On Saturday 3rd August, the parishioners and friends of Sister Petra gathered for a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Rt. Rev. Dom Hugh Gilbert, Bishop of Aberdeen, concelebrated with Most Rev. Mario Conti, Archbishop Emeritus of Glasgow, also Most Rev. Peter Moran, Bishop Emeritus of Aberdeen and priests of the Diocese of Aberdeen. It was a most prayerful and spiritually moving occasion.
Piper John Peteranna opens the Ceilidh.
Picture Gallery below. Click on a photo to enlarge to full size...
Presentation
Sister Petra Clare was presented with a pastel drawing, by artist Ishbel Strachan. The subject was the church of Marydale set in the surrounding hills with the purple bloom of the heather. A beautiful memento of her 18 years at Marydale.
The Ceilidh
A very enjoyable Ceilidh was held after the buffet food was cleared away. 'Fear an taighe' (Master of Ceremonies) was George Strachan, and Martin and Cammy MacLean from Torgormack near Beauly played a variety of well known and enjoyable Highland tunes on the Drums and Accordion. There were two young musicians: John Peteranna on the Highland Bagpipe who opened the Ceilidh. A promising player and a very nice sounding set of pipes. Local youngster Neil McCallum played the fiddle and gave us four small marches. Very nice indeed too. We had folk songs on guitar from Iain Scally of Cannich, and a story by Peter MacDonald. The Ceilidh finished off with a slow air written especially for Sister Petra, and played on the Highland bagpipes by the composer Donald Shaw.