Scottish Catholic Observer

Organised by the St Andrew’s Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, originally from Liverpool, spoke about the importance of the relationship between teacher and pupil and also emphasised the significance of the bond between Church and State.

With over 300 people packed into Bute Hall to listen to Archbishop Gallagher, the date fell on the Feast of St Margaret of Scotland and marked the start of Catholic Education Week across the country.

John Swinney

Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, minister for Education attended the talk on Saturday November 16 where he listened to Archbishop Gallagher discuss the context of Global Catholic Education and its role within Scotland.

Following a Mass in the University Chapel, in his opening remarks Archbishop Gallagher recognised he was in a ‘very famous university’ with one of ‘Papal foundation,’ touching on the roots of Glasgow University, discussed the relationship between teachers and pupils.

Archbishop Gallagher said: “It is the objective of any great teacher that his pupils should excel him or her,” touching on the point that Catholic schools in Scotland have often excelled in their standing amongst their counterparts.

Archbishop Gallagher touched upon the safeguarding of Catholic schools when he said: “Institutions of religious inspirations must be free to teach the fundamental elements of their tradition.”

Essential relationship

The Vatican based archbishop quoted Pope Francis throughout his lecture stating the vital relationship between the Church and state adding that ‘now more than ever’ was there a need to ‘unite our efforts in a wide educational alliance.’Archbishop Gallagher added: “We need a global convergence in favour of education that can promote an alliance among all the components of the person.

“An alliance which generates peace, justice and openness among the peoples of the human family as well as dialogue among the religions.”

The archbishop cited three main steps to obtaining the alliance between Church and State, which identified putting ‘human beings’ at the centre of things, finding courage to invest to obtain an education with a long-term projection and to form people of service ‘willing to place themselves into the community. Service is the pillar of a culture encounter.’

Pictures by Paul McSherry