The 28 Delegates from Earlston in Scotland here on their annual twinning visit with Cappella Maggiore attended Mass at a local church in Anzano.

Fr Mario wanted to say a few words of welcome to them in English and then would I translate simultaneously the rest of the sermon. I didn’t say no, I just warned him, given my “advanced” age, my brain was not as agile as it used to be. “For that matter, “ he replied, “neither is mine.” So I took a chance and introduced myself to the delegates and asked if anyone would do the two readings from the bible- in English of course.

The Delegates were spread out throughout the small church among the local parishioners and apart from some of the males wearing their tartan skirts I couldn’t tell at first sight who was who – Italian or Scot.

The celebration went off at a good start, and the head of the Delegates the Mayor of Earlston took the first reading followed by a lady delegate member.

The choir, tucked away in a niche at the side of the altar and being composed by the youth of the parish sang modern hymns amongst which “Amazing Grace”. Fr Mario also did his bit and welcomed everyone in English leaving his normal parishioners dumbstruck at hearing their P.P. speak in foreign tongues.

At the end of the service the Mayor of Earlston stood up and clapped his hands.

The Staff at St. Andrew’s school in Linwood, Scotland. (I’m the third from the left)

However, this “wee bit” of Scotland brought back memories of my teaching days at Linwood’s Saint Andrew’s school in Renfrewshire and at the vicarage in Paisley where I lived, 7 the loch I gazed upon each morning trying hard to fathom a monster through the mist, and the endless walks on the wild braes.

The Loch

It was the summer of 1973 and I was in the middle of graduation exams with a bunch of other teachers-to-be at Manchester’s University Victoria School of Education when a delegation from Scotland Catholic Schools descended upon us looking for teachers. The U.S.A Chrysler car factory had just opened its doors at Linwood in Renfrewshire and there was a shortage of everything, including Catholic teachers, to fill the sudden overspill of population in that area. There must have been well over half a dozen members of the delegation but I only had dealings with the chairman, the parish priest of Paisley. He asked me one question only, would I like to teach in Scotland? I gave him one of my biggest smiles as I said yes, and that did it – I was hired.

It was the summer of 1973 and I was in the middle of graduation exams

He asked me one question only, would I like to teach in Scotland? I gave him one of my biggest smiles as I said yes, and that did it – I was hired.

I realize jobs don’t come that easy nowadays but I’m glad that Parish Priest hired me without much fuss and let out one of the cottages to myself and another teacher in his vicarage in Paisley. The area was wondrous, rugged hills, wild cats, affable people, folk dancing in the parish hall – there was even a lake in the distance that I could look at from my window full of mist just as one imagines lochs would be in Scotland.

The area was wondrous

For being such a minute country, Scotland has a powerful resonance embedded in tradition, folklore and all strange and mystifying wonders contained in centuries gone but leaving traces of their existence in the atmosphere.  The ruggedness, strength and pride of the people which is equally reflected in their land, to my mind, mirrored much the areas of my origins, in particular the hills of Montaner.

Scotland also has in common with Montaner its pride in being unique- ask a villager of Montaner about Sicily and they will say to you with that look of non-commitment, “Sicily? Is that in Italy?” A Scot will also look at you as if you were transparent if you ask them about England. “England?” they’ll say, “Is that in Britain?” Perhaps for these parallel qualities, a twinning between my neighbouring village Cappella Maggiore and that of Earlston in Scotland came about.

The hills of Montaner.

Hence Scotland, much like Italy are not places that have built up barriers and barricaded themselves inside – both countries are renowned throughout the world. I’ll wager anyone to tell me they have never heard of the bag-pipes and kilts of Scotland. There are firms, products, publishers, one of which is our fellow twitter Thomas Nelson, the largest Christian publisher in the USA, who have their origins in Scotland.

Ladies and gentlemen, please take up your positions – easier said than done.

Meanwhile outside on the church steps, it was time for greetings with the locals and the group photograph on the steps of the church and to a well-deserved Sunday Lunch, no doubt, traditionally Italian.

The traditional group photo – Mission Accomplished.