A SPECIAL Mass will be held in St Mary’s Church in the Calton at 7pm on Monday, November 6 to mark the 130th anniversary of Celtic’s formation. The principal celebrant will be Fr Tom White, and all supporters are welcome to attend this occasion.

It is from the parish of St Mary’s that Celtic were formed following a meeting in the church hall on November 6, 1887, and the club previously held a special celebration event in the church to mark the 125th anniversary of its foundation.

The club and Celtic FC Foundation will also be hosting a lunch for the homeless community earlier that same day at Celtic Park.

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “I’m sure the anniversary Mass at St Mary’s on November 6 to recognise and celebrate the formation of the club will again be a poignant event and one where we will give thanks to those who worked so hard and with such vision to establish our great Club.   

“From those early days of our formation, Celtic has always had charity at its core. It has defined Celtic throughout the last 130 years and it is something which has made Celtic a Club like no other. Once again, charity will play an important role in next week’s anniversary Mass as we welcome our guests to Celtic Park.

“I am sure the service, fittingly, at the place of our birth, will again be an important opportunity for so many supporters to celebrate our origins.”  

Tony Hamilton, Chief Executive of Celtic FC Foundation, said: “It’s an honour for the Foundation to welcome the homeless community and those who care for them and work with them back to Celtic Park for lunch on the anniversary of the Club’s founding.

“The Club’s charitable beginnings are hugely important to everyone at Celtic and we will never forget where we came from or why we were part of this community in the first place.”