A Parish of the
R.C. Diocese of Argyll and the Isles Charitable Trust
a registered Scottish Charity, number SC002876
VISITORS BOOK
Please - Send YOUR
message to:
rcskye@braeholm.co.uk
We would love to hear from you!
From Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
When: 22 November 2011
Greetings again from the Pacific Northwest to all my friends at St. Mary's, especially to Anne:
Being now in my 82nd year, I am marveling at the speed with which life is now passing by, and the time has come to remember with affection your beautiful parish buildings. When I saw the picture of the altar with the green trees behind it, my spirit was uplifted and I was so glad to have been there when it was still the old Church building and wishing I could be there in the new one. You have all done so well and your hard work will be rewarded mightily. I never forget to pray for the priests at St. Mary's in Portree,or Our Lady of Lourdes in Cardonald, Glasgow and a part of my heart still lives with all of you. I am an intercessor for priests and it is my cherished mission in life, so know that I will never forget any of you. We have a new pastor now and he is a wonderful priest and a great leader and teacher, we are so blessed by his presence among us. I am also so very pleased that we are now going back to some of the old ways of saying Mass, and remember so well some of the prayers that they now use. It will take a wee bit of time before the congregations get used to it but there is so much beauty in the original ways of saying Mass and I feel as though I am back in the church of my childhood. May God bless each and every one of you as you worship our loving heavenly Father and may you all feel the warmth of His love around you each and every time you enter your beautiful parish home. Always with Peace, Joy and Love,
From Lucy Phillips, Holy Disciples Parish, Puyallup WA. U.S.A.
From: Douglas and
Karren Whalen
When: 5/10/2011
Email: douglas.whalen103@btinternet.co
My husband and I attended
Mass at your beautiful church on Sunday 25th Sept.
What a joy!!! We belong to a very friendly church (St Charles at
Tudhoe, Co Durham) but we were so pleasantly surprised with the
welcome you extended. You are right to be so proud of what you
have achieved and we wish you well. We loved the church, the
design and the atmosphere. We were REALLY impressed by the music
you used for the psalm and other bits.
Forgive me I am still getting used to all the terms after
converting to Catholicism in 2008. We have a wonderful church
choir but our music is more of the traditional type. Did we
detect a Munro influence? As a fan I could detect similarities
but maybe that is the Gaelic influence.
We found Mass even more uplifting than usual and the memory of it is still very vivid.
I love the piece on “Making the Sign of the Cross” it will definatly make me more aware in future.
Blessings to you all you are truly an inspiration to all parishes in these difficult times when we have fewer priests doing more work. I shall follow your progress via your web site (Karren)
Karren and Douglas Whalen
Spennymoor. Co Durham
Greetings from America
From: Claiborne “buddy” McDonald
When: 24/04/2011
Email: buddymcdonald1@charter.net
My ancestors came to North Carolina from Skye, Angus McDonald.
I was an Anglican and just came into the Catholic church this
Easter and chose St. Columba as my Patron.
I am glad to see the church is alive and well on Skye.
Any McDonalds in the Parish?
Yours in Christ
Claiborne “Buddy” McDonald
From: Neil & Mary Cannon
email: cannocan@aol.com
When:24 December 2009
CHRISTMAS
GREETINGS from MARY
& NEIL
We hope that you have a LOVELY CHRISTMAS and a VERY
HAPPY 2010
From: Lucy Phillips
When: 17 December 2009
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Greetings again from the Pacific Northwest,
Many moons have passed since I last wrote to your parish, a place beloved to me and my husband ever since our visit with you in 2000. I pray each day for the priests of the world, and in particular for my old parish in Our Lady of Lourdes, Glasgow, and for the priests of St. Mary's, it is one of my missions in life. My Christmas wish for you is that you continue to prosper and grow, watching you grow from such a wee church into the beautiful place you have now, has been one of the joys of my life. Perhaps you will say a wee prayer for me some time, I am now in my 80th year, have weathered a breast cancer scare along with the radiation needed, and am looking forward to serving the Lord until He finally calls me home. I told Him years ago that I wanted to die with my boots on, and so far He is honoring that request.
May your Christmas be blessed and happy, may your New Year be filled with hope and strength, and your work in the Lord's Vineyard be fruitful and energetic.
Always with much love and prayer from Lucy Phillips, your sister-in-Christ, in the Pacific Northwest.
From: Chris White
When: 15 January 2009
email: Chris.White@historicalrfa.org
Father,
I am one of the Editors of a naval web site ‘HistoricalRFA’ (www.historicalrfa.org) which provides the history of the men, woman and ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service.
I come to you as I am currently researching the loss of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Darkdale off the Island of St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean on the 22 October 1941. Forty one souls perished when this ship was sunk. A number of the crew came from Skye and I believe they may have relatives who are among your congregation even today.
Those who I know who came from Skye were – Neil Bain, Donald Mackenzie and John Duncan.
Would it be possible please to ask if you might enquire if any relatives are still at your Church and if so could you invite them to contact me – either by e-mail to this e-mail address or by telephone on 0771 729 1970 or 02392 435982.
Many thanks,
Kind regards
Chris White
Web site Editor.
Hello Monsignour,
Just wanted to make contact with you regarding this incredible
man..... One of your parishioners... George Woods.
George and I met in Widnes in 1976.....He would have been in his
forties back then and recently bereaved with a young family .I
was a " slip of a girl" at 19, entering into the world
of industrial engineering and time and study and organisation and
methods. George was the Work Study Manager for a large clothing
manufacturers..... in a typical working class town. The factory
employed over 200 people....mainly women..... which was a
sizeable organisataion back then.
The factory was a great bedrock of activity, very noisy
and George was always noticeable with his tall frame and shock of
Red hair, you could always tell his laugh and see him waving his
hands in the air either through pleasure or pain !!
The production lines worked fast and furiously, most staff
members were on piece work..... And of course there were a
range a charcaters that most best selling books are written about
today!! The shop floors ran very effiecntly with lines of mostly
legitimate work.....some not so legitimate !!!.....but the
camaraderie was amazing and the banter and friendship could be
felt immediately. George had a great way of focussing on the
positives and keeping a keen eye on the not so positives!! His
overall sense of business acumen and people management led to a
successful partnership with mutual benefits. A real Charistian,
charitable approach, which has served me very well throughout my
career too.
Outerwear was our prime product for many suppliers
including Marks and Spencer, Dunne and Company, Burtons,
Littlewoods,and many others. Ladies and Gents clothing were
produced in equal numbers..... There were many coasts and jackets
made as christmas and birthday presents.. These were not part of
the " official order line" you
understand? George was revered by all the staff.... He had such a
wonderful way with words, his accent was his charm offensive and
many a morning I would arrive in work early to find him sat
working naked to his waist.....because one of the staff would
have taken his shirt from his back to give it an iron....so he
looked respectable!!
George and I made a connection immediately. I thought he
was so amazing, and would go home and talk to my Mum and Dad
about this great guy I had met in work. George and I would work
very hard but we would also converse about the world and topical
issues. His sense of humour was endless and his wit was razor
sharp. We would sometimes play chess in the Lunch break....He
always won even though I was a good player....he always managed
to outsmart me...a great tactition!! His cartoons were legendary
back then......so incisive, such fantastic warm observations
conveyed in these sketches!!, as too were his paintings and
sculptures. A truly gifted remarkable man.
It was George who acted as a role model and mentor to me.
He was the person who fought the organisation to send me to
college to get some professional qualifications..... Even though
a convent education and a bag ful of O Levels were more than the
Management wanted, George set out a rationale for investing in
young people. He was like the great orator, and so eloquent.More
qualifications ensued over the years and I graduated as an
Industrial Engineer, thanks in the main to George.
We parted company four years later and George was talking more
about quitting the "rat race" and moving up to Scotland.
We would keep in contact over the years. George would sometimes
call on my Mum and Dad to say hello even when I was not living at
home. I remember one particular visit 23 years ago ....he arrived
at our home in Rainhill unannounced......as was George's
trademark!! ( I was married by this time. with a three year
old daughter and another baby on the way....heavily pregnant) and
a boxing match was on the TV. Barry McQuiggan and Pedrosa....George
and my husband Kevin were big Boxing fans..... So there I was
making supper and the match finished and George and Kevin went
for a few pints and returned home.
We talked into the small hours and George was driving back
to Skye!!! An eight hour journey by anyones standards.!!! It was
a fantastic evening.
We have remained in contact over the decades and talked on the
phone, exchanged cards and letters, and I have been so fortunate
to have received some brilliant hand written letters from him in
all that time ( his handwriting was akin to copperplate it was
superb.....so stylish).
George was a shining light, he was controversial, an enigma, so
sensitive and funny, larger than life, reflective, passionate........
and most of all a wonderful person.... Beautiful from the inside
out.
Recently on Sunday 21st September......... Yes only three weeks
ago...... I visited George with Kevin and our youngest son
Patrick aged 11. It had been planned for months as we were
visiting the area that weekend, staying in Plockton, and I had
kept in contact with him in the lead up to the visit, knowing he
was not in good health.
We had a wonderful two hours together, regaling stories
with each other, laughing and chatting away. The 23 years
inbetween the times we had met previously, disappeared in a flash!!
It was a memorable visit and one which I will treasure
every time I recall it. Every minute was so very special.
I would like to make a donation to your church in memory of
George and I do know that his faith was something he held firm
with throughout his life.
I also know Gill was a wonderful wife and partner to him......
Real soul mates...... you can tell immediately can't you?.....
and of course all the children whom he spoke about so often and
with such joy...... He was duly prould of the whole family.
A light has gone out in the world, but I am delighted to have
known such an inspirational man.
Kind Regards. Moira Dickinson
From Al Begg
When: Friday, August 29, 2008
Re: John Bell, Organist
Hi just wanted to say what a lovely church you
have. My husband Peter & I are very good friends with John
Bell , your organist and his wife Judith, please could you send
them our very best wishes and love and hope to see them again
soon. John played the organ at Kirknewton in Northumberland for
our Marriage Blessing, it was simply wonderful. All the very best
to you all. Ali.
From: Margaret Flanagan
When: Tuesday, October 02, 2007
We just wanted to say how much we enjoyed our recent visit to Skye. When we first visited 12 years ago, we said we would be back and although it has taken us all this time, rest assured it won't be 12 years before we return again. Being able to join with you all in worship at Mass on Sunday in your beautiful new Church was an added blessing. Thanks to Anne for her wonderful website and for the opportunity to say "hello" to Father James and all our friends on Skye. God be with you all.
Margaret and Peter Flanagan, Dunoon
From Jane Taylor
email: Lourdesmiracles@aol.com
When: Monday, July 23, 2007
To all my friends on the Mother of God 2 site, thank you for
looking at our website. We are very proud of our little community
here on Skye! Oh yes...and still growing!
In Jesus, Jane.
Thank you Anne(Morrison) for looking after our site.
From: Fr Andrew Luanda
email: ahemile@hotmail.com
When: Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Praise be Jesus Christ!
It is lovely for us in Africa to see that the Gospel of Christ is
proclaimed by new technology.
From: John Donald
email: oprotten69@msn.com
when: Wednesday, April 11, 2007
I had to write, as I had discovered your website purely by chance
(or was meant to be?) I live in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, and I
converted to Catholicism in 2001, being originally a Glaswegian
Protestant (!) I've been to Skye twice with my wife. Once to The
Clan Donald Centre and once to Portree and Uig to see the brewery.
I have to say that I am in great admiration of your Faith on Skye,
as I was uncertain that there were actually any Catholics there!
Your churches are beautiful, and reading through your website
there were things that made me think, that perhaps I took for
granted? Our Cathedral is only a short drive away in Newcastle,
whereas your's is quite a long trek to Oban. Also reading The
Sign Of The Cross made me think too. I would dearly love to visit
Skye again, and when and if I do, I would certainly visit your
church in Portree. Until such time, may God bless you all, and
thank you for such an informative and interesting website
From: Grace Wilcock
email: tim.wilcock@btinternet.com
When: Sunday, April 01, 2007
Greetings again from St Mary's Penistone, South Yorkshire - I don't
see my last email on your site so it must have got lost in the e-ether;
in it I mentioned that my husband and I were hoping to move to
Skye and I'm glad to say that we've found a home and will be
close to church too, praise God. I would be grateful for any e-pals
as we wait to move from Yorkshire. Wishing you all every blessing
this Easter week, Grace
From: Edith "Edie" Sando
email: sando1@cox.net
When: Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Greetings from Southern California! Your website is
wonderful and your churches are just beautiful. If you're
ever in California, please visit the Missions
From: Deacon Walter Corrigan
email: walcor@arctic.net
When: Saturday, March 17, 2007
Greetings from Sacred Heart Church in Seward, Alaska, USA.
Thank you for placing your pictures on the web. I hope to
be able to visit your lovely islands some time in the future.
Thanks especially to Jane for giving us the address of the site.
From: Neil & Mary Cannon
email: cannocan@aol.com
When: Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Greetings from Maltby South Yorkshire.
Mary and I would like to wish you all a very happy and peaceful
new year.
Sorry we didn't get our Christmas wishes to you but I had
the wrong E mail address.
Hope this one gets through
Good luck and god bless you all in Skye
Neil & Mary Cannon
From: Sheelagh and Malcolm Golding
email: golding@cegetel.net
When: Sunday, December 24, 2006
Merry Christmas to you all on Skye :)
We will always remember our drive through wind and rain to Dornie
for Midnight Mass one year and the wonderful performance the
children gave us in Portee on another special Midnight
celebration!
We are just setting out for our second Midnight Mass in Villedieu;
now the French way is becoming more familiar. How will the Choir
like the mince pies and mulled wine afterwards?!
Every good wish to you for 2007.
From: John & Irene Manley
email: manley@ntlworld.com
When: Friday, September 01, 2006
John & Irene from Glasgow are looking forward once again to
sharing a spiritual time with all at Dornie.
We arrive on the 2nd Sept for two weeks and staying in Ardelve.
Hope to meet many of you at Sunday Mass.
J&I Manley
From: Barbara MacLeod
email: mdthistle@msn.com
When: Friday, August 11, 2006
Hello from the Maryland MacLeods who shared Mass with you on July
30 in Portree. It was lovely to be back on Skye and to share the
Eucharist in your lovely new church and to meet with you after
Mass for coffee as well. I won't wait another 35 years to return!
The next MacLeod Parliament is in four years.
Regards, Barbara MacLeod
From: Vera Moralee Larkin
email: vera.larkin@whbay1..fsnet.co.uk
When: Friday, August 04, 2006
Greetings from Whitley Bay, Northumberland
Hello to all the Parishioners of Our Lady of the Assumption Isle
Of Skye
Loved your site and your new church looks
wonderful.
I would like to say Hello to my cousin John Bell sometime
organist of The Church of Our Lady of The Assumption Isle of Skye
Also a big hello to John's wife Judith and family.
Love and Best Wishes
Harry and Vera
From: Michael Stanley
When: Monday, July 03, 2006
Many thanks for the warm welcome received during my visit on the
Feast of Corpus Christi.A very beautiful Mass said by Fr. Mc
Fadden.You have a very beautiful church in a lovely setting.
From: Mairi
email: Mary_Huige@telus.net
When: Monday, May 22, 2006
Greetings from Vancouver. I just learned today of your site from
our mutual relatives in Aberdeen. Greetings to Maighstair Sheumas
and congratulations to all on a very informative site. May see
you in Barra in August!
Le gach deagh dhurachd,
Mairi
From: Laura Marie Campbell
email: yoinkaholic@gmail.com
When: Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Hello!! Glasgow calling Skye! I wish I could have
been at home for the Easter celebrations and to see Dad
completing the first leg of his journey. Its only the beginning!
I hope everyone at home is doing well and the choir are in good
voice. Hopefully it wont be too long until I'm back for a wee
holiday but for now the Western Infirmiry needs me. Lots of love.
Laura
From: Sheelagh and Malcolm Golding
email: golding@cegetel.net
When: Friday, April 14, 2006
Happy Easter to all of you! Thinking of the whole Parish
celebrating in the new Church. Another first!
We love the Church Memories page! what a lovely idea and so nice
to be able to see the children growing up.
We are enjoying participating more fully in the Easter
celebrations this year. Our donkey,called 'Nougat', gave us a
dramatic start to Holy Week by leading the procession through the
streets of Villedieu.
Best Wishes now, Sheelagh and Malcolm
From: Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
When: Thursday, April 13,
To all my dear friends at St. Mary's, especially
Anne,
Here we all are, anticipating the joy of Easter and the Risen
Christ. May this Triduum bring us peace, sincere
contrite hearts, and true gratitude to the Lord who spent his
life on earth and gave up that life for us, and who is the
promise of life to come in his Father's Kingdom. My
prayer is that the sun shines on the Misty Isle this weekend and
that each one of you is filled with a joy such as you have never
kown before.
Always with Peace, Joy and Love from your sister-in-Christ in the
Pacific Northwest, Lucy Phillips.
From: Michelle Blackburn
email: shell@rochdaleonline.org
When: Sunday, March 26, 2006
Hi, hoping to move to the area in next 12 months, me and my
husband are on our last year at university.we have five children
aged 17,16,12,9 and 8. of which 2 of them attend st josephs r.c
in stackstads lancs and 2 attend all saints rossendale. i am
hoping to come to isle of skye on 4th april just to look
around ect.. would like to come and see your church and meet some
of the locals. only staying till 7th though.
From: marie-claire waring
When: Tuesday, February 21, 2006
I am from France, know Father James, and just had a look at the
new church. Some bricks were purchased by French and swiss people.
The Church is beautiful and I am looking forward to seeing it
soon.
From: Malcolm and Sheelagh Golding
email: golding@cegetel.net
When: Saturday, February 04, 2006
Greetings to the whole Parish from Normandy!
We've watched with great interest the new Church grow and wish
you all a happy Dedication Day on Friday.
A special candle will be lit here on that day. Have a very happy
and memorable day.
We have settled well into our French Parish and our French home;
even the French language is coming on!
We hope to be visiting Skye next summer so keep us a space in the
front pew!
Every good wish to you all, Love Sheelagh and Malcolm:)
From: Portree Protestant
When: Friday, February 03, 2006
Your new church looks lovely, Good luck in the future.
From: Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
When: Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Dearest Anne,
How beautiful the new St. Mary's is, it is absolutely awesome.
How delighted and proud all of you must be, and how hard you have
worked to achieve it. Remember, I told all of you
that God would honor what you were doing, just as he did our
congregation when we were building our Parish Center.
Of course, the next step is to get moving onto building a church,
as this magnificent building we now have is a multi-purpose
building and we certainly do use it in every way possible.
I am no longer involved in RCIA but am Head of our Parish Council
and am keeping very busy helping our new pastor in aiding our
parish to move ahead. This past year has been a
particularly hard one for me because our beloved priest had left
the parish and I do miss him terribly. Still, God has
been so good to us in so many ways. I am heavily
involved in the ministry of doing Communion Services for two of
the local retirement centers and we will soon have a third one.
This is a very rewarding ministry because so often folks do not
think of the elderly or the ailing and shut-ins except to say the
odd wee prayer for them.
Please write me when you can, I have a new computer and lost a
lot of my e-mail addresses. My heart and prayers are
with your congregation and with the priests who work so hard to
minister to all of you. Please convey my best wishes
and love to all of your wonderful folks.
As always, with Peace, Joy and Love from your sister-in-Christ in
the Pacific Northwest, Lucy Phillips.
From: Ronald Monk
email: hazelandronald@value.net.nz
When: Thursday, January 05, 2006
Greetings from New Zealand!
The new church looks wonderful. Hazel, Angus John and I looked at
the church progress pictures and are all very impressed. We are
looking forward to attending mass there the next time we are over.
Though we don't know when that might be, it will be within the
next 2 years.
Love to you all,
Hazel, Ronald and Angus John.
From: Neil & Mary Cannon (cannocan@aol.com)
When: Saturday, December 24, 2005
Christmas Greetings to all at Skye. We hope you all have a very
happy and peaceful Christmas.
God Bless
From: Catherine
email: katbran@yahoo.com
When: Tuesday, December 13, 2005
The new church is stunning- cant wait to visit Portree in the new
year and see it!Would like to say congratulations to Helen &
John - what a special and memorable event it must have been for
them when their new wee boy became the 1st baby to be christened
in the new church.
From: Janie & Roy
When: Friday, December 09, 2005
Thanks for all your lovely pictures and oh boy are we looking
forward to the 10th February celebrations. Congratulations
to everyone concerned.
Janie and Roy at the Diocesan Office
From: Neil & Mary Cannon (Cannocan@aol.com)
When: Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Congratulations and Best Wishes on the opening of your new Church.
God Bless you all.
from Neil & Mary Cannon
Maltby
South Yorkshire
From: Thomas Campbell (thomas.campbell8@ntlworld.com)
When: Monday, November 28, 2005
(THIS IS NOT STRICTLY
CHURCH ORIENTATED BUT BEING A KEEN FAMILY HISTORY SEEKER IT IS
INCLUDED JUST THIS ONCE! Webmaster)
RE -Mairi Ross Bauchop. I have read a posting from Mairi and this
MAY or may not help her very slightly - I hope so.
I have tried to e-mail the following to her but do not know if I
succeeded:
Hi Mairi,
I found your posting by sheer chance after a large number of
Googles.
I am trying to do a bit of research into my family tree and it is
very difficult because my family, though very large, never ever
spoke about family history. I am not sure that I can help at all
but one or two of your comments struck a chord. My maternal
grandfather was called James McPake (died 1955) and I have been
led to believe that he was from the Denny area of Stirlingshire.
I would imagine that he was also born at about the same time (in
the early 1880s) as your grandmother. I believe that my great (great?)
grandparents were Irish Catholics (like Lizzie). My mother s
family moved to a place called Annathill and then on to Glenboig
both of which are in North Lanarkshire. In both those villages at
that time being a Catholic was very unusual too. There are
several McPake families still living in that area and I believe
in Cumbernauld.
I know that this is not greatly helpful but sometimes you need a
tiny bit of light to keep you going (and hope that it is not an
oncoming train).
I am a resident in England or I would be doing a lot more
research.
Good Luck and best wishes and if you succeed in your quest
perhaps you could let me know.
Tommy Campbell
From: Phyllis Ponsonby (phylbirnam@rustiescots.plus.com)
When: Sunday 27th November 2005
Anne, the church looks wonderful. How I wish I was there! Thank you so much for putting the photo's on the web page over the past few months; it has helped me to keep in touch with the work in progress and made me feel I was still a part of it all. I just feel like crying!!!!!!! May God continue to bless you and the rest of the congregation. Please give my warmest regards to Mgr James. PHYLLIS
From: COLIN MARK CHISHOLM
When:Tuesday, September 27, 2005
GREAT SITE I WILL BE THERE IN JULY OF 2006 WITH
THE CLAN CHISHOLM SOCIETY IN INVERNESS
From: Dr David Stewart (david@catholic-heritage.net)
When:Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am currently engaged in an oral history project, focusing on
religion and worship on the home front in Scotland during World
War II. The
project is financed by the Big Lottery Fund, and coordinated by
the Scottish Catholic Archives. One hundred individuals
representing all denominations, aged
ten or above during the war, will be interviewed. The interviews
will be used to create education packs for primary and secondary
school pupils throughout
Scotland. If you know of anyone in Skye who meets this criteria
and would be interested in participating, could you please tell
them to contact me by
e-mail, by phone on 0141-638-7421, or by mobile on 07765197949.
Alternatively, they can contact the Scottish Catholic Archives at
Columba House, 16 Drummond Place, Edinburgh, EH 3 6 PL. If you
would like further information, I can post it on to you.
Thanks very much for your time
Dr David Stewart
From: Patricia
When: Monday, July 25, 2005
We passed by on the way to the Uig Ferry to see
how the new church is progressing and to see if we could spy
Nigel's brick! I click on the website each week to see the latest
pictures and we hope we'll be up in a couple of months to see the
completed church! Will there now be daily Mass?
From: Fr Bob Eccles OP
email: b.eccles@dominicains.be
when: Friday, July 15, 2005
Just a line to congratulate you on your brilliant
website and the progress you're making on your new church. It
does look good. God speed the work!
fr Bob Eccles,OP, St Dominic's International
Priory,
Brussels (website "dominicains.be/Brussels")
From: Ann Murray, Belfast
When: Saturday, June 04, 2005
This is a lovely web site. I was directed here by Michael
Fitzpatrick, a former parishioner of yours and of Holy Family
Parish, Belfast.
This must be an exciting time for parishioners in Skye and it's
very encouraging to hear how the Catholic population has grown to
such an extent that a new church is necessary. Ann Murray,
Belfast
From: marion
email: marion@hotmail.con
When: Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Istill miss my friend Beth Macrae and miss her every day and
Ihope Duncan and Paul are feeling better and was glad to see
Duncan last week in our short visit.Give my thanks to our lord
for this, and hope we meet again soon. God bless you all
and keep you safe. Marion
From: Neil Cannon
email: cannocan@aol.com
When: Friday, March 25, 2005
Easter Greetings to you all from Mary and I in South Yorkshire.
Hope you will soon be celebrating in your new Church.
God bless
From: Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2005
To my dear friends at St. Mary's,
How can I tell you how delighted I am to see the wonderful
progress you have made with building your new church.
When you put your faith completely in God, all sorts of wonderful
things happen. I saw the artist's pictures of the new
church and just cannot wait to see the pictures of the real thing.
My one dream now is that Raymond and I will be able to come back
to the Misty Isle and be part of one of your Sunday services.
You have raised my spirits beautifully, because we have been
experiencing hard times with my husband having one illness after
another. Your progress is just the medicine I needed
to heal my sagging spirit. Keep up the good work and
may God bless each and every one of you, especially my dear
friend, Anne.
May this coming Easter bring you Peace, Joy and Love.
Always your friend and sister-in-Christ,
Lucy Phillips, of Holy Disciples Parish in the
Pacific Northwest.
From Lucy Robertson
email: lucy_skye@hotmail.com
Date: Sunday, March 06, 2005
Very cool, nice pictures, can't believe you put the photo of me
on!! Any way great website
Lucy Broadford church. xxx
From: marion reynolds
email: marionacr@hotmail.com
Date: Friday, February 18, 2005
I was so sorry to hear of the death of my dear friend Beth MacRae
I will sadly miss her. She was my good friend a breath of
fresh air and a pillar of the community her faith was so
sincere and I thank God I met her. Please pass on my condolence
to Duncan and Paul, my love is with them always. I will
pray each day for them
Marion Reynolds
(Address withheld)
From: Marykathryn
email: Jenkmk@Yahoo.com
Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2005
I am from LaGrange, GA and I just wanted to tell you that the
novena to the Immaculate Heart of Mary works.
Say (9 times a day for 9 days)
May the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus be
praised, adored and glorified through out the world now and
forever. Scared Heart of Jesus, pray for me. St Therese of
the Child Jesus, pray for me. St Jude, Patron of Hopeless Cases,
pray for me. ( then ask for your petition)
This works! Thank you!
From: Kevin Clarke
email: kevrose@rogers.com
Date: Monday, January 24, 2005
Your church looks wonderful, and your website is fantastic. God
Bless from St Francis of Assisi Church in Kitchener, Ontario,
Canada www.stfrankw.ca
From: Neil and Mary Cannon
email: Cannocan@aol.com
Date: Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Greetings from Maltby South Yorkshire.
We would like to wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas
and good luck with the building of our new Church.
God Bless,
Neil and Mary
From: Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Date: Saturday, November 27, 2004
To all my friends at St. Mary's, especially Anne Morrison,
You have all been in my thoughts and prayers lately. Our
Prayer Team have been asking me for an update on your progress
with building a new church. Just know that we
continue to support you in this special mission you have been
asked to undertake. Always remember that God the
Father is on your side, and will bless all your efforts in this
great project. Do not become discouraged because no
matter how small your efforts seem to be, they are magnified in
the eyes of God and He will be there with you every step of the
way.
We are truly enjoying the fruits of our labors here with our new
Parish Center. It is now almost three years since our
new home was blessed by our Archbishop and the number of our
parishioners has grown and still growing. We have
twenty-seven new candidates being trained for initiation into the
Catholic Faith, and ours is a very warm and welcoming faith
community. We have kept our focus on Jesus and He is
ever present to us.
I wish each and every one of you a truly blessed Christmas and a
new year filled with hope and courage as you proceed with your
dream of a new church in the beautiful Isle of Skye.
Know that we here feel a connection with your parish and I give
thanks to God for having brought my husband and myself to the
beautiful little church of St. Mary's. It is a memory
I shall cherish forever.
Peace, Joy and Love from your sister-in-Christ in the Pacific
Northwest of America, Lucy Phillips.
From: Kevin Melia
email: kmelia@blueyonder.co.uk
Date: Saturday, November 20, 2004
Dear Rev. Fr.
Congrats on a wonderful website. I look forward to your weekly bulletin. May I wish you a Happy and Holy Christmastide and a Good 2005. I will certainly look in on your fine church in the coming year. God Bless to your Parish Priest and fine Parish
Sincerely yours
Kevin Melia St. Bartholomew's Parish
Townhead Coatbridge North Lanarkshire ML5 2NT.
From: Mairi Ross Bauchop
email: planetmairi@tiscali.co.uk
Date: Thursday, October 21, 2004
Hello Father (or whoever is reading this)!
My name is Mairi Bauchop. I'm from Stirling, but I live in Alloa,
Clackmannanshire now. I know this is a shot in the dark, but I am
looking for any information on my grandfather John Ross, of Skye.
He was born around 1885-95, and was a big man of 6ft 3 or 4 ins.
His father was Thomas Ross, and they were Catholic (as am I!);
which I believe was fairly unusual in Skye then. I think they
were farmers, but I'm not sure. John moved to Stirling and
married Lizzie McPake, of Irish descent.
I would be very grateful for any help in this, as Ross is such a
common name, and I can't seem to get anywhere.
Great idea to have the website, and thanks for reading this.
Mairi
From: Catherine Brannan
email: katbran@yahoo.com
Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2004
It was lovely to attend mass at St Marys again, great to see the
parish growing.
From: Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Date: Sunday, September 19, 2004
My dear friends at St. Mary's and my special friend Anne,
I wanted to let you know that our prayer team here at Holy
Disciples Parish in Puyallup is praying for the success of your
building project. We know all too well how hard it is
to get things going, but we also know so well how God answers
prayers and blesses all the hard efforts to create a better and
bigger space in which His people can gather to worship Him.
We have now been blessed now with a full-time Pastor, Father Don
Perea, and he is a great priest, one who is really helping us on
our journey as disciples of Jesus. He is saying Mass three times
during the week now, as well as the Saturday evening and Sunday
morning Masses. To say that I am delighted would be
an understatement. His devotion to God the Father and
to His Beloved Son is so inspirational. We had all
been praying for a pastor who would be a good leader and we have
been blessed with one, praise the Lord.
Do not lose sight of your dream, keep putting your trust in a
Father who loves you more than you could ever imagine and good
things will come about for you. When God created your
wonderful Misty Isle, He most assuredly had some great plans in
mind for you. Look at the beautiful mountains that
surround you and you will see His Face.
My dream is to someday be able to come back to the Misty Isle and
to join with my friend Anne at Mass in St. Mary's.
Just know that I will always keep you in my prayers and in my
thoughts.
Peace, Love and Joy from your sister-in-Christ in the Pacific
Northwest, Lucy Phillips.
From: Roger Allen
email: rogerallen@safety73.freeserve.co.uk
Date: Saturday, August 07, 2004
Thanks for your website featuring the Assisted Dying for
Terminally Ill Bill information. I have just returned from
New Wine, the Christian Festival in Somerset, where someone from
the Maranatha Community brought this to our attention as
something that needs the whole church in the UK to speak against.
Be encouraged, as I am, that God is calling his people to act -
from north to south in this nation of ours.God bless you all up
there in Skye!
Roger
From: Lucy Philips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Date: Thursday, April 29, 2004
To my dear friends at St. Mary's and to Anne
Morrison,
Well, it is about a year now since our beloved Fr. Gary left us
and we had a temporary Vicar, Father James Eblen, who has become
very endeared to all of us. He has been a great teacher and
has brought much joy and the peace of Christ into our midst.
I am told that he will now be leaving us as his year is up, and I
am feeling very sad but confident that our heavenly Father will
povide us, once again, with a priest to lead us.
Our faith community is really growing in discipleship and we now
have Eucharistic Adoration in the main Sanctuary, once a month,
for families, as well as the daily hours of Adoration in the
Eucharistic Chapel. It is my solid belief that our
parish will flourish and grow even more with this special worship.
I am hoping that your building plans are all coming along as
anticipated, and once again encourage you to stay faithful and
focused on your dream of a new church building. I
will continue to keep you in my prayers for the success of this
special venture.
May God keep you full of encouragement, hope and trust in what
you are attempting to achieve, and may He bless each and every
one of you.
With Peace, Love and Joy from your sister-in-Christ in the
Pacific Northwest, Lucy Phillips.
From: Kay Diaz
email: catseye7@comcast.net
Date: Sunday, April 11 2004
Thank you for your page for the Devotion to the Immaculate Heart
of Mary. I have a business and I am looking into doing the
Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in
Scratchboard. I am from Jacksonville, FL. USA.
God Bless you,
Kay Diaz
Lilly Boudine, LLC
www.lillyboudine.com
From: Neil and Mary Cannon
email: Cannocan@aol.com
Date: Friday, April 09, 2004
With best wishes to you all for a VERY
HAPPY AND HOLY EASTER from Neil and Mary, Maltby South Yorkshire
Name: Michael and Halina
Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2004
email: (Holman@fish.co.uk)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We are from Middlesbrough. Blessing and Joy to both of you and
all the Adorers in Skye.!
We were most encouraged by your desire for Adoration and Prayer.
We are trying to find a chapel to purchase for the same purpose
as part of an apostolate. Though we have many churches here
Adoration is rare. We have looked so hard but it is difficult. We
found one a few hours ago on Skye and then by Providence your
site. This has lifted our spirits.
Please pray for us as we search and we will keep you in our
hearts and prayer too.
With love and prayer,
Halina and Michael
Name: Neil Cannon
Date: 24 December 2003
email: CANNOCAN@aol.com
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS from Yorkshire
Mary & Neil
would like to wish you all a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS and the Best of
Luck for a HAPPY and PEACEFUL NEW YEAR.
My wife Mary joins me in wishing you all
a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a Very Happy and Peaceful New Year.
Through Anne and your Visitor's Book we have been able to contact
relatives of the crew of the RFA ship Darkdale, which we couldn't
have done without your assistance.
God Bless you all.
Name: Lucy Phillips
Date : Friday, December 19, 2003
email: RPhil29555
To all my dear friends at St. Mary's (especially Anne),
We are really thriving here at Holy Disciples, the priest who comes to say Mass at the weekends for us is a very dear man and he looks after us in a very special way. We are indeed blessed with his presence.
All our ministries are flourishing and our people are really becoming true disciples of Jesus. Father Gary trained us well and we are functioning in a splendid way. We will be delighted, though, when we are blessed with a fulltime priest but we are nevertheless grateful for the goodness of the Lord in providing us with a spiritual leader.
Our Eucharistic Adoration is really catching on in this parish and now we have been given what I call a mini-Monstrance. Father Gary called it a "Luna". It is small but it is beautiful and it sits on the top of the Tabernacle in the small Eucharistic Chapel. One of our parishioners made a beautiful wooden stand for the small Monstrance so that we can place it on the altar when we have too many folks to be seated in the small chapel. It brought me to tears of joy when we were able to use it for the first time last Friday evening, I was so moved.
My wishes and prayers for you this Christmas are that you are
blessed in a very special way, and that your mission to build a
new church comes to full fruition. Do not be
discouraged, for the time it takes and the waiting are all worth
while, I know for I have been there.
May God bless each and every one of you, know that you will
always be in my heart.
Peace, Love and Joy from your sister-in Christ in the Pacific
Northwest, Lucy Phillips
Name: Lucy Phillips
Date: Friday, October 10, 2003
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
My dear Friends at St. Mary's,
Well, it is now over three months since our beloved Fr. Gary left
us while he evaluates where his ministry will lead him and we are
flourishing. He did not leave us without a priest who comes to us
at the weekends to celebrate Mass and the Sacrament of
Reconciliation, this priest who is now becoming very dear to us.
We are fast discovering that we have been well trained as
disciples of Jesus and that our parish name of Holy Disciples was
a well chosen one. We have discovered the strengths within our
faith community, we have had many healings of the sick within the
parish, and we are realizing that when we make Jesus the heart of
our parish we will flourish and be the disciples we are meant to
be.
Our building is a joy and a real home for us, even though it is a
multi-purpose center and the actual church building will be
accomplished later on. When Mass begins, we are immediately
focused on the altar and the ambo where we are fed by the Word
and the Eucharist, and we have become truly bonded with one
another as brothers and sisters in Christ.
I notice that you are still working on your building plans for a
new church and am praying in support of all that you do. Do not
lose hope or sight of your dream and with the help of the Lord it
will come to pass, just as ours did.
I have just survived an operation for cancer and my doctor was
able to remove the tumour and I have no need of any further
treatment, praise God. I was so filled with a good spirit and
felt the arms of Jesus around me the whole time, so much so that
I did not suffer much pain at all after the surgery. When we put
our hand into the hand of He who walked the waters, we are
fortunate indeed for we are protected in such a way as it is
almost impossible to imagine.
Keep your faith steady and strong, and know that I am praying for
all your endeavours as you walk further along your path.
As always, Peace, Love and Joy from Lucy Phillips, your sister-in-Christ
in the Pacific Northwest.
Name : John
Date: Monday, October 06, 2003
email: jjquinn@tiscali.co.uk
What a very nice website you have. It is good to see so many
Catholic Church websites on the net. I congratulate the work you
have done. I extend best wishes from the parish of St. Theresa in
Sion Mills, Co. Tyrone and I invite you to visit our parish
website at http:sttheresa.freeservers.com
Name : Neil Cannon
Date: 6th August 2003
email: Cannocan@aol.com
Greetings from Maltby in South
Yorkshire, I would like to share an experience with you.
I had been trying to locate relatives of the crew of the Royal
Fleet Auxillery Vessel Darkdale, which was sunk in 1942 and two
of the crew who were lost originated from Skye.
In July 2001 I put an entry in your Guest Book and with the
assistance of Anne who put me in touch with the local press I was
able to locate the relatives of Donald Mc Kenzie but had
been unable to locate any relative of the other man Neil
Bain.
On 29th July 2003 nearly 2 years to the day since my
original entry, I received an E Mail from Neil's nephew who lives
in Carbost. Apparently Neil's nephew, Kenny Bain has a
daughter living in Glasgow and she had been browsing the internet
and came upon the entry I had sent to your Guest Book. She of
course passed the details to her father and he in turn located me
and I am glad to say that I have now provided him with full
details of the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the ship
and the loss of his Uncle.
I usually ask St Anthony to find things for me but now I think I
will ask Our Lady of the Assumption to help if I cannot
find anyone I need to locate as she has helped me in this
instance, especially as I had given up hope of trace Neil Bain's
relatives after all this time.
Once again I would like to thank Anne and Good Luck to you all at
rcskye.
God bless
Neil Cannon
Name: Patricia McGeough
Date: 6th July 2003
email: patricia.mcgeough@ntlworld.com
Always enjoy visit to your parish when in Portree (29th June). It was a nice start to a lovely week of weather. You must pride yourself in being one of the few Parishes who actually update their weekly bulletin - well done! Thanks from the McGeough Family (Paisley)
Name: Bill Tooke
Date: 14/05/03
email: AvildsenFan@aol.com
Blessings from Rochester NY. I'll pray that the
Holy Spirit guides and protects Holy Mother Church in Scotland.
Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.
Bill Tooke
Name: Lucy Phillips
Date: 05/05/2003
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Greetings to all my friends at St.
Mary's, especially Anne,
What a glorious Easter it was for us at Holy Disciples with some
twenty-seven people joining us through RCIA into the Catholic
Church. The joy was literally flowing through the
entire room and we were all touched in one way or another by the
Holy Spirit. I was privileged to be one of the two
ladies who helped the newly baptized out of the baptismal font
and cuddled them in warm towels. My own faith is
growing by leaps and bounds and I am totally energized by the
glowing faith I see in these wonderful people.
I would ask for your prayers because our wonderful young Pastor
is leaving us in July, for a six-months sabbatical, and we are
all naturally anxious about the incoming Pastor, who as yet is
unknown to us. Father Gary has been our inspiration
and our fire-lighter for the seven years of our existence and
growth and we are understandably upset at the thought of losing
him. Still, we are all children of a loving heavenly
Father who will see that we are taken care of and that our
beloved Father Gary will find new horizons to explore.
You are in my prayers as always with your mission of building
your new church. Do not lose faith or lose sight of
your mission, all things are possible with faith and dedication.
God will bless your efforts in abundance.
With continued prayers for your success in all your endeavors,
Peace, Love and Joy from your sister-in-Christ, Lucy Phillips of
Holy Disciples Parish in the Pacific Northwest.
Name: Lucy Phillips
Date: 31/03/2003
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Dear friends at St. Mary's,
Although I am able to keep in touch with my dear friend, Anne
Morrison, with e-mail, I am now unable to reach your website, it
keeps tossing me off for some reason.
In these trying times of war with Iraq, and the worries about all
our brave men and women who are so valiantly trying to liberate
our Iraqi brothers and sister, the true message of Easter can
often be pushed into the background. We have been blessed
this year with some twenty-five people who have been faithfully
coming to our RCIA sessions and who are now anticipating, with
great joy, being initiated into the Catholic Church.
I cannot tell you how honored I feel in having been a part of
their journey and am very blessed by it.
I follow, with loving interest, your progress with your building
plans and am praying for your success. It was a hard
and long struggle for us to finally achieve our dream of having a
parish center and a beautiful Eucharistic Chapel, but we did it.
Hold fast to your dreams and the Lord will bless you with success.
Anything and everything is possible with the help of the one
Person who loves us as much as He does.
Peace, joy and love for the glorious Easter to come, from your
sister-in-Christ in the Pacific Northwest, Lucy Phillips.
Name: Michael Fitzpatrick
Friday, December 20, 2002
Wishing all of you a very merry Christmas and a
happy new year
Michael
Name: Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Saturday, November 02, 2002
Greetings to my friends at St. Mary's,
My goodness, but this year has been racing along, then that is
always the case with us older folks.
I just wanted to let you know that we have instituted a
Eucharistic Adoration hour on Friday nights and Saturday mornings
here at Holy Disciples. We have a wonderful wee
chapel that houses the Tabernacle and a lovely little statue of
Our Lady with the Children of the World, and one of the ever
faithful St. Joseph. We have a group of about fifteen
of us who faithfully come along and join each other in keeping
the Lord company, remembering his plaintiff "Could you not
spend just one hour with me?".
I have to tell you that the blessings are already beginning to
pour out over us and the glorious sense of peace that it brings
to each one of us is simply unbelievable. We start
with an opening prayer, petitions, then the Eucharistic Rosary,
then quiet time to be with Himself, and finally the Chaplet of
Divine Mercy and a closing prayer. Our goal is to have an
hour of adoration on each day of the week.
My very best wishes to each and every one of you, with sincere
prayers for your success in your mission to build a new church.
However, that delightful chapel that Ray and I visited when we
were in Skye in 2000 will always remain a cherished place in our
memory.
Stay faithful to your mission, keep your dreams fresh in your
heart, and good things will happen in your midst.
Please keep us in your prayers. With peace, love and
joy from your sister-in-Christ in the Pacific Northwest.
Lucy.
Name: Peter Fleetwood
email: peterfleetwood@hotmail.com:
Sunday, October 27, 2002
Hello to Catholic Skye from a visitor during Father Jamie's Jubilee. WE were in the same year so we have nearly all had our celebrations now. Mine were in Liverpool at the end of July. A bit different from yours, we fed 1500 people in 2 days (the parish priest and I shared the Jubilee) but your celebration was one never to forget, above all a very moving piece of music by Sabine. All of you made us very welcome and George the Scouser's books keep me laughing in Rome. This exiled Scouser is leaving Rome to work in Switzerland next March, but hopes to be back on Skye before too long. You are a great community with a wonderful spirit. Long may it be so. God bless all of you and please remember to pray for us priests with all our foibles and weaknesses, yet proud to do our bit with you and for you.
Peter Fleetwood, Rome.
Name: Peter Patten
email: TYRTIPP@aol.com
Date: Sunday, October 20, 2002
Thanks For Sharing your parish life. Enjoyed my "virtual"
visit.
Peter Patten Vermont USA
Name: Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Date: Wednesday, September 4, 2002
My dear friends at St. Mary's,
Well, we are off and running for another year of RCIA and the
United States side of it has decided that not only should RCIA
continue all year long, but that the Inquiry sessions should also
run all year long.
I have been telling our Heavenly Father how I love to work for
Him, and I have the feeling that he is now asking me to prove it
LOL. At any rate, I am now expanding my Inquiry Team
and there will be three of us instead of just two.
That way, we can all take a well-earned rest when we need to, or
if we are ill or on holiday we do not have to feel guilty about.
I would dearly love your prayers for our new endeavour as it is
going to be a challenge for us in many ways. We will be
having many more Rites of Welcome and Acceptance during the year,
and it never ceases to amaze me at the number of people who are
coming forward to join the Catholic Faith.
I am praying for your progress and look forward each week to
reading your news in your Website Bulletin.
May God bless and keep you safe and well, and encourage you to
continue your mission on the beautiful Isle of Skye.
Peace, love and joy from your sister-in-Christ in the Pacific
Northwest,
Lucy Phillips of Holy Disciples Parish.
Name: Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Date: Tuesday, July 30, 2002
Dear Friends at St. Mary's,
I keep abreast of your progress by reading your Parish Bulletin
on the website. I have to tell you how much I enjoy
and appreciate your Thought for the Week, especially the one for
July 21. It is a prize-winner! I have to
tell you that I copy each Thought out for our RCIA classes and it
gives them much pleasure and food for thought. I have
told them about our visit to your wonderful Chapel and keep them
updated about you.
It also gives me great pleasure to browse through the
photographic mementos of your various trips. It is
almost like being there myself. Thank you so much for
the joy you give to others through your beautiful website, what a
wonderful way to evangelize.
Wishing you, as always, Peace, Joy and Love. From
Lucy Phillips, your sister-in-Christ at Holy Disciples Parish in
the American Pacific Northwest.
Name: Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2002
To my Friends at St. Mary's,
I am praying for your success with your building project.
Having been a part of ours, and knowing the dedication and
perseverance it takes, I will be watching your progress.
I will be sending Anne (long promised) a copy of the dedication
book that my husband and I produced for our parish, and it may
give you some insights and inspirations.
It may amuse you to know that I have called you our "Cousin
Parish", as we already have a sister parish in Mexico.
Our people are always interested in hearing what is going on in
other parts of the world. They have been particularly
interested in hearing about St. Mary's ever since Ray and I
visited you in 2000. Of course, our praises about
your beautiful little church was partly responsible for that.
God bless you in all that you do. Keep faith in what
you are doing, and your project will come to fruition and bring
you much joy and blessing.
You will always be in my prayers, may God bless each one of you
and keep you strong and focused on your mission.
Peace, joy and love from your sister-in-Christ, Lucy, in the
Pacific Northwest.
Name: Tom Phillips
email: thomasphillips@btconnect.com
Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2002
Thank goodness for the ability to find Mass detail in advance of
a visit. Having exhausted (well nearly) the conventional
approaches it was great to find a well laid out site with the
information needed to fulfil my obligations. Thanks and
congratulations on the good work.
Tom.
Name: Irene Higgenbotham
email: irenehiggy@hotmail.com
Date: 16th April 2002
Hello, everyone in Skye,
Just to say how we enjoyed Mass last Sunday in your Church in
Portree, the singing was outstanding. I'm just sorry that
our
daughter [ who lives in Portree ] doesn't come along and enjoy
the service also. Perhaps one day!
We are back in Edinburgh, and work.
Hope to see you all again soon.
John + Irene Higgenbotham.
Name: Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555
Date: Saturday, March 23, 2002
Dear Friends at St. Mary's,
We are now just one week away from the initiation of our adults
and children who have completed their RCIA training. It
gladdens my heart to see so many embracing our faith and I feel
very privileged to have been part of this great movement.
I will be thinking of all of you on that evening and my service
as a Eucharistic Minister will be offered up especially for you.
It is a mere couple of years now since Ray and I were honored to
attend Easter Mass in your lovely chapel and you will always be
in our prayers.
I will also be praying for the success of your anticipated
building project. You will find yourselves totally
involved and energized as you complete each phase.
Our new parish center brings us much joy and that is my wish for
you.
God bless each and every one of you. May the spirit
of the risen Christ light up your hearts and bring you peace,
love and joy.
Always your sister-in-Christ, Lucy, in the Pacific Northwest of
America.
Name: Donald Henderson (Glasgow)
email: Unknown
Date: Saturday, March 23, 2002
See you at Easter!!
Name: Pat Troy
email: mozart@lisp.com.au
Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2002
My name is Pat, I was born and lived in Bellshill Lanarkshire
until I was 25years old then I migrated to Australia. About 4-5
years ago I fullfilled a long held wish of my own when my husband
(a dinkie di Aussie) and I visited Skye whilst on a visit to my
family in Bellshill, unfortunately it was a very hurried visit
and we could not include a visit to the church, but nevertheless
we enjoyed the famous hospitality of the people of the isle, and
have made a promise to ourselves that we WILL visit again in a
more leasurly fashion. Thank you for providing this link and I
assure you I will visit it more frequently now that I have found
it. God bless and thanks.
Name: Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Date: Monday, December 17, 2001
Dear Friends,
Yesterday at the 10:30 a.m. Mass our Archbishop came and blessed
our new Parish Center. He also blessed our newly
created wooden altar as well as our new ambo and the tabernacle
for our little Eucharistic Chapel. This altar ambo, and
tabernacle have been created for us by a Northwest artist and
they are truly works of art. It was an amazingly
moving ceremony. I was honored to be asked to serve
as one of the Eucharistic Ministers standing alongside the
Archbishop. We had a full house of people who have
worked so hard and contributed so generously to the building fund
so that we could have our own place of worship. As I
looked around at the beauty of the building, and the loving faces
surrounding the altar, I was once again filled with awe at the
loving God who has provided us with so much.
My prayers are that you are as successful in your dreams and
plans for a larger place of worship, although in my mind St. Mary's
will always be the Catholic Church in Skye. I will be
with you in spirit as you celebrate Midnight Mass in Portree, a
part of my spirit will always be in Scotland.
God bless each and every one of you, may He keep you safe and
cherish you all the days of your lives.
With deep affection from your sister-in-Christ,
Lucy.
Name: Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Date: Friday, November 23, 2001
A message of pure of pure joy to my friends at St. Mary's in
Portree:
May God be praised, we have finally been allowed to occupy our
new parish center and we had our first Mass yesterday, November
22, Thanksgiving Day. Our pastor only expected a
nominal number of folks at this Mass but was delighted to find
that we were crowded out.
The worship space is almost twice as large as the one in the high
school auditorium that we had been using, and is so bright and
beautiful that we all felt almost a wee bit strange. It has
been such a long haul for all of us, and if any of us were
feeling the least bit resentful about the monthly contributions
we have been making for the building fund, those feelings just
vanished.
I am going to try and send Anne Morrison a copy of the dedication
book that Ray and I have been creating so that you can see what
our new home looks like.
Thanks for all the prayers, and good luck to your RCIA program, I
will be praying for its success in reaching out to those who
would like to join you in your faith.
God bless each and every one of you, with affection from your
sister-in-Christ across the "pond" at Holy Disciples
Catholic Church in Puyallup, Wa. USA - Lucy.
Name : Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2001
To quote the song, to get by "I'll need a
little help from my friends". We were supposed
to get into our new parish center (which will also be our worship
space) this coming weekend and now we are told that we will
likely not be able to do that. Apart from everything
else, our chairs will not arrive until the Monday after next
weekend. Soooo, it would be wonderful to count on my
friends at St. Mary's to pray and help our Holy Disciples
community to be able to occupy the new building.
Ray and I were in the building today and we were absolutely
delighted with what we saw, it is a thing of true beauty, but
more than that it will be oor ain. I cannot tell you
how we have all been looking forward to this day.
Please pray for us to be patient and trusting in our most
gracious heavenly Father to give us what we need.
Ever since our visit to St. Mary's, Ray and I have felt a very
strong bond with your community and I am sure that we left a
small piece of ourselves there.
With best wishes and prayers to all of you at St. Mary's from all
of us at Holy Disciples in Puyallup, Washington, in the Pacific
Northwest.
God bless each and every one of you. Your sister-in-Christ,
Lucy
Name: Amy Lewis
email: Unknown
Date: Friday, November 9, 2001
Hi my name is Amy Lewis. I come from Coventry in
England.
I used to go to Our Lady of the Assumptoin in Coventry.
I now go to secondary school Bishop Ullathorne in year 7 nice
talking
bye
Name: Lucy Phillips
email : RPhil29555@aol.com
Date: Saturday, September 29, 2001
A warm greeting from Lucy of Holy Disciples Parish in the
Pacific Northwest of the U.S.A.
In the midst of all the horror, fear and apprehension that most
Americans are feeling at the moment, it is such a comfort to me
to be able to remember the peace and tranquility we found on the
Isle of Skye. The kindness and friendship we found in
your beautiful parish will keep us always mindful that God is
with us in all things. May your beautiful Misty Isle
always be a place of safe haven and quiet beauty and may God
bless each one of you as you go on your way.
Our new parish facility is almost ready, praise the Lord, and we
are all most anxious to have a place of our own. It will be
the place where we worship, pray and play together for it is a
multi-purpose building. Later on we will be building
our proper church facility but we are all looking forward with
much delight to having our own place, for our own people.
My husband and I are hard at work producing a dedication book for
the day that our Archbishop comes to bless and open our worship
space.
God bless you and your wonderful parish family, may He keep you
safe in the palm of His hand.
With much affection from Lucy Phillips.
Name: Jean MacGregor Simon
Date: Thursday, September 27, 2001
email: Unknown
Beautiful, beautiful pictures. I had MacKinnon ancestors
who lived in the Strathardill area of Skye. Hope to get
there some day. Mostly, my MacKinnons lived on the Mishnish
Estate, the Chiefs, outside Tobermory, on the Isle of Mull, but
just a very few of the chiefs lived in Strathardill.
Name : Geraldine and Patrick
email: PTANNER@warwickdc.gov.uk
Date: 12 September 2001
Dear Webmaster Anne,
First of all, congratulations on such a wonderful, varied and
interesting website , it is a real credit to you.
You will know by the extracts from our E Mail which Father
James kindly
published in your newsletter how welcome and included in your
wonderful
Parish we felt, (and still feel !) during our unforgetable
holiday on
Skye. Thank you so much for your warmth. We experienced a
tremendous
spirit of community which is very blessed and is not always
present in
a parish.
We would like to be involved in your current raffle so if
you would
kindly let us know where to send our cheque and to whom it should
be
made payable we would like £20 worth of tickets please.
With love and prayers
Geraldine and Patrick
Name : Davy Mitchell
email : unknown
Date : Monday, September 10, 2001
Great Site!!!
http://www.scottishcatholic.com
(Glad to say that Neil Cannon did make contact with one of the relatives he was looking for after writing to our local newspaper!)
Name : Neil Cannon
Email : Cannocan@aol.com
Date : Wednesday July 18th 2001
Greetings from Maltby in South Yorkshire from an "exiled"
Scot from Greenock.
I am trying to trace any relatives of two local men who were
killed in action in October 1941 whilst serving on the Royal
Fleet Auxiliary tanker DARKDALE . My brother in law was amongst
the 41 crew members who were killed . The ship was torpedoed in
ST Helena Bay in the South Atlantic and the ship is remains there
in the bay with all the crew and it is now an official war grave.
The local men were:
NEIL BANE then 30yrs son of Mary and Donald Bain last address
Burnside House, Carbost and Donald John McKenzie then aged 26 son
of John and Annie McKenzie last known address 2 Carbost, Skebost
Bridge Portree.
I can be contacted by E Mail or at my home address at
51 Braithwell Road MALTBY Rotherham S66 8AD.
I hope someone may be able to help.
God Bless
Neil Cannon
Name: Lucy Phillips
email: RPhil29555@aol.com
Date: Tuesday, July 10, 2001
Dear friends in Skye,
Was browsing again through your beautiful site and was delighted
with your parish photos, especially those taken of the musical
group by my friend Anne. It reminded me again of just
how lovely your St. Mary's Church really is.
My husband and I will be in Scotland again in August but we don't
have enough time to get to Skye again, worst luck, but you will
always have a special place in my heart.
Please check out our parish website and see how we are doing.
We expect to be in residence in our new parish center in mid
November and will be using that as our worship space for the next
four years. It will be so nice to have oor ain wee
place at last. We are at http://www.holydisciples.org
God bless each and every one of you. Peace, joy and
love from Lucy Phillips and the faith community at Holy Disciples
Catholic Church in Puyallup, Washington, in the glorious Pacific
Northwest of the U.S.A.
Name: Carl Fisher
email: Unknown
Date: Friday, July 6, 2001
This site is very nice and well done to every one who has
something to do with this site God bless u all and your church
Name: John & Jacqueline Tevlin
email address: jacqueline.tevlin@care4free.net
Date: Sunday, July 1, 2001
While on our recent trip to Skye,our first, we were priviliged
to be able to attend Mass in your beautiful new church in
Broadford on the occasion of the First Holy Communions there. We
had directions from people in the Coop,who were very helpful,
having arrived in Broadford too late for the Tourist Information
Office. We are now telling our friends in Harrogate what a lovely
place Skye is.
Best wishes to all parishioners and especially the recent 1st
Holy Comminicants.
John and Jacqueline Tevlin
Name: Catherine
email address: katbran@yahoo.com
Tuesday, June 5, 2001
It was lovely to attend mass again in Skye on Sunday with
visitors as far a field as Michigan and New York attending.
Interesting to hear parish developments too.
Name: Jean O'Connor
email address: oconnorceltic@netscapeonline.co.uk
Sunday, May 27, 2001
Hello Everyone
Came across your website while browsing. I'm originally
from Glasgow but have lived in Birmingham for 30 years. My
parish here is surprisingly enough Our Lady of the Assumption.
Maybe my parish could 'twin' with your's in Portree.!!!
I keep promising my husband a long awaited trip to your part of
Scotland. Maybe we'll darken your doorstep in the not too
distant future. Keep up your good work. The photos
contained in your home page are lovely. Compliments to all.
God Bless
Jean O'Connor
Saturday, April 28, 2001
Name: Lucy Phillips
email : RPhil29555
Dear St. Mary's,
Anne from your parish sent me a lovely note to our parish for
Easter and when I read it out to our new Inquiry group and those
about to be fully initiated, they were all delighted.
Our Easter Vigil was one of the most beautiful and meaning ones
yet. It is the last one we will have in the school
auditorium and next year, God willing, we will be in our new
parish center. I do not remember a Holy Week that has
affected me so deeply before, and I honestly believe that what I
experienced in your beautiful church last year was a great part
of it.
Best wishes and prayers from both Ray and myself. May
God bless you abundantly in the coming years.
Friday, April 13, 2001
Name: Lucy Phillips
Email Address: RPhil29555
To my friends at St. Mary's in Portree,
May this Easter be a happy and blessed one for each and all of
you. I am still warm with the memories of last Easter
Sunday when Ray and I were privileged to attend Mass there.
It is one of the most special Easter seasons we have ever known.
We will be visiting Glasgow again this August but doubt that we
will get to the Isle of Skye . Still, once seen -
never forgotten. It must surely be one of the most
beautiful spots on God's great earth, and I will always be
thankful for our visit.
With prayers and good wishes from Lucy Phillips.
Monday, April 2, 2001
Name: Catherine
Email Address: katbran@yahoo.com
Special thoughts to all at St Marys this Easter and I hope to be
in Portree again real soon.
Thursday, March 8, 2001
Name: Michael
Email Address: Fitz.5@ntlworld.com
Hope everybody is well ! See you when I get back.
Michael
Saturday, February 10,
2001
Name: Lucy Phillips
Email Address: RPhil29555@aol.com
Hullo, again, from Holy Discples Catholic Church in Puyallup, Wa.
in the Pacific Northwest. Our website name is now http://www.holydisciples.org,
check it out sometime. We anticipate our new parish building
being completed by September of this year. We have long awaited
this occasion as we have been celebrating Mass in one of the
local Junior High School auditoriums and it will be so nice to
have oor ain place at last.
Best wishes and prayers from Lucy Phillips.
Wednesday, January 10,
2001
Name: Dominic Quinn
Email Address: dominic@nogal.oru.entelnet.bo
Greetings from the parish of San Ildefonso, Paria, Bolivia !
Congratulations on your wonderful web site. I have many fond
memories of Skye and surrounding area. Please look after Fr.
MacNeil !
Perhaps you might like to visit the Society of St. James site and
find out something about our work in Latin America.
www.socstjames.com
God Bless,
Fr. Dominic Quinn
Tuesday, January 2,
2001
Name: Bishop Ian
Email Address: bip.arg@virgin.net
Congratulations on your site. Regarding my coat of arms: the star
is for the Star of the Sea but also for my father -there are
three stars on the Murray coat of arms. The motto was chosen from
the Complete Works of St Teresa of Avila who wrote, "When I
was in Salamanca in 1573 the Lord said to me,'Daughter, obedience
gives strength'". [La obediencia da fuerzas]She died in Alba
de Tormes which is very close to Salamanca. Keep up the good work
on the website. + Ian
Happy Christmas and a
Blessed New Year!
Date: 27/12/00 16:34:12 GMT Standard Time
From: bhhuot@hotmail.com (Barbara Klipa)
I hope all of you on the Isle of Skye had a joyous Christmas, and
will be blessed with peace and harmony in the coming year!!
I would love to visit
the Isle of Skye during 2001!! All I need is to have an
invitation, and a place to stay!!LOL!! I'm being my funny
american-self!!
I was to the UK and Ireland in 1998, on a pilgrimage to Marian
sites. I was given a miracle at Knock, and learned first-hand how
marvelous a history the islands in your region have in God's
Salvation history as
proclaimed by His Catholic Church!! I wish that american
Catholics knew how much was sacrificed to practice the Faith
after Henry the 8th came along!!
I pray that the introduction of liturgical music will be a
blessing in this new year.
JMJ, Barbara
Thursday, December 21,
2000
Name: Barbara Klipa
Email Address: bhhuot@hotmail.com
Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas, from Detroit, Michigan, USA..I
will keep you all in my prayers. Barbara
Saturday, December 16,
2000
Name: Lucy Phillips
Email Address: RPhil29555@aol.com
To the wonderful folks at St. Mary's, Portree in the Misty Isle
of Skye: Have a truly blessed and happy Christmas, wish in a way
I could be there with you.
From Lucy and Ray Phillips, Holy Disciples Parish, Puyallup,
Washington, U.S.A.
28th November 2000
Dear Stephen Tinney,
This is a quick note to let you know that your message you sent
to yonkers
was passed on to me at our Parish Office. I have had a quick look
at your
parish, it is great to be able to see what other parishes of the
world are
doing.
Regards
Roz
St Thomas Aquinas Parish Secretary
Our website is www.acenet.com.au/~roz/index.html
email roz@acenet.com.au.
Saturday, November 25, 2000
Name: Elizabeth Differ
Email Address: elzbth134@cableinet.co.uk
I have had the pleasure of attending Mass in Portree on my few
visits to the island. The parishioners have always made me
feel very welcome and have enjoyed the service immensely.
We atttended mass on the feast of Pentecost this year and the
hymn "The Mallaig Sprinkling Song", was sung and it has
stayed with me since then. I thought it very beautiful.
Unfortunately due to financial constraintes I will not be able to
visit next year. But please God I will attend Mass there
again in the near future.
Thank you.
Elizabeth Differ
Denny
Stirlingshire
Wednesday, November 22, 2000
Name: Lucy Phillips
Email Address: RPhil29555@aol.com
Greetings to St. Mary's in Portree. I have been
browsing through your website again and thought you might like to
check out ours here in the Pacific Northwest of the USA. It
is: http://www.holydisciples.com.
We are still about a year away from building our new church site,
and it will be wonderful to have our ain wee place.
We have been meeting in a high school auditorium for the past
four years and find that sitting on hard metal chairs is very
tiresome. Still, to look on the bright side, perhaps
our Creator will bless us for our steadfast loyalty to Him and
our community when we faithfully troop in each Sunday to give Him
our worship, praise and thanks.
God bless you and your beautiful Church, it will be a fond memory
for me and my husband for the rest of our days.
Your sister-in-Christ, Lucy Phillips.
Saturday, November 4th, 2000
Name: Fr. Jorge
Benson
Email Address: benson@nsmercedes.com.ar
Greetings from Argentina! Congratulations for the web. Visit us
in www.nsmercedes.com.ar.
God bless !
Friday, October 13,
2000
From: Fr. Gerry Livingstone
Congratulations everyone on the completion of your new church at
Broadford! I know this is something you have worked hard for and
waited patiently for in recent years. May you all expereince
great joy and satisfaction at seeing the completion of your
dreams!
With all good wishes,
Fr. Gerry
St. Margaret's, Lerwick, Shetland Isles
3rd October 2000
Name: Lucy Phillips
Email Address: RPhil29555@aol.com
How lovely to see your
beautiful website again. My husband and I were in
Scotland in April of this year for the first time in 46 years and
were privileged to have been present for your Easter Sunday Mass.
We were charmed with your lovely chapel, it might be small but it
was brimful of love and the peace of Christ. We were
particularly charmed by the children's choir and the gusto with
which they sang the hymns. We would not have missed
that for the world!
We are in the process of building our new parish facility here in
the Pacific Northewst of America, and have been attending Mass in
one of the local Junior High School auditoriumsfor over four
years. Therefore to be able to participate in the Easter
service in a REAL church was a special treat for us.
Best wishes in all your endeavors, we will be happy to send you
some of our parish magazines if you so desire, you might find it
interesting to see what is going on in our part of the world.
Sincerely, a sister-in-Christ, Lucy Phillips (nee Ross and
formerly of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, in Cardonald, Glasgow).
August 17
Visited your site.....very interesting. Technology is catching up
with the church!
Phil Breslin
11 July
I finally found the Catholic Church in the land of my ancestors!
My lifelong dream is to attend Holy Mass in the Western Isles.
Jonathan D. Phillips
Email Address: jonathanphillips@cincinow.net
1 May
Thankyou for the lovely service on Sunday for the christening of our new son James Patrick Fox. We had great pleasure in seeing all the familiar faces present on a very special day and really appreciate the effort made by everyone to make the day a wonderful memory.
Maria and Gerry Fox
Email Address: glamaig@aol.com
16 April
Hello, I always visit the Canon's site. I just found your one in Skye. I will visit it often. My friend is going to be visiting your area in September. Have a good Week end. God bless.
Elizabeth Livingston,
N. Vancouver, Canada
Email Address: elizabethlivings@hotmail.com
24 March
Greetings from
Montreal!
I'm an "old" schoolfriend of Anne and I had the joy of
visiting Skye in '98.....loved it!
I am in admiration at your initiative in cyberspace.
Keep up the good work!
Regards and united in
prayer,
Maureen McCollum
Society of Helpers
Email Address: mccollum@total.net
14 March
Dear Fr. Gerry,
I think it was Fr. Jim Thompson who passed me your flyer
regarding your
parish web-site - its nice to see pictures of people rather than
buildings, shows we're alive!
It is great to see another Scottish parish venturing onto the web
- the
list grows steadily! I will include a link to your site on our
links
page and wonder whether you could reciprocate? Our site address
is
http://www.ifb.co.uk/~stcolumb.
With best regrds,
John Perry
St Columba's Parish webmaster
The Catholic Church in Skye
About the Isle of Skye
Prayer of Consecration
Links
The Bishop's Coat-of-arms