AGAP Archives
2025
2025 was year of activity and revitalization of AGAP with two touring theatre productions, a visit to Rome for the Jubilee of Artists, a successful run at the Fringe and a galvanising visit from the Papal Nuncio to the UK.
The Jubilee Year of Hope was the main catalyst for AGAP’s creative endeavours in 2025.
Jubilee of Artists
In February, Stephen Callaghan, Creative Director of AGAP was invited to Rome by the Dicastery for Culture and Education, to contribute to a meeting of Catholic Cultural Centres at the Vatican. He attended the special Mass for the Jubilee of Artists, celebrated by His Eminence José Tolentino Calaça de Mendonça, the Prefect of the Dicastery. The meeting addressed the role of Catholic Cultural Centres (of which AGAP is the only one in Scotland, and one of 17 in Europe) around the world in the mission of evangelisation, inviting us to become “Artisans of Hope”. In the weeks that followed, Pope Francis died and his successor, Pope Leo XIV was elected.
Centenary of the Death of Margaret Sinclair
AGAP also wanted to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Venerable Margaret Sinclair. The Edinburgh Factory Girl who could be Scotland’s next canonised Saint was held up as a model for the Year of Hope by the Bishops Conference of Scotland and her story was vividly portrayed in venues around the country by Rachel Callaghan, a living relative of Venerable Margaret, in the biographical solo play, “The Margaret Sinclair Story”. Rachel had previously played the part in 2017 in the first touring production and then in 2020 for the video production made for the Schools Education Pack that was produced by the Office for the Cause of Margaret Sinclair. She took over the role from Maryfrances Jennow, who played the part in the original production at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2016 which attracted audiences of up to 300 people and great reviews. The 2025 tour took place in schools and parishes across the country with demand for repeat performances being received to this day. Performances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe were packed to capacity and Rachel received excellent audience reviews, with people from all over coming to share their stories of Margaret Sinclair.
Encouragement from Papal Nuncio
May 2025 included the visit of the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía to the Archdiocese of Glasgow. Stephen Callaghan and representatives from AGAP were invited to give a presentation to His Excellency on the work of the project as part of a gathering of the Curial Offices of the Archdiocese of Glasgow, which was greeted with great enthusiasm and encouragement from Archbishop Buendía, and led to front page news in the Archdiocesan publication, Flourish.
A Play for the Year of Hope
In the summer, a new solo comedy play written and directed by Stephen Callaghan, entitled “Pilgrim of Hope” premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August, preceded by previews in Glasgow. The play told the story of Scott, a fictional man who goes out in search of hope, as in the style of a modern folktale. Stephen portrayed a number of different characters in a play for the Year of Hope, inspired by the themes in Pope Francis’s Papal Bull of Indiction for the Jubilee Year. The play was well received by audiences at the Fringe, earning a good review in the Edinburgh Reporter and further touring around parishes and schools across Scotland until November 2026. A video recording of the play is available to watch on YouTube.
Reaching out to Young People
AGAP’s work in schools continued to develop with a revised version of workshops on the Rosary being delivered to S2 pupils at Turnbull High School, Bishopbriggs in October and assisting with a Day with Saint Nicholas for children in the Diocese of Paisley during Advent.
