Canon McKenzie presiding over the St Mungo Vespers

The late Mgr Peter Smith once bemoaned the fact that St Mungo’s Feast was on 13 January – too soon after Christmas and the weather would be rain, snow or freezing cold!  That said, it has never really managed to put a damper on the celebration of the feast of the patron saint of Glasgow which is becoming ever more firmly fixed in the churches’ calendars and in the civic one.

The church celebrations began on Friday 12th January with the Vespers for the Feast in St Andrew’s Cathedral.  Cathedral Administrator Canon Andrew McKenzie presided and the service was well attended despite the cold weather. Bishop Joe Toal of Motherwell and Donald Carmichael, Vice-Dean of Guild of the Merchants House were among the guests.

Members of the Archdiocesan choir, the St Mungo Singers, led the singing,  Ms Catherine Walker provided lovely harp music before and during the service, and a group of young people led by Mairi-Claire McGeady from the Archdiocesan Youth Ministry, provided support for the liturgy.

The psalm responses – I preach the Gospel of the Lord, by the grace of God for Psalm 23, and This is the wise and faithful servant whom the Lord put in charge for Psalm 111 – reminded the congregation that St Mungo was first and foremost a preacher of the Gospel and the first shepherd of the flock which grew in Glasgow as a result of his preaching.

Canon McKenzie picked up this theme as he described St Mungo as a true “fisher of men” and one who gave his life in the service of Christ. The details of his life may be sketchy but he lies buried in Glasgow Cathedral and his words remain part of the motto of the city.  He asked those present to be each a Mungo in our own days and call the people of our city to the community of Christ.

The Youth Ministry group with the St Mungo candle

In the intercessions, we prayed for the city and its people, its churches and faith communities, civic leaders, for asylum seekers and refugees, and – in this time of so much tragedy and hate – for peace and love.

The service finished with a spoken and sung blessing and the singing of what has come to be the Glasgow anthem –Let Glasgow Flourish.  Then there was time for refreshments and a chance to talk before heading back out into the cold evening.

Let Glasgow Flourish