26^th and 27^th August 2025
St Maolrubha’s, Broadford and St Marey’s, Portree

It seems unbelievable but the experts are now telling us that there is a water shortage in Scotland! How can that happen? In a very dry country like Israel the importance of water for life was clearly understood. It is not surprising then that water is an image often used in the Bible. For the Jewish people the Temple in Jerusalem was where God dwelt in a unique way. In Ezekiel’s vision he sees from the Temple’s Sanctuary water flowing which freely and abundantly creates life. Even the Dead Sea becomes fresh water teeming with life. Fruit trees are abundant, full of medicinal plants. From God love and healing abundantly flows.

In our Gospel Jesus insists that he is THE Temple. Jesus is not just a prophet sent by God but is God. Jesus IS the presence of God dwelling among us. Jesus refers to his death and Resurrection. Through his love and mercy forgiveness and healing will flow abundantly to everyone, even to those places, to those people which seem most dead. In this Holy Year we are reminded that Jesus alone is our Hope and so let us rejoice.

As we celebrate your Silver Jubilee as a Parish Paul develops a beautiful insight. The Church, and I don’t refer here to a physical building, but to the People of God, is God’s building. God creates the People of God and we belong to him. Paul, writing to the Corinthians, insists that God is at work within them individually and communally, forming them into a community of disciples. They are the temple of the Spirit, the divine dwells within them personally and as a community of faith. Into this community, and out from this community, the healing mercy of Christ will flow.

As you celebrate your Silver Jubilee during our Holy Year dedicated to hope what can we learn?

1 Jesus is our Hope. He is the water of life. Let us be close to Jesus. Let us share our hope with others. Let us allow his merciful healing to touch our hearts and let us be instruments of his healing to others.

2 As pilgrims we know that God is faithful. He blessed this island with Celtic missionaries such as St Columba, the martyr St Donnan and St Maelrubha. In times of stability such as the 400 years when the Cathedral – the Mother Church of the Diocese of the Isles – was on Skye to the centuries when only a handful of Catholics resided on the Island. However, it is God’s Building. God is always active. Over time there was small but gradual growth, including people moving to the Island eventually leading to Bishop Ian Murray discerning what had been for so long unfeasible: that the community was now strong enough to erect a Catholic Parish on Skye. During the Great Jubilee of 2000 the dream became a reality with Mass being celebrated first in St Maolrubha’s, Broadford before the new Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Portree was built and opened in 2005. History reveals that God is always faithful, that he gives each age the particular gifts they need - including our own - and when hearts are open to him great things can happen.

3 The Building may be God’s but he is working with fallen humanity. There is always need for conversion. Although the work is primarily God’s he does work through people and each person, through baptism, has their unique role.  I want to thank our priests, deacons and laity who have built up the Catholic community on Skye. I rejoice in the wonderful mystery of God’s plan where over the years each labourer has built upon the contribution of previous generations.

Paul insisted that the Church can only be built on Christ. Anything else is not legitimately Christian. Therefore, we must carefully discern the quality of our parish life so that we can grow as the Lord desires.

Are we faithfully building on Christ’s teachings? We rightly teach doctrines (which are essential) but do we also include the love and mercy of God?

The world and island life has changed in the past 25 years. How well do we respond to new realities?

Thankfully relationships with our fellow Christians from other denominations are much healthier. However, where can we deepen our bonds with those we share baptism with, as well as reaching out to those of other Faiths and secular society?

Is mission at the heart of all we do?

Do people recognise us as the temple of the Spirit? Do they experience the healing waters of Christ through us, especially those on the margins?

What can we rejoice in? What do we need to express sorrow for? How can we more authentically shine as temple of the Spirit?

Once again I congratulate you and thank you for your fidelity to Christ. Your Parish was founded during the Great Jubilee when we celebrated the 2,000^th anniversary of the birth of Our Lord, Emmanuel – God is with us, he always has been and always will be. This Year we celebrate the Holy Year of Hope. Let us go forward humbly yet confidently as pilgrims of hope.

Bishop Brian McGee

26^th and 27^th August 2025
St Maolrubha’s, Broadford and St Marey’s, Portree