Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Pluscarden, Sunday 28 June 2026
To report on this year’s Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Pluscarden, one could almost repeat what was written last year: https://www.pluscardenabbey.org/newsandevents/2025/7/2/annual-aberdeen-diocesan-pilgrimage-to-pluscarden-sunday-29-july-2025
or the year before:
The format was the same; many or even most of the people involved were the same; the Feast was the same (St. Peter and Paul, transferred to Sunday). As before, the whole organisation of the event was excellent, and as far as could be discerned, all went smoothly.
Nevertheless (maybe as usual, and maybe a bit subjectively, but): it really seemed as though this year’s Pilgrimage was the best ever!
Happily the sun shone warmly on the event. That certainly makes a big difference: especially for the family or parish groups picnicking in the grounds beforehand; for the many people going to confession outdoors, to one of several Priests positioned informally around the grounds; for the Marian procession and devotions after Mass; and for the wonderful festive atmosphere after all was finished, as folk gradually said their goodbyes before finally heading home. All, of course, to the sound of the pipes, with contributions too from the portable Nigerian and Kerelan percussion Orchestras!
Yes: it was a lot of work for those involved in the preparations, and also the clearing-up. And for many it was far to travel, both ways. But also: it was all uplifting and helpful and affirming and encouraging and wholesome and Catholic and good.
And surely this is as it should be, because although nothing was said publicly, nevertheless the presumption is that by this time next year Bishop Hugh, having reached the age of 75, will have been allowed to retire. So if all goes as he hopes, this would have been the last Pilgrimage at which he would officiate as our Diocesan Bishop.
To mention for this year in particular:
The service rendered by the teams from the Elgin parish was particularly outstanding. The refreshments tent; the stewards and first aid people; the servers. St. Sylvester’s Catholic parish Elgin provided 12 of these. They were joined by several others from the diocese. All knew exactly where to go, what to do, when to do it and how. All had been thoroughly rehearsed: and their competent, dignified, unhurried and reverent serving significantly enhanced the solemnity of the occasion.
Once again this year we had some 600 people attending; more or less filling the 2 large marquees, as well as every available space in our very awkward Church. As before: various large flat screens and efficient sound systems were strategically placed, so that no one had to feel cut off from the liturgical action.
Our Elgin Dominican Sisters organised and led the hardy Pilgrims who chose to walk in from Elgin. These were, by the end, well over 30.
One of the deacons serving at the Altar this year was Revd. René Delos Reyes. He had been at the Abbey on retreat the previous week: preparing for his ordination to the Priesthood for our diocese, to be held in Aberdeen Cathedral on 28th August.
The procession after Mass this year featured the whole of the Litany of Saints (sung in English) followed by the whole of the Litany of Our Lady (sung in Latin). We needed it all; not only devotionally, but simply to enable the many people, filing in procession from Church to garden, to be able to gather in time for the final prayers and blessing.
At the end of the Mass this year, and just before the procession started off, our Fr. Joseph made a short speech, asking the attending Pilgrims to pray for vocations for our community. He noted that in 4 years’ time we will be celebrating 800 years of Pluscarden. We really don’t want the monastery to fall into ruin once again, this time simply for lack of young men coming forward to live monastic life… In function of this, everyone present received a tasteful card, with the text of a prayer for vocations to Pluscarden, as given below:
“Heavenly Father, through the monastic life you call men and women
to seek you alone and to serve as a sign of your heavenly Kingdom.
We pray that, guided by your Spirit,
many men will respond to your gracious invitation
to enter the monastery of Pluscarden Abbey.
Through the faithful living out
of the vows of stability, obedience and conversion of life
may they grow in virtue, be granted joy
and find true peace
and so, being conformed to the life of Jesus your Son,
become the saints they have been created to be
and enter into the joy of eternal life.
We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Lady of Pluscarden - pray for us
St John the Baptist - pray for us
St Andrew - pray for us
St Benedict - pray for us
St Margaret - pray for us.”
The attached image is called Two Monks Bowing in Prayer – a chalk drawing by Stanley Roseman, from the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
