The occasion was commemorated on March 29 by a Civic Dinner hosted by Lord Provost Bob Winter and with representatives of the City Council, the political parties,  the churches, the arts, the Universities, schools and Glasgow educational establishments.

The speaker before the dinner was Professor Tom Devine, the well known historian. He traced influence of Mungo in the developing history of Glasgow, concluding with a wish that the spirit of the saint’s love of the poor might in the future help Glasgow meet the challenge presented by neighbouring extremes of poverty and affluence – a challenge so far not addressed by any city in the world.

The Grace before meals was given by the Rev Dr Laurence Whitley of St Mungo’s Cathedral, while the concluding Grace was given by Fr Willy Slaven of St Simon’s Church in Partick.

'The Martyrdom of St John Ogilvie' by Peter Howson

St Aloysius’ parish in Glasgow is served by the Jesuits and it marked the feast with a Vespers of St John led by Archbishop Mario Conti and the St Mungo Singers.

In a series of interviews (link below) Mgr Gerry Fitzpatrick spoke to …

• Fr Peter Griffiths, the parish priest at St Aloysius,  about the celebration there to mark the feast – primarily a lunch-time Mass and Vespers on the vigil.
• Stephen Callaghan, Director of the Archdiocesan Arts Initiative and the author of a new play on St John Ogilvie premiered on 10^th March in the University of Glasgow Chapel.  Stephen explained how he was motivated to write his play.
• Maureen Coyle, a Notre Dame Sister who enjoys being a parishioner at the parish of St Jude and St John Ogilvie, who she talked about the parish’s Novena and celebrations in honour of St John Ogilvie.
• Noel Donnelly, a musician and Biblical scholar who wrote a hymn for the children to help them understand what St John Ogilvie was all about.

A Vespers leaflet and a soundfile containing the interviews can be accessed  at the St Mungo Singers website.

'Let Justice Prevail' by Hanna Cheriyan Varghese (1938-2009)

This year the World Day of Prayer is on Friday 2nd March and will focus on women in Malaysia with the theme Let Justice Prevail. Women account for nearly half of Malaysia’s population of 28.7 million. There are around 6.8 million non-Muslim women.

More and more women are working full time. Many of them have children and find it hard to balance the demands of their domestic and professional lives. And women who are full-time mothers can sometimes question their vocation. Whatever their circumstances, many face emotional pressure and need spiritual guidance.

Music, Powerpoint presentations, publicity materials and other resources are available on the World Day of Prayer Scotland website..

The Scottish Bible Society is supporting a multi-year Bible engagement and literacy project to help women to develop strong spiritual foundations and healthy families based on the teachings of God’s Word.

• Find out more at World Day of

Prayer Scotland and the Scottish Bible Society.

The St Mungo Festival will celebrate the death of the saint who founded the city, as well as the birth of the city.

Schools and churches will be among those taking part in the commemorations, which will start on Saturday, and will also mark Glasgow’s links to Wales.

• Full story at the Evening Times.

The Festival this year marks the 14^th centenary of the founding of the City of Glasgow, whose roots can be traced to the presence of Mungo at the site of the present Cathedral near the Molendinar Burn. Mungo (or Kentigern) died between 604 and 612.

THE VITA KENTIGERNI (Life of St Mungo)
Saturday January 7 from  12.00 – 12.45 in the Mitchell Library

Dr Laurence Whitley and Archbishop Mario Conti reading from the Vita Kentigerni

We celebrate the Life of St Mungo in words, music and song. As people arrive in the Library, they will be greeted by the sound of the harp then welcomed by Bailie Catherine McMaster.

There will be a short reading from the Life of St Mungo in Latin and in English, and the songs and music this year will be led by some of St Mungo’s Bairns, Carissa the harpist, and the St Mungo Singers. The children will sing a new song (by Liz Bovil) about Mungo the pilgrim and the event closes as the choir leads us in ‘Let Glasgow Flourish.’

A new element in this year’s Mungo events (and the inspiration for the new song) will be the link between Hoddom, near Lockerbie, and Glasgow through St Mungo.

According to the Life of Kentigern by the monk Jocelin of Furness, it was at Hoddom that Rydderch ap Tudwal, ruler of Strathclyde met with Kentigern on his return from exile in Wales.

Inauguration of the commemorative plaque at Hoddom, 2011

Other accounts claim that St Kentigern came to the Dumfries and Galloway region from Glasgow and as bishop founded a church and monastery at Hoddom. There is evidence that Hoddom was the site of an important monastery, and that this monastery probably had contact with a number of other early Christian churches in the British Isles and Ireland.

The Festival this year marks the 14^th centenary of the founding of the City of Glasgow, whose roots can be traced to the presence of Mungo at the site of the present Cathedral near the Molendinar Burn. Mungo (or Kentigern) died between 604 and 612.

ECUMENICAL EVENING SERVICE
Sunday January 8 at 6.30 pm in Glasgow Cathedral

Some of the St Mungo Singers during a previous St Mungo Service in the Cathedral

This ecumenical evening service, on the Sunday before St Mungo’s Day, is the brain-child of Dr Laurence Whitley, Minister of Glasgow Cathedral, and Archbishop Conti, and is organised jointly by the Cathedral and Glasgow Churches Together with the support of Glasgow City Council.

It will begin with ‘Let Glasgow Flourish.’ Representatives of the City and the Churches of Glasgow will be joined by the Bishop of St Asaph (a St Mungo foundation in Wales), Rt Rev Gregory Cameron, who will speak about the link with Wales and the 1400 anniversary of the death of St Mungo and the birth of the City.

The service provides an opportunity to thank God in word, song, dance and music, for St Mungo’s life and influence on Glasgow, and to pray for the city’s people and leaders.

Music will be provided and led by the St Mungo Singers, Russkaya Capella, the Rutherglen Salvation Army Band, with piper and harpist.

Sixteen dancers aged between 10 and 16 from the Visual Statement performing arts company will depict the spirit of the city and highlight St Mungo’s coat of arms and his return to Glasgow from Hoddom after exile. Choreographed by Danny Dobbie and accompanied by Handel’s ‘For Unto Us A Child Is Born’, this symphonic dance is both energetic and moving, while paying reverence to the venue and the celebration service.

A wreath will be laid at the Tomb of St Mungo on behalf of the City.

The Festival this year marks the 14^th centenary of the founding of the City of Glasgow, whose roots can be traced to the presence of Mungo at the site of the present Cathedral near the Molendinar Burn. Mungo (or Kentigern) died between 604 and 612.

BALLET AT THE ST ENOCH SHOPPING CENTRE
Friday 13 and Saturday 14 January from 12 noon till 4 pm

Visual Statement

Sixteen dancers aged between 10 and 16 from the Visual Statement performing arts company will be depicting the spirit of the city music and dance, and highlighting St Mungo’s coat of arms and his return to Glasgow from Hoddom after exile

This original concept especially devised for the event will be an ey- catching and beautifully choreographed performance which will wow shoppers and passers-by as they view the uplifting and inspirational performance and hear the tranquil music from Vanessa Mae’s ‘ A Little Scottish Fantasy’ concluding with Handel’s ‘For Unto Us A Child Is Born’.

The performance, choreographed by Danny Dobbie assisted by Brian McIntyre and Wendie Reid, will be a modern symphonic dance piece featuring the city’s coat of arms – the Bird, Bell, Fish and Tree. The performance will be a collage of the characters and the usually unseen ‘spirit of Glasgow’.

Central to the performance will be ‘The Seal Of The City’, a metal movable sculpture commissioned by Visual Statement and designed by Andy Scott. The dancers will dance on, inside and around this structure to add an extra dimension to the performance.

Tomb of St Mungo

COMMUNION AT GLASGOW CATHEDRAL
Friday 13 January at 11 am
All are welcome to  communion in the St James’ Chapel of the Cathedral.

SCHOOLS SERVICE AT GLASGOW CATHEDRAL
Friday 13 January at 12 noon
Pupils from Whitehill Secondary and St Mungo’s Academy will meet with the Minister of the Cathedral, Rev Laurence Whitley, and Bailie Catherine Mc Master for a special service of dedication round the tomb of the saint. It will finish with the laying of a wreath on behalf of the youth of the city.

MASS OF ST MUNGO
Friday 13 January at 7 pm in St Mungo’s Church, Parson Street, Townhead
In this year of St Mungo’s 14^th centenary, the Mass of St Mungo clearly has a special significance for the Archdiocese of Glasgow. Archbishop Mario Conti will concelebrate the Mass with priests of the Archdiocese, the Gospel will be sung, and the music will be led by the St Mungo Singers, school groups, piper, harpist and ensemble.

Watchnight Over Glasgow

This atmospheric event is now well established as a Hogmanay feature, combining vigorous praise with meditative words and music.

There is meaningful spiritual challenge to the year ahead, and there will be the opportunity for those to attend to convey their prayers asking forgiveness for the past and expressing hope for new fortitude in the future.

There will be an interview with Robert Donald of Glasgow City Mission, who is the organiser of the Night Shelter currently operating seven nights a week  for people who have nowhere else to sleep. Half of the offering taken on the night will be given to this project.

The event also features Soundbite with Ramsay Shields and soloist Marjorie Fullarton.

Parking provision at the Cathedral is good. Leave Castle Street by the narrow road at the traffic lights between the Royal Infirmary and Cathedral Square then turn right near the Cathedral to park in the Square.

The event is sponsored by Hope Alba.

This was a  truly ecumenical event, supported by the Gorbals primary schools – St Francis’ and Greyfriars combined choir -  with supporting singers, Alba Brass, and interested citizens.

It provided an opportunity to stop and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas in a lovely community gathering, and to sing carols.

• A full report of the event can be seen on the St Mungo Music website.

Glasgow Churches Together held a special ecumenical Vespers on Wednesday, November 30 in St Andrew’s Cathedral, Clyde Street, Glasgow. Church representatives were joined by those of the city including the Leader of the Council, Gordon Matheson.

Music was led by the St Mungo Singers with Des McLean and the Brass Ensemble from St Andrew’s Secondary School, and with instrumentalists Clare, John, Carissa and Jane.

Order of Service

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Intercessions

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