BY Daniel Harkins | September 12 | 
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Bishop Toal leads priests on pilgrimage to Scalan
Priests from across Scotland came to an historic seminary last week for a gathering intended to strengthen their bonds and improve their knowledge of the Church’s history.
Joined by Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell Diocese, the 12 priests travelled to the Scalan seminary in the Cairngorms National Park for a celebration of Mass and a meal in the nearby village of Tomintoul.
The Scalan seminary, the second established on Scottish soil, dates back to the 18th century and trained priests during a period of Catholic discrimination under the Penal Laws.
Bishop Toal, a past member of the Scalan Association which preserves the building and promotes knowledge of its history, lead the priests in celebration of Mass and encouraged them not to allow themselves to be overcome by bad news in the Church but to learn from the persevering nature of those who lived at Scalan who brought the Church back to life. He also called for the assembled priests to take heed of Pope Francis’ oft-expressed desire that we should find new joy in our Faith.
The priests travelled to the secluded Scalan seminary from a number of Scottish diocese including Motherwell, Dunkeld, Galloway and Glasgow, and were joined by Fr Martin Birrell of the Pluscarden Benedictines. A small and intimate Mass was celebrated inside the seminary building.
The priests pilgrimage was the second to have been held, following on from the first to Scalan last year. Fr Michael Briody, parish priest at St Michael’s Church in Moodiesburn and secretary of the Scalan Association, said last year’s first pilgrimage was organised in part to counteract the negativity surrounding the Church at the time, and that this year’s had allowed the priest’s to support and encourage each other further.
“It is like any occupation—people get together to exchange ideas and generally to discover that we are not wasting our time!” Fr Briody said. “We are learning from each other. It is good for priests to get away together and listen to each other, spend times with each other, help and teach each other, and be strengthened.”
Organisers hope the priests pilgrimage will be an annual event, with other locations including Whithorn being considered for future celebrations.
— Read the full version of this story in Sept 12 edition of the SCO in parishes from Friday.
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