Inaugural Mass of new Archbishop of Glasgow

Bishop Philip Tartaglia

The Inaugural Mass at which Bishop Philip Tartaglia formally takes over as Archbishop of Glasgow, will take place at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Clyde St, Glasgow on Saturday, 8 September at 11.30am.

The ceremony begins with the new Archbishop being greeted at the door of the Cathedral where he will reverence a crucifix and then bless the congregation with holy water. He will then process to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the Cathedral for a period of quiet prayer.

The Mass of Inauguration will follow at which Archbishop Mario Conti will lead his successor to the Cathedra or Bishop’s Chair which symbolises the authority of the office. Then he will present his successor with the Crozier of St Mungo (the bishop’s shepherd’s crook-like staff) and the letter of Pope Benedict XVI will be read aloud which formally appoints the new Archbishop.

Next the new Archbishop will be greeted by representatives of the clergy and the laity of the Archdiocese and leaders of other Christian churches and the Provosts of the local authorities whose territories lie within the Archdiocese of Glasgow.

Following the scripture readings the new Archbishop will preach his first homily as Archbishop of Glasgow. The text of the homily will be published on ICN later.

More than 600 people are expected , including the Bishops of Scotland, representatives of the other Christian denominations, over 150 priests from all over Scotland and some from Italy and lay people representing each of the nearly 100 parishes in the Archdiocese of Glasgow.

Source: SCMO