RC Diocese of Argyll & the Isles

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I wish you all joy and peace in this Blessed Season of Easter – may the Risen Lord enliven and renew us in faith, hope, and love.

I offer a special welcome to those who have been or will be baptised, and those being received into the Church when they are confirmed and receive Holy Communion. We thank those who have helped prepare the new adult members of the Church and their sponsors. We pray also for the children who will be confirmed and make their first holy communion in the coming weeks.

We welcome back Fr Paul Hackett after his recent illness – Fr Paul has made a good recovery and is very happy to resume his duties as parish priest in Kingussie.

Words of Pope Benedict:

During his visit to our country last year Pope Benedict encouraged us all to strive to live holy lives, to be saints. In a recent address he gave some clear and helpful thoughts to guide us in this regard:

“What is essential?

The essential means never leaving a Sunday without an encounter with the Risen Christ in the Eucharist; this is not an additional burden but is light for the whole week.

It means never beginning and never ending a day without at least a brief contact with God.

And, on the path of our life it means following the “signposts” that God has communicated in the Ten Commandments, interpreted with Christ, which are merely the explanation of what love is in specific situations.

It seems to me that this is the true simplicity and the greatness of a life of holiness: the encounter with the Risen One on Sunday; contact with God at the beginning and end of the day; following, in decisions, the “signposts” that God has communicated to us, which are but forms of charity.”

Ordinations/Vocations Sunday:

I am heading to Rome this weekend for the diaconate ordination of Stanislaw Pamula in the Scots College on Sunday – we offer Stanislaw the prayers and good wishes of the Diocesan community as he takes this important step on his way to priesthood. We look forward to having Stanislaw ministering as a deacon in some of our parishes during the summer months. Rev David Connor’s ordination to the priesthood is now very close – on Tuesday June 14th in the Cathedral at 6pm. An invitation is extended to people from across the Diocese to attend.

The Annual Day of Prayer for Vocations is as always on 4th Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday, May 15th. So it is important that we continue to pray for Vocations to priesthood and religious life in this Diocese and to thank God for those who have offered their lives to Christ and his Church in recent years. It is important also to support the special collection taken up that day in our parishes for the Ecclesiastical Students’ Fund – as I often repeat it is vitally important that the faithful give as generously to the funding of the Diocese’s needs as they do to other appeals. At present we are investing heavily in those training for priesthood and we need good support for this – both through the special collection and by donations to the Bishop’s Fund.

Over the last couple of years we have had the Annual Diocesan Vocations Mass in one of the deaneries shortly after Vocations Sunday. It is due to be held this year in St. Margaret’s Deanery – we will have the Mass though later this year, close to the Feast of St Mary MacKillop on 8th August. Srs Audrey and Therese have offered to organise a Day of Reflection on Christian Vocation and we will have the Vocations Mass then also.

Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart:

Having mentioned the Sisters above I ask you to remember them in your prayers at this time as they are soon to be visited by their Congregational Leader, Sr Anne Derwin. She will be visiting me also and we will be talking over the Sisters’ presence here and future plans for their apostolate in Scotland. We thank them for what they have brought to us so far, especially in making St Mary MacKillop’s person and spirit better known both locally and in other parts of Scotland.

Pastoral Music Weekend:

This takes place in Kinnoull this weekend and I thank all who attend and lead this on-going Diocesan activity. I am sure musical preparations will be made for David Connor’s ordination and some attention given to singing the new missal texts. In general with regard to singing the Mass it is vital that it is done well and with due regard to the liturgical texts (the present ones as well as the future ones) - some of what we use at present merits some revision, especially with regard to the mass-settings. I would encourage the musicians, cantors and choirs, those who go to Kinnoull and those who don’t, to continue to strive to have good music and singing as an integral part of the Liturgy, especially at the Sunday Eucharist.

The dates for future weekends at Kinnoull are: 2nd – 4th September 2011, 4th – 7th May  & 7th – 9th September 2012. If you would like to attend please contact Fr Michael Hutson (01700 502047)

New English Translation of the Roman Missal:

A website has been set up to provide information about the new English translation of the Roman Missal, and to offer a variety of materials for different groups which can be down-loaded. It is www.romanmissalscotland.org.uk. Have a look to see what would be helpful for your parish or group.

Diocesan Parish Day Out – Saturday 14th May:

Our diocesan youth officer, Denise Roberts, has sent out information about this event at Craig Lodge, Dalmally, and I would commend her initiative in offering this day to families and young people. To find out more, phone Denise at 01631 574072 or e-mail argyllyouth@craiglodge.org.

Status of “Laicised Priests”:

I was asked recently if priests who have been laicised can be permitted to exercise any priestly ministry in the Church. I quote from the Code of Canon Law on this sensitive matter:

“Sacred ordination once validly received never becomes invalid. A cleric, however, loses the clerical state by…………” Canon 290.
“A cleric who loses the clerical state in accordance with the law, loses thereby the rights that are proper to the clerical state and is no longer bound by any obligations of the clerical state (without prejudice to can.291). He is prohibited from exercising the power of order (without prejudice to can.976). He is automatically deprived of all offices and roles and of any delegated power.” Canon 292.

If anyone has questions they can contact me.

With my prayers and best wishes,

+ Joseph
 
Rt Rev Joseph Toal
Bishop of Argyll and the Isles.