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UNITED KINGDOM: Catholic star Marilla Ness to sing for Aid to the Church in Need

By John Pontifex

Catholic singer Marilla Ness, who will perform at a fundraising concert for Aid to the Church in Need (Photo copyright Marilla Ness)

Catholic singer Marilla Ness, who will perform at a fundraising concert for Aid to the Church in Need (Photo copyright Marilla Ness)

9 April 2010

Final preparations are underway in Scotland for a concert of devotional music performed by the much-loved Catholic singer, Marilla Ness.

Up to 400 people are expected at Carfin, outside Motherwell, for an Evening of Prayerful Music for the Persecuted Church, organised by Aid to the Church in Need. The fundraising concert will be the first of its kind given by Marilla Ness.

Described as the UK’s number one Catholic recording artist, Irish-born Marilla has recorded 23 albums within 15 years, as well as publishing her own songbook featuring many of her favourite hymns.

The concert takes place on Thursday, 29th April at 7.30pm at Carfin’s Church of St Francis Xavier.

Buy tickets for the Marilla Ness concert

The concert kicks off a packed season of UK events organised in support of Aid to the Church in Need.

Carfin Lourdes Grotto – Scotland’s national shrine – will also be the venue for the inaugural Aid to the Church in Need Scottish pilgrimage taking place on Saturday, 22nd May, led by Father Paul Morton, a trustee of the charity.

That same day – 22nd May – other pilgrims will be heading for the charity’s annual pilgrimage to Walsingham, Norfolk. The pilgrimage will once again led by Aid to the Church in Need UK chaplain Father Martin Edwards.

Aid to the Church in Need’s Scottish administrator Dermot Lamb said he had received inquiries from Marilla Ness enthusiasts as far south as London.

Mr Lamb said concert tickets were still available before adding: “From the many calls and bookings I have taken, it is clear that Marilla Ness is very popular.”

Stressing that the concert is intended to raise funds for persecuted and suffering Christians, Mr Lamb explained: “This is a wonderful opportunity to remember suffering Christians in a special way and to get the message out about the persecuted Church.”

The Carfin pilgrimage will begin with the Rosary at 12 noon at the grotto, next to St Francis Xavier’s Church, where Mass will be held afterwards.

There will also be Way of the Cross and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament as well as a talk on the suffering Church by the charity’s UK director, Neville Kyrke-Smith.

Meanwhile, the Walsingham pilgrimage will include Mass at the shrine, a Rosary procession to the parish church, confession and benediction at the Church of the Annunciation. Many benefactors are travelling by coach from London.

Other upcoming activities include a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain from 5th to 12th June, organised in partnership with Pax Travel initiative.

And Aid to the Church in Need will stage its Birmingham Event on Sunday, 27th June at 2pm at the Birmingham Oratory. The event will feature talks on the Church in earthquake-hit Haiti, Christianity and Islam, Ukraine and Pakistan.

Read more about all Aid to the Church in Need’s events

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