The efforts of African priests on mission in Scotland and the United Kingdom have been appreciated with a call to make them welcome.
This commendation was made by a veteran educator and writer, Ellen McBride, during an exclusive interview she granted Advocatus Africa at St. Eunan’s Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, Scotland, UK on Monday, 19 January 2026.
Welcome African priests on reverse mission “with open arms”
“We must be grateful to and welcome African priests with open arms,” McBride stressed, while narrating that “When we were in school, we brought in a penny every week for the ‘black babies.’”
Acknowledging that the description “sounds terrible; almost racist,” she nonetheless clarified that “It is now called Holy Childhood.”
According to her, “We were able to name the baby when the card was filled up.” Citing the act as a sign of generosity, sacrifice and innocence, the retired teacher said, “Children are very generous that way,” adding that “We thought we were helping the ‘black babies’ because they had no money.”
Ellen McBride, Catechist, educationalist and writer
However, the Irish-born reasoned, “today, what would we do without the ‘black babies?’” maintaining that “they have all come back to help us.”
Describing the reciprocal mission “as a huge blessing for the Church in Glasgow and Scotland,” the Parish chair of St. Eunan’s Parish Pastoral Council confessed that “We didn’t know what we were doing. We thought we were helping ‘black babies.’
“But what we were doing really was helping the Church. You can see the hand of God in it. They [now] help to evangelise Scotland.”
“We are kind of related to them [African priests] through the ‘black babies.’ It is a kind of our brothers and sisters coming back to help, which is absolutely wonderful.” – McBride
Further emphasising what has now become a symbiotic relationship, McBride underlined that “In a way, we are kind of related to them [African priests] through the ‘black babies.’ It is a kind of our brothers and sisters coming back to help, which is absolutely wonderful.”
“My Irish roots played a huge part in my faith development”
About her Irish roots, how the Irish shaped the evangelising mission of the Church in the UK and Africa and the value African priests, products of the generosity of people like her who contributed to the “black babies” bring, the honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Glasgow delved into faith and career, providing insightful details.
She emphasised, “My Irish roots played a huge part in my faith development. It seems like an innate faith. Though my Irish parents were not educated enough in academics because they did not have a lot of schooling, they were schooled in their faith.”
McBride disclosed that, while her father, being the eldest of 9, was sent out to a hiring-fair to work, at the age of 10, her mother was the youngest of 13.
On the impact her parents made on her, the educationist disclosed that “If I can be half as good a Catholic as my mother was, I would be happy.”
Born at a time when it was the norm for many male children in Ireland to become priests, McBride stated that “My brother left home at 12 to go to seminary to become a priest.”
According to her, “I was annoyed about that. I didn’t want him to leave, because we missed him.”
She explained that at the time, “I didn’t think that was the right thing for the Church to be doing, taking someone away at the age of 12.”
Asked if he ever came back, the soft-spoken Lady replied, “He never came back, but I used to pray for him to come back home.”
“Though my Irish parents were not educated enough in academics because they did not have a lot of schooling, they were schooled in their faith.” – McBride
“Denis, my brother, was in Aberdeen at Junior Seminary. But he later left and joined the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists). He had a great talent for preaching and storytelling, which he got from my mother. The Irish priests, as you might have known in Africa, were good storytellers. My brother is a good storyteller, although he developed that talent over his priestly life,” she fondly said about her sibling, who was ordained in that Order at the age of 23.
Concerning her background and how her family ended up in Scotland, she narrated that “I was born in Donegal, Ireland, out in the county and baptised on the same day because that was the tradition at the time.”
McBride said her parents moved to Scotland in search of a job for her father because “There was not much work in Ireland at that time.”
Speaking further, she revealed that, “When we arrived, my mother was pregnant, and my second brother was born in Glasgow city. After that, we settled in Clydebank because my mother had a sister there. So, we were brought up there. Then, there was another sister born.”
Motivation to become a teacher
The advocate for fulfilling the needs of Catholic schools and families also told Advocatus Africa what motivated her to become a teacher and now a leading figure in the Archdiocese of Glasgow, involved in the training of Parish Catechists and interviewing seminarians ahead of their formative years.
“The first memory I have of my mother is standing behind me, taking my right hand to make the sign of the cross, and we always had prayers, the family rosary. Religion was a central force, shaping every facet of our lives.” – McBride
“I always wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl. I don’t know if it had something to do with religion and upbringing. My mother was always at home. Religion was so important to her.
“The first memory I have of my mother is standing behind me, taking my right hand to make the sign of the cross, and we always had prayers, the family rosary. Religion was a central force, shaping every facet of our lives. I don’t know if that really had something to do with the fact that I wanted to be a teacher to pass on something,” she narrated.
Speaking further, she stated, “When I was in school, I kept worrying whether I would pass exams or get into training. While waiting to go into higher education, I did some voluntary work in a hospice. I thought I would become a nurse. That service was always there. God had things in mind. I passed the exams.”
McBride said, “My mother was very talented. She knitted all our jumpers and made all our clothes. I was virtually brought up in a sewing machine. I had the talent for that. I wanted to become a teacher who taught sewing. I think God intervened and changed my course.”
“Eventually, I went to train as a primary teacher in Notre Dame College, in Glasgow, run by the Notre Dame Sisters,” she disclosed, maintaining, “I owe them a great deal for my education. I had a very good time because I met a lot of great people there. I got a good degree at the end.”
She has co-authored three books with Sr. Margaret Jones, “Called by God: Reclaiming the Meaning of Baptism (Catechists),” which guides catechists in the baptism preparation process, and “Called by God: Preparing for My Child’s Baptism (Keepsake),” designed for parents preparing for their child’s baptism. Additionally, there is the “Called by God: Catechist Guide,” meant for those teaching the sacrament of baptism.
Local residents describe McBride as a former teacher at St. Stephen’s Primary School in Dalmuir, where she was known for her distinctive style of teaching and dedication in the early 1970s.
Known for her active service as a parish Catechist in Glasgow for over 30 years, in 2023, she was recognised in the Archdiocesan newspaper, Flourish, for her longstanding role and efforts of encouraging others to join the catechetical ministry.
