Piper Calum welcomes the congregation

This Mass has been held in St Aloysius Church for 17 years, to provide a religious aspect to the celebrations of Celtic culture in the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow.  This year, the weather was kind to us, a fact appreciated by piper Calum Stewart as he played outside the main entrance to the church to welcome the congregation.  Inside the combined choirs of the St Mungo Singers and St Mungo’s Parish, Alloa, were joined by the growing St Mungo Ensemble, prepared to lead the service.

The principal celebrant this year was Canon David Wallace, the Administrator of St Andrew’s Cathedral, who brought to the service not only his gift with words for the homily but a great singing voice to lead the people in the singing of the Mass. He was joined by Mgr Gerry Fitzpatrick, Fr Joseph Boyle, and Fr Gerard Mitchell, the parish priest of St Aloysius, and other members of the Jesuit community.

The readings were proclaimed in Irish and Scots Gaelic by members of the respective communities.  The psalm was beautifully sung by Craig Miller of the St Mungo’s Alloa choir, and in a very lovely and welcome addition to this Mass, the Gospel was signed as well as read by Fr Gerry Mitchell.  The Intercessions were also in Irish, Scots Gaelic and English.

Members of the deaf community sign Hear I am Lord

Liz Anne O’Hare signed the Mass and homily for members of the deaf community who were present. They later signed the words of the hymn Here I am, Lord  for the congregation who responded with deep appreciation of their input which added so much to the wonderfully warm feel of the celebration.

In his reflection on the Gospel, Canon David linked the journey that is the Gospel story with the journey that is the story for so many of Celtic descent in Glasgow.  His own grandparents had  come from Ireland  to Scotland around 100 years ago, bringing with them their faith and living it in their new home.  In the Gospel Jesus calls his apostles who leave everything to follow him.   We too are called by Jesus and asked to respond to his call.  The question for us today is what do we need to give up and leave behind to start on and to continue our journey with him.

Needless to say, the Mass was filled with music, from the  opening hymn God our Creator to the tune of Highland Cathedral, through the singing of the Mass parts, the Creed and the Eucharistic Prayer, the input of the instrumentalists, the singing by the joint choirs of Chilcott’s beautiful An Irish Blessing and the various congregational hymns.  The celebration ended with Fullarton’s beautiful hymn to the tune of the Londonderry Air.

Fr Gerard thanked everyone who had taken part and worked to make the Mass such a warm and uplifting celebration and invited them to come and complete their participation with refreshments in the Ogilvie Centre, courtesy of the St Aloysius parish community, where there would be time to chat before heading out on their journeys.