The commmunity hosted in annual major Feast Day, welcoming friends and jubilarians to the Via Cassia.
On Friday 30th November, the Scots College celebrated the Solemnity of St Andrew with our jubilarians and friends from the city of Rome.
The celebration of significant anniversaries of priests from Scottish dioceses is the heart of the feast day at the College. This year, we were pleased to welcome six jubilarians from across Scotland.
On Thursday 30th November, the morning before the feast itself, the community and the jubilarians celebrated Mass at the tomb of St Peter. That evening, we prayed Vespers before the relic of St Andrew, and readied ourselves to welcome our guests the next day. The relic itself remained exposed in the chapel from First Vespers through to Second Vespers, giving guests an opportunity to venerate the patron saint of Scotland.
Mass was celebrated at 11:30 with the Rector, Fr Daniel Fitzpatrick, presiding and the Spiritual Director, Fr Jim Walls, preaching.
To read Fr Jim’s homily, please follow the given link: https://scotscollege.org/feast-of-st-andrew-homily/
Many guests were able to join us for lunch in the College refectory, including Cardinal James Harvey, Archbishop Paul Gallagher and H.E. Sally Axworthy, all great friends of the College. In addition, we were joined by Mgr Philip Whitmore, Rector of the Venerable English College, who himself is celebrating 25 years of priesthood this year.
Following a quick post-lunch rest, the community reconvened for Second Vespers, after which staff, students and jubilarians alike headed to the common room for the annual quiz. Ryan Black, a seminarian of the Diocese of Paisley and resident quiz-master, had clearly spent a lot of time preparing, so special thanks to him. This year, the quiz was won by a team including the Rector, Vice-Rector and Head Student.
The Feast Day was, as ever, incredibly enjoyable. Thanks to all who were able to attend, and those who worked so hard to allow everything to run so smoothly. A special word of thanks to our jubilarians, whose witness to the joy of their long years in ministry is an encouragement for all of us in the College.