Pupils attend anniversary Mass

Sep 22 2011 by Leona Greenan, Hamilton Advertiser

AROUND 4000 Lanarkshire pupils attended a special Mass at Carfin Grotto last Friday.

The Mass, to mark the First Anniversary of the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Scotland, was celebrated by the Right Reverend Joseph Devine, Bishop of Motherwell.

Hamilton was represented by pupils from both John Ogilvie High School and Holy Cross High School.

They were accompanied by youngsters from St Blane’s, St Joseph’s, St Cuthbert’s and St Mark’s primary schools.

The Bishop said that judging by the thousands who made their way to the Mass the visit of Pope Benedict last year had “reinvigorated the faithful”.

A group of pupils from Motherwell’s Taylor High School had a special part to play in the proceedings, just like they did at the open-air Mass in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, last year.

The music students had the honour of singing their own hymn, called Faith, before the many thousands of pilgrims at Bellahouston. And on Friday they led the musical liturgy for the event at Carfin Grotto.

Staff and pupils from the Taylor TV unit filmed the celebration and are in the process of preparing a DVD of the event for distribution to all schools and the diocese.

Also in attendance was South Lanarkshire Provost Russell Clearie and his North Lanarkshire counterpart Tom Curley, and Michael McGrath, director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES).

Head teacher at John Ogilvie High School Eddie Morrison said: “This was an excellent and entirely fitting way to mark the first anniversary of the Papal Visit in 2010.

“The Diocese has absolutely led the way in ensuring that the historic visit of Pope Benedict was not only marked but celebrated so enthusiastically by our Catholic School Community.

“Enormous thanks are due to the organising committee led by Peter Bollen, head teacher of Trinity, Gerry McCormick, head at Taylor High, and Tony Rooney, head teacher at St Aiden’s, as well as Michael McGrath from (SCES) and Father Stuart Parkes.”

Mr Reilly, head teacher at Holy Cross High School, added: “All of the sixth year from Holy Cross High School attended and received a commemorative prayer card as a souvenir of a wonderful occasion.

“Miraculously, the rain stayed off throughout the open-air service to the delight – and relief – of the thousands of young people in attendance.”