Falkland Islands

Yesterday our Sub-Prior, Very Rev John Wisdom o.praem., began his 16-hour journey, via Ascension Island to the Falkland Islands where he will be for the next six months. Fr John will be on supply in St Mary's Catholic Church, Stanley, Falkland Islands, whilst the Apostolic Prefect Mons. Michael Bernard McPartland, S.M.A., takes a break from his work in the South Atlantic, and then travels around the rest of the prefecture.The area that the Norbertines of St Philip's Priory, Chelmsford, serve will (temporarily) increase from our two parishes in the Diocese of Brentwood to roughly a sixth of the surface of the planet.The Apostolic Prefecture of the Falkland Islands was established by the Holy Father in 1952 and from 1952 to 2002 was cared for by the Mill Hill Missionaries, in 2002 the responsibility transferred to the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, though the Prefect is appointed directly by the Holy See.In 1986 the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, , off the coast of West Africa, were removed from the jurisdiction of Archdiocese of Cape Town and became a sui iuris mission, the Apostolic Prefect of the Falkland Islands was then made the Ecclesiastical Superior of this mission.As Fr John begins his work in the Falkland Islands we ask your prayers for him and the Catholics in the South Atlantic, and implore the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, Star of the Sea, and Our Holy Fathers Augustine and Norbert that his work might be blessed.For more information on the Apostolic Prefecture of the Falklands please visit their website: http://southatlanticromancatholicchurch.com/