Dear Friends,
As no doubt some of you are aware, especially those who have been with us since the beginning, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the restoration of our branch of the Holy Celtic Church, the church originally founded in Brittany in 1956 by our predecessor in the Apostolic Succession, St Tugdual of St Dolay. We give thanks to the Great Light for all the blessings we have received over this decade, most especially we rejoice in the growth of our jurisdiction from a mere handful to current membership of seventy clergy and deaconesses as well as small groups of faithful lay members and supporters. It has been my privilege to lead and guide the church as best I can and it is no understatement to say it has been a rollercoaster at times, whilst at other times it has required of me a determination akin to driving a steam-roller, full steam ahead! I thank God for the level heads of a few colleagues in the episcopate who have helped steer the barque of the church into calm waters!
Since I first read of him in “Bishops at Large” by Peter Anson about 17 years ago I have felt very drawn to the eccentric and inspirational character of Bishop Jean Pierre Danyel, now better known by his episcopal name of Mar Tugdual. He was involved with the Breton Gorsedd - according to Anson he aimed to “revive Druidic rites and customs” - and of course he hoped that many would manage to shake off the straight-jacket of Romanism and join the Sainte Eglise Celtique, thereby reviving the religious life of their Breton ancestors. Sadly, converts were few and never persevered, not least because our dear Tugdual had to work as an occasional farm laborer in order to keep body and soul together and apart from the piece of land at Bois Juhel, near St Dolay, and the beautiful hermitage which he built there, he had few resources to support his mission. There at his “Abbaye de la Sainte Présence” Mar Tugdual lived the authentic life of a Celtic hermit, combining warm hospitality with fervent religious observances.
As no doubt some of you are aware, especially those who have been with us since the beginning, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the restoration of our branch of the Holy Celtic Church, the church originally founded in Brittany in 1956 by our predecessor in the Apostolic Succession, St Tugdual of St Dolay. We give thanks to the Great Light for all the blessings we have received over this decade, most especially we rejoice in the growth of our jurisdiction from a mere handful to current membership of seventy clergy and deaconesses as well as small groups of faithful lay members and supporters. It has been my privilege to lead and guide the church as best I can and it is no understatement to say it has been a rollercoaster at times, whilst at other times it has required of me a determination akin to driving a steam-roller, full steam ahead! I thank God for the level heads of a few colleagues in the episcopate who have helped steer the barque of the church into calm waters!
Since I first read of him in “Bishops at Large” by Peter Anson about 17 years ago I have felt very drawn to the eccentric and inspirational character of Bishop Jean Pierre Danyel, now better known by his episcopal name of Mar Tugdual. He was involved with the Breton Gorsedd - according to Anson he aimed to “revive Druidic rites and customs” - and of course he hoped that many would manage to shake off the straight-jacket of Romanism and join the Sainte Eglise Celtique, thereby reviving the religious life of their Breton ancestors. Sadly, converts were few and never persevered, not least because our dear Tugdual had to work as an occasional farm laborer in order to keep body and soul together and apart from the piece of land at Bois Juhel, near St Dolay, and the beautiful hermitage which he built there, he had few resources to support his mission. There at his “Abbaye de la Sainte Présence” Mar Tugdual lived the authentic life of a Celtic hermit, combining warm hospitality with fervent religious observances.
I am glad to say that notwithstanding his attraction to Celtic Orthodoxy St Tugdual retained his connection with Druidry and on one occasion actually received a visit from Ross Nichols, Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, whom he ordained to the diaconate and appointed “Archdeacon of the Isles”. Naturally, having been a member of the same Druid order myself since 1999 St Tugdual’s Celtic Christian/Druidic spirituality appealed to me greatly, so after a few years of trying several jurisdictions, my little community and I settled on a renewal of the Holy Celtic Church, inspired by him. Today, St Tugdual is better known and revered by several independent churches than he ever was in life and of course his legacy lives on most especially in the Celtic Orthodox community at La Sainte Presence, St Dolay, built on the site of his original hermitage. It is well worth a visit.
St Tugdual died suddenly in 1968, his dreams of a local Celtic Christian community unfulfilled, yet his holy life and unique example have inspired many of us and continue to bear fruit. Following his example the new-monastics of our church are drawn towards a semi-eremitical life, yet happily thanks to modern means of communication we have also been able to create a global community with relative ease. For most of us, both the solitary devotional life and communal worship are equally essential, so for those members of our church and orders who live at a great distance from others, our regular Sunday Evensong via video call is a particular blessing. Let us, therefore, thank the Most High for our modern means of maintaining contact and building community! Even in the hypothetical scenario of an internet blackout I believe that the networks we have created would endure, for not only are we connected to our fellow members with the bonds of a shared faith, moreover, several of us have also cultivated a degree of spiritual awareness enabling connection “on the inner planes”. In those inner realms we commune with our spiritual ancestors and teachers, who though they have left the earthly body are still very much part of our community.
St Tugdual died suddenly in 1968, his dreams of a local Celtic Christian community unfulfilled, yet his holy life and unique example have inspired many of us and continue to bear fruit. Following his example the new-monastics of our church are drawn towards a semi-eremitical life, yet happily thanks to modern means of communication we have also been able to create a global community with relative ease. For most of us, both the solitary devotional life and communal worship are equally essential, so for those members of our church and orders who live at a great distance from others, our regular Sunday Evensong via video call is a particular blessing. Let us, therefore, thank the Most High for our modern means of maintaining contact and building community! Even in the hypothetical scenario of an internet blackout I believe that the networks we have created would endure, for not only are we connected to our fellow members with the bonds of a shared faith, moreover, several of us have also cultivated a degree of spiritual awareness enabling connection “on the inner planes”. In those inner realms we commune with our spiritual ancestors and teachers, who though they have left the earthly body are still very much part of our community.
Since my last pastoral communication during the Easter season, we've experienced both sorrow and joy. We mourn the sudden passing of our dear Dom Fabian LoSchiavo OSBA, our only priest in Australia, a devoted Benedictine and cherished friend. May he rest in peace and rise in glory!
On a brighter note, over the last few months I have had the pleasure of admitting a Franciscan novice in the Netherlands, a Benedictine novice in Belgium and presided at the online Solemn Profession for a Franciscan Brother in Australia. Additionally, we've authorized the ordination to priesthood of our esteemed brother, Fr. Geraldo in Belém, Brazil, just a few weeks ago. So we all continue to serve as best we can, we gain some souls and we regrettably we also lose some, which is the natural way of things among Indies, but let us remain vigilant that we may avoid losing a brother or sister who feels too isolated to continue the walk with us. Be thoughtful and look out for each other, as together we strive to build an authentic loving community.
The Canticle at the beginning of Mass reminds us, “We are no more strangers and foreigners: but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets: Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone.
In whom all the building fitly framed together: groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord; In whom ye also are built together: for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”
Warm fraternal blessings to you all,
+Alistair OSBA,
Titualar Abbot-Bishop of Glendalough & Primus
The Canticle at the beginning of Mass reminds us, “We are no more strangers and foreigners: but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets: Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone.
In whom all the building fitly framed together: groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord; In whom ye also are built together: for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”
Warm fraternal blessings to you all,
+Alistair OSBA,
Titualar Abbot-Bishop of Glendalough & Primus