Scotland: St Ninian's Institute

Archbishop Mennini, Bishop Logan and VIP guests at inauguration - image: Paul McSherry

Scotland: St Ninian's Institute inaugurated by Papal Nuncio

By: Harry Schnitker

Posted: Friday, October 25, 2013

Scotland’s first Catholic higher education institute in modern times, was inaugurated yesterday. The Papal Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, presided at the official opening of the new Saint Ninian’s Institute in Dundee yesterday (Thursday 25 October). His Excellency also was chief celebrant at Mass in the Institute’s chapel afterwards. The new institute has been named after Scotland’s first saint, and was inaugurated by Bishop-Emeritus Vincent Logan of Dunkeld to commemorate the visit of Emeritus-Pope Benedict XVI to Scotland on St Ninian’s Day 2010. It is based at St Joseph’s, Lawside, Dundee. St Ninian's will offer long-distance learning modules in Catholic theology and culture, and provide opportunities for ecumenical initiatives. Personal learning will be augmented by residential weekends and lectures. The first annual lecture series, marking the Year of Faith, has set the standard, with national and international academic contributors. There will be a strong emphasis on the arts, with courses in sacred music, history and art, which will appeal to a Catholic and non-Catholic audience alike. In conjunction with the Maryvale Ecclesiastical Institute, Birmingham, research PhDs may be undertaken at St Ninian’s.

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Tags: Archbishop Antonio Mennini, Bishop-Emeritus Vincent Logan of Dunkeld, Dundee,Saint Ninian’s Institute, Scotland’s first Catholic higher education institute

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: father patrick . . .
To:
Sent: Friday, 14 October 2011, 15:55
Subject: BEAUTIFUL STORY 

 In the face of the storm, Pope Benedict stood strong

By David Kerr

Rome, Italy, Oct 13, 2011 / 03:08 pm (EWTN News/CNA)   

Erika Rivera speaks with EWTN News in Rome on Oct. 6, 2011

Related news:

• Madrid’s World Youth Day shortcomings offer lessons for Rio
• Spanish forum recalls joy of youth at World Youth Day
• Oldest nun tells Pope, 'I pray for you each day'
• 'Truth' is behind success of World Youth Day, says archbishop

As thunder, lightning and wind whipped through the World Youth Day prayer vigil this past August, Pope Benedict XVI was advised to leave the event three times. But he insisted that if the young people stayed, then he would too.

The revelation comes from a young Honduran woman was who stood next to the Pope throughout the event.

“The masters of ceremony were asking him if the wanted to leave because it was raining, it was pouring and the wind was really strong and he kept on saying that he would not leave. In fact, he twice waved his finger saying ‘no, no, no’,” 27-year-old Erika Rivera told EWTN News.
The advisers then asked a third time if the Pope wanted to leave. But this time he responded even more firmly, pointing to the 2 million drenched young pilgrims and saying, “If they are staying, then I am staying too.”
“And when he said that, we, the young people who were there next to him, were just so happy to have him as the Holy Father. So it was a fantastic, unique experience,” Rivera said.
Rivera was a senior press officer at August’s World Youth Day, but she also served as the host at a number of the week’s papal events, including the Saturday night vigil at Madrid’s Cuatro Vientos airbase.

While the rain lashed and lighting flashed, Pope Benedict seemed to remain prayerfully composed beneath two white umbrellas. Meanwhile, the 2-million strong congregation youthfully sang, danced and prayed in the soaking rain.

We were not afraid at all because we could see that the first one who was serene was the Holy Father,” said Rivera.

“He transmitted a lot of serenity, a lot of calmness and therefore, you know, we thought what else could happen to us?”
After approximately 15 minutes, the rain abated, allowing Pope Benedict to thank the crowd for their “joy and resistance” in enduring the storm. “Your strength is bigger than the rain,” he told them, adding that “the Lord sends you lots of blessings with the rain.”

He then proceeded to lead the young people in Eucharistic adoration.

“It was just fantastic, amazing; it was like a masterpiece,” she said. “The Eucharist was there, the Holy Father was there and the future of the Church was there too - the young people - it was just amazing.”

Two months later Rivera believes there is a deeper lesson to be learned from Pope Benedict’s fortitude in the face of a Spanish storm.

While modern society often opts to “take the easy exit,” she said, to “see Pope Benedict willing to stay there, to make the sacrifice for him who died on the cross for us -- it was truly inspiring for me.”

Read more: http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/World.php?id=4149#ixzz1ahQpLPTr

patrick

News

From our missionary sister, Mary.

Many thanks. 

It is a new world in the East.

We look forward to more pictures.

God bless.

Donald.

     +

          NEWS, Quezon City, (Manilla))Philippines  

from Sr. Mary, FMM            

Sr. Mary on right

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: sr.mary -------------
Sent: Wed, 9 February, 2011 7:54:39
Subject: Philippines Thanks

Dear - - (everybody),  Thanks N... for the latest from Chris and Palm Island(Aus). D.G. no lives were lost though the damage to property sounds mighty.   Chris, I actually got the evening news broadcast from Australia on our T.V. the day after Cyclone Yasi thundered her violent way down and across the northern Territory. Certain coastal resorts and their devastion were shown but Palm Island was not mentioned so I guessed that possibly you were not the worst hit. However I gather that the whole experience must have been quite terrifying in Palm Island, also. (Having experienced a few mighty typhoons in Taiwan in the past - the awesomeness of the power of nature and the helplessness one feels when Nature is seemingly out of control and then the turning in one's heart to God in trust, and not being let down as His peace reassures one on another level. Not long ago, do you remember our pilgrimage to the Skellig Islands, off Kerry coast, and our dangerous crossing, literally in the depths of the waves if not exactly the ocean? Chris, I can remember very vividly, hanging on to you for dear life as I kept slipping off the bench and wondering how long we could hold on against the fierce elements of wind and wave. Noreen and Jo, you were taking the full blast on the back seat facing the ocean and I could not even look there to see how you were coping. Amidst all the rough ride and turmoil of the ocean, I decided that this was as good away as any to meet the Lord and this great peace flooded my soul. Donald,  "Of Gods and Men"  seems to have touched many hearts and will continue to do much good. D.G. I look forward to seeing the DVD one day. The interview with Brother Jean Pierre was very good in fact, but, as you noted, the tranlation into English was really poor. Patience.        Now, a little about our goings-on. Our P.P. invited all the Religious Priests and anyone else living the consecrated life to a special Mass on Feb. 1st evening and 12 Congregatioins of men along with Nine of Women from the Parish were present with the Jesuit Provincial invited to preside and preach.It was a joyful, prayerful occasion and the Church was full as many lay folk came along too. We had a lovely meal together at the Cenacle Retreat house up the road less than 5 minutes from the Church. The arrival of another Congregation, from Italy, the Salesians of the Sacred Heart, was announced at Mass on Monday morning and the two Foundresses one African and one Brazilian stood up with the Assistant General who had accompanied them from Rome to receive a welcoming clap. Here, if a visiting Priest is filling in for the P.P. he receives thanks from the Catechist on duty (who leads in prayers before Mass and makes any announcements) and the Congregation gives him a big clap. Every day at the end of Mass Father says "Thanks be to God" and we all clap.  I think we are giving God this applause but sometimes I think we are giving Father a clap and then ourselves, for turning up to celebrate the mass and God's goodness.   Anyway, it is a very nice custom. We have a homily at every mass and they are as a rule excellent. On sunday an elderly Filipinlo Jesuit celebrated the 9:30 Mass and preached on the Salt and Light and really challenged the congregation on their witness as Christians.     He said that there is a Korean and a Japanese Jesuit in their Community at present and they are very interested  living in a Christian country.  The japanese Priest that in Japan there are over 90 suicides a day and these people are from fairly well off families buit they found no meaning in their lives. In Korea there are over 70 suicides a day and again these people found no meaning in their lives. There are not many suicides in the Philippines so Father concluded that the Faith it would seem makes a difference. And it is true to say that the Filipinos are a happy people and do get strength to bear hardships. A few weeks ago this same Jesuit told us that 70% of the population here is below the poverty line  i.e. they have less than 100 pesos a day (about US$2.00)  t o live on so life is hard. (The other 30% are very rich and some are very generous to the ;poor) Talk about giving witness -  last week the news broke with a big scandal about corruption in the military. apparently 160 million pesos or dollars  US( even Father wasn't sure which but anyway it was a huge sum of money), had been  given as a gift to one or more retiring generals.  - money that should have been spent on military equuipment.Some soldiers had been killed recently because of  faulty and outdated equipment. Sorry to say , but corruption is rife in many areas of society and there were high hopes that the new President would be able to do something about it. However it is very deep rooted and proving to be very difficult to deal with. So much for our Catholic country. On another level the two visiting Jesuits were impressed by the devotion of the people and the many Priests, Brothers and Sisters as well as very well trained and committed lay folk. Our Community here love the Tagalog hymns, songs and dance and every city, town and village has its favourite Saint to be feasted annually. I give the Novices a few hours of English a week and we now have an English day when we speak or try to speak only English and since an Assumptionist father says mass on Wednesdays we chose that day. Morning and evening prayer are also in English and during the day, especially at mealtimes,  we have quite a lot of fun and hilarious moments. Last week we celebrated The Lunar New Year - a big family feast in China and other countries of the East - and started off on the Eve with a reconciliation service in our Chapel which was nicely decorated for the occasion. We had told the workers to take a week off  and so could receive in peace our visiting Filipina Sisters who came along on differnt days to greet us and wish us well .We invited along one day ,the Provincial and her Community. for a Chinese dinner (home-cooking) and had a lovely time together. They have been particularly helpful to us since we came to Manila and kept and eye on the renovation of the property among other things.  Jo, many sisters who were in Liberia or Ghana or Papua were asking for you.  Sr. Susan, Sr. Linda (who are in the convent  at GMA for the Sick and elderly where I stayed for 6 weeks to recover from Dengue, and Sr.Bing to mention  but a few. I hope dear family, that you are all well and that your trainers are the right size and comfortable, Nivard. - - - - - Yours . . .  Sr. Mary T. Church of the Holy Sacrifice Quiezon City Philippine

News From the Catholic Church

----- Forwarded Message ----
Sent: Sun, 19 September, 2010 8:02:42
Subject: News From the Catholic Church
Sunday 19 September 2010

Cardinal O'Brien thanks Pope for being "Honorary Scot"

In his farewell address to Pope Benedict XVI delivered at Oscott College in Birmingham today, Cardinal Keith O'Brien the President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland will thank the pope for agreeing to be "an honorary Scot for the day" on Thursday (16 September).

As Britain's senior Catholic, Cardinal O'Brien addressed his farewell remarks to the pope at the end of his four day visit to Scotland and England. The Cardinal ended by assuring the Pope that the Catholiuc Church would work to "build on the legacy of your visit for many years to come as we go forward affirmed so surely by you in our faith."

The full text of Cardinal O'Brien's address is shown below:

ADDRESS OF CARDINAL O’BRIEN TO POPE BENEDICT XVI

OSCOTT COLLEGE, BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

SUNDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Holy Father, it is a great privilege for me to address you, as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh and President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.

As you prepare to leave us, we remember the joy and pride we felt when we learned of your State visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of Her Majesty the Queen and Her Government.

In Edinburgh, just three days ago, in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Her Majesty, the Duke of Edinburgh and leaders of Church and State welcomed you and the words you so thoughtfully delivered to us when you addressed our country.

It was a particular joy for us in Scotland to realise that you would arrive in our country to begin your visit on the 16th of September, the Feast of St Ninian. Ninian was of course a bishop, ordained in Rome and sent back to his homeland to spread the Christian message. Your words and your very presence brought to our minds our ancient Christian heritage.  The St. Ninian tartan scarf designed and woven for your visit, which you wore so graciously showed you were happy to be an honorary Scot for the day!

The welcoming cavalcade along Princes Street in Edinburgh reminded a worldwide audience of the Christian roots of our land. Like Ninian before you, you too moved across our countries, strengthening us in that same Christian faith whose seed had been first sown over 1600 years ago.

At Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, the first of your Masses in our country was celebrated with great joy with the 70,000 pilgrims present falling silent only for moments of deep prayer. For many months our people had been preparing to greet you with very great happiness in prayer and song. Major events followed in England, both temporal and spiritual, allowing you to engage with our fellow Catholics, our Christian brothers and sisters, with civil society, and all people of goodwill.

At the heart of your pilgrimage was the beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman.  We are  happy to acknowledge the Scottish links of the new Blessed John Henry Newman – coming to Abbotsford in the Scottish Borders for relaxation and prayer and celebrating Mass on the occasions of his visits wearing the vestments which had been brought to my Chapel in Edinburgh for you to see as a reminder of these Scottish links.

From your first encyclical letter ‘Deus Caritas Est’, your words have always been given detailed attention and careful study not only by the Catholic faithful but by peoples of all faiths and none.

As the Chief Teacher of our Faith we thank you for the guidance and inspiration you offer us. Your words to us; at Bellahouston Park, Twickenham, Westminster, Hyde Park, at the Beatification, and here in Birmingham will be studied and used to fortify us all in the faith passed on to us through the ages by the apostles and delivered over these four great days by the successor of Peter himself.

Your visit to us was both State and pastoral but our farewell to you is entirely personal. Be assured that we will build on the legacy of your visit for many years to come as we go forward affirmed so surely by you in our faith.
ENDS

Peter Kearney
Director
Catholic Media Office