Tristan : Mgr Michel McPartland Returns to Visit Tristan’s Catholic Community
Submitted by Tristan Times (Sarah Glass) 21.10.2009 (Article Archived on 23.12.2009)
A year went by ever so quickly. I found myself back in Cape Town, preparing myself to return to Tristan da Cunha, in September, and could not believe it. It seemed like only yesterday since I made this voyage last year.
Photo (c) James Glass (Tristan Times) The baptism of Deanna Rogers during the Sunday Mass on 27th September 2009
Mgr Michel McPartland Returns to Visit Tristan’s Catholic Community
By Monsignor Michael B McPartland
The baptism of Deanna Rogers during the Sunday Mass on 27th September 2009
A year went by ever so quickly. I found myself back in Cape Town, preparing myself to return to Tristan da Cunha, in September, and could not believe it. It seemed like only yesterday since I made this voyage last year.
The sea journey was both pleasant and smooth. Among the passengers, there were many familiar faces and, quite a few new ones too (there seemed to be a lot more people travelling to Tristan this year, than ever before). The atmosphere on board was both relaxed and friendly.
The highlight of my visit this year was the baptism of young baby Deanna Rogers during the Sunday Mass on 27th September 2009. The child was not yet able to stand on her own two feet, yet she was as alert and curious to what was going on around her as she could possibly be. Indeed there was a great deal going on during the Mass. First of all the Parish Church of St Joseph was full of family and their friends, to be present on her ‘big day’ but also many visitors to the Island, among whom was a German television crew who dutifully recorded the event for prosperity. After the Mass, the Rogers family hosted a wonderful reception in the Prince Philip Hall to which all attended.
During the rest of my time on the Island, I was given a guided tour of the newly opened fishing factory and my, what a wonderful building it is. A catch of crawfish was being processed for export, so I was able to see the whole operation from start to finish. Very impressive.
The weather was its usual mix of being cold, wet and windy. However there were quite a few days of really pleasant sunshine. In fact, it was exactly how I like it.
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