Plenary, 26 Oct 2005

Meeting date: Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Official Report 431KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

Good afternoon to you all. The first item, as is usual each Wednesday, is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is the Rev Brian Lamb of St Patrick's church in Shotts.

Presiding Officer and members of the Scottish Parliament, as parish priest of St Patrick's, Shotts, I am privileged to lead that community in a period when we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the building of our fine church.

On the feast of St Patrick in March, Bishop Devine celebrated mass with the community. In April, 80 parishioners made a day pilgrimage to Pluscarden abbey near Elgin. In May, our garden fête was given a 1905 theme, with workers dressed up in the clothing typical of the mining community of 100 years ago. St Patrick's Primary School entertained the community with performances of songs and dance of the 20th century. We had an open day and an exhibition of parish archives.

In June, more than 1,200 people participated in our annual train trip to Ayr, led by the St Patrick's band. In July, we enjoyed a concert of sacred music offered by a French choir, and 37 parishioners went on pilgrimage to Rome for 10 days. In August, almost 200 maws, paws and weans walked 8 miles to St Athanasius' church in Carluke, a journey that their forefathers made every week before a church was built in Shotts. In September, we hired a 35m marquee and offered a children's night, inviting the children from all three primary schools in Shotts for an evening of entertainment, culminating with a grand fireworks display over the church. The following evening, Andy Cameron led a cabaret night for the adults.

Earlier this month, our opera group presented "Jesus Christ Superstar" in an almost unrecognisable church building. The sell-out audiences will long remember that night of entertainment. On the actual centenary day, 25 November, the Archbishop of Glasgow will celebrate mass with our community. In December, North Lanarkshire Council will offer a civic reception to bring our celebrations to a close.

We published a book telling the story of the building and the development of the church. We made a DVD of the history of the parish and church and we commissioned a bronze statuette of St Patrick. To sum up, we are enjoying a busy and expensive year of celebration. We are celebrating not a building but the life of a community and we are recognising a significant milestone in that community's history.

A few months ago, Karen Whitefield MSP gave me a tour of this fine new Parliament building, a visit that I appreciated and enjoyed. The church is not a building and neither is the Scottish Parliament. My prayer is that there will be many significant milestones in the life of this community, as you exert a significant influence in moulding the present and future character of our nation.

In Matthew's gospel, we read:

"No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house.

In the same way, your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven."