Events
Statement on the Proposed Episcopal Consecration of Father Michael Mary.
Today news has reached the Diocese of Aberdeen that the Superior General of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, V. Rev. Fr Michael Mary, F.Ss.R, intends to be consecrated as a bishop on 25th July on the island of Papa Stronsay in Orkney. This ordination would be celebrated without a papal mandate, by a group of bishops who deny that Our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV is actually the pope.
Since this consecration is due to take place within the geographical boundaries of the Diocese of Aberdeen, I am obliged to make clear to the faithful of the Diocese that any such episcopal ordination would be unlawful and a grave act of disobedience, separating those taking part from communion with the Catholic Church. No member of the faithful should attend. This action is not "for the good of the Catholic Church" as is falsely claimed.
This developmentis greatly to be regretted and we can only pray that those concerned have a change of heart.
+ Hugh Gilbert OSB
Bishop of Aberdeen. 18th June 2026.
Papar Day on Papa Stour, 25th July 2026.
Diocesan Pilgrimages to Pluscarden Abbey, Sunday 28th June 2026.
Diocesan Pilgrimages to Italy and Lourdes, 2026.
Pilgrimage to the Cities of Italy, September, led by Fr Domenico Zanre. Details in pdf below:
Pilgrimage to Lourdes, October, led by Fr Leo Lou Arche. Details in pdf below:
lourdes-pilgrimage-oct10-14-2026.pdf
Orthodox Liturgy at St Margaret's, Saturday 30th August 2025.
Archimandrite Antonios Kakalis of St Andrew's Orthodox Church in Edinburgh came up to Shetland at the end of August to celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the nascent Orthodox Community of St Ninian.
Summer Pilgrimage to Fair Isle, 9th July 2025.
It is about nine years since our last Mass on Fair Isle, a small island about 26 miles to the south of the Shetland Mainland. The total population is only about 42, which adds to the sense of remoteness. The island is world famous for its knitwear and migratory birds.
The ferry from Lerwick takes four and a half hours, but it was good to be able to meet two new parishioners who have recently settled on the island. That brings the Catholic population to four. It was a wonderful visit and we were given a warm welcome by the Methodist congregation who hosted our Mass in their chapel.
Parish Visit to Bottelare, Diocese of Ghent, 4th - 9th October 2024.
A group of fifteen parishioners went from Shetland to Belgium in October for the unveiling of a monument to Fr Theophilus Verstraeten, first resident Catholic priest in Shetland after the Reformation. A fuller explanation of this memorial will be found in the "Monument" tab elsewhere on this website.
Bottelare church is an impressive building, dating back to the eighteenth century. It owes something of its grandeur to the shrine of St Anne (just glimpsed to the right of the pier carrying the monument) which was a place of popular pilgrimage.
On the Monday, many of the group visited the nearby city of Bruges. Neil and Simon are pictured here outside the chapel of the Beguines.
Still full of tourists, even in October!
Feast of St Joachim and St Anne, 26th July.
We are grateful to the staff of the Shetland Archives for allowing us to use this drawing, made c.1850, of the Lerwick shoreline.
It shows the two lodberries which jutted out from Clark's building (now Pete's Cafe in Commercial Street). They lie near the centre of this extract, to the left of the ship in the foreground. The first Catholic chapel occupied the right hand lodberry and was dedicated to St Anne. The chapel was reached from the beach. Immediately to the right, and slightly set back, is the Zetland Hotel which was later bought by the Catholic Church. The second Catholic chapel occupied an upper room in this building with access from Queen's Lane. It was also dedicated to St Anne.
