Mass of Thanksgiving, St. Mungo's, Greenock 1934-2007

On Friday 28th September Bishop Philip celebrated Mass with the Parish Community of St. Mungo's in Greenock. On Sunday 30th September St. Mungo's Church will close and the parish will be amalgamated with St. Laurence's in Greenock. The text of Bishop Philip's Homily at the Mass is given below.

1. Population changes have reduced St. Mungo’s Parish to a small number of resident parishioners. Fewer priests mean that the Diocese of Paisley could no longer assign a resident parish priest to St. Mungo’s. These were the factors which ultimately persuaded me that it would be better if St.Mungo’s ceased to have an independent identity and become part of another parish.

 2. I had, of course, to go through a process of consultation in the parish and the diocese. I was comforted by the overwhelming support of the Council of Priests and of the Diocesan Pastoral Council. I had the sympathetic understanding and the unfailing courtesy of the Parish Pastoral Council of St. Mungo’s. But the decision in the end was mine alone and it was a heavy responsibility. I shared the pain and sadness of the parish priest, parish council, devoted helpers and remaining parishioners. Despite brave faces, I sense that pain again this evening and my heart goes out to you. In this evening’s first reading, the prophet extols the mysterious figure that will comfort God’s people with good news. How lovely on the mountains are the feet of one who brings Good News? Where, we may well be asking, is the good news in this situation?

 3. Well, there is much good news in the 73 year history of this parish which served a densely-populated area throughout the halcyon years of shipbuilding and heavy engineering on the Clyde. Men, women and children gathered here to worship God and to find the strength to live good and decent lives in sometimes difficult social and economic conditions. The Word of God was preached. The Sacraments were celebrated. The priests shared the joys and sadness, the hopes and fears, the laughter and tears of their people. I fully realise that I cannot do justice to the 70+ years of the life of a parish community in these few words. I can only begin to evoke the scenes. Everyone will have his and her memories. For all of this and for much more, then and now, we give thanks to God, for in this history and in these memories God has been present to his children, bringing them consolation, inspiration and peace. And this is good news.

 4. As you know, I never set out to close this or any parish. But what I want to do, wherever I can and in whatever way I can, is to strengthen parish communities. And in St.Mungo’s becoming part of St. Laurence’s Parish, it is my hope and prayer that a stronger parish community will be established for the spiritual and pastoral good of the Catholic community of this part of Greenock. And if that happens this will be good news.

 5. For this to happen, people will need to be eager and enthusiastic, ready to share their gifts, and really want to make it happen. “Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit”, St. Paul tells us this evening. And just before that the Apostle tells us, “Just as each of our bodies has several parts and each part has a separate function, so all of us, in union with Christ, form one body, and as parts of it we belong to each other.” As your parish becomes one with St. Laurence’s, you will experience the Church as the body of Christ in a particular way, as you find that in a special way you “belong to each other”. I know you have made a good start with the process of the two parishes coming together and this too is good news.

 6. And the very best Good News I can offer you comes from the promise of the risen Jesus to his disciples. Before he ascended to the Father, he told them: “I am with you always; yes to the end of time.” This is the promise that has encouraged believers all through history and which continues to be a living reality among us, because if we know anything we know that the Lord is present among us. Parishes are erected to serve particular needs. Parishes can be re-structured to serve different needs. But the Lord is always with us in whatever parish we live, especially at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the centre of all parish life. And in whatever parish we are in, the task remains the same: “Go, make disciples of all nations. Baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands that I gave you.” This is what St. Mungo’s Parish has always done. This is what you learned to do in this parish. This is what you are called to do wherever you are. This is the Good News of Jesus Christ. To Him be glory and praise for ever and ever. Amen.

St. Mungo’s Greenock

28^th September 2007