As always very well written by you Mark on such a tragic situation, which makes no sense especially when they have been flourishing since arriving in Dundee as they had the facilities to grow as a community. The buildings which the Friars and Sisters lived were previously the convent of the Sisters of Mercy and their associated buildings, which first was a school then a nursing home, before being taken over by the Diocese, which I was told many years ago they got it for a steal. When they moved the Diocesan centre to a parish they looked for buyers of this beautiful property, which resulted in the Friars and Sisters moving in as Mark says and welcomed by Bishop Stephen.
I did not attend the Sunday services, however more out of curiosity went to their evening adoration/ rosary / benediction around 5 times, which was so reverent and beautiful with all these young friars and sisters. I said to myself we are so lucky to have this presence in our Diocese and will surely bring lots of blessings. Little did I know that our new bishop was seeking to have these 50 holy souls removed from the premises with a very cryptic announcement.
We should have been rejoicing of their presence and supporting them practically including financial assistance to support their vocations. As a Diocese we have one priest under 40 who was ordained 4 years ago with no students in seminary and what was 3 in the pre formation in Spain now being reported in the Cathedral bulletin as 2. If we are lucky then we may get a newly ordained priest in 7 years, which is 11 years after the previous one. The yearly collections to support our students of which there were none could have been used to support the Friars and Sisters.
The harvest was rich but those who should have been supporting and nurturing this vibrant community have cut them down. As said previously I do not attend the Sunday Mass, however it hurts me that this is happening especially given what other nonsense is allowed elsewhere. My aunt was a Poor Clare for over 70 years and as a contemplative they rely on support to carry out their prayerful work glorifying God and supporting us in prayers just as these good Sisters do and they will be removed from their home. I would have hated for that to happen to my aunt and her community, yet this is what is happening. Where is the mercy?
I've known the Friars since Days with Mary in London in the 1990's. I became a friend of Fr. Maxamilian Mary Dean's mother in Lourdes in 1989. She became a Carmelite in the Holy Land. I got to go to her profession on Mount Carmel September1986 I met her young son as a friarnot yet professed or ordained a priest.I went to his ordination in the Carmel chapel in Buffalo New York. He was a writer singer friar of the Immaculate FI's he also became a hermit then in 2013 the Great Crash.withFrancis at the helm of the church. Father found a bishop in the US in Penn. State, he is a hermit says the the trad. latin Mass and records his music. His mother died this January as a Carmelite hermit in Georgia USA.
Its going to be hard to fine bishops to take them in even singlely.
I now live in Warrington next to St Mary's Shrine with the FSSP, Pope Benedict told them to write to P. Francis to plead their case he told them to keep going (Thank God) again with Leo.
What a tragic indictment on the state of the Church. In the Gospels, Jesus advised that the disciples should shake the dust from their sandals in testimony against such places… however the holy friars chose to leave in humility and prayer - perhaps imitating the sorrow of the Lord gazing with tear-stained eyes, over Jerusalem which had rejected Him.
This is sad beyond belief Mark, and how well. you summarise the situation they faced. This is of course exactly what Francis and Leo want , synodality in action where one bishop may hold one view and belief and another a contrary one with no Papal intervention. Anglicanism by another name, and where has that taken them?!!
Its so sad, I have met several of these Holy and lovely men. There reaction or non-reaction is all the more telling. I wonder if anyone has wrote to any of the bishops concerned to get a reason instead of garbled city speak if you know what I mean? Non sensical garbage that may sound good in a boardroom but there is no clarity or reasoning.
As always very well written by you Mark on such a tragic situation, which makes no sense especially when they have been flourishing since arriving in Dundee as they had the facilities to grow as a community. The buildings which the Friars and Sisters lived were previously the convent of the Sisters of Mercy and their associated buildings, which first was a school then a nursing home, before being taken over by the Diocese, which I was told many years ago they got it for a steal. When they moved the Diocesan centre to a parish they looked for buyers of this beautiful property, which resulted in the Friars and Sisters moving in as Mark says and welcomed by Bishop Stephen.
I did not attend the Sunday services, however more out of curiosity went to their evening adoration/ rosary / benediction around 5 times, which was so reverent and beautiful with all these young friars and sisters. I said to myself we are so lucky to have this presence in our Diocese and will surely bring lots of blessings. Little did I know that our new bishop was seeking to have these 50 holy souls removed from the premises with a very cryptic announcement.
We should have been rejoicing of their presence and supporting them practically including financial assistance to support their vocations. As a Diocese we have one priest under 40 who was ordained 4 years ago with no students in seminary and what was 3 in the pre formation in Spain now being reported in the Cathedral bulletin as 2. If we are lucky then we may get a newly ordained priest in 7 years, which is 11 years after the previous one. The yearly collections to support our students of which there were none could have been used to support the Friars and Sisters.
The harvest was rich but those who should have been supporting and nurturing this vibrant community have cut them down. As said previously I do not attend the Sunday Mass, however it hurts me that this is happening especially given what other nonsense is allowed elsewhere. My aunt was a Poor Clare for over 70 years and as a contemplative they rely on support to carry out their prayerful work glorifying God and supporting us in prayers just as these good Sisters do and they will be removed from their home. I would have hated for that to happen to my aunt and her community, yet this is what is happening. Where is the mercy?
This is such a sad read! 😢
Dear Mark,
I've known the Friars since Days with Mary in London in the 1990's. I became a friend of Fr. Maxamilian Mary Dean's mother in Lourdes in 1989. She became a Carmelite in the Holy Land. I got to go to her profession on Mount Carmel September1986 I met her young son as a friarnot yet professed or ordained a priest.I went to his ordination in the Carmel chapel in Buffalo New York. He was a writer singer friar of the Immaculate FI's he also became a hermit then in 2013 the Great Crash.withFrancis at the helm of the church. Father found a bishop in the US in Penn. State, he is a hermit says the the trad. latin Mass and records his music. His mother died this January as a Carmelite hermit in Georgia USA.
Its going to be hard to fine bishops to take them in even singlely.
I now live in Warrington next to St Mary's Shrine with the FSSP, Pope Benedict told them to write to P. Francis to plead their case he told them to keep going (Thank God) again with Leo.
We are living in a time of trial and Faith.
God Bless you all,
Simone
What a tragic indictment on the state of the Church. In the Gospels, Jesus advised that the disciples should shake the dust from their sandals in testimony against such places… however the holy friars chose to leave in humility and prayer - perhaps imitating the sorrow of the Lord gazing with tear-stained eyes, over Jerusalem which had rejected Him.
This is sad beyond belief Mark, and how well. you summarise the situation they faced. This is of course exactly what Francis and Leo want , synodality in action where one bishop may hold one view and belief and another a contrary one with no Papal intervention. Anglicanism by another name, and where has that taken them?!!
Thank you very much for that report.
I pray that good may come of this.
I will try to write to the Bishop I know to offer whatever support I can.
Its so sad, I have met several of these Holy and lovely men. There reaction or non-reaction is all the more telling. I wonder if anyone has wrote to any of the bishops concerned to get a reason instead of garbled city speak if you know what I mean? Non sensical garbage that may sound good in a boardroom but there is no clarity or reasoning.