Scottish Catholic Observer

Having taken part at World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008, I was already well aware of huge resistance reported in the Sydney Press to the Papal Visit. Negative reports in newspapers and on television seemed to be strong against the Pope’s coming to Australia and to the fact that WYD was costing so much money. When pilgrims began arriving from across the globe, the mood seemed to change as a real atmosphere of a festival came into full swing and with the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI, the press were more content to report the good news that was actually happening. I think we experienced something very similar when Pope Benedict visited the UK last year.

I had the somewhat daunting role of collaborating with a variety of popular personalities, young people, schools and a host of other talented groups and individuals to ‘showcase’ something of Catholic Life in Scotland. Despite much of the apprehension we had seen leading up to the event, it was incredible to see the excitement of so many people ready to give their time and talent to be involved in the day. Many organisations from within the Church were able to show their work by videos and other presentations on the big screens in the park, highlighting the wonderful work that goes into making Catholic Scotland; many of our school pupils from up and down the country created a wonderful welcome for the Holy Father by the means of video presentations, and what parent of grandparent wouldn’t have been proud to see such a positive use of media in seeing the faces of their children or grandchildren on the screen? The contributions of Gaelic singers, pipe bands; those of Maeve O’Boyle, Michelle McManus and Susan Boyle; the presenters Fr Roddy Johnstone and Cathy MacDonald all helped to add a Scottish flair to the day and a memorable event. Above all, Pope Benedict had such an impact on the people gathered. His words spoken to us all, young and old alike, really touched the people of Scotland and continue to give us food for thought.

From my little port cabin behind the Dias, I was listening on the com system to various media companies exchanging information and discussing what was happening as the day progressed. One of the BBC crew, just before Mass began, commented on the silence: ‘We now have a moment’s silence’ came the voice. ‘That’s two minutes’ and she continued until we got to seven minutes, when she exclaimed ‘ That’s seven minutes of silence! Something must be wrong!’ In fact, nothing was wrong at all, it was perfect. We waited in silence for Mass to begin, for people to sing and to recognise the presence of Christ in His Word and the Eucharist, just as we should every time we celebrate the Mass.

It was a profound experience for me to work with such a professional team on the day providing the sound and vision so that everyone in the park could see and hear all that was happening. I wouldn’t have a notion of what an intricate task that is in directing the cameras to what was happening, counting in what was coming next, advising others in the media of what was going to happen and how.

It was incredible to work with such a talented and devoted group of people from all across the Church in our land and to see how the negativity turned into such fantastic news for us all as members of the body of Christ and the people of Scotland!

—Fr David Wallace was involved with the pre-Mass programme at Bellahouston Park on September 16 2011