Page 6 - LOTN Advent issue 57

DIOCESE

Bottelaere to Shetland.
The Shetland group have become increasingly aware that
Rev. Theophilus Verstraeten has left us so much more than a
fascinating piece of history and the means which provided a good
foundation for our Catholic Church in Shetland, as beautiful as
that all is. No, his legacy is more one of connections between
people, and the difference love and charity and respect for each
other make in connecting with and learning from others.
The impression he left after his death was one of goodness,
kindness and gentleness. He showed us all how to live together
and learn from each other by interacting and sharing. He laid
the foundation for our church building, but he also laid the
foundation for a deeper ecumenism. The group will see if we are
able to continue to benefit from this legacy, both in Shetland,
Pat Loynd and Lieve Orye unveiling the plaque and perhaps also in Belgium?
[ Photo: Paul Coupe]
served in the local police station! If you'd like to know more about Fr Theophilus Verstraeten,
A film had been made of the story and project and was shown Hilde Bardell, who wrote this news item for the 'Light of the
before the meal. Relationships were strengthened and new North' , has written a fascinating account of how this young
friendships made, and there will certainly be return visits from Belgium priest was instrumental in saving Lerwick from
smallpox (Page 26).

Completion of St Joseph's guest house

he new ladies' guest house, to be
known as St Joseph's, at Pluscarden
T Abbey, has been completed. More
hidden from general view, as a part of this
project, there has been some interior re-
ordering of the community's own space
including a larger refectory, a new kitchen,
a new infirmary and a new library.
On Friday 15 November a number of
prominent members of the building team
assembled at the abbey in order to be properly
thanked for their hard work, professionalism
and dedication.
In the photograph, above the entrance
porch, can be seen some of the work by
the artist and sculptor, Philip Chatfield: an
"Agnus Dei" and then, in the apex of the roof
"The Sleeping Joseph".
On the Feast of St Andrew (Saturday The building team outside the entrance porch of the new guest house
30 November) Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB
conducted a public ceremony of blessing of entrance doorway. This statue will be the final and greatest
the guest house, and in particular a blessing of a free standing work of sculptor Philip Chatfield, who has contributed much
statue of "Joseph the Worker" which has been designed to fit to the project.
in the curve of the interior stone staircase, facing the main

Philip Chatfield's "the Sleeping Joseph" "Joseph the Worker"

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