FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 29th SEPTEMBER – 6th OCTOBER 2024
Last Saturday St Mungo’s was delighted to host the gathering stage of this year’s National Youth Pilgrimage for the young people of Scotland which was being organized by the Glasgow Archdiocesan Youth Office. These pilgrimages follow in the footsteps of Scottish Saints and over time have taken place in different parts of the country. This time it was Glasgow’s turn to follow in the footsteps of St Mungo, St John Ogilvie, and also St Mungo’s mother, St Thenew (Enoch). With the promise of half-decent weather, it was decided that the courtyard in St Mungo’s was a perfect place to gather with access to the hall for other facilities. Some of the organizers arrived around 11.30am and great work was done putting up bunting, setting out tables for registration, and laying out pilgrim packs which included pilgrim scallop shell badges for the younger pilgrims. About 170 young people were expected from every diocese in the country, arriving by various forms of transport. We also welcomed, with their walking shoes on, Archbishop Leo Cushley (Saint Andrews and Edinburgh); Archbishop William Nolan (Archdiocese of Glasgow), and Bishop Francis Dougan (Diocese of Galloway), as well as a number of other priests, deacons and seminarians from all over.
The plan was to gather in the courtyard for meet and greet and registration. Those who had travelled furthest produced packed lunches to sustain themselves. Archbishop Nolan gave a little talk from the steps on the saints in whose footsteps they would walk, and Archbishop Cushley led the group in a prayer. After some health and safety announcements it was time to go. The first stop would be St Mungo’s Cathedral and the tomb of our city’s patron saint and founder. From there it would be a walk down the High Street to the Trongate, Glasgow Cross, and Glasgow Green, recalling the story of St John Ogilvie. (Some of you may remember in years gone by there was an Ogilvie-walk from Glasgow Cross to St Mungo’s for Mass). From there the group would walk along Clyde Street, passing close to St Enoch Square where St Mungo’s mother is reputed to be buried, and whom the square is named after. The final destination was to be St Andrew’s Cathedral for a closing Mass and some well-earned refreshments.
It was wonderful to see so many young people gather for this pilgrimage, giving encouragement and support to each other in the practice of their faith, and affirmed by bishops, priests andlay leaders. As I say, it was a delight, and also a privilege, for us to host the gathering stage, and I’ve no doubt it was a day to remember for our catholic youth.
Apart from World Youth Days, such a gathering of young people took me back to when I was a Passionist student in Rome in the early 1980’s. Sometimes on weekends, we would be asked to travel to help out at the Shrine of St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows at Isola del Gran Sasso in the Abruzzo region of Italy. St Gabriel is one of the church’s patrons of young people, and each weekend, especially coming up to exam time, young people in their hundreds, and even thousands, would make the journey, many of them on foot, to pray at the shrine. It was a pleasure to meet and greet them and offer them welcome, hospitality and encouragement for their exams. The shrine was also a centre for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and many Passionist priests would also come from various Passionist Retreats to administer God’s mercy. It was a special place and a special time. In these challenging times for the church, it’s so important to have the company and the support of others on the journey of faith. I regularly remind people at Mass on a Sunday that, just by being there to pray together, to worship together, and to share the Holy Eucharist together, we are helping each other on that journey, and it’s so important that we keep doing it, by God’s grace.
As ever, protect yourself, your loved ones and others, and protect Christ in your lives.
Last Saturday St Mungo’s was delighted to host the gathering stage of this year’s National Youth Pilgrimage for the young people of Scotland which was being organized by the Glasgow Archdiocesan Youth Office. These pilgrimages follow in the footsteps of Scottish Saints and over time have taken place in different parts of the country. This time it was Glasgow’s turn to follow in the footsteps of St Mungo, St John Ogilvie, and also St Mungo’s mother, St Thenew (Enoch). With the promise of half-decent weather, it was decided that the courtyard in St Mungo’s was a perfect place to gather with access to the hall for other facilities. Some of the organizers arrived around 11.30am and great work was done putting up bunting, setting out tables for registration, and laying out pilgrim packs which included pilgrim scallop shell badges for the younger pilgrims. About 170 young people were expected from every diocese in the country, arriving by various forms of transport. We also welcomed, with their walking shoes on, Archbishop Leo Cushley (Saint Andrews and Edinburgh); Archbishop William Nolan (Archdiocese of Glasgow), and Bishop Francis Dougan (Diocese of Galloway), as well as a number of other priests, deacons and seminarians from all over.
The plan was to gather in the courtyard for meet and greet and registration. Those who had travelled furthest produced packed lunches to sustain themselves. Archbishop Nolan gave a little talk from the steps on the saints in whose footsteps they would walk, and Archbishop Cushley led the group in a prayer. After some health and safety announcements it was time to go. The first stop would be St Mungo’s Cathedral and the tomb of our city’s patron saint and founder. From there it would be a walk down the High Street to the Trongate, Glasgow Cross, and Glasgow Green, recalling the story of St John Ogilvie. (Some of you may remember in years gone by there was an Ogilvie-walk from Glasgow Cross to St Mungo’s for Mass). From there the group would walk along Clyde Street, passing close to St Enoch Square where St Mungo’s mother is reputed to be buried, and whom the square is named after. The final destination was to be St Andrew’s Cathedral for a closing Mass and some well-earned refreshments.
It was wonderful to see so many young people gather for this pilgrimage, giving encouragement and support to each other in the practice of their faith, and affirmed by bishops, priests andlay leaders. As I say, it was a delight, and also a privilege, for us to host the gathering stage, and I’ve no doubt it was a day to remember for our catholic youth.
Apart from World Youth Days, such a gathering of young people took me back to when I was a Passionist student in Rome in the early 1980’s. Sometimes on weekends, we would be asked to travel to help out at the Shrine of St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows at Isola del Gran Sasso in the Abruzzo region of Italy. St Gabriel is one of the church’s patrons of young people, and each weekend, especially coming up to exam time, young people in their hundreds, and even thousands, would make the journey, many of them on foot, to pray at the shrine. It was a pleasure to meet and greet them and offer them welcome, hospitality and encouragement for their exams. The shrine was also a centre for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and many Passionist priests would also come from various Passionist Retreats to administer God’s mercy. It was a special place and a special time. In these challenging times for the church, it’s so important to have the company and the support of others on the journey of faith. I regularly remind people at Mass on a Sunday that, just by being there to pray together, to worship together, and to share the Holy Eucharist together, we are helping each other on that journey, and it’s so important that we keep doing it, by God’s grace.
As ever, protect yourself, your loved ones and others, and protect Christ in your lives.
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