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  PassionistsGlasgow

Father Frank's Yule Log: Christmas 2019

23/12/2019

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FATHER FRANK’S YULE LOG: CHRISTMAS 2019
​

Last Saturday in St. Mungo’s we celebrated the priestly ordination of Father Antony Connelly CP, and then on Sunday Father Antony celebrated his first Mass. It was such a joyful and wonderful weekend. We welcome and congratulate our new Passionist priest and we wish him every blessing in his future life and ministry in the service of God’s people.
 
The Thursday before the ordination we had a rehearsal in the church with the Archbishop’s MC’s, not just one, but three of them, which, added to our own very capable St. Mungo’s MC, made for a lot of masters for one ceremony. Thankfully, they all worked very well together, and every aspect of the Mass of Ordination was meticulously prepared. In my experience however, no matter how well an event is prepared for, in the last hour or so beforehand, there will still be people running around like headless chickens attending to last-minute issues, and so it transpired. The most headless chicken, I think, was myself. It began when I went out to the front of the church to put down traffic cones to keep a place for the Archbishop’s car, my pockets laden with coins to feed the meter, now that Glasgow City Council are charging people for coming to Mass. Just as I placed them down a car arrived bearing two contemplative Passionist nuns, habited from head to toe, along with an Indian and a Dutch Passionist, all based at Minsteracres, where Antony had recently made his ordination retreat. After a long drive they were in need of certain facilities and refreshments, which isn’t so easy now that we don’t live in the retreat house here in St. Mungo’s, but rather five miles away in Bishopbriggs, and that was a bit far to bring them for a cup of tea. The same problem arose as other Passionists began to arrive from various parts of Ireland, north and south, including Antony’s classmate Aidan, and past members of the St. Mungo’s community like Father Terence and Father Paul Francis, as well as Father Frank Trias, the last Passionist to be ordained in St. Mungo’s back in 2015, who came with his lovely mum. The Provincial then arrived, Father Jim Sweeney, another former member of the St. Mungo’s community, and who in fact was the first ever Passionist to be ordained in St. Mungo’s on 19th December 1968. We had a lovely celebration this time last year for his golden jubilee.
 
I had assigned a Passionist postulant to distribute the booklets, and he then got hold of me to say that the booklets were fast running out. I had picked up 270 copies the night before with another 80 still to come, but somehow overnight the printer got sick and the remaining copies never transpired, so we had to make do with what we had. A few people came thinking this was a good time to ask me to get them a Mass card, but they graciously understood that I was a wee bit busy at the time. I had also mistakenly thought that the Archbishop would bring his own oil of Chrism to anoint the hands of the ordinand, but then one of the four MC’s came in a panic to say there was no Chrism – my mistake, I had to confess. I had to try and remember where I had put the Chrism, which is also used in the Sacrament of Baptism, during the time we were in the hall for Mass during the renovations. Thankfully it came to mind and I presented my stock of Chrism to the MC, who then thought it would be better in a little glass dish. It has only been a week since we moved back into the church and we are still getting the place back together. Finding a glass dish wasn’t as easy as it sounds, but eventually I found one. I was then asked to provide a bottle of drinking water. That wasn’t easy either. I ended up downing a small bottle of Irn Bru from the fridge, cleaning out the bottle, and then filling it with tap water. One of our volunteers then came looking for a corkscrew to open some of the wine that would be on offer during the post-ordination celebrations. I couldn’t find one anywhere, but thankfully Father Antony’s sister was able to produce one – more evidence of the deep and unfathomable mysteries of a woman’s handbag!
 
The start of the ordination Mass was fast approaching. At last we were assembled, ready to process up the church to strains of O come, O come Emmanuel… Now for Christmas...!

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father frank's log...

14/12/2019

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FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 8th – 15th DECEMBER
Last Wednesday night I joined our Passionist Young Team for their final night before breaking up for Christmas and the New Year. The Passionist Young Team (PYT) was initiated by Father Gareth three years ago and it has become a very important and integral part of the life and spirit of St. Mungo’s. Many, but not all, of those who attend, are studying at one of the various colleges or universities in Glasgow. Others are working in all kinds of areas of employment. While there are some home grown Scots, others come from a whole variety of countries and continents, and bring with them a vast diversity of faith experiences and faith journeys ,which they have always been willing to share, occasionally with a bit of arm-twisting from Father Gareth, so as to build up and support one another. It has been a rich source of friendship for so many, especially those who might otherwise experience the loneliness of living in another country and culture, far away from family and friends at home.
 
The final gathering before Christmas always includes a pot-luck meal, to which people bring dishes reflecting the cuisine of their own countries. A wonderfully, mouth-watering spread was laid out, but still and all the prayer comes first and so, it was only after an hour of Prayer, Blessing and Adoration in St. Paul’s Hall, our temporary church during the refurbishments, that we made our way down to the bottom hall for the feast. By this stage I was ravenous, and I have to confess, when I see a spread like this, I feel compelled to try a little (or big) bit of everything. Most of the food I was putting on to my plate was a mystery to me, but it looked too good not to taste. Complemented by some apple juice, I took a place at a table alongside young people from Italy, Brazil, Columbia; the Philippines; Bolivia, France and, last but not least, Cumbernauld. Once I was sure everyone had been well fed, I took my plate up to the table once again, and topped up with a few things that I had found especially delicious.
 
One of the things that has delighted me during the past three years is the way in which many of the PYT have embraced the parish and been embraced by the parish. Some have become involved in various ministries; at times they have fundraised to meet various parish needs, including the recent church refurbishments; they have put on quiz nights and fun nights open to all; they were prominent at our recent jubilee dinner dance, not just enjoying the night, but also helping with the raffle and tombola; their prayerful presence at Masses and other services has been an inspiration; the friendship and support they have extended towards the Passionist community, to members young and old, has been greatly appreciated. And so, after the feast last Wednesday, we had no hesitation in asking for their help to bring down chairs from St. Paul’s Hall that now needed to be returned to the church for the re-opening this weekend. This gave them the opportunity to see the newly refurbished church. Most were familiar with the church before it closed and were delighted with the changes; a few, who had only joined the PYT last September, had never seen the church at all, and were amazed at its size and its beauty. More prayers were said and photos taken before the night continued.
 
There was one slightly sad note. The nature of the group is such that there are always comings and goings when college and university courses, or employment contracts, begin or end; but on this occasion we were saying farewell to a couple who have been so much a part of St. Mungo’s in a variety of ways during these past few years, giving so generously of themselves and their talents in so many ways. Both come from Sicily, but they first met in St. Mungo’s when each came into the church to pray. God, and God’s providence, obviously had plans for them, because they fell in love, and now they are going home to Sicily to be married and to settle down, and hopefully to have a family. They will take a part of us with them, and leave a part behind, including the copy of the Year of Mercy icon at the back altars, the image of which originated in the village of one of them, and was given as a gift by her parish priest.
A tutti e due - arrivederci e buona fortuna, e grazie per tutto!


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father frank's log...

7/12/2019

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FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 1st – 8th DECEMBER
As I write the log today, Father Gareth has just returned from Wales, laden with chocolate for the community, where thankfully his mum is doing well; and Brother Antony has just left to make an 8-day retreat in preparation for his ordination on 21st December.
 
Antony is making his retreat in Minsteracres, a Passionist Retreat Centre in County Durham, where I spent three very happy years, from 1992 until 1995, when I was the novice director for the Passionists in North Europe. A while back I was watching an episode of Vera, a crime drama series set in the North East of England, starring the wonderful Brenda Blethyn in the title role, a detective obsessed with her work and forever battling her own inner demons. At one point, in the investigation of a murder, she has to visit a nursing home. As she and her trusted colleague, Sergeant Joe, drive through the gates of the nursing home and on up the avenue, I nearly jumped out of my chair. “That’s Minsteracres”, I roared, half scaring my viewing companion to death.
 
The entry to Minsteracres is easily recognisable, and unforgettable. You enter off the A68 and are immediately greeted by an awe-inspiring drive of giant redwood trees that winds on up to the community house, a beautiful historic building with adjoining church that was once owned by the Silvertop family who played a big part in Catholic emancipation in the early 19th century. The present retreat centre, opened in 1967, was lovingly constructed out of the old stable block by volunteers from nearby Consett, where ironically my father had died when he went there to find employment in the steelworks, after being made redundant from the Anchor Line Shipyard on the Clyde, where he worked as a time-keeper in the dry dock.
 
Getting back to Vera. When she and Joe were welcomed in the nursing home, after stating the purpose of their visit, they were led through the house to visit a certain resident in her room. As they walked along a corridor, I recognised it immediately as the corridor where I had lived during those years, in the room at the very end, with two large windows facing towards Scotland, out of which I had gazed frequently and longingly. Lo and behold, this was the very room that they entered. I couldn’t believe it. It was like a stroll down memory lane, and happy memories at that, and it’s hard to believe it is almost 25 years since I left there, with most of the wonderful community I lived with having left for other pastures or gone to God.
 
This will be Antony’s first visit to Minsteracres, and I’m sure he will find a very peaceful and prayerful environment in which to make his retreat. I know he won’t be in my old room as he has booked into the Poustinia, a hermitage space (poustinia is a Russian word for hermitage) on the ground floor with its own chapel, study room, en-suite bedroom and dining room, a perfect place to find the space and silence he needs to prepare for his ordination. Our prayers are with him, and I know his prayers are with all at St. Mungo’s who have supported him and encouraged him on his journey of faith and vocation these past few years, as well as with many others, family, friends and companions, in what has been a long and winding road to where God has brought him now as a Passionist. Watch out for the next edition of the Flourish where Antony will give his own personal account of that interesting journey.
 
Thankfully, the church will be well and ready, after the recent refurbishments, to host this happy event. We had a plan B in case the work ran over schedule, but thanks to a great pulling together from all involved, we are now preparing to open the church again and normal services will resume on Saturday 14th December, a week before the ordination. Deo Gratias!
 
God of the past, the present, and of the future, God who is, who was and who is to come;
we give thanks for 150 years of St. Mungo’s church; may it forever be dedicated to your purposes, so that you continue to be glorified and honoured in the years still ahead.

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Father frank's log...

1/12/2019

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FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 24th NOVEMBER – 1st DECEMBER
As the great bard said in To a Mouse; “the best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley”. A few weeks ago, I wrote about Father Gareth’s impending trip to Paris to look after our Passionist church at Avenue Hoche for a few days. He was very much looking forward to it, never having been to Paris, but in the end he didn’t go. The reason was, partly, that we were more under pressure in St. Mungo’s than expected, but also that we had been asked if we could help out in a neighbouring parish for a few weeks up until Christmas, where the parish priest would be undergoing, and then recuperating, from surgery. After a brief discussion Father Gareth and I agreed that the greater need was with our neighbour, a genuinely lovely man, and that Paris would have to wait for another time. Our Provincial managed to get a returned Passionist missionary from Africa to go to Paris instead, and that was that.
 
What Father Gareth couldn’t postpone though was a trip down to the Welsh Valleys to see his mum for a few days, and that’s where he is now as I pen these words. When Father Gareth goes to see his mum, he always brings two bags. One of them is full of big books, mostly commentaries on the Scriptures and great tomes on Theology. He never seems to read small books; they are always big doorstoppers. Perhaps it’s because he is a big man. The other bag is always empty, and that’s because his mum fills it with chocolate to bring back to the Passionist community, as she knows we all have a sweet tooth. Knowing that her big son has the sweetest tooth of all, she always gets things that she knows he doesn’t like, only a mum would know that, so that the chocolate horde will arrive at Bishopbriggs intact, without Father Gareth having demolished it on the way, as well he could. It should be numbered among the wonders of the world to witness Father Gareth demolishing a six-pack of Turkish Delights in one go, each bar disappearing in a single bite.
 
The founder of the Passionists, three hundred years ago next year, was St. Paul of the Cross. He always said that the greatest benefactors of the Congregation were the parents of the religious, by which he meant the great sacrifice of the gift of their sons. Offering Mass and praying for the parents of our religious, both living and dead, is a serious and regular obligation for the superior of any Passionist community, and one of which I am very conscious. Until fairly recent times, of course, a son joining the Passionists would have meant those parents seeing very little of their sons for many years. While that had changed a good bit by the time I joined in 1975, I remember it was embedded in the mind of my mother, and she took some convincing to accept that I would be home at least a couple of times a year.
 
During my student days and right up until present times, the parents and families of fellow Passionists have been like an extended family. There is a bond that is created very naturally. In one sense it becomes easy to understand Jesus’ response to his disciples when they wondered what the payback was for leaving everything to follow him, and he said that whoever left fathers, mothers, brothers or sisters for his sake, and for the sake of the Gospel, would receive fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters a hundredfold in return.
 
Of course, occasionally, there is another side to it. I remember when I was a student, being asked to arrange the music for the funeral of an elderly Passionist who had to be one of the most difficult and cantankerous people I had ever come across. I wasn’t particularly looking forward to meeting his family in case they were all like him; but when I did meet them, they were absolutely lovely. Then, when the subject came up about their deceased relative, there was a bit of skirting around his character, until one of the family said, “look, the greatest debt of gratitude we owe to the Passionists is that you took him off our hands, and we don’t know how you managed to suffer him all those years”. But that was very much the exception rather than the rule, and we are unreservedly happy that Gareth’s mum gave us her unique big son.

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    Picture

    FATHER FRANK KEEVINS C.P.

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