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Chamber and committees

Congratulations to St Joseph’s Church Clergy and Parishioners, Kilmarnock

  • Submitted by: Willie Coffey, Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 June 2022
  • Motion reference: S6M-05089

That the Parliament offers its warmest congratulations to the clergy and parishioners of the magnificent St Joseph’s Church in Kilmarnock on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the solemn opening of the Church on 13 June 1847; notes that the Church was built by Irish immigrants, many of whom, it understands, had come to Scotland seeking sanctuary from difficult circumstances and seeking work to support their families; recalls that the first priest in the town was the Reverend Thomas Wallace who worked tirelessly to construct and pay for the Church, sited at the top of what is now Hill Street; notes the "do anything they can do" attitude of the Irish in Kilmarnock, which lives on today in a spirit of generosity, forgiveness and concern for those in need; congratulates Father Stephen McGrattan and all of the clergy and parishioners for organising a wonderful commemorative Mass of Thanksgiving at St Joseph’s involving other Christian denominations in the town; notes in particular the beautiful composition, Ite ad Joseph (Go to Joseph), by Dr Raymond McCluskey, which was performed for the first time, and wishes all of the community associated with St Joseph’s many more years of peaceful and respectful worship.


Supported by: Clare Adamson, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Siobhian Brown, Alexander Burnett, Jackie Dunbar, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Pam Gosal, Bill Kidd, Monica Lennon, Stuart McMillan, Marie McNair, Audrey Nicoll, Kaukab Stewart, Paul Sweeney, David Torrance, Evelyn Tweed