FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 2nd – 9th JUNE 2024
Last Friday I went to a Safeguarding Day for Religious in Carfin. Every time I drive to Carfin I get lost, and this time was no different. Not having Satnav, I usually download an AA route planner. I’m usually fine until I come off the M8 at junction 6A onto the A73, and then enter into a bemusing assortment of roundabouts, the AA instruction at these roundabouts being take 3rd exit, then 1st exit, then 3rd exit, then 2nd exit, then 3rd exit, then 1st exit, then go straight through, and then take 3rd exit, before turning right onto Carfin Road. I was sure that, this time, I wasn’t going to have a problem, having learned the lessons of previous journeys, until I found myself turning off a roundabout and entering into some kind of industrial estate with a barrier across the entrance, when I should have been turning onto Loanhead Road in Newarthill, which would have been only minutes from my destination. Half an hour later I was still driving round in circles, and it was only by the grace of God that I stopped to ask a lady heading into her house if she knew how I could get to Carfin Grotto, only to discover that I was actually on the Newarthill Road and very close to my destination. Thankfully, I had left in plenty of time, and so, while I had missed the welcoming cup of coffee, I arrived with 5 minutes to spare, made my registration, and then sat down, just as the day was scheduled to begin. I was then somewhat consoled by the fact that one of the introductory speakers began by saying that she too had got lost on the way, and that she had been following her Satnav.
The day was looking at Safeguarding in the context of Catholic Social Teaching. The shape of the day is usually an Opening Prayer, 1st Talk, Mass, Lunch, 2nd Talk, Q&A, and Closing Prayer. After Mass I recognised a priest, an Oblate of Mary Immaculate, whom I had known quite well in Dublin, some years previously, when he was based at the Oblate Monastery in Inchicore, and I was based at the Passionist Retreat in Mount Argus. I remember inviting him over to give a session at our Triduum of Hope in honour of St Charles of Mount Argus, and he gave a very beautiful, reflective input. It was good to meet him again and have a catch up, and, as he is now involved with Stella Maris, he has come to know our Stella Maris members here in St Mungo’s. It’s a small world – especially if you’re a Catholic. There was a generous amount of free time after lunch before the afternoon session began, and so I took a walk around the grounds, taking in some of the various shrines that I always feel drawn to. One that I stopped to say a prayer at was the shrine to Blessed Carlo Acutis, especially as we had recently hosted the Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition in St Mungo’s that is inspired by this impressive young man of his times, a computer wizard. It was only when I got home to Bishopbriggs that evening, without getting lost, that I discovered that, on this very same day, Pope Francis had cleared the way for Blessed Carlo Acutis to become a saint.
Father John took some time off over the Bank Holiday weekend to go travelling with some friends. The original intention was to travel north and take in some of the beautiful sights of the Scottish Highlands. However, he ended up travelling to South Wales and taking in some of the sights there. Thankfully, he didn’t come back with a Welsh accent as one of those in the community is quite enough. I had visited Wales a few times, when the Passionists had houses at St Non’s and Carmarthen. I also once visited Shrewsbury on the English/Welsh border. I had been very interested in the Brother Cadfael medieval murder mysteries by Ellis Peters, as recommended by a famous Jesuit for people involved in Religious Formation, as I was at the time. The books were set in the 11th century when Shrewsbury was part of Wales. The main locus was the Benedictine Abbey of Saints Peter and Paul, which, in present day, has a Brother Cadfael Visitor Centre. The visitor experience includes a murder mystery to solve. I was delighted to visit the abbey and I cleverly solved the murder – wonderful!
As ever, protect yourself, your loved ones and others, and protect Christ in your lives.
Last Friday I went to a Safeguarding Day for Religious in Carfin. Every time I drive to Carfin I get lost, and this time was no different. Not having Satnav, I usually download an AA route planner. I’m usually fine until I come off the M8 at junction 6A onto the A73, and then enter into a bemusing assortment of roundabouts, the AA instruction at these roundabouts being take 3rd exit, then 1st exit, then 3rd exit, then 2nd exit, then 3rd exit, then 1st exit, then go straight through, and then take 3rd exit, before turning right onto Carfin Road. I was sure that, this time, I wasn’t going to have a problem, having learned the lessons of previous journeys, until I found myself turning off a roundabout and entering into some kind of industrial estate with a barrier across the entrance, when I should have been turning onto Loanhead Road in Newarthill, which would have been only minutes from my destination. Half an hour later I was still driving round in circles, and it was only by the grace of God that I stopped to ask a lady heading into her house if she knew how I could get to Carfin Grotto, only to discover that I was actually on the Newarthill Road and very close to my destination. Thankfully, I had left in plenty of time, and so, while I had missed the welcoming cup of coffee, I arrived with 5 minutes to spare, made my registration, and then sat down, just as the day was scheduled to begin. I was then somewhat consoled by the fact that one of the introductory speakers began by saying that she too had got lost on the way, and that she had been following her Satnav.
The day was looking at Safeguarding in the context of Catholic Social Teaching. The shape of the day is usually an Opening Prayer, 1st Talk, Mass, Lunch, 2nd Talk, Q&A, and Closing Prayer. After Mass I recognised a priest, an Oblate of Mary Immaculate, whom I had known quite well in Dublin, some years previously, when he was based at the Oblate Monastery in Inchicore, and I was based at the Passionist Retreat in Mount Argus. I remember inviting him over to give a session at our Triduum of Hope in honour of St Charles of Mount Argus, and he gave a very beautiful, reflective input. It was good to meet him again and have a catch up, and, as he is now involved with Stella Maris, he has come to know our Stella Maris members here in St Mungo’s. It’s a small world – especially if you’re a Catholic. There was a generous amount of free time after lunch before the afternoon session began, and so I took a walk around the grounds, taking in some of the various shrines that I always feel drawn to. One that I stopped to say a prayer at was the shrine to Blessed Carlo Acutis, especially as we had recently hosted the Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition in St Mungo’s that is inspired by this impressive young man of his times, a computer wizard. It was only when I got home to Bishopbriggs that evening, without getting lost, that I discovered that, on this very same day, Pope Francis had cleared the way for Blessed Carlo Acutis to become a saint.
Father John took some time off over the Bank Holiday weekend to go travelling with some friends. The original intention was to travel north and take in some of the beautiful sights of the Scottish Highlands. However, he ended up travelling to South Wales and taking in some of the sights there. Thankfully, he didn’t come back with a Welsh accent as one of those in the community is quite enough. I had visited Wales a few times, when the Passionists had houses at St Non’s and Carmarthen. I also once visited Shrewsbury on the English/Welsh border. I had been very interested in the Brother Cadfael medieval murder mysteries by Ellis Peters, as recommended by a famous Jesuit for people involved in Religious Formation, as I was at the time. The books were set in the 11th century when Shrewsbury was part of Wales. The main locus was the Benedictine Abbey of Saints Peter and Paul, which, in present day, has a Brother Cadfael Visitor Centre. The visitor experience includes a murder mystery to solve. I was delighted to visit the abbey and I cleverly solved the murder – wonderful!
As ever, protect yourself, your loved ones and others, and protect Christ in your lives.
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