Scottish Catholic Observer

Glasgow’s new archbishop has said that all Catholics must embrace the New Evangelisation as the great ‘challenge of their lifetime,’ at his installation Mass last Saturday.

Archbishop Philip Tartaglia showed how seriously he takes that mission by announcing the appointment of Mgr Paul Conroy, the general secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland and a key organiser of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Scotland in 2010, to be his vicar general.

Challenge

At his installation at St Andrew’s Cathedral, the new Archbishop of Glasgow was warmly welcomed to his role by Cardinal Keith O’Brien, his predecessor, Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti, the bishops of Scotland, priests, religious and lay people of Glasgow Archdiocese as well as representatives of civic Scotland. He was clear, however, that he knows the scale of the task that lies ahead.

“I want us all to embrace the New Evangelisation as the special challenge of our lifetime; to witness to each other and to the wider community the saving message of the love and mercy of God in Jesus Christ in all its fullness,” he said. “We must make it clear that the messages we communicate to the world about the common good, about the spiritual health of our land, about the sacredness of human life, about marriage and the family, about the alleviation of poverty and the pursuit of justice, about care for the marginalised in our society—all these have but one source, and He is Jesus Christ, born of Mary, who has come to us from the Father.”

Fidelity to God

The archbishop, who was wearing the same vestments that Pope Benedict wore at his Mass at Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park two years ago, said that in the present time when ‘circumstances have forced us to reflect upon religious freedom,’ the Church will be truly free only by rejecting ‘alliances with earthly powers’ and depending ‘solely on Jesus Christ and His Gospel.’

To that end, he said his plan for the archdiocese was one based on spiritual and religious fidelity to God.

“I want the whole archdiocesan community, my priests and religious, parents and teachers, to be filled with that commitment and that enthusiasm for Jesus and for His Gospel and to radiate the joy which comes with the inestimable treasure of knowing Our Lord Jesus Christ,” he said. “I want our young people and children to sense and grasp the beauty and the wonder of Jesus Christ; to discover with eagerness and joy the truth, the Faith, the sanctifying and transforming potential of the sacraments, the teaching and maternal care of the Church.”

Words of praise

A special letter from Pope Benedict was read out at the Mass, which said Archbishop Tartaglia was a man ‘blessed with proven qualities and expert in pastoral matters’ and instructed the new archbishop to ‘shepherd the Faithful entrusted to you so that they may grow in the Christian virtues and be devoted equally to the tables of the Eucharist and of the Word of God.’

The Papal nuncio to Great Britain, Archbishop Antonio Mennini’s representative, Mgr Brian Udaigwe, first counsellor of the Papal Nunciature, spoke at the end of Mass and also conveyed a message from the Vatican.

He urged this ‘joyful diocese,’ its priests and people to ‘pray for the new archbishop’ and related the ‘gratitude of the Holy Father to Archbishop Conti for his life and ministry in service of the Church.’

Cardinal O’Brien then spoke on behalf of his brother bishops in welcoming Archbishop Tartaglia to his new role.

“Archbishops need each other,” he said with a smile. “And we only have two in Scotland so we need to support each other and I know we will.”

Archbishop Tartaglia then closed proceedings with a final vote of thanks for all involved and the announcement of his new vicar general.

“We hope to begin work very soon,” he said.

Mgr Conroy said that it was ‘a great honour for me to be called back to my own diocese, from my work as general secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, to assist Archbishop Tartaglia and to serve the priests and the people of Glasgow Archdiocese as vicar general.’

“I hope I will be able to rely on the support of the prayers and friendship of the whole archdiocesan community as I strive to fulfil my new responsibilities to the best of my ability,” he said. “I am grateful to the archbishop for giving me this opportunity to work closely with him as he embarks on his ministry as chief shepherd of the Church in Glasgow and trust that God will strengthen, guide and inspire him in everything he does.”

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PIC: PAUL McSHERRY