The French Community in the city of Aberdeen
The French Community in Aberdeen has grown up because of North Sea Oil exploration. A number of French companies have had personnel in Aberdeen over the years since about 1973. The early arrivals were Total Marine, Elf Aquitaine and Schlumberger.
Total Marine set up a French School in one of the separate buildings within the campus of Aberdeen Grammar School. That school is still functioning some thirty years on. Monthly masses in French have been celebrated since then in Aberdeen.
These monthly masses are usually at St Francis, Mannofield, where they still continue on Saturday evenings usually at 6pm.
The celebrant at these Masses is Bishop Peter Moran who has been celebrating a monthly Mass for the French community in Aberdeen for about thirty years.
The Polish Community in the Diocese of Aberdeen
Since 1st May 2004 a few countries have gained access to the European Union. Among them was Poland, a country of almost 40 million people in Central Europe, striving to overcome a legacy of communism, which resulted in poverty, huge unemployment and a bleak prospect. For many Poles joining the EU is an opportunity to find work and to improve their standard of life. The United Kingdom was one of the few states which imposed no restrictions on employing people from the new EU countries, so a large number of Polish men and women, mainly young, have come to the UK. Many also have made Northern Scotland their goal.
Some of the Polish people coming to Scotland looked for Catholic churches near to their place of residence because of their religious needs. The language barrier has been a problem for many Poles, so at first the Polish Catholic Mission in Scotland, run by Pallottines, was responsible for the pastoral care of Polish immigrants. In the meantime bishop Peter Moran asked a few Polish bishops, if they could send some Polish priests to look after the Polish community. At the present time there are Polish priests settled in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Aberdeen, St. Sylvester’s in Elgin and St. Mary’s in Inverness. In cooperation with the local parish communities they give pastoral care to Polish people. Masses are said in Polish in many places on an average of once a month (every Sunday in Aberdeen and Inverness).
Since September 2007 three Sacred Heart nuns from Poland live in Inverness. They help Polish people in many different ways: preparation for the sacraments (First Communion, confirmation, marriage), an English course for Poles, psychological help for the needy. The range of their work is spread around Inverness approximately 60 miles in every direction. Their telephone number is 01463 226953.
Details of Polish service are available in the listed parishes.
Malayalee Community in Aberdeen
In 2004, a group of 65 nurses from Kerala, India, were recruited by the Grampian Health Board to fill vacancies in Aberdeen hospitals. They belonged to the Syria-Malibar Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. In the past six/seven years, the numbers have increased to 135 families all of whom attend Holy Family Church in Mastrick which will soon be the official chaplaincy for the community. They have Mass celebrated in their Rite on the first Saturday of each month attended by approx 300 people. The community is extremely well organised into seven units of approx 15 families in each unit who hold weekly prayer groups, all-night vigils, bible study evenings etc. We hold Catechism classes every Sunday of the school year [11/2hrs] for approx 100 young people aged 5-17yrs.and obtain the English catechisms used, from Kerala. Twice a year we have very colourful street processions which are also enjoyed by our neighbours in Mastrick. Two religious camps are held each year during the school holidays to which we have invited speakers on a variety of subjects. A directory of all the families is produced bi-annually. They are very community-minded and hold regular social evenings in the hall and provide Indian music and dance for all to hear. Although their native language is Malayalam, everyone speaks English and they have integrated into the parish exceedingly well. The community are served by Fr Rogi Thomas from St Clement’s church in Dundee who comes each month for the celebration of Mass etc.
Spanish Mass
Join us in celebrating Holy Mass in Spanish in the parish of St. Peter’s (Castlegate), Aberdeen, every last Sunday of the Month at 6pm. The Spanish speaking Catholic community of Aberdeen gathers to hear the Mass in our own language and share with songs and tea/coffee at the end of the celebration. Of course, it is important to go to Mass in your own parish every Sunday, whether that be at St. Peter’s or your own parish!
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