On Tuesday 10 February 2026, Feast of St. Scholastica, Dom Columba Highet made his Solemn Profession at St. Mary's Monastery Petersham.
Since St. Mary's remains a Dependent House of Pluscarden, this profession was made as a monk of Pluscarden.
Our Prior Fr. Simon with Fr. Joseph travelled to Petersham for the Profession. There they joined Abbot Emeritus Anselm, who is resident there now; also our Fr. Dunstan, as well as the rest of the Community. A good number of other monks and nuns from American monasteries were present: also of course the nuns of St. Scholastica Priory, the twin house of St. Mary's, sharing the same Church.
Fr. Simon presided at the Profession Mass; the homily was preached by Fr. Gregory, who is local Superior at St. Mary's.
Fr. Columba is a convert to the Catholic faith. He is highly qualified in Environmental sciences, land management, animal and plant husbandry etc. He spent many years at Regina Laudis Abbey in Connecticut: first as groundsman, then subsequently as Chaplain. He spent some time also at Christ in the Desert Monastery in New Mexico, before coming at last to Petersham. Of course his established presence there now is an enormous asset for the community.
Dom Columba visited Pluscarden in November 2025. A post about that appeared on this web site dated 25 November 2025.
Our picture shows him holding his Profession Chart, written with his own hand, in the Church at Petersham. The art work on the Chart depicts St Columba's beach on Iona, with a dove ("Columba" in Latin) manifesting God's presence and blessing.
