‘Before’ -
Beyond all doubt the biggest news back on the home front
was the return of our boat, the Stella Maris, newly refurbished and, indeed,
unrecognisably improved after its sojourn at Mr R. Duncan’s boatyard at Burray in Orkney.
Here the Stella Maris as she was Before.

‘After’ –
A red-letter day in the Golgotha Monastery Island chronicles:
“Saturday, 26 May 2001, Feast of St Philip Neri. Today our newly refurbished boat the Stella Maris
arrived on the steamer from Kirkwall. Our friend Mr W. Miller was kind enough to help us launch her
after the beautiful ceremony of blessing, which included the singing of the twenty-fourth chapter
of St John’s Gospel and of the Ave Maris Stella.

From the Rite of Blessing in the Rituale Romanum:
“Hear our supplications O Lord, and bless this vessel and all who sail in her with Thy holy right hand,
as Thou didst deign to bless the ark of Noe as it set forth in the deluge. Support her, O Lord, with Thy right hand,
as Thou didst support Peter as he walked on the sea. Send forth Thy holy angel from Heaven,
that he might deliver and preserve her and all who sail in her from every peril ...
Thou Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the Unity of the Holy Ghost for ever and ever. Amen”
The boat is named the Stella Maris in honour of Our Lady,
whom sailors have honoured as the ‘Star of the Sea’ from time immemorial.