Page 4 - LOTN Summer Issue 50

DIOCESE

Diocesan pilgrimage to Pluscarden

unday 26 June saw a happy resumption, after all leading the congregation in praise and song. The
a three year break, of the annual Diocesan Church’s catholicity was on display, the large African,
SPilgrimage to Pluscarden led by its Bishop Hugh Indian and Polish contingents and others less visible,
Gilbert OSB, himself previously Abbot of Pluscarden. A while Duncan MacGillivray’s piping ensured that the
joyful throng, in greater numbers than seen for some home team was not forgotten. After Mass there was
years, gathered at the Abbey in beautiful weather, a procession to St Benedict’s Garden, led by children
with an overflow congregation accommodated in a enthusiastically strewing rose-petals in front of
large marquee. By use of large screens and speaker Our Lady’s statue, while the Litany was sung. Abbot
systems, everyone was able to see and hear, and Anselm Atkinson led a decade of the Rosary, and
for those farther afield – this is the largest diocese Bishop Hugh concluded formalities by presenting an
in Europe, outside Scandinavia – there was live- icon of Our Lady of Aberdeen (painted/written by a
streaming. The liturgy was enhanced by choirs – member of the diocese’s St Andrew Community) to
Bishop Hugh said he thought his diocese has more Sister Anna Christi Solis OP, who is returning to the
choirs than any other in Scotland – the Children’s United States after nine years of leading the founders
Choir, the Diocesan Choir, the Cathedral Choir and the of the Dominican Sisters in Elgin.
African Choir, not to mention the Pluscarden monks, Fr Giles Conacher OSB

Just some of the large congregation
Processing to the Abbey with the Diocesan and
Pluscarden banners

The African Choir A marquee accommodated the overflow of pilgrims

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