Scottish Catholic Observer

St Mary’s is one of three cathedrals in Aberdeen, although when first dedicated in 1860 it was not at that time a cathedral. St Mary’s gained that status in 1878 at the Restoration of the Hierarchy.

Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen celebrated the high profile Mass last night, with Cardinal Keith O’Brian and Archbishop Mario Conti in attendance. Bishops from all over Scotland and international representatives joined the celebrations, including Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Muller of Regensburg in Germany, a city twinned with Aberdeen.

Bishop Moran had a great deal to talk about on the night, focusing in particular on the history of the St Mary’s.

“Even during the period since the Reformation in the sixteenth century, this cathedral is by no means the oldest Catholic church of our diocese,” the bishop said in his homily.

“St Peter’s in Buckie is three years older, and indeed was at one time a candidate to become the cathedral of the diocese.

“Here in the city St Joseph’s Woodside and the venerable St Peter’s in the Castlegate are much older. Tynet and Preshome in the Enzie of Banff are older still, and of course Pluscarden Abbey outstrips them all by at least 400 years.  But when this church of Our Lady of the Assumption was begun in 1860, and particularly when it became the cathedral of the restored diocese of Aberdeen in 1878, it took on its present symbolic role.”

The cathedral is the centre of the Catholic Faith in Aberdeen and this was shown when Bishop Moran talked about the parishioners.

He praised the loyal support shown by the parishioners of Aberdeen and complimented the people who helped get the church to where it is today. From the bishops, housekeepers, chairpersons and of course altar servers, one of which Bishop Moran mentioned had ‘seen service over fully one third of those years,’ a remarkable achievement to help serve Mass for more than 50 years.

For full photo story, see the Scottish Catholic Observer on October 15.

Pic: Paul McSherry