Tayside Catholics are showing considerable interest in playing a part in the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Scotland next month, according to a spokeswoman for the church.
Though it is still too early to say exactly how many of the 4000 tickets allocated to the Diocese of Dunkeld will be snapped up by the faithful, a healthy turnout is expected at the open-air Mass in Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park on September 16, the spokeswoman told The Courier.
She was speaking after reports that parishes in some parts of Scotland are having to return more than half their ticket allocation, leading to fears that far fewer than the 100,000 predicted worshippers will attend the service.
“Parishes have only recently received their allocation of tickets for the Mass at Bellahouston with the Holy Father,” she said.
“Despite many people being on holiday, interest in going to the Papal Mass is high and early indications are that parishes from across the Diocese of Dunkeld will be well represented at the Mass on September 16.”
The visit falls on St Ninian’s Day and the occasion will be marked with a parade through the centre of Edinburgh.
Schools bearing the saint’s name have been invited.
Photo used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user roblisameehan.