Keith O’Brien, the leader of the Catholic church in Scotland, made a historic visit
to Lewis yesterday with the first ever visit of a cardinal to the island.
Last night he led a special thanksgiving Mass to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stornoway parish.
Earlier, he met representatives of Western Isles Council and Presbyterian ministers churches.
It took 400 years after the Reformation for the parish to be established in Stornoway.
But in 1961 there was no church building and the congregation worshipped in a Italian café in the town.
The anniversary effectively marks the parish’s symbolic coming of age within the diocese with the newly installed priest Father Roddy Johnston being the first appointed directly by the diocese.
Cardinal O’ Brien who had previously visited the island before he was made a cardinal, said he was delighted to return and was pleased to see the new modern church building, rebuilt after a serious fire ten years ago.
He said: “This is the first visit of a Cardinal and I am delighted to fly the flag.”
“I am looking forward to meeting representatives of other Christian denominations on the island
He hoped to discuss mutual issues believes all denominations should be concerned about the growing secularism in society, a development which affects rural areas as much as urban localities.
He welcomed that “relationships between different churches have being improving over the years.”
He said the catholic church community is “flourishing on the island with spiritual life here focused on prayer and mass.”
He says the church should reach out to society and be an example to the community.
Bishop Joseph Toal, who heads Argyll and the Isles diocese, highlighted that modern infrastructure of causeways and ferries has allowed islanders of the different faiths to mix.
He added: “There is something special about (a Lewis) Sunday and as Catholics here we respect that tradition, that sense that the Sabbath is a day of rest and prayer.”
Parish priest Fr Roddy Johnston says it is a vibrant parish and he was pleased at involvement of youth.
Until now the parish was mainly served by the Jesuit order while former priest Fr Tom Cairns was a Dominican.
Then a former servicemen’s canteen, from the RAF base at Stornoway airport, was used
until a modern church was built on the same site at the corner of Scotland Street
and Kenneth Street in 1991. But that was destroyed by a fire, caused by an electrical
fault, in 2004. An identical replacement was opened in 2007.
Over 100 people attend
mass on Sundays while others come on Saturdays. Separate services are also held in
Harris by the Stornoway priest.
The anniversary Mass was followed by a buffet in the Caladh Inn. Other celebrations
include a summer barbecue and a special Christmas service.
Cardinal historic first visit to Lewis 10/6/11