Ongoing Formation for Priests - An overview of what Scotus College is offering for the ongoing formation of priests

WHAT'S NEW: ACADEMIC YEAR 2008-2009

Human Formation Week and Parish Placements

The week beginning 17th November sees the students in theology involved in parish placements. Parishes hosting the students are Holy Cross, Glasgow; Our Lady and St George's Glasgow; The Cathedral, Oban; and St John's, Stevenston. Those in philosophy will take part in an Advanced Communication Skills Course, where they will learn basic counselling skills and consider an ethical framework essential for a counselling approach.

Seminary Staff Meeting

The seminary staff meeting was held in Scotus College from 14th-16th November. Present at the meeting were representatives from Ushaw College, Durham, St John's, Wonersh, Oscott College, Birmingham, The Venerable English College,Rome, and the Royal Scots College, Salamanca. The meeting was addressed by Fr John Farrell, O.P., Provincial of the Dominican Order in Great Britain. 

Feast of Blessed John Duns Scotus

The Apostolic Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Faustino Sainz Munoz, joined the community to celebrate the college feast day on 8th November. Also present for the Mass and celebrations were Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Archbishop Mario Conti, most of the Scottish bishops, and the extra mural staff and students of the college.

Admission to Candidacy

Martin Kane and John Sweeney, both seminarians for the Archdiocese of Glasgow, were admitted as Candidates for Ordination to the Diaconate and Priesthood during Mass celebrated by Bishop Vincent Logan, bishop of Dunkeld, on Thursday 30th October. The picture shows Martin and John with the bishop and the resident staff of the college.



Family and Friends Day

This annual celebration took place on Sunday 26th October, with around ninety visitors joining the community for Mass and lunch. The Mass was celebrated by Fr Brian McGee, tyhe Spiritual Director, who spoke of the important role that family and friends play in the life of both seminarians and priests.

Mass and Meal for Recently Ordained

Fr Philip Kitchen, who was ordained for Galloway diocese in July, returned to celebrate Mass with the college community on 9th October. His return was an opportunity for the community to celebrate his ordination to the priesthood, and acknowledge Philip's contribution to Scotus College over the lastf our years.

Art Exhibition

As part of the ongoing celebrations for the 700th anniversary of the death of Blessed John Duns Scotus, the college chapel was the venue for an art exhibition on Sunday 5th October. The exhibition was a display of paintings by Sr Mary Stephen CRSS, who has for many years painted images and scenes that have been printed as posters and cards by McCrimmon Publishing Company.

Mass of the Holy Spirit

The new acacemic year began with a Mass of the Holy Spirit on 29th September. The vice-rector and director of studies, Fr John Hughes presided at the liturgy and preached the homily.

Writing Group for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010

Scotus College hosted the International Group from the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches who met in Scotland to finalise materials for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010.  The draft material for the group had been provided by an ecumenical group of Scottish writers, working under the auspices of ACTS. During their visit, the International Group visited Kelvingrove Art Galleries, were welcomed to Glasgow City Chambers and given a reception there, and had an ecumenical service conducted by Rev. L. Whitley and Archbishop Mario Conti at the crypt of St Mungo in Glasgow Cathedral.

New Statue of Blessed John Duns Scotus

As part of the 700th anniversary celebrations of Scotus' death, the college was presented with a statue of Blessed John Duns Scotus by the Franciscans of the Immaculate, who had been hosting a symposium on the Mariology of Blessed John Duns Scotus in Durham. Fr McFadden joined Cardinal Keith O'Brien at a Mass in the parish church in Duns where the participants of the symposium were present, and the statue was presented to the college there. It is now positioned in the college between the library and the classrooms. 

                 

Pastoral Skills Week

The new academic year began on Sunday 14 September. The first week (15th-19th September) was the Pastoral Skills Week, which will saw the seminarians from the Pontifical Scots College in Rome join the Scotus students for various pastoral activities, including: a Mental Health First Aid Course, a Child Protection Course, and workshops on Migration, Communications, and the work of the Saint Mungo Trust. The photo shows the students with members of staff from both colleges.



The week beginning Monday 22 September was given over to Planning and Consultation and Retreat.

Academic classes began the week of Monday 29 September 2008.