Lentfest 2010 Poster
“Called to Serve” was the theme adopted for Lentfest 2010, asking people to consider how each of us, in our own way, is called to the service of God and others to work for a better, fairer, just society. It tied in with the 150th Anniversary of the death of Saint John Vianney, patron saint of priests worldwide, which had led Pope Benedict XVI to announce a Year for Priests from June 2009 to June 2010.
The launch took place on Ash Wednesday in the grandeur of St Charles’ Church in North Kelvinside, which houses the outstanding three-dimensional sculptures of the Stations of the Cross by Glasgow Jewish artist, Benno Schotz. Archbishop Conti celebrated Holy Mass and a bread and water reception followed with music, poetry readings and the unveiling of a new music installation piece called “Toward the Water’s Edge” by Dr Steve Davismoon. There then featured an excerpt from AGAP Theatre’s new production: “The Cure D’Ars: A Priest Forever”.
The Cure D'Ars: A Priest Forever
The play, written and directed by Stephen Callaghan, would prove to be AGAP’s most successful yet. Told from the perspective of the Devil in the 21st Century, with a popular music soundtrack, it drew the necessary parallel between the life of St John Vianney and the challenges facing the Church in our time. A terrific ensemble cast delivered excellent performances in ten venues across the Archdiocese and played to capacity audiences. Stephen Mullan as St John Vianney and Stephen Lynch as the Devil, attracted considerable praise and the production received invitations to tour to Edinburgh and to England.
The art exhibition at Art in the City asked artists to present work that reflected the theme “Called to Serve” and the results produced a wide variety of images from the overtly Biblical such as “The Servant King” by Christine Mailley to the work of charities like the Samaritans and Riding for the Disabled.
The music programme included the contribution of the newly formed St Patrick’s Baroque Ensemble, led by the very talented Paul Livingston, which gave us a Gala Concert and a performance of The Seven Last Words in the splendour of St Patrick’s Church, Anderston. Cappella Nova offered a Gregorian Chant weekend workshop programme and concert, whilst the liturgical side of things was also celebrated with the St John Ogilvie Vespers led by the St Mungo Singers and the Strathclyde University Mass with music by James MacMillan.
Many new faces took part in the programme for 2010, including the vibrant Christian arts organisation FireCloud which organised a programme at St Peter’s High School, Clydebank. Martin Jones returned to the festival and played alongside young singer-songwriter Sean McKenna. The poetry and music cafe continued its tradition with guest poet Anne Murray joining the two lead poets Stephen Smyth and Mary Hanrahan. Other events included the storytelling and music night, Come and See!, and the “Priest Poets Society”, which celebrated the contribution of priests such as St John of the Cross, John Henry Newman and Karol Wojtyla, to the field of poetry and featured a performance by active priest-poet Rev Peter Granger-Banyard SJ.
