By Lanarkshire Live

Copyright dailyrecord

As Rutherglen approaches its 900th anniversary, it has much to be proud of. It has produced famous sons and daughters, but it also produced what was described by Cardinal Thomas Winning as the “jewel in the crown of the Catholic Church in Scotland” – SCIAF, The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund. Founded in a classroom in St Columbkille’s Primary, SCIAF has given millions of people around the world a hand up out of poverty since 1965. The world has been through a lot over the past 60 years – climate change, conflict, chaos in our politics. But where there has been injustice, where there has been pain and suffering, SCIAF has been there, standing side-by-side and supporting the most vulnerable communities. Since then, SCIAF has grown from strength to strength: ■ Empowering the hungry to grow more food ■ Uplifting women and girls with dignity ■ Opening up education for those who are excluded ■ Offering hope in the darkest of times On Saturday, there was a very special celebration of all the love that SCIAF has brought to the world in the form of a 60th anniversary Mass in St Columbkille’s in the Main Street. SCIAF chief executive Lorraine Currie said: “They came from far and wide – SCIAF supporters, staff past and present, so many of our amazing volunteers and of course the good people of Rutherglen, where it all began. “SCIAF, and everyone associated with it believes that a better world is possible – and it’s their mission to bring that vision to life. “From Rutherglen to Rafah, Aberfeldy to Addis Ababa, Benbecula to Bogota, the SCIAF family is there, building a better world. Saturday was truly a joyful day where it was clear that SCIAF has a special place in the hearts of many.” The Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Brian McGee, SCIAF’s current bishop president, past-president Bishop Joseph Toal, parish priest Father Bernard Mournian and many other priests who have been associated with the charity over the years. Children and young people from local schools were also represented – St Columbkille’s, St Mark’s, Trinity High, Holyrood Secondary and Fernhill School – welcoming people, taking part in the mass and in the choir. SCIAF is part of the Caritas Internationalis network – a family of 162 national Catholic relief and development agencies working across the world. Meaning simply ‘love’, Caritas Internationalis (CI) is based in the Vatican, and SCIAF is a ‘small but mighty’ part of this humanitarian network. Lorraine added: “It’s being part of this amazing Caritas family that allows us to reach out in love, almost immediately when disasters strike. We work through these partners to bring relief where and when it’s needed. It happened when Ukraine was invaded in 2022. It’s also happening right now in Gaza, where we’re providing support when the conditions allow, amid the tremendous suffering there. “SCIAF has also produced two CI Secretary Generals – firstly Duncan MacLaren and also the current head Alistair Dutton – proving that SCIAF is truly small but mighty in the world of humanitarian work.” Duncan MacLaren said: “Sixty years on, SCIAF is an internationally respected aid, development and advocacy agency cherished by the Scottish Government, its peers in Caritas Europa, CIDSE and Caritas Internationalis, by our Bishops’ Conference and the Catholic community – priests and the laity – and including the youngsters in our schools whose enthusiasm keeps us all going. “Above all, our staff are our main witnesses to our professionalism by acting in close, affective solidarity with our partners around the world, trying together to transform the lives of the poorest. “Everyone who has worked for or supported SCIAF over these 60 years has been in solidarity with the marginalised, caring for our earth, our common home, and opposing oppression and injustice wherever we find it. Happy birthday and God bless all of you!” SCIAF timeline In 1965, SCIAF was founded in a Rutherglen classroom by Monsignor John Rooney and volunteer John McKee. Their aim, which the organisation still lives by today, was to help people in the world’s poorest places and inspire Scottish Catholics to respond to Jesus’ call for a just world. Thanks to the public’s dedicated support, and the love of generations before you, this is what the SCIAF family has managed to achieve since then. 1965 Founded in a classroom in Rutherglen 1968 Catholics in Scotland gave over £3000 to people affected by famine in Biafra (now south-eastern Nigeria) 1983 SCIAF Sunday was moved from September to the fourth Sunday of Lent, which remains a key date for its WEE BOX Appeal 1989 SCIAF launched a postcard campaign urging the UK government to stop propping up the apartheid regime in South Africa 1995 SCIAF reached out to people devastated by an earthquake in Iran, a cyclone in Bangladesh and the genocide in Rwanda 1999 SCIAF supported the Labour Government with its international development policy 2001 The WEE BOX campaign brought together Tommy Burns and Ally McCoist to launch its 24-hour fast 2004 Following the Boxing Day Tsunami in Asia, people gave an astonishing £2.2 million to SCIAF’s emergency appeal 2005 SCIAF joined Make Poverty History and campaigned for Prime Minister Tony Blair to ‘Make Aid Work’ at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles 2014 SCIAF launched an urgent appeal for refugees fleeing conflict in Syria, supporting over 43,000 people. In the same year, it also strengthened its board by creating new positions for lay people and three expert sub-committees. 2020 22 specific Covid-19 relief projects were developed, providing over £210,000 to protect the most at-risk groups 2021 SCIAF helped convince the Scottish Government to become the first in the world to commit funding for Loss and Damage, making a huge impact at COP26 talks in Glasgow 2022 People donated more than £1.2 million to provide shelter, food and medicines to the people of Ukraine 2024 SCIAF provided emergency relief in the Holy Land and welcomed the only Catholic priest in Gaza to Glasgow, Fr Gabriel Romanelli 2025 Thanks to the public’s generosity and the support of institutional funders, SCIAF delivered projects totalling more than £9 million *Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here .