Plenary, 22 Nov 2006
Meeting date: Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Official Report
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Time for Reflection
Good afternoon. The first item of business is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is Father Ed Hone from St Patrick's in Edinburgh.
Father Ed Hone (St Patrick's, Edinburgh):
In 1856, Bishop Gillis of St Andrew's and Edinburgh oversaw the purchase of Cowgate chapel—a few hundred yards from this place—to accommodate the increasing numbers of Roman Catholics living in the old town. Thousands of families from Ireland, Italy and the Highlands of Scotland were crammed into overcrowded, insanitary slums. From those desperate, humble beginnings, a proud history has been formed and, this year, in St Patrick's we are marking our sesquicentennial—our 150 years.
Our celebrations are many and varied. We have been telling the parish story, learning about the contribution of the Sisters of Mercy to the education of our children and hearing how Hibs football club was founded by Canon Hannan and Michael Whelahan in St Mary's Street halls. We have celebrated masses, listened to concerts and, on Friday, we will be feasting and dancing in grand style.
Perhaps the most significant of our events is one that will last a whole year or maybe longer: parishioners of St Patrick's have been invited to pledge themselves—as individuals, families or organisations—to give 50 hours of voluntary service to the church or to one of over 120 voluntary organisations in the city of Edinburgh. People are giving themselves generously to the service of their neighbour and contributing to the life of the community. This spirit of service is at the heart of our faith.
Each Sunday, people of more than 20 different nationalities worship in St Patrick's—people of all walks of life, people from every continent, young and old people and people of surprisingly diverse opinion. That diversity, held together in unity of faith, is a gift that we treasure.
One hundred and fifty years ago, Roman Catholics in Edinburgh lived in a ghetto—literally and metaphorically—and were isolated from whole sectors of society. Those days, happily, have passed. We are now a community within the wider community. We celebrate the importance of belonging to each other and to God. Today, in a spirit of thanksgiving, we ask God's blessing for the continuing life of St Patrick's and for this great place. May God increase in all of us a spirit of service to our neighbour. May God help us to maintain unity in the midst of our diversity. May God strengthen our communities to be caring, open, inclusive and welcoming. May God bless us all this day and every day, Father, Son and Spirit. Amen.