To describe this year’s annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Pluscarden, much of what was said in these pages about the 2024 event could almost be repeated. The format remained the same; the Feast was the same (SS. Peter and Paul, 29 June), the place, the Mass time (3.00 p.m.) and many of the people were the same: Bishop, clergy, monks, people! We had two large marquees as before, and Choirs as before, and Exposition before the Mass as before, and a Marian procession after it, as before, and (as before) many volunteers involved in the organisation, which all went extremely well. Nevertheless, this 2025 event certainly merits its own description, for it was marvellous! And since the Pluscarden Diocesan Pilgrimage is such a most notable event in the year, both for the Diocese and for the Abbey, it should not pass unrecorded!
So: this year, a group of 32 teenagers from Aberdeen arrived the previous afternoon. They spent the night camping out by St. Scholastica’s guest house. They then joined a good group of other young people who walked in from Elgin to arrive in plenty of time for the Pilgrimage Mass. All of that was organised and overseen by our Religious Sisters and Diocesan Youth workers, so that the monastic brethren themselves had no related safeguarding or health-and-safety or organisational headaches whatever!
Very happily (it makes a big difference!), the weather again smiled on our gathering. Many folks – many families especially – arriving in good time, took advantage of that to picnic out, here and there, on the lawns surrounding the Abbey. All that created a lovely festive and communal atmosphere, much helped by the team of local ladies who toiled away serving drinks and snacks from the refreshments tent. Very soon, this outdoor scene became marked also by Priests with purple stoles, standing or sitting here and there, each with a queue quickly forming for confessions before Mass. Pluscarden is a site designated by our Bishop for gaining the Jubilee Year Indulgence, so that surely made grace abound all the more on this occasion. Many of the Priests involved could testify to the graces poured out: how words of healing, consolation, encouragement and helpful guidance could be spoken, and received, in Christ’s name; as well of course, sacramentally efficacious words of divine mercy and forgiveness. For some people, such occasions can be highly significant, or even a blessed turning point, in their lives.
Although this year there was no specific drive to attract young people, as has been done before, numbers remained extremely encouraging. Certainly, more than 500 people came. Of the ethnicities represented, the Scots were surely not in the majority! We had many people of Polish origin; very many Nigerians; many from the Indian sub-continent, and especially from Kerala in the South; also a group of Ukrainians, to mention no others now. Their coming together in unity under one Bishop was a striking sign of the Catholicity of our Church.
A group of key players to be mentioned were the Knights of St. Columba. Clearly visible to all in their high-vis vests, they acted as Stewards, car park attendants, furniture movers, and general factotums ready to offer help wherever and however it might be needed. They were numerous, well-rehearsed, effective and very much appreciated!
As for the Mass liturgy, it was enhanced by a good group of servers from the Diocese, led by our very own Doctor Derek Kelly, while all ultimately controlled by the ever-calm and cheerful George Brand, the Diocesan Master of Ceremonies. We had present also at least five deacons, and maybe 17 guest Priests. Among them was Elgin’s Fr. Aidan Matheson, ordained by Bishop Hugh only two days previously in Aberdeen Cathedral, on the Feast of the Sacred Heart. The Diocesan Choir was led by John Horton; Ronnie Leith played the organ as ever, and the Nigerian Choir sang and played with the facility of professionals. Six large hired Video Screens, together with a special sound system, kept everyone everywhere fully in touch with the ceremony as it unfolded, in spite of so many awkward intervening walls. The control of the transmitted film was done by the Community’s Live-Stream Brother, deploying an array of fixed cameras to enable multiple shots and views.
At the end of Mass, the Chaplain to the community of Greek Catholic Ukrainians in Aberdeen, Fr. Andriy Chornenko, gave a most moving address. His words were mostly of gratitude for the warm reception he and his people have received in our Diocese; also, of course, asking for continued prayers for his country as it continues to endure its long and murderous war.
The Litany of Loreto followed, sung in Latin, as a very long procession made its way to St. Benedict’s garden for concluding Marian devotions. This garden is very beautiful: though its thickening bushes now make clear sight lines for hundreds of people, it is more or less impossible. After this, well over two hours after the start of Mass, a more informal procession made its way back: this time accompanied by the joyful sound of the African Choir, stirringly accompanied by its mobile percussion array. For all this thoroughly enjoyable multiculturalism, the sound of Scottish pipes could not be lacking, and happily that too was provided, both before and after Mass.
Thank God for it all: may it all be to His greater glory and praise; and may all involved be ever more strengthened in faith and hope, in unity and in love.
