our first direct experience of the virus, and the sheer outpouring of goodwill and support, including offers to do shopping and other essential tasks, has been overwhelming. One kind benefactor was back today, as I needed items posted, and I had mentioned that we were short of breakfast cereal. He then turned up with the most ginormous boxes of Corn Flakes and Weetabix I have ever seen in my life.

With renewed conviction this week I say: Protect yourselves and others, and protect Christ in you lives.

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father frank's log...

Father frank's log...

father frank's log...

FATHER FRANK KEEVINS C.P.

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