Page 7 - LOTN Spring Issue 52 2023

DIOCESE
50th anniversary

of French Mass

in Aberdeen

BY HANTA ANDRIANINA DANG

his year, the French-speaking Roman Catholic
community celebrates its 50th anniversary of
Testablishment in Aberdeen.
The community was created in 1973 at the request of French Confirmation Mass for French children
Catholics who came to work in Aberdeen at the beginning of at St Mary's Chapel, Blairs
the oil industry boom in this region. Father (now Monsignor)
Donald MacKinnon who was on the teaching staff of Blairs
College, was the first celebrant of these Masses in French. He "small but beautiful"
had done his priesthood studies in Paris and thus was fluent
in French. Fr (now Bishop Emeritus) Peter Moran) who was
also teaching at Blairs, occasionally gave him some help and "I can safely say that both Bishop Peter Moran and
occasionally celebrated in his stead. In the early days the Masses myself have treasured our ministry to the French-
were celebrated in one of the smaller chapels in the college. For speaking community in Aberdeen. Over the years, we
a few years the Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy, who had provided have somewhat "lived in tents", in the sense of being
domestic support in Blairs since 1906 [sic], appointed a French hosted by a variety of parish churches: St Mary's, Blairs,
member of their religious congregation, Sister Mary Francis St Francis, Mannofield, occasionally the Chapel of the
[sic], to their Blairs community, and she gave a lot of help both University Chaplaincy and most recently St Joseph's,
to Fr MacKinnon and to Fr Moran. In the case of Fr Peter, Woodside. The numbers attending Mass have varied,
for instance, double-checking his sermons before he delivered especially in recent years with the fluctuations of the
them. She also conducted catechesis for the French children, oil industry, but sit at anything between 25 and 60. The
e.g. preparing them for First Holy Communion. Mass is normally monthly. What has impressed me is the
Fr MacKinnan was a priest of the Diocese of Argyll and when skill and swiftness with which the French community
he was recalled to his diocese Fr Peter took over the celebrating organises itself liturgically and administratively (often
of the Mass. During his time several of the mothers of the French needing to re-organise itself annually with the high
families formed a team of catechists, each taking different age- turnover of participants due to work reasons). The
level children. These “classes” met in their various houses and presence of families with a good number of young
Fr Peter would attend this one or that one as time permitted. children is also heartening, and means that sacramental
Bishop Peter admits though that his French, however, was not preparations, First Communions and Confirmations are
equal to the challenge of following the discussion among them regular occurences. The Apostolic Sisters of St John are
on occasions when the whole team met…! most helpful here. There are also initiatives among the
When Fr Peter became Bishop of Aberdeen in 2003 he adults themselves, not to mention the friendliness of
continued to celebrate French Masses for the French Catholic this community. The words "small but beautiful" come
community. After his retirement in 2011, his successor Bishop to mind, and I hope that, even in our volatile economy,
Hugh Gilbert became the celebrant. Whilst technically the this little Francophone "colony" will continue to thrive."
chaplaincy covers the whole of Scotland, it is only in Aberdeen
that the need for French-language Masses has been expressed. Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB
The Roman Catholic community is a minority religious
community in Scotland. The French-speaking Roman Catholic
community in Aberdeen is now a small, very family-oriented Mass is presently being celebrated for the French speaking
community which is renewed each year with the arrival and community at St Joseph's Church, 2 Tanfield Walk, Aberdeen
departure of French-speaking families. We are very grateful to AB24 4AQ. It is held once a month on a Saturday at 6pm
have these services in French thanks to Bishop Hugh Gilbert. (dates may vary).
Bishop Hugh is a keen reader of French literature, and it is
always delightful to listen to his homilies filled with interesting Contacts:
literary and philosophical references. We are also grateful to Apostolic Sisters of St John: Sr Claire Théophane
have the Apostolic Sisters of St John since the end of 2019 to Email: srclairetheophane@gmail.com
strengthen the Roman Catholic community and chaplaincy French Community coordinator: Hanta Andrianina Dang
activity in Aberdeen. Email: andria_hanta@hotmail.com

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