Fr Ross Crichton, parish priest of St Mary’s, Griminish, with faithful companion Pangar Dhu.
The parish house, attached to the Church, is on perhaps the only hill on the island.
This beer container caused quite a furore a while back when it was swept ashore near Griminish. It’s massive (though sadly empty). You can see Fr Ross at the base, to give you an idea of the scale.
A cemetery on the beautiful rocky island of Eriskay.
Well, contrary to all expectations, I finally landed on the isle of Benbecula on the Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday morning I went to the community school (so called because, as well as being a school, it also serves as a sports centre, cafeteria, library & theatre for the local community. Even the BBC studios form part of it.) and spoke to some very fine first and second year pupils on vocation and the work of the Initiative.
Fr Ross told me that many had never met a religious before so simply showing upwas already a bonus! Talking to eleven and twelve year olds is a real pleasure since they’re so receptive. Please God the encounter will bear some fruit.
The plan was to go back to the school on Friday to speak to the 4th and 5th years who had already done a good bit of fundraising for the Initiative in October of last year, but it was not to be…Radio Gael announced that morning that Liniclate school was shut: the gales were so bad that no buses could safely make it over the various causeways.
On Sunday I spoke to the parish during devotions and they were - as I knew very well they would be - incredibly generous. In fact the people throughout my stay were utterly charming and welcoming.
A number of people lamented that mainlanders have absolutely no idea about the Hebrides, where they are and how people there live and their natural pride in the Hebridean way of life & culture really impressed me. In a world that always seems to be striving to be something else, their quiet confidence is a breath of fresh air. It makes the supposed sophistication of our cities seem over-wrought and empty. Who wouldn’t trade in high-rise buildings and noise pollution for the ever-changing Atlantic on your doorstep and a sky that changes a million times a day?
I’m grateful for Fr Ross’ sterling hospitality and for the welcome I received from everyone we met (& we met people all the time! A five minute trip to the Co-op takes one hour and twenty…).
The idea of the Church as the Body of Christ is no empty rhetoric: no matter how far flung the place, there is always a sense of belonging, of communion, and the prayerful support of the Hebridean people will make all the difference to our lives and work. God bless them!
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