Page 11 - LOTN Autumn Issue 54 2023

DIOCESE
News from

Stella Maris

ishop Hugh Gilbert waved a timely goodbye
to a crew of Filipino seafarers as they departed
BAberdeen for sunnier climes recently – with all of
them insisting they would miss the Granite City.
Bishop Hugh, who is the Scottish Bishop Promoter for
Catholic seafaring charity Stella Maris, was invited onto the
Seacor Ohio which had been working in the North Sea for
a few years before leaving for its ultimate destination of
Namibia in South West Africa on a 9-12 month contract.
The visit was arranged by Deacon Doug Duncan, Stella Bishop Hugh conducts a service for some of the crew members
Maris Port Chaplain for the North East of Scotland, who had
been visiting the ship in the Port of Aberdeen when the brine, and other various essential items before heading off.
crew asked if they could meet Bishop Hugh one final time On the morning visit, the crew were thrilled to meet and
prior to their departure. chat with Bishop Hugh who met with Captain Pavel from
Many of the Filipino crew had visited the local Catholic Poland on the Bridge and two of the second officers.
Churches and had attended the monthly Filipino Mass In the mess room, he met with several of the crew
celebrated in Aberdeen which Bishop Hugh Gilbert had members and a short service and blessing of the vessel was
celebrated. So they made a point of asking Deacon Doug if, conducted by Bishop Hugh.
on their return from Norway and before heading to Africa, Over a light Lunch on board the vessel, many stories were
he could arrange for Bishop Hugh to visit the ship, having shared and the impending 35-day voyage via Las Palmas
previously met them. was discussed.
Bishop Hugh was delighted to accept the request whilst The seafarers said they would miss Aberdeen but were
the vessel was busy loading up with additional stores, fuel, looking forward to the better weather of Africa during the
coming winter months.

round 40 bishops from Europe, including first part of the Synod presided over by Pope Francis.
Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB, attended the Plenary The assembly commenced with speeches by
AAssembly of the Council of the Conferences of Archbishop Charles Scicluna, the Apostolic Nuncio for
European Bishops (CCEE), which was held in Malta for Malta Mgr Savio Hon Tai-Fai, and an online intervention
the first time and organised by the Maltese Episcopal from the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista
Conference. During this assembly, which takes place Pizzaballa OFM.
every year in one of the member countries of the The assembly focussed on three main themes. Cardinal
Council, the bishops discussed the theme ‘New Steps Mario Grech, General Secretary of the Synod, presented
for a Synodal Church in Europe’. This comes after the the work carried out in the Synod of Bishops ‘For a Synodal
Church: Communion, Participation, Mission’
and provided an indication of necessary
preparations for the second part of the synod
scheduled for October 2024.
Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, Vice
President of the CCEE and General Rapporteur
of the Synod, discussed the relationship
between synodality and supranational
structures, aiming to give a new missionary
boost to the Church in Europe. Cardinal
Grzegorz Ryś, Archbishop of Łódź, will gave
an update on the working group revising the
Charta Oecumenica, a document focusing on
enhancing collaboration between different
Churches in Europe.
Throughout the assembly, three evening
Masses were held, open to all Christians,
Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB with Fr Paul Bonnici and Fr Patrick Rice SJ, both particularly those involved in the Church’s
of whom have close ties with the Diocese of Aberdeen mission.

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