Confirmations 2019
St. Michael's School, Burghclere
On Saturday 11th May, 29 candidates presented themselves at St. Michael's School for the sacrament of confirmation which was administered by His Lordship Bishop Fellay. The next day, another 14 souls received the sacrament at Ss. Margaret & Leonard's in Edinburgh.
His Lordship's feet have hardly touched the ground since he stepped-down as Superior General in August last year. So far this year he has spent 164 hours in an aeroplane and has travelled 160,000 miles!
Arriving on Thursday evening, we collected His Lordship from the airport and went to St. George's House for a goodly supper. On Friday we venerated relics of the English Martyrs in the crypt of Tyburn Convent and walked a good way in the sunshine through Hyde Park and beyond. On Saturday morning we drove to St. Michael's School for Confirmations which began at noon. Shortly after the ceremony Rev. Fr. Lindström kindly dropped us off at the airport to catch a plane to Edinburgh where the sun was shining until after 9pm. The journey from the airport was deliberately cross-country through stunning landscapes to St. Andrew's Priory in Carluke where Rev. Fr. Wall entertained us in his inimitable way.
After the ceremony at Ss. Margaret & Leonard's on Sunday there was a very jolly gathering in the church hall which fortified us for the journey to St. Mary's House, Preston where Rev. Fr. Vandendaele had the red carpet rolled-out. Divine Office, meditation and a private Mass in the elegant chapel of Our Lady of Victories made a perfect start to the next day. After breakfast we ventured to Cowling in the Yorkshire Dales where His Lordship made a private visit to a dying friend. Then we drove back to Edinburgh and bade our farewells. His Lordship declared on arriving at the airport, "You know, I have really enjoyed this visit. Thank you!" May God bless His Lordship, keep him in good health and may the angels bear him up as he flies to his next destination! Deo gratias.
Ss. Margaret & Leonard's, Edinburgh