Scalan Seminary,Braes of Glenlivet. 2nd of June 2009
Clergy,Members of the Scalan Association and The Crown State and Pilgrims gather at The Scalan Seminary to mark the purchase of the late Sandy Mathieson's home by the Scalan Association, and the lease of extensive grounds surrounding the Scalan Seminary and Chapel, from the Crown Estate.
Canon Brian Halloran followed by Bishop Peter Moran and Cardinal O'Brien process to the Chapel at the start of the mass.
Canon Halloran delivers his homily.
The Pilgrims enjoy the Homily.
Cardinal O'Brien, the principal Concelebrant and pilgrims at the special mass.
The Clergy gather in the Study / Dining room after the mass.
MASS AT SCALAN COLLEGE, BRAES OF GLENLIVET
TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2009
CONCLUDING REMARKS FROM CARDINAL KEITH PATRICK O’BRIEN
It has indeed been a privilege sharing in this beautiful celebration of Mass here in this building which had been the chapel of the seminary in Scotland during those years at the end of the 18th century.
I thank all those have joined the members of the Scalan Association today, thanking in particular the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, representing Her Majesty the Queen, and those members of the Crown Estate at Glenlivet, who have shared in our celebrations.
As the local Bishop, Bishop Peter Moran has welcomed us most warmly; and the President of the Scalan Association, Canon Brian Halloran, gave us a very full and comprehensive history of Scalan in his enlightening words.
I wonder what those priests ordained from Scalan hidden here in the Braes of Glenlivet between the years 1760 to 1799 would think of today’s gathering: the Lord Lieutenant, along with representatives of the Crown Estate, a Cardinal, a Bishop, members of the Scalan Association, priests, lay women and laymen, gathered here to thank God for all that went on in this little seminary some 300 years ago.
We might even imagine what those three priests who formed the Scalan Association in 1948 to care for the seminary building would also have thought of this particular day.
I would like to think that their hearts would have been bursting with pride while they thanked God for all that was accomplished through the seminary at Scalan, as well as during the centuries later when the Church in Scotland grew in strength. I am sure that they would certainly have appreciated the growth of the ‘Scalan Association’ which recently purchased buildings and leased land from the Crown Estate at Glenlivet which allows for the protection and enhancement of the historic seminary and its surroundings at the Scalan here in this beautiful part of our Scottish countryside.
The Scalan Association itself has carried out various renovations to the old seminary building in recent years and had been keen to secure ownership of the cottage and management of the wider site to allow future improvements to be carried out.
As the Cardinal Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh and the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, I take this opportunity of thanking most sincerely the Crown Estate at Glenlivet and those representatives who are here with us today, representing all of those who have allowed for the protection and enhancement of the historic seminary and its surroundings.
Scalan has become a centre of great religious significance in Scotland – and I know that as we ‘welcome home’ a great number of Scots during this coming year, I am sure a considerable number of them will find their way here to Scalan to thank God for the way in which the Christian faith was nourished here – that faith of our Fathers which is continuing to spread throughout our country.
As we conclude this celebration of Mass, may we now relax together as guests of the Crown Estate before continuing with our annual meeting of the Scalan Association.
The late Sandy Mathieson's Home.
Cardinal O'Brien gives an interview to the BBC about the days events at Scalan.
All Photographs by and copyright of Paul Mc Sherry
Photographs can be purchased from paul.mcsherry@ntlworld.com
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