Sunday December 14th. 2008
One of our own is made Bishop of
Argyll & the Isles.
Argyll & the Isles.
Last Monday was a truly wonderful and historic evening when the Scottish hierarchy, augmented by bishops from England and Ireland, the abbots of Pluscarden and Nunraw, and 130 priest, gathered together in St. Columba’s Cathedral, Oban, to take part in the Episcopal ordination of Mgr Toal. The presiding celebrant was his Eminence Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who was assisted by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Faustino Sainz Munoz, and Bishop Murray. All the bishops said the prayer of ordination over Mgr. Toal conferring on him the office of bishop.
It was a magnificent ceremony, enhanced by a liturgy which the new bishop helped to arrange, and supported by the diocesan choir which led the congregational singing, and excelled itself.
It was a very moving service, and there not many dry eyes in the Cathedral when the new bishop was invested with his Episcopal ring, mitre and crozier, and then was led by the consecrating bishops to the bishop’s chair to assume authority in the diocese.
It was a magnificent ceremony, enhanced by a liturgy which the new bishop helped to arrange, and supported by the diocesan choir which led the congregational singing, and excelled itself.
It was a very moving service, and there not many dry eyes in the Cathedral when the new bishop was invested with his Episcopal ring, mitre and crozier, and then was led by the consecrating bishops to the bishop’s chair to assume authority in the diocese.
Bishop Toal takes his chair
Photo Paul McSherry
Another very emotional moment was when the bishop’s mother and her family brought up the gifts at the offertory.
Before the end of the mass, the Apostolic Delegate, the Holy Father’s ambassador to Great Britain congratulated our new bishop, and mentioned he, like Bishop Toal, also came from a large family, and this parents felt that they should give at least one of their sons to the priesthood out of gratitude to God.
Bishop Toal addressed the congregation from the chair before the final blessing, and gave a wonderful talk, thanking Bishop Murray for all his work during his nine years in the diocese, and including everyone involved in his Episcopal ordination. He also spoke in fluent Gaelic, which surprised us all, and then in Spanish to the priests and lay friends who came over from Spain for the occasion. He also added a touch of humour when he mentioned that he hoped his mother, who never missed an important service in the Cathedral, would still continue to come down from Roy Bridge.
The congregation left the cathedral in high spirits for no one could have failed to be impressed by the beauty and dignity of the ceremony. It was all the talk at the reception inn the Argyllshire Gathering Halls and on the return journey by bus. One woman from another parish, whom I met the following day, told me that she managed to persuade her husband, who never went to mass, to come with her to the ordination. He was so overcome by service that he said he wanted to start going back to mass again!
Before the end of the mass, the Apostolic Delegate, the Holy Father’s ambassador to Great Britain congratulated our new bishop, and mentioned he, like Bishop Toal, also came from a large family, and this parents felt that they should give at least one of their sons to the priesthood out of gratitude to God.
Bishop Toal addressed the congregation from the chair before the final blessing, and gave a wonderful talk, thanking Bishop Murray for all his work during his nine years in the diocese, and including everyone involved in his Episcopal ordination. He also spoke in fluent Gaelic, which surprised us all, and then in Spanish to the priests and lay friends who came over from Spain for the occasion. He also added a touch of humour when he mentioned that he hoped his mother, who never missed an important service in the Cathedral, would still continue to come down from Roy Bridge.
The congregation left the cathedral in high spirits for no one could have failed to be impressed by the beauty and dignity of the ceremony. It was all the talk at the reception inn the Argyllshire Gathering Halls and on the return journey by bus. One woman from another parish, whom I met the following day, told me that she managed to persuade her husband, who never went to mass, to come with her to the ordination. He was so overcome by service that he said he wanted to start going back to mass again!
Bishop Toal can be assured of the prayers and co-operation of the whole diocese to help make his episcopacy a fruitful one, for he was a most popular choice, and there was rejoicing when the news of his appointment was made public.
COLOUR SUPPLEMENT
Printsmith have printed a colour supplement for this week’s paper Bulletin, which will allow those who were unable to be present to have a greater appreciation of the occasion.
For those who read the web edition of the Bulletin, the supplement can be accessed via a button at the bottom of the notices page
For those who read the web edition of the Bulletin, the supplement can be accessed via a button at the bottom of the notices page
SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER
Three dozen copies have been ordered and will be on sale this weekend in our three churches.
They will make an excellent souvenir of Bishop Toal’s historic ordination.
Three dozen copies have been ordered and will be on sale this weekend in our three churches.
They will make an excellent souvenir of Bishop Toal’s historic ordination.
