Auxiliary Bishop Named

The Vatican has announce the following:


BEGINS

On May 8, 2012 the Holy Father appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh (Scotland) Reverend Monsignor Stephen ROBSON, of the clergy of the same Archdiocese, assigning him the titular see of Tunnuna.

Curriculum Vitae of Stephen Bishop Robson

 

Bishop Stephen Robson was born in Carlisle, in the diocese of Lancaster, on 1 April 1951. After secondary school he attended the University of Edinburgh where he obtained a degree in Biological Sciences with a specialisation in medical technology at Napier College of Science in Edinburgh.

He completed his ecclesiastical studies at St. Andrew's College Drygrange, earning a Licentiate and Doctorate in Spiritual Theology, and a Licentiate in Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University during his years at the Pontifical Scottish College in Rome.

He was ordained priest March 17, 1979 for the Archdiocese of Edinburgh.

Later he held the following pastoral assignments: Parochial Vicar at St. Mary's Kircaldy (1979-1981), tutor at Blairs College (1980-1986), Assistant at the Department for Religious Education in Edinburgh then Episcopal Vicar and Director of the same (1987-1993) and pastor, first at Our Lady and St. Margaret in Duns (1988 - 1989), then to Dunbar (1990-1993), then to St. John Vianney in Edinburgh (1993-1997).

From 1998 to 2006 he was Spiritual Director of the Pontifical Scottish Seminary in Rome.  On returning to Scotland he became Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, and pastor of the united parishes of Our Lady's in North Berwick and Dunbar.

ENDS

I have had the good fortune in meeting Bishop elect Robson once or twice in the past and know that others, who are much better acquainted with him, hold high in very high esteem both as a spiritual advisor and priest in addition to being a true gentleman. 

He has made Fr Emerson FSSP welcome in his parish over the past two years, or more, where the Forma Extraordinaria is offered once a month.

In my honest opinion I truly believe he will be a very welcome addition to the episcopate of Scotland.  Thank you Holy Father for giving us in Scotland such a worthy priest.

May God grant him strength as he takes up this burden and may he be a true shepherd of Your sheep in the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh.  Our Lady, Queen of May, watch over him.

Auxiliary for His Eminence

The Vatican has announce that our beloved Cardinal is to be given an Auxiliary to assist His Eminence in running the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh.  This has been mooted for a number of months and I am glad to hear that His Holiness has now accepted Cardinal O'Brien's workload (not to mention his health) is taking its toll.

The announcement as to who the Auxiliary Bishop actually is will be announced on Tuesday 8th May at noon (European time).

 Tomorrow's announcement may well set the tone for the future as Scotland replaces two thirds of the episcopate in the next year or so.

Please keep both in your prayers tonight.

I'm Baaaaaaaack!

Thought after such a long absence I should announce my return in true hollywood fashion using the words of  Randy Quaid (who played the drunken Russell Casse in the movie "Independence Day").

I did say in my December post I was going into hibernation for the winter but I did not realise it would be for so long.  Mortality gave me a big wake-up call through a prolonged series of health issues.  I am happy to say that the last of the many tests which my doctor put me through, a lung scan, has now come back all clear.   I still cannot believe my doctor is the now very grown up little girl of an old work colleague and fellow parishioner.

A big Thank You to those who know me for keeping me in their thoughts and prayers over the past few months.