Each year the Pluscarden Community celebrates 5th March as a Solemnity. We keep this day as the Feast of St. Aelred of Rievaulx (1109-1167), and as the anniversary of the reception of our parent community, then living on Caldey Island, into the Catholic Church in 1913.

This year, 5 March 2022, we had the added joy of witnessing also the first (or temporary) profession of vows of our novices, Br. Patrick Obiejinwa and Br. Edmund Norby.

The beautiful Mass of Profession lasted not quite two hours. It may be viewed any time from our web site, on the Live Streaming page as given for Saturday 5 March: https://www.pluscardenabbey.org/live

Mass was sung in full, as usual, with Latin Gregorian Chant: but on this occasion enlivened also by Nigerian singing at the Offertory and Recession. Our Br. Patrick was supported by no fewer than 8 Nigerian Priests, and by a good group of Nigerian lay folk also.

Our brothers each made his monastic vows for three years, according to the directives of our Constitutions, and of the current Canon Law of the Catholic Church. After reading out their "Chart of Profession", and singing the "Suscipe me Domine", each was clothed by Fr. Abbot with the full length monastic scapular.

We are grateful for the prayers of our friends for the progress and perseverance of our new Junior monks. God grant also that many other young men may come soon to join them, seeking God through monastic life in our community!