St. Leo the Great (Dumbreck)

Introduction

The Four Seasons Mural (1990-1998) is a copy of a canvas embroidery mural hanging in the transept of Pluscarden Abbey, commissioned by the late abbot.

Music and liturgy

The Four Evangelist Kneelers (1983) were embroidered by Jenny Abernethy, Jean Radford, Marion Girvan and (again) Jenny Abernethy. The parish celebrates the weekly Eucharist and also holds Children’s Liturgy, Advent and Lenten services, Penance Services, Vespers, Benediction, ecumenical Morning Prayers and an annual Passover Meal. Powerpoint presentations have been organised for the Easter Vigil and on topics such as St Paul, the Our Father, the Creed, Our Lady, the New Missal and ecumenical Stations of the Cross. There are five cantors.

St Leo’s and Sherbrooke St Gilbert’s met for Morning Prayer on the Thursday of Unity Week. An ecumenical Passover was held on the Thursday before Holy Week in 2009. Ecumenical Morning Prayer was held on Thursday 9th December 2021.

Parish life

The Parish Pastoral Council includes ex-officio representatives from the Liturgy, Fabric and Finance, Saint Vincent de Paul, Catechesis, Social, Justice and Peace committees and church support workers. During Lent, St Leo's and Sherbrooke St Gilbert's parishes shared Morning Prayer on Thursdays, alternating between the two churches. The ecumenical Passover was led by Angela McLeod, with Joseph and Maureen MacLean as 'Father' and 'Mother', and readings shared by parishioners of St Leo's and Ibrox Parish Church. St Mungo's Day 2009 was celebrated ecumenically at Glasgow Cathedral, with music led by the St Mungo Singers.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The opening hymn at the Romero celebration was Bernadette Farrell's 'Christ be our Light'. A new poem from Marion Morrison in Gaelic and English was featured, with Catherine Walker's setting of the 1st words of Columba on Iona sung by Helen Healy.