May 2011 - Archdiocese of Glasgow

16
CATHEDRAL RE-OPENING
It’s absolutely
stunning. A
magnificent sacred
space for prayer and
worship. It was
wonderful to see so
many people turning
up to celebrate Mass.
Angela Fallone
Well… I am utterly
lost for words! My
heart jumped to my
throat and I almost
started crying with
joy. Stunning! It is a
completely different
Cathedral. I’m sure it
will draw even more
people now and for
many years to come.
Daniela Giovanazzi
Fanfare of light
and sound fills air
ANCIENT Psalms and
hymns of praise echoed
through Saint Andrew’s
Cathedral as the doors
were reopened to reveal
the transformation
achieved by two years of
restoration work.
By Vincent Toal
A joyful radiance filled the
richly decorous space. Shafts
of brilliant light coming from
gold chandeliers, spotlights
and footlights, flooded the 200
year-old building.
The procession of church
and civic leaders, friends from
Glasgow’s churches and
parishioners of the Archdiocese
stopped in its tracks, marvelling
at the scene.
Scotland’s First Minister
Alex Salmond headed the representatives
of national and
local government. Glasgow’s
Deputy Lord Provost was
joined by the Provosts of East
and West Dunbartonshire,
East Renfrewshire and Argyll
and Bute, and the leaders of
Glasgow and North Lanarkshire
Councils. The consuls
general of Ireland and Poland
were also present.
During the celebration of
Vespers, Archbishop Mario
Conti presided from the cathedra
- returned that day from St
Mary’s, Calton. He was joined
on the slate-floored sanctuary
by the Provost and Canons of
the Cathedral Chapter, visiting
bishops from Ireland and England,
as well as the Secretary
of the Pontifical Council for
Christian Unity, Bishop Brian
Farrell.
Also sharing in the Evening
Prayer of the Church were the
leaders of other Christian
churches and communities in
Glasgow. These included Rev
Neil Galbraith, Moderator of
Church leaders and
civic dignitaries
Picture by
Paul McSherry
the Presbytery of Glasgow,
Rev Lawrence Whitley, Minister
of St Mungo’s Cathedral,
Rt Rev Gregor Duncan, Episcopal
Bishop of Glasgow and
Galloway, Rev Allan Anderson,
Methodist minister, and
Major Bruce and Isabel Smith
and the Salvation Army.
The St Mungo Singers and
the Cathedral choir led the
singing which began with
Blessed John Henry Newman’s
great hymn, Praise to
the Holiest in the height.
In his homily Archbishop
Conti reflected on the motto of
the city of Glasgow - Lord, let
MAY 2011
• FLOURISH
Glasgow flourish by the
preaching of Thy Word and
the praising of Thy Name -
and the abbreviated Latin version
Floreat Verbi Praeconio
which adorns the cathedral’s
ambo from where the Word of
God is proclaimed.
“My hope is that Saint Andrew’s
Cathedral on the banks
of the Clyde, and at the centre
of the Archdiocese, will continue
the age-old but ever-new
works of evangelisation,” he
said.
“This means bringing the
Gospel light of the Risen
Christ to illumine our knowledge
of what is right and good
and increase our joy.”
As Mary’s great hymn of
joy, The Magnificat, reverberated
around the Cathedral, incense
spread throughout the
restored sacred space.
And, almost by way of acclamation
at the scale of the
work achieved, the alarm bells
sounded. With the technicians
who installed the smoke detector
system on hand, the
bells were quickly hushed.
Radiant smiles, generated
by the glorious fanfare of light
and colour, lingered long into
the night.
Conservation Masonry Ltd
Proud to have worked
alongside the Archdiocese
of Glasgow in restoring
the external stonework of
St Andrew’s Cathedral
81 Deerdykes View, Cumbernauld, Glasgow G68 9HN. Telephone: 01236 727850