Tuesday 1st May 2012 - The Sacred Heart, Wigtown
A simple brick Gothic church of 1879, designed by the architect J. Garden Brown.
I arise today to my early morning call from a chorus of blackbirds and I thank God for another day.
“I Arise Today”, the beautiful words from “St Patrick’s Breastplate” and sung by Susan Connolly is often a wake up call for me too. Through technology we can find hymns like this at a touch of a button if we are lucky enough to have a computer and if I need a pick me up I listen to this.
It’s 4.45am and Maria is coming for me at 7.15am, and today, please God, we are heading for Mass at Wigtown. So I’ve made my usual first cup of coffee and will now listen to this hymn and then switch to “Pray as You Go” in preparation for today.
This will be Mass number forty-five of my pilgrimage and it’s been many weeks now since I’ve been to New Abbey but some of the places are difficult to reach by bus in time for Mass. So thank you Lord for Maria.
It was a pleasant morning and the roads were pretty quiet along the Ayrshire coast. Soon we were in verdant countryside and the scene was set for a special day and very special it was too as we chatted about faith and frivolities. Wigtown is a unique little town in this beautiful part of Scotland; a town famous for it’s Book Festival.
As we drove into Main Street the first thing we saw was The Sacred Heart Church, so Maria parked the car and, as we were early, we walked around town and decided to have a look in the Town Hall. The one-room museum showed a bit of history of the area and some old photographs. I always feel something special when I look at photographs of people who are now with Our Lord, a look into the world of yesterday from their work in the local creamery and distillery to their play at curling and quoiting.
As we arrived at the Sacred Heart Church, Father Ben Lodge and his parishioners were praying morning prayers. It was a comforting scene to see the priest sitting on the pew in front of his parishioners and slightly turned towards them.
As Father left for the Sacristy to prepare for Mass, I too prepared myself for Mass in this beautiful wee church.
Dear Lord, bless Maria for bringing me here today and bless all my family members and friends who are living with cancer.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles told us about the disciples of the early church travelling from place to place proclaiming the Good News of the Lord Jesus and here in our Galloway diocese many of our priests are having to travel to the various parishes in their charge to do just that. They are like the Good Shepherd tending his flock often travelling many miles to take Holy Communion to a few faithful souls.
On this week of prayer for vocations to the priesthood I pray that more young men and women answer a call from God to live religious lives which hopefully will lead to a much needed boost to an increase of men studying for the priesthood.
It was lovely to meet you Nan Rossi, please God we may meet again.
After tea and scones in Wigtown we travelled back through Newton Stewart to have a look at the shops and also to look for Windsor Road, where our next Mass in the pilgrimage will be in the Church of St Ninian.
We enjoyed a pleasant journey home after stopping on the coast road for lunch. All in all, it was a very fruitful day. Thank you Lord.
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has become one of the most treasured devotions of the Catholic Church. Many Popes, countless bishops and the faithful throughout the world have singled out this devotion above all others as best expressing the love of our Saviour for us and our loving gratitude towards him.
The recognition of the immensity of Christ's love for us is as old as the Church. But the singling out, as an object of adoration, of the heart of Christ as symbolising this love, is something that has grown with private devotion. For that heart is the source of the immense charity, that moved him to lay down his life for us.
Saturday 12th May 2012 - The Church of the Resurrection, Gatehouse-of -Fleet
Built in 1971 and served from Kirkcudbright.
I was wrong when I said the next Mass on my pilgrimage would be Newton Stewart. With a change of plan and grateful thanks to Michael and Joyce Woods, 6.00pm Vigil Mass at Gatehouse of Fleet was to be Mass number forty-six.
We had a picturesque journey as we travelled through this beautiful part of the country arriving early for Mass. The Church of the Resurrection was very welcoming. It’s a modern church and hall with dividing shutters. This is my third visit to this friendly parish; first Castle Douglas, then Kirkcudbright now Gatehouse of Fleet; all in the capable and spiritual hands of Father Willie McFadden.
In his homily Father spoke of it being six months since the new translation of the Mass and how the words are majestic and in great praise of God; an Omnipotent God, who gave us his only son Jesus, who in today’s Gospel says “I call you friends”. This takes me back to a favourite hymn from my childhood “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bare, what a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.”
Thank you Father Willie for your lovely welcome and prayers and thanks to some new friends I’ve made travelling in “Bonnie Galloway”.
I will make one more trip soon to St Andrew’s and St Cuthbert’s for Mass and to see the newly refurbished church. This will probably be in June, please God, once my pilgrimage is complete.
Grateful thanks to Michael and Joyce. I really appreciated their help in getting me to Gatehouse of Fleet. I have been blessed with good friends Lord.
The Resurrection
To St Paul and the first preachers of The Gospel, the Resurrection was the whole content of the Christan message, because it was the very cause of our salvation, without which Christ would have served no purpose in coming among us. If God's promise to save his people was to be meaningful, then it must eventually include a resurrection of the whole person, body and soul, from the dead. Man is not saved when his soul has gone to Heaven, his body also longs for Redemption. This full redemption of man was achieved for the first time in the person of Jesus Christ. By becoming man, he had identified himself with our situation of sinfulness and Godlessness. He became so completely one with us that he accepted the final anguish of our exile from God in death. But for him this death was not the end. It was a death to this world, and therefore a transition into the world of God. In other words, God sent his Son among us, not simply to die, but to overcome death. This was achieved on Easter morning. When God raised Jesus from the dead, a new creation had begun. For the first time since Adam, a member of our Godless race had been reunited body and soul to God.
Built in 1971 and served from Kirkcudbright.
I was wrong when I said the next Mass on my pilgrimage would be Newton Stewart. With a change of plan and grateful thanks to Michael and Joyce Woods, 6.00pm Vigil Mass at Gatehouse of Fleet was to be Mass number forty-six.
We had a picturesque journey as we travelled through this beautiful part of the country arriving early for Mass. The Church of the Resurrection was very welcoming. It’s a modern church and hall with dividing shutters. This is my third visit to this friendly parish; first Castle Douglas, then Kirkcudbright now Gatehouse of Fleet; all in the capable and spiritual hands of Father Willie McFadden.
In his homily Father spoke of it being six months since the new translation of the Mass and how the words are majestic and in great praise of God; an Omnipotent God, who gave us his only son Jesus, who in today’s Gospel says “I call you friends”. This takes me back to a favourite hymn from my childhood “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bare, what a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.”
Thank you Father Willie for your lovely welcome and prayers and thanks to some new friends I’ve made travelling in “Bonnie Galloway”.
I will make one more trip soon to St Andrew’s and St Cuthbert’s for Mass and to see the newly refurbished church. This will probably be in June, please God, once my pilgrimage is complete.
Grateful thanks to Michael and Joyce. I really appreciated their help in getting me to Gatehouse of Fleet. I have been blessed with good friends Lord.
The Resurrection
To St Paul and the first preachers of The Gospel, the Resurrection was the whole content of the Christan message, because it was the very cause of our salvation, without which Christ would have served no purpose in coming among us. If God's promise to save his people was to be meaningful, then it must eventually include a resurrection of the whole person, body and soul, from the dead. Man is not saved when his soul has gone to Heaven, his body also longs for Redemption. This full redemption of man was achieved for the first time in the person of Jesus Christ. By becoming man, he had identified himself with our situation of sinfulness and Godlessness. He became so completely one with us that he accepted the final anguish of our exile from God in death. But for him this death was not the end. It was a death to this world, and therefore a transition into the world of God. In other words, God sent his Son among us, not simply to die, but to overcome death. This was achieved on Easter morning. When God raised Jesus from the dead, a new creation had begun. For the first time since Adam, a member of our Godless race had been reunited body and soul to God.
Thursday 17th May 2012 - Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Kilmarnock
Large church opened in 1963 with distinctive stained glass windows and the figure of Christ Crucified
At last I will be able to go to Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church for Mass number forty-seven of my pilgrimage.
As usual I am early and arrive at the church to find Sister Imelda preparing the church for Mass. It was good because in the quiet of the church I could pray. I loved the sanctuary with such unusual floral art especially with the greenery, thank you Mount Carmel for some ideas.
I think we can all learn from visits to other parishes from time to time, and this perhaps could enhance our own parishes.
I prayed for the Norbertines, or White Canons, who used to serve in this church, and I tried to refresh my memory with their names, and here we are now with one priest, Father Edward McGhee, ministering to three parishes.
Yes Lord, our priests are having a heavy load to bear, it’s important that we pray for them.
Today is the feast of the Ascension, Thursday 17th May. Yet in the other Catholic churches in the British Isles it will be celebrated on the weekend of 19th and 20th of May, I wonder why? I must ask.
The children from Our Lady of Mount Carmel School arrived and it was a joy to see so many of them filing into the pews. Father Edward’s homily was excellent as he spoke to the little ones from primary one then moving up the aisle and talking to each year. His theme was “moving on” and spoke of Jesus moving on; I liked it.
An elderly lady was sitting beside me and it wasn’t till the end of Mass that I realised who she was. I was a stranger in their midst and Annette Brown came over to talk to me, thank you Annette. She spoke to Mamie beside me and it was then that I saw Mamie McKie. Mamie worked tirelessly for “The Innocents” in Kilmarnock, she was a cousin of friends of ours in Galston and I remember hearing about her work.
I repeat again that I have met some lovely people on my pilgrimage. You have opened my eyes Lord, to the great work that ordinary people can do through Your Holy Spirit guiding them.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Feast Day July 16th
Strictly speaking, this is a "commemoration" rather than a feast, for it commemorates two events in Carmelite history. The Carmelites were hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land. When the Crusaders failed in their plan to establish a Kingdom of Jerusalem, those christians who remained in Palestine were persecuted by the Saracens. The hermits of Mount Carmel made their way in groups to different parts of Europe. Their Rule received the approval of Pope Honorius III , as a result, it was believed, of a vision in which Our Lady appeared to him. The vision occurred on the night of July 16th 1225. Even with this approval, the future of the Order seemed imperilled, until an energetic English Carmelite, St Simon Stock, was elected General. He travelled throughout Europe, founding new houses, and re-organising the Order. According to the Carmelite tradition, he sought from Our Lady a sign of her special protection, and in 1251, once more on July 16th, she is said to have appeared to him in a vision, and to have shown him that those who wore the brown Carmelite scapular would be blessed with her love and protection. For this reason, July 16th is often known as "the scapular feast". It was instituted by the Carmelites towards the end of the 14th Century and was extended to the whole Western church by Benedict XIII in 1726. It is also kept by certain Eastern churches under the title of "Our Lady's Garment".
Large church opened in 1963 with distinctive stained glass windows and the figure of Christ Crucified
At last I will be able to go to Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church for Mass number forty-seven of my pilgrimage.
As usual I am early and arrive at the church to find Sister Imelda preparing the church for Mass. It was good because in the quiet of the church I could pray. I loved the sanctuary with such unusual floral art especially with the greenery, thank you Mount Carmel for some ideas.
I think we can all learn from visits to other parishes from time to time, and this perhaps could enhance our own parishes.
I prayed for the Norbertines, or White Canons, who used to serve in this church, and I tried to refresh my memory with their names, and here we are now with one priest, Father Edward McGhee, ministering to three parishes.
Yes Lord, our priests are having a heavy load to bear, it’s important that we pray for them.
Today is the feast of the Ascension, Thursday 17th May. Yet in the other Catholic churches in the British Isles it will be celebrated on the weekend of 19th and 20th of May, I wonder why? I must ask.
The children from Our Lady of Mount Carmel School arrived and it was a joy to see so many of them filing into the pews. Father Edward’s homily was excellent as he spoke to the little ones from primary one then moving up the aisle and talking to each year. His theme was “moving on” and spoke of Jesus moving on; I liked it.
An elderly lady was sitting beside me and it wasn’t till the end of Mass that I realised who she was. I was a stranger in their midst and Annette Brown came over to talk to me, thank you Annette. She spoke to Mamie beside me and it was then that I saw Mamie McKie. Mamie worked tirelessly for “The Innocents” in Kilmarnock, she was a cousin of friends of ours in Galston and I remember hearing about her work.
I repeat again that I have met some lovely people on my pilgrimage. You have opened my eyes Lord, to the great work that ordinary people can do through Your Holy Spirit guiding them.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Feast Day July 16th
Strictly speaking, this is a "commemoration" rather than a feast, for it commemorates two events in Carmelite history. The Carmelites were hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land. When the Crusaders failed in their plan to establish a Kingdom of Jerusalem, those christians who remained in Palestine were persecuted by the Saracens. The hermits of Mount Carmel made their way in groups to different parts of Europe. Their Rule received the approval of Pope Honorius III , as a result, it was believed, of a vision in which Our Lady appeared to him. The vision occurred on the night of July 16th 1225. Even with this approval, the future of the Order seemed imperilled, until an energetic English Carmelite, St Simon Stock, was elected General. He travelled throughout Europe, founding new houses, and re-organising the Order. According to the Carmelite tradition, he sought from Our Lady a sign of her special protection, and in 1251, once more on July 16th, she is said to have appeared to him in a vision, and to have shown him that those who wore the brown Carmelite scapular would be blessed with her love and protection. For this reason, July 16th is often known as "the scapular feast". It was instituted by the Carmelites towards the end of the 14th Century and was extended to the whole Western church by Benedict XIII in 1726. It is also kept by certain Eastern churches under the title of "Our Lady's Garment".
Monday 21st May 2012 -Our Lady & St Ninian, Newton Stewart
A local and wealthy convert, David Hunter Blair, paid for the building of a new church in 1876 designed by Goldie and Chylde of London while the old church of 1825 was converted into a small school.
Just like the day I headed for Wigtown, I awoke to a dawn chorus of blackbirds on another fine morning. Almost 5.00am and a red sky on the horizon, my favourite part of the day. I have stepped outside for a minute to feel the fresh morning air and fresh it is with a chilly feel to it but it all makes for a lovely day ahead. A blackbird was on the roof and I just stood there and listened to her melodious tune.
Maria was coming around 8.00am. I had plenty of time so listened to Pray as you Go, and reflected on the reading from The Acts of the Apostles. It’s amazing how each day’s readings from the Gospels has a message for us, if we listen. Thank you Lord for this precious time of day.
We were soon heading for Ayr and the coast road to Girvan then inland to Newton Stewart to the church of Our Lady and St Ninian. We were retracing our steps from three weeks ago but each journey is different, as is each conversation, so today I will focus on the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we are guided to do things and question where did that idea come from and then realise that God’s Holy Spirit is working away quietly within. Thank you for these times Lord.
I read recently about the Holy Spirit being like the morning dew spread over the earth and that is exactly how it feels for me this morning as we drive through this beautiful countryside.
We soon found the church and what a lovely church it is with its ornate altar and an eye-catching stained glass window above the Sanctuary. Father Ben Lodge spoke about today’s reading and about the Holy Spirit and here I was again, being reminded of that same Spirit working in each of us.
There is something heartening about travelling a distance to find pockets of people all over our diocese professing their faith.
Father Ben Lodge, like all of today’s priests, has a busy life, with three parishes to minister to, so we all need the gifts of the Holy Spirit to help our priests and churches in what way we can, whether it be with manual work, or with prayer, or a bit of both.
We chatted to the small congregation for a few minutes after Mass and then were given directions to “ Cinnamon,” a coffee and craft shop in the town. As we headed towards the café, a lady parishioner stopped to make sure we were going in the right direction. She was Geraldine, wife of recently ordained Deacon, Bob Simpson. Thank you Geraldine and Margaret.
Our Lady
Mary, the Mother of God, Mother of Jesus, wife of St Joseph, and the greatest of all christian saints. "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ, his only son , Our Lord, who was conceived of the holy ghost, born of the virgin Mary". This quotation from the Creed gives some indication of the prominent position that the mother of Jesus Christ has always held in Christian belief. The information on Mary's life, sparse as it is, nevertheless contains overtones which indicate that a theology of Mary was elaborated from earliest times. St Luke makes Mary the central figure because he sees in her the fulfilment of the whole history of the Old Testament. St John goes even further, in two scenes she is the central figure. At Cana she is the means by which Christ manifests the glory which, except for her, would have been hidden. And at Calvary, where the glory is shown in all its fullness. Christ appoints her as the mother of John, who stands for all those "whom Jesus loved". She is not merely the personification of the old Israel, she is the beginning of the new Israel, The Church.
St Ninian, Feast Day September 16th
Ninian is a Christian saint first mentioned in the 8th Century as being an early missionary among the Pictish peoples of Scotland. He was known as the Apostle to the Southern Picts and there are numerous dedications to him in those parts of Scotland with a Pictish heritage, throughout the Scottish Lowlands and in parts of England. Ninian’s major shrine was at Whithorn in Galloway named Candida Casa [ the White House]. The Venerable Bede and St Aelred both write that Ninian dedicated his church to St Martin of Tours.
A local and wealthy convert, David Hunter Blair, paid for the building of a new church in 1876 designed by Goldie and Chylde of London while the old church of 1825 was converted into a small school.
Just like the day I headed for Wigtown, I awoke to a dawn chorus of blackbirds on another fine morning. Almost 5.00am and a red sky on the horizon, my favourite part of the day. I have stepped outside for a minute to feel the fresh morning air and fresh it is with a chilly feel to it but it all makes for a lovely day ahead. A blackbird was on the roof and I just stood there and listened to her melodious tune.
Maria was coming around 8.00am. I had plenty of time so listened to Pray as you Go, and reflected on the reading from The Acts of the Apostles. It’s amazing how each day’s readings from the Gospels has a message for us, if we listen. Thank you Lord for this precious time of day.
We were soon heading for Ayr and the coast road to Girvan then inland to Newton Stewart to the church of Our Lady and St Ninian. We were retracing our steps from three weeks ago but each journey is different, as is each conversation, so today I will focus on the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we are guided to do things and question where did that idea come from and then realise that God’s Holy Spirit is working away quietly within. Thank you for these times Lord.
I read recently about the Holy Spirit being like the morning dew spread over the earth and that is exactly how it feels for me this morning as we drive through this beautiful countryside.
We soon found the church and what a lovely church it is with its ornate altar and an eye-catching stained glass window above the Sanctuary. Father Ben Lodge spoke about today’s reading and about the Holy Spirit and here I was again, being reminded of that same Spirit working in each of us.
There is something heartening about travelling a distance to find pockets of people all over our diocese professing their faith.
Father Ben Lodge, like all of today’s priests, has a busy life, with three parishes to minister to, so we all need the gifts of the Holy Spirit to help our priests and churches in what way we can, whether it be with manual work, or with prayer, or a bit of both.
We chatted to the small congregation for a few minutes after Mass and then were given directions to “ Cinnamon,” a coffee and craft shop in the town. As we headed towards the café, a lady parishioner stopped to make sure we were going in the right direction. She was Geraldine, wife of recently ordained Deacon, Bob Simpson. Thank you Geraldine and Margaret.
Our Lady
Mary, the Mother of God, Mother of Jesus, wife of St Joseph, and the greatest of all christian saints. "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ, his only son , Our Lord, who was conceived of the holy ghost, born of the virgin Mary". This quotation from the Creed gives some indication of the prominent position that the mother of Jesus Christ has always held in Christian belief. The information on Mary's life, sparse as it is, nevertheless contains overtones which indicate that a theology of Mary was elaborated from earliest times. St Luke makes Mary the central figure because he sees in her the fulfilment of the whole history of the Old Testament. St John goes even further, in two scenes she is the central figure. At Cana she is the means by which Christ manifests the glory which, except for her, would have been hidden. And at Calvary, where the glory is shown in all its fullness. Christ appoints her as the mother of John, who stands for all those "whom Jesus loved". She is not merely the personification of the old Israel, she is the beginning of the new Israel, The Church.
St Ninian, Feast Day September 16th
Ninian is a Christian saint first mentioned in the 8th Century as being an early missionary among the Pictish peoples of Scotland. He was known as the Apostle to the Southern Picts and there are numerous dedications to him in those parts of Scotland with a Pictish heritage, throughout the Scottish Lowlands and in parts of England. Ninian’s major shrine was at Whithorn in Galloway named Candida Casa [ the White House]. The Venerable Bede and St Aelred both write that Ninian dedicated his church to St Martin of Tours.
Sunday 3rd June 2012 - Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
The first church in Millport, served from Largs was the chapel (formerly stables) of the Marquess of Bute’s Garrison House. The parish was at its busiest during World War 2 with evacuees from Glasgow & Greenock. A new church was built in 1958.
The End of the Way; that is the end of my own pilgrimage round the Galloway Diocese; my own Camino.
Jamie has kindly offered to take me to Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in Millport. It was on this date last year that I set off to the Cathedral Church of St Margaret in Ayr for the first Mass of my pilgrimage.
Thank you Lord for leading me here and for all the wonderful people I have met over the last year.
We left Cumnock around 9.30am. When we stopped at Auchinleck for petrol, Jamie asked if I would like to hear some Taize music or enjoy some silence on the journey and I thought, for me, a bit of both would be good. It was a pleasant journey as I savoured the beauty of the countryside and thanked God for it. As we left Mauchline I looked at Kilmarnock in the distance and to my right towards Galston and found myself praying for all the families in the houses I could see and praying for all the friends and families who had gone before us in the valley towns of Galston, Newmilns and Darvel, and especially for St Sophia’s Church in Galston.
As we bypassed Ardrossan, the shimmering sea beckoned and I was transported back to the Silent Retreat at Skelmorlie, just along the coast from here, and I knew in my heart that although this was the end of my pilgrimage, it was the beginning of something new. I don’t know what and I don’t know when.
There is something quite special about an island and Cumbrae is no exception. The sun was shining and although there was a chill to the wind the sheltered bay at Millport had a welcome feel.
This was the first time I had ever been to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church and found a thriving congregation complete with choir. I soon realised many of us were day-trippers as the pass-keepers had to open up the shutters to allow for more people.
Father Flynn spoke in his homily about the Trinity and how St Patrick explained it beautifully with the Shamrock’s three leaves from the one stem. I felt such love all through Mass for God who made me, for His Son, Jesus, who died for me and for His Holy Spirit who guides me. The Solemnity of the Trinity was a special way to end my pilgrimage. Thank you Lord.
When we left church we walked further along the road to visit The Episcopal Cathedral of the Isles, the smallest cathedral in Europe. This church reminded me of St Ninian’s in Castle Douglas, the Episcopal Church where the Roman Catholic parishioners meet for Mass every Tuesday, and where I celebrated the thirty-eighth Mass of my pilgrimage. Thank you Lord. I feel the Holy Spirit at work here and as a humble pilgrim I will continue to pray for family and friends with cancer and for all who are working in cancer research.
The island was so alive with families and cyclists. It was wonderful to be part of it all and after lunch as we headed back to wait for the bus to take us to the ferry we passed the Marquee where the elderly residents of Cumbrae were receiving hospitality in the best possible way.
As we boarded the ferry, Jamie stayed upstairs and I headed for the warmth of the seated area inside because of the chill wind outside, and this is where I once again met Father Flynn. He had been invited to meet up with the elderly residents in the Marquee to enjoy the hospitality. We chatted and I told him that many years ago I had been in St Sophia’s parish Galston where Father Manning had been my priest. Father Flynn is from County Tipperary and came over here in 1966 and remembered Father Manning and called him Jimmy, and that just made my day. In all the years I knew Father Manning, he was simply ‘Father Manning’. We knew, of course, that his first name was James, but hearing him referred to as Jimmy portrayed a side of him I never knew.
Fellow Irish priests on a mission. Thank you one and all. We have so much to thank you for. Yes we are all on a journey and you have helped us on our way.
Which way? The Way to Santiago de Compostela, or the Way around the Galloway Diocese on a bus pass. Does it matter? Both are the same.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Feast Day June 27th
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, also known as Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Pope Pius 1X, associated with a celebrated Byzantine icon of the same name dating from the 15th Century.
The first church in Millport, served from Largs was the chapel (formerly stables) of the Marquess of Bute’s Garrison House. The parish was at its busiest during World War 2 with evacuees from Glasgow & Greenock. A new church was built in 1958.
The End of the Way; that is the end of my own pilgrimage round the Galloway Diocese; my own Camino.
Jamie has kindly offered to take me to Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in Millport. It was on this date last year that I set off to the Cathedral Church of St Margaret in Ayr for the first Mass of my pilgrimage.
Thank you Lord for leading me here and for all the wonderful people I have met over the last year.
We left Cumnock around 9.30am. When we stopped at Auchinleck for petrol, Jamie asked if I would like to hear some Taize music or enjoy some silence on the journey and I thought, for me, a bit of both would be good. It was a pleasant journey as I savoured the beauty of the countryside and thanked God for it. As we left Mauchline I looked at Kilmarnock in the distance and to my right towards Galston and found myself praying for all the families in the houses I could see and praying for all the friends and families who had gone before us in the valley towns of Galston, Newmilns and Darvel, and especially for St Sophia’s Church in Galston.
As we bypassed Ardrossan, the shimmering sea beckoned and I was transported back to the Silent Retreat at Skelmorlie, just along the coast from here, and I knew in my heart that although this was the end of my pilgrimage, it was the beginning of something new. I don’t know what and I don’t know when.
There is something quite special about an island and Cumbrae is no exception. The sun was shining and although there was a chill to the wind the sheltered bay at Millport had a welcome feel.
This was the first time I had ever been to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church and found a thriving congregation complete with choir. I soon realised many of us were day-trippers as the pass-keepers had to open up the shutters to allow for more people.
Father Flynn spoke in his homily about the Trinity and how St Patrick explained it beautifully with the Shamrock’s three leaves from the one stem. I felt such love all through Mass for God who made me, for His Son, Jesus, who died for me and for His Holy Spirit who guides me. The Solemnity of the Trinity was a special way to end my pilgrimage. Thank you Lord.
When we left church we walked further along the road to visit The Episcopal Cathedral of the Isles, the smallest cathedral in Europe. This church reminded me of St Ninian’s in Castle Douglas, the Episcopal Church where the Roman Catholic parishioners meet for Mass every Tuesday, and where I celebrated the thirty-eighth Mass of my pilgrimage. Thank you Lord. I feel the Holy Spirit at work here and as a humble pilgrim I will continue to pray for family and friends with cancer and for all who are working in cancer research.
The island was so alive with families and cyclists. It was wonderful to be part of it all and after lunch as we headed back to wait for the bus to take us to the ferry we passed the Marquee where the elderly residents of Cumbrae were receiving hospitality in the best possible way.
As we boarded the ferry, Jamie stayed upstairs and I headed for the warmth of the seated area inside because of the chill wind outside, and this is where I once again met Father Flynn. He had been invited to meet up with the elderly residents in the Marquee to enjoy the hospitality. We chatted and I told him that many years ago I had been in St Sophia’s parish Galston where Father Manning had been my priest. Father Flynn is from County Tipperary and came over here in 1966 and remembered Father Manning and called him Jimmy, and that just made my day. In all the years I knew Father Manning, he was simply ‘Father Manning’. We knew, of course, that his first name was James, but hearing him referred to as Jimmy portrayed a side of him I never knew.
Fellow Irish priests on a mission. Thank you one and all. We have so much to thank you for. Yes we are all on a journey and you have helped us on our way.
Which way? The Way to Santiago de Compostela, or the Way around the Galloway Diocese on a bus pass. Does it matter? Both are the same.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Feast Day June 27th
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, also known as Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Pope Pius 1X, associated with a celebrated Byzantine icon of the same name dating from the 15th Century.
Thursday 14th June - St. Luke's, Moffat
Originally an Episcopalian Church from 1865 until 1872. It then became the Mechanics’ Hall until consecrated as a Catholic Church in 1895. It was restored in 1990.
I knew that before my pilgrimage ended I had to go back to St. Luke’s in Moffat for Mass.
I looked through my journal and found the last time I visited St Luke’s in Moffat it was on Thursday 18th August and I had written that I meant to go back before winter and here I am ten months later but better late than never. I had checked with Patricia to make sure Father Holmes would be there for Mass. It was a beautiful morning as I stepped onto the 6.45am bus to Dumfries. I never tire of this journey through the picturesque Dumfries and Galloway countryside.
I was soon on my way to Moffat after a welcoming cup of coffee at Café Piccolo, Dumfries. I was on the X74 Glasgow bus and this morning, there were a few couples obviously going on holiday. I smiled as I remembered the times that Hugh and I used to head for Glasgow to board the tour buses and I could feel their excitement.
Forty-five minutes later I was in Moffat, and it was looking good in the morning sunlight. I soon found my way back to St Luke’s just as Patricia was coming in the back gate with the church keys in her hand. If you have never been to this lovely wee church please go soon. During the Mass we prayed for Tony who was very ill and I felt it very heartening to know that little pockets of people all over our Diocese would be praying for some other “Tony” this morning. Father Holmes paid particular attention to the beautiful words of the responsorial psalm, “You care for the earth, give it water, you fill it with riches. Your river in heaven brims over to provide its grain”. You will find these beautiful words in Psalm 64: 10-13. After Mass, Patricia and some of the parishioners invited me for coffee to a café combined with a Woollen Mill Shop. We had a very friendly chat. Thank you to Mary, Tony, Sally and Patricia.
Patricia goes to a Bible Study group in a local hotel and asked if I would like to go with her. They have a soup lunch followed by readings and prayers and reflections and at the moment are studying John’s Gospel. They are a lovely group of fellow Christians and I was able to join them for a little while but had to slip away for my bus back to Dumfries.
I was heartened by this group and by what I could see as I travelled through the Diocese. We are in difficult times and the lack of vocations is now being felt, and we the people will have to change by taking that extra step. If a church is closing and people have to travel then share the travel and be like a family. Sometimes we are comfortable in our little boxes but some day the boxes will collapse and then what? I sometimes think we are being led back to the early church because we have lost something along the way.
The Way! This film touched me so much that I just knew I had to do something. I said at the beginning of my journal that I wanted to do something beautiful for God well I can tell you that God has done something beautiful for me. Thank you Lord.
St Luke, Feast Day October 18th
Luke the writer of the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles has been identified with St Paul’s “Luke, the beloved physician [Colossians 4: 14]. We know few other facts about Luke’s life from Scriptures and from early Church historians. It is believed Luke was born a Greek and a Gentile. Colossians 10:14 speaks of those who are with him. He first mentions all those “ of the circumcism”, in other words, Jesus. He does not include Luke in this group. Luke’s Gospel shows special sensitivity to evangelizing Gentiles It is only in his Gospel that we hear about the Good Samaritan and also about Jesus praising the faith of the Gentiles such as the widow Zarapath and Naaman the Syrian, and of the grateful leper who is also a Samaritan. According to early Church historians, Eusebius [ Luke] was born at Antioch in Syria.
Originally an Episcopalian Church from 1865 until 1872. It then became the Mechanics’ Hall until consecrated as a Catholic Church in 1895. It was restored in 1990.
I knew that before my pilgrimage ended I had to go back to St. Luke’s in Moffat for Mass.
I looked through my journal and found the last time I visited St Luke’s in Moffat it was on Thursday 18th August and I had written that I meant to go back before winter and here I am ten months later but better late than never. I had checked with Patricia to make sure Father Holmes would be there for Mass. It was a beautiful morning as I stepped onto the 6.45am bus to Dumfries. I never tire of this journey through the picturesque Dumfries and Galloway countryside.
I was soon on my way to Moffat after a welcoming cup of coffee at Café Piccolo, Dumfries. I was on the X74 Glasgow bus and this morning, there were a few couples obviously going on holiday. I smiled as I remembered the times that Hugh and I used to head for Glasgow to board the tour buses and I could feel their excitement.
Forty-five minutes later I was in Moffat, and it was looking good in the morning sunlight. I soon found my way back to St Luke’s just as Patricia was coming in the back gate with the church keys in her hand. If you have never been to this lovely wee church please go soon. During the Mass we prayed for Tony who was very ill and I felt it very heartening to know that little pockets of people all over our Diocese would be praying for some other “Tony” this morning. Father Holmes paid particular attention to the beautiful words of the responsorial psalm, “You care for the earth, give it water, you fill it with riches. Your river in heaven brims over to provide its grain”. You will find these beautiful words in Psalm 64: 10-13. After Mass, Patricia and some of the parishioners invited me for coffee to a café combined with a Woollen Mill Shop. We had a very friendly chat. Thank you to Mary, Tony, Sally and Patricia.
Patricia goes to a Bible Study group in a local hotel and asked if I would like to go with her. They have a soup lunch followed by readings and prayers and reflections and at the moment are studying John’s Gospel. They are a lovely group of fellow Christians and I was able to join them for a little while but had to slip away for my bus back to Dumfries.
I was heartened by this group and by what I could see as I travelled through the Diocese. We are in difficult times and the lack of vocations is now being felt, and we the people will have to change by taking that extra step. If a church is closing and people have to travel then share the travel and be like a family. Sometimes we are comfortable in our little boxes but some day the boxes will collapse and then what? I sometimes think we are being led back to the early church because we have lost something along the way.
The Way! This film touched me so much that I just knew I had to do something. I said at the beginning of my journal that I wanted to do something beautiful for God well I can tell you that God has done something beautiful for me. Thank you Lord.
St Luke, Feast Day October 18th
Luke the writer of the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles has been identified with St Paul’s “Luke, the beloved physician [Colossians 4: 14]. We know few other facts about Luke’s life from Scriptures and from early Church historians. It is believed Luke was born a Greek and a Gentile. Colossians 10:14 speaks of those who are with him. He first mentions all those “ of the circumcism”, in other words, Jesus. He does not include Luke in this group. Luke’s Gospel shows special sensitivity to evangelizing Gentiles It is only in his Gospel that we hear about the Good Samaritan and also about Jesus praising the faith of the Gentiles such as the widow Zarapath and Naaman the Syrian, and of the grateful leper who is also a Samaritan. According to early Church historians, Eusebius [ Luke] was born at Antioch in Syria.