By SCMO in News Releases, Blogging | 6 days ago
Blairs Museum launches new interactive virtual museum
Tuesday 27 July 2021
Blairs Museum, Scotland’s National Catholic Museum has launched a brand-new website featuring an interactive virtual museum and shop, thanks to funding from the Scottish Government’s “Museum Recovery and Resilience Fund” established to protect Scotland’s culture and heritage sectors from the impacts of Covid-19.
The new website unites all the collections of the Scottish Catholic Heritage Collections Trust Museum, and the historic Library and Archive (both of which are on loan to the University of Aberdeen). The website also provides a link to the Scottish Catholic Archives at Columba House in Edinburgh.
This project was funded through a significant Recovery and Resilience Grant from Museums Galleries Scotland. In July 2020, the Scottish Government allocated £4 million to the Museum Recovery and Resilience Fund from the £97 million package of funding to protect Scotland’s culture and heritage sectors from the impacts of Covid-19.
The Museum Recovery and Resilience Fund aims to secure the future of Scottish independent museums put at risk by the pandemic and to protect the vital role that they play in their communities.
Museum curator and project lead Amy Miller said:
“The Covid-19 pandemic has prevented many visitors from coming in person to view our collections at Blairs. This new website and suite of online resources allows anyone with an internet connection to see our museum and treasures safely. We have 3D scanned a selection of our artefacts and users can interact with the object by zooming and rotating it to see all the details.”
She added: “We have also created a YouTube Channel to host our new series of web videos about our collections and the amazing stories they tell. We are still adding new videos so it is well worth checking the channel regularly.”
The new website also features learning resources for school pupils to use in...
By SCMO in News Releases, Blogging | 12th July 2021
Monday 12 July 2021
Scotland’s Bishops welcomed prospect of Pope Francis meeting.
Scotland’s Catholic bishops have welcomed the prospect of a meeting with Pope Francis when he attends the COP26 Conference in Glasgow in November. A spokesperson for the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland said:
“Scotland’s bishops express their prayerful support for Pope Francis as he recovers from his recent surgery. Having written to the Holy Father to assure him of a warm welcome, should he attend the Conference, they are delighted to hear that he does hope to attend and would be glad to meet with them in Glasgow.”
The spokesperson added;
“The Pope will be in Scotland for a very short time, most of which will be spent participating in the COP26 Conference. While many pastoral, ecumenical and inter faith gatherings would be desirable while he is with us, time constraints, sadly mean such a full programme will not be possible.”
ENDS
Peter Kearney Director Catholic Media Office 0141 221 116807968 122291 pk@scmo.org www.scmo.org
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By SCMO in News Releases, Blogging | 01st June 2021
Scottish Bishops welcome Pope’s call for Synod in 2023
1 June 2021
Scotland’s Catholic Bishops have welcomed a call from Pope Francis for a Synod on the theme of Synodality, to be held in 2023. Commenting on the announcement, Bishop Hugh Gilbert, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland said;
“Last Sunday the Church celebrated the Feast of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and our Lady at the very beginning, the birthday, of the Church. We gave thanks for the gifts of the Holy Spirit that first Pentecost but also celebrated the ongoing gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Church. Mindful of these gifts the Bishops of Scotland welcome the initiative of Pope Francis to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church, to the People of God, to listen to one another, and to make that Synodal journey together of communion, participation and mission.”
Bishop Gilbert added;
“The Pope has called for a very participative process, engaging all the faithful, which will prepare for this Synod. The Bishops of Scotland welcome the Initiative for a Synodal Church: communion, participation and mission. As the principle and foundation of unity in our dioceses, the Bishops look forward to the launch of the Synodal journey, a period of consultation and discernment in our local Churches, on Sunday 17th October of this year, and preparations are now being made for that event. We ask all the faithful to pray for the success of this initiative in the life of the universal and local Church, and above all to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit and listen to the Holy Spirit speaking through all of us in the Body of Christ.”
ENDS
Peter Kearney Director Catholic Media Office 0141 221 116807968 122291 pk@scmo.org www.scmo.org
Note to Editors:
The Synodal process will conclude in Rome in October 2023....
By SCMO in News Releases, Blogging | 17th May 2021
Scottish Bishops establish a“Care of Creation Office”
Monday 17 May 2021
Scotland’s Catholic Bishops have announced their intention to set up a “Care of Creation Office” ahead of the COP26 meeting in Glasgow later this year. Commenting on the decision, Bishop William Nolan, the Bishop of Galloway and President of the National Justice & Peace Commission said:
“On Pentecost Sunday (23 May 2021) we mark the 6th anniversary of Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ encyclical letter on care for our common home. It reminds all Catholics of their responsibilities towards one another and the world we live. Inspired by the Pope’s letter and in preparation for the COP26 conference taking place in Glasgow in November, the Bishops’ Conference has decided to set-up a “Care of Creation Office” this year.”
Bishop Nolan added:
“The Office’s aim will be to give practical advice and guidance: helping dioceses and parishes assess their carbon footprint and discern how to work towards carbon neutrality, it will be headed by Fr Gerard H Maguiness the General Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference. God has honoured us by giving humanity the task of being a co-operator in the work of creation we hope our lives enhance and build-up that creation and pray that the meeting of world leaders in Glasgow later this year bear fruit for our planet.”
The announcement of the new office coincides with a National Pastoral letter from Scotland’s Bishops being distributed to all parishes for Pentecost Sunday (23 May 2021) on the theme of caring for creation. The letter marks the Sixth Anniversary of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter on the environment, Laudato Si’ and draws attention to the Christian message, that “we are all part of one human family and that we share a common home, means that our earth’s resources must be shared and used for the benefit of all”.
ENDS
Peter Kearney Director Catholic Media Office 0141 221 1168079...
