Fr Jamie McMorrin, of St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh, has praised the vital work religious sisters do in the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh.

Writing in his regular column in the Scottish Catholic Observer he said "The religious sisters who work in our diocese do a great deal more than help out the priests. They serve and enrich the Church in a whole variety of ways: in education, in social justice, in spiritual formation and in the service of the poor."

He highlighted the work of the Cathedral's secretary Sr Mary Simone, a Sister of Mercy, saying: "Hers is the smiling face that usually answers the door, the patient voice that answers the telephone and the author of the handwritten notes I find on my desk, averting disaster by reminding me of the things I’ve forgotten. I’m sure her patience is sorely tested by the varied eccentricities of the Cathedral clergy, but she doesn’t let it show."

Fr Jamie also highlighted the need for all of us to pray that God would call more women to consecrate their lives to Him as religious.

He said: "The Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh has recently appointed Sr Mirjam Hugens as director of vocations to the religious life, helping women who feel called to serve the Lord in this way to discern the next steps. As she said: 'Women considering the religious life often don’t know where to turn. I’m happy that I will now be there for them'."

"Last week, she organised the first in a series of ‘Ask Me Anything’ question-and-answer sessions for women thinking about the religious life and has produced a prayer card which has been given to all parishes.

"I hope that these efforts bear fruit! Like Pope Francis, I can’t imagine life in our parish and in our diocese without the presence of religious sisters. They help me to be a better priest and help all of us to be better followers of Jesus. May the Lord send us many more!"

  • The monthly Mass for Vocations takes place at St Columba’s Church, 9 Upper Gray Street on Monday 2nd March at 6:30pm. It is followed at 7:30pm with 'Ask Me Anything', a relaxed Q&A session featuring a religious sister - this month it's Sr Karin Hugens FSO.
  • If you are based in the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh and want to chat about the religious life, contact Sr Mirjam on 0131 623 8902, religiousvocations@staned.org.uk. For the priesthood, contact Fr Andrew Garden on 0131 663 4286, vocations@staned.org.uk. 

Read Fr Jamie's column in this week's Scottish Catholic Observer