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By Vincent Toal

THE FULL programme of Pope Benedict XVI’s historic State visit to Britain in mid-September will be unveiled, this month.

Already, Glasgow is gearing up to welcome the Pope who will honour the city by celebrating Mass with a congregation of around 100,000 people gathered in Bellahosuton Park.

The venue for the Mass on the afternoon of Thursday 16 September was confirmed, last month, after negotiations with Glasgow City Council.

In a statement issued at the end of their June conference meeting, Scotland’s bishops expressed their gratitude to the City Council for accommodating their request.

“The park provides a wonderful venue for what will be a tremendous event,” the bishops stated. “It is a place that has a great resonance for Scottish Catholics many of whom remember fondly the wonderful day in 1982 when Pope John Paul II said Mass there.”

Transport

Now, every parish in Scotland is being invited to arrange for parishioners to be present at the Mass which is scheduled to begin around 5pm.

A detailed travel plan is being put together which will mean all pilgrims sharing the transport costs.

To ease the journey for the more elderly and less able, a relay of shuttle buses will operate between Bellahouston and the coach parks and nearby train stations.

Mgr Peter Smith, who is coordinating the Bellahouston event and representing the Archdiocese of Glasgow on the visit planning team, said: “The logistics of staging the Mass become massively complex when you take account of all the security and health and safety issues involved.

“On top of these, there is a whole range of imponderables like the weather which have to be factored in with alternative arrangements to hand.”

Pope Benedict is due to arrive at Edinburgh airport from Rome around 11am on Sept 16 to begin the four-day visit.

Welcomed

From there, he will travel to the Palace of Holyroodhouse where he will be formally welcomed by Queen Elizabeth.

It is hoped to stage a St Ninian’s Day pageant along the streets of the capital celebrating Scotland’s early Christian roots and its distinctive musical culture.

But the highlight of the day will be the Mass at Bellahouston. While musical settings for the Mass have been composed, these still await approval from the Vatican.

In early July, the Pope’s Master of Ceremonies, Mgr Guido Marini, will visit Bellahouston and make detailed arrangements for the Mass.

Last month, Lord Chris Patten, who was appointed the new Government’s coordinator for the visit, expressed his satisfaction with the arrangements being made in Scotland, after a fact-finding trip to Glasgow and Edinburgh.











	By Vincent Toal THE FULL programme of Pope Benedict XVI’s historic State visit to Britain in mid-September will be unveiled, this month. Already, Glasgow is gearing up to welcome the Pope who will honour the city by celebrating Mass with a congregation of around 100,000 people gathered in Bellahosuton Park. The venue for the Mass on the afternoon of Thursday 16 September was confirmed, last month, after negotiations with Glasgow City Council. In a statement issued at the end of their June conference meeting, Scotland’s bishops expressed their gratitude to the City Council for accommodating their request. “The park provides a wonderful venue for what will be a tremendous event,” the bishops stated. “It is a place that has a great resonance for Scottish Catholics many of whom remember fondly the wonderful day in 1982 when Pope John Paul II said Mass there.” Transport Now, every parish in Scotland is being invited to arrange for parishioners to be present at the Mass which is scheduled to begin around 5pm. A detailed travel plan is being put together which will mean all pilgrims sharing the transport costs. To ease the journey for the more elderly and less able, a relay of shuttle buses will operate between Bellahouston and the coach parks and nearby train stations. Mgr Peter Smith, who is coordinating the Bellahouston event and representing the Archdiocese of Glasgow on the visit planning team, said: “The logistics of staging the Mass become massively complex when you take account of all the security and health and safety issues involved. “On top of these, there is a whole range of imponderables like the weather which have to be factored in with alternative arrangements to hand.” Pope Benedict is due to arrive at Edinburgh airport from Rome around 11am on Sept 16 to begin the four-day visit. Welcomed From there, he will travel to the Palace of Holyroodhouse where he will be formally welcomed by Queen Elizabeth. It is hoped to stage a St Ninian’s Day pageant along the streets of the capital celebrating Scotland’s early Christian roots and its distinctive musical culture. But the highlight of the day will be the Mass at Bellahouston. While musical settings for the Mass have been composed, these still await approval from the Vatican. In early July, the Pope’s Master of Ceremonies, Mgr Guido Marini, will visit Bellahouston and make detailed arrangements for the Mass. Last month, Lord Chris Patten, who was appointed the new Government’s coordinator for the visit, expressed his satisfaction with the arrangements being made in Scotland, after a fact-finding trip to Glasgow and Edinburgh.





			IT WAS billed as Jubilee Sunday at St Philomena’s, Provanmill, when a combined 225 years of priesthood and religious life were honoured. Sr Mary McCann and Sr Teresa O’Neill are Franciscan Missionaries of Mary who reached 75 and 60 years of religious profession respectively, this year. Fr Thomas Hurley, assistant in the parish, is marking his golden jubilee of ordination. And parish priest Canon John McAuley was ordained 40 years ago. “With all these milestones converging, we felt it was right that we should mark them together as a parish,” said Canon McAuley. “In a world that seems to have lost any sense of commitment, these 225 years stand witness that another way is possible.” Fr Hurley began his ministry as a priest in St Philomena’s in 1960, after arriving in Glasgow from his ordination in St John’s, Waterford. He went on to serve in St Augustine’s, Milton, St Jude’s, Barlanark, and Holy Cross, Croy, before returning to Provanmill. “Today is a day for thanking God for the grace to persevere,” he told the packed congregation at the Jubilee Mass on Sunday 27 June. “It has been a privilege to serve the people of Glasgow, and I thank them and my family for all the prayers and support they have given me.”