Thank You All For the Kind Words and Good Wishes

The heading says it all really, but when did that stop me repeating myself? 🙂

Thank you to everyone who, in the comments or on Twitter, was kind enough to take the time to offer congratulations on yesterday’s McConville celebration.

It is hugely appreciated by me and my wonderful wife too (who, I should make clear, is not a regular reader of the blog, being occupied with many far more important things). Val was astonished to see how many people, almost none of whom we have met in real life, offered us their good wishes. I think it is fair to say that there were almost tears shed!

The Most Important Blog I Have Written – What Happened 20 Years Ago Today?

NOTE TO READERS – Please note – this post does NOT contain earth-shattering revelations of wrong-doing anywhere, nor legal analysis, nor even my normal (and judicially recognised) “nit-picking”. But it is about something supremely important to me, so I am delighted if you want to read on and I do not mind if you choose to pass on to something else. Thank you.

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Saturday 18^th September 1993

What happened then?

According to Historyorb.com these were the most important events:-

– Kimberly Clarice Aiken (SC), 18, crowned 67th Miss America 1994
– LA Mighty Ducks play their 1st NHL pre-season game against Penguins
– Trailing 3-1 with 2 outs in 9th, time is called prior to Mike Stanley pop out, gets a 2nd chance, & Yanks rally to beat Boston 4-3

Now, whilst that was an important event for Miss Aiken, I suspect that even die-hard fans of the Mighty Ducks, Penguins, Red Sox and Yankees would have little reason to remember that day.

Caritas Awards, Prize Givings and a Valedictory Mass

I have written before about my pride in the Catholic education being delivered to my daughters at their school in Hamilton, and the good things it brings.

This week has been one where many facets of the Catholic principles espoused by the staff and pupils of John Ogilvie High School have been made clear for all to see.

First of all, let us start on Sunday. I was fortunate enough to be in attendance at the Clyde Auditorium for the second annual presentation of the Pope Benedict XVI Caritas Awards.

As the website of the Scottish Catholic Education Service explains:-

Pope Francis – Named for the Saint who “Is the Man of Poverty and of Peace, who Loves and Protects Creation”

As readers of my blog will know, it is rare that I post anything written by a public figure without a line by line, and even word by word, analysis.

I will make an exception today however.

You will find below the text of the Holy Father’s talk with the media yesterday in Rome. It is well worth a thorough read, and especially the section where Pope Francis explained why he took that name. It seems that this will be his mission statement as Pontiff.

Already a very different tone has been struck by him, as detailed in the linked piece by David Willey, the BBC’s Rome correspondent.

The almost universal welcome for this new approach should not be taken by people as the Church (which is of course its people) rejecting the principles of Pope Benedict. Francis’ predecessor spoke of stepping down because he no longer had the health and vigour to carry out his task. Pope Francis has arrived on the scene full of energy, physical and spiritual, and, in only his first few days, has shown how wise Benedict’s decision was.

Habemus Papam! Cardinal Bergoglio Chosen to be Benedict’s Successor and Becomes Pope Francis

Well. That was quick!

On only the second day of the Conclave of Cardinals, and after the BBC had reported this morning (after three ballots!) that the Cardinals were “deadlocked”, by last night we had a new Pope.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, became Pope and created numerous “firsts”.

He is the first Pope from Latin America.