Bishop Hugh Gilbert is the 11th Bishop of Aberdeen since the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in 1878. Born in Emsworth, Hampshire in 1952, educated at St. Paul’s School, London, and King’s College, University of London (where he gained an Honours degree in History), he was received into the Catholic Church in 1970. In 1974 he came north to enter the Benedictine monastery of Pluscarden Abbey, Elgin, Moray. He has been a monk of Pluscarden Abbey – ‘the spiritual heart of the diocese’ – for 37 years, and Abbot for 19. He was nominated to the See of Aberdeen by Pope Benedict XVI on 4 June 2011.
He is not the first Superior of Pluscarden to be moved from the monastery to the episcopate. On 20 May 1529, Pope Clement VII appointed the Prior of Pluscarden, George Learmond, co-adjutor Bishop of Aberdeen, with right of succession.
Bishop Hugh has chosen as his episcopal motto a phrase from St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians: chapter 1, verse 17: Omnia in Ipso constant [All things hold together in Him (Christ)]. These words occur within a Hymn to Christ, which celebrates his role as First-born and Head of creation, and then as First-born from the dead and Head of the Church (Colossians 1:15-20). St. Paul presents Christ as the one in whom everything finds its coherence, the one who sustains and unifies all that is, ‘in heaven and on earth’. Aside from Christ, everything disintegrates and falls apart. In Christ, everything finds its true place and stature, everything ‘holds together’. In Christ, everything ‘stands’ as he, the Risen One, ‘stands’. As believers in Christ, we ‘stand with him’ and ‘stand together’ in the unity of the Church: not just for ourselves, but praying and working in the grace of the Holy Spirit that everything in God’s creation may be brought together in and under Christ. These words thus underline the diocesan motto, chosen by Bishop Mario Conti, Together in Christ.
Engagements:
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Sunday, 6th October, 11 am, Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral, presentation of medals to members of the Junior Schola; 6.30 pm, Mass at University chaplaincy
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Tuesday, 8th October, 4 pm, Zoom meeting with Abp. Leo Cushley and others
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Thursday, 10th October, 10 am, BCOS Visitation to the St. Andrew’s Foundation, University of Glasgow
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Saturday, 12th October, 2 pm Talk at Pluscarden Abbey
Homilies and Letters:
Two Reflections on the Readings of the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B
I: Genesis 2:18-25 Today we hear a well-known reading from Genesis. It’s followed by the Psalm and prepares for the Gospel. It tells of Adam’s ‘aloneness’ and how the Lord…
Homily for the 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Today’s Gospel is difficult. So let’s try and get to grips with it. On the side, let me say that, if we do try and take a Gospel on board,…
Homily for the Assumption
It’s a deep Christian instinct – not restricted to us either – that there is such a thing as divine Providence, and behind it an all-embraving divine purpose, a wisdom…
Books:
When he was Abbot of Pluscarden Abbey, our Bishop Hugh Gilbert published two books based on the conferences he had delivered over the years to his monastic community, along with a few homilies. The first book, Unfolding the Mystery, covers the main seasons and solemnities of the liturgical year; the second, Living the Mystery, deals with the Christian life and how to live it more authentically.
