Many visitors to our website will already know of the sad and highly regrettable decision of the religious Community on Papa Stronsay in Orkney to separate itself from the communion and obedience of the Catholic Church. On 25 July 2026 the Community's founder and leader, Fr. Michael Mary Sim, was illicitly consecrated a Bishop. The consecrators were "Sedevacantist" Bishops, who believe there is now no Pope in Rome, and who doubt the validity of all sacraments celebrated in the Catholic Church since Vatican II. Following this directly schismatic act, our Bishop Hugh found himself obliged to pronounce a sentence of excommunication on Fr. Michael Mary, who is thus also "dismissed from ecclesiastical office, and prohibited from the celebration of Mass or the other sacraments".
But not all members of the Papa Stronsay Community were ready to follow Fr. Michael Mary on this recent path of schism.
Three of them, following the dictates of their conscience, and under the guidance and obedience of Bishop Hugh, left the Island, to seek a place of refuge at Pluscarden Abbey. So from 9 April 2026 these three have been living at our newly re-furbished Lodge. There they have continued to live their religious life, under the inspiration of St. Alphonsus Liguori, in terms of very fraternal friendship with us Benedictines.
Now, since 11 September, they have left the Pluscarden Lodge to take up a new temporary residence. Hopefully soon they will be able to move to a more permanent home: ideally quite close to Aberdeen. Happily now they have been joined by a fourth brother from the original Papa Stronsay Community.
They go of course with our continued best wishes and prayers, and we look forward to maintaining good fraternal relations with them in future.