We had the privilege of having Cardinal O’Brien and Bishop Toal present for our 50th anniversary celebrations.
There is an interview with the Cardinal as broadcast by local radio station Isles FM available to listen to here
After the commemorative Mass, the Cardinal happily posed for photographs, sometimes with individuals, sometimes with couples and families, sometimes with almost all of us!
It was a pleasure to have him with us and to hear him speak about the history of Christianity in Scotland, beginning with St Ninians mission from Rome around the 5th century. Also about our own modern day mission in the face of increasing secularism and the marginalisation of religion in society.
The 50th Anniversary of our Parish fell on the Feast of St Columba, who like our Cardinal made his way to Scotland from the North of Ireland. Chaluim Chille as St Columba is known in Scottish Gaelic has many place names along the western seaboard recognising his influence, not least St Columba’s church on Eye Peninsula in Lewis, reputedly built on the cell of St Catan who was a contemporary of St Columba, and later the burial place of nineteen chiefs of the Clan Macleod.
This was the first visit of a Catholic Cardinal to Lewis since the Reformation, as reported by Hebrides News here
There are more events to mark our celebrations planned for later in the year.
