Three Transalpine Redemptorists Flee Monastery Island

Two priests and a subdeacon of the Transalpine Redemptorists have fled from the monastery island of Papa Stronsay, Scotland, according to PressAndJournal.co.uk on May 20.

The three reportedly coordinated their departure with Bishop Hugh Gilbert of Aberdeen, who is expected to establish a new community with them in his diocese. They are said to have secretly contacted the bishop using a monastery laptop and left the island by boat without informing their superiors. The plan was discovered on the laptop on the day of their departure.

Father Anthony Mary criticized the men for leaving in secret. “They left on the evening boat, and we have heard nothing since — no word, no explanation, nothing,” he said. He also accused Bishop Hugh Gilbert of having “worked against us.”

Father Michael Mary, founder of the Transalpine Redemptorists, said the three left because of “theological differences.”

The departure came shortly after the community published a manifesto rejecting the legitimacy of all popes since Paul VI.

The three former members are said to be staying at an undisclosed location under the care of the diocesan bishop.

Their departure comes only weeks after another member, Justin Evans, 25, was “lost to the sea” on April 11. His body has not yet been positively identified.

The Transalpine Redemptorists were founded in 1988 and were initially closely associated with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X. After Benedict XVI eased restrictions on the traditional liturgy in 2007, the order returned to communion with Rome in 2008. It was recognized by the Diocese of Aberdeen in 2012 and has also been present in New Zealand since 2017.

Critics accuse the Transalpine Redemptorists of fostering a personality cult around its two leading priests, Fr. Anthony Mary and Fr. Michael Mary.

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john3337 days ago

And your point being ?

Father Michael Marylast week

youtube.com/watch?v=aecGGbohSAs

Father Michael Marylast week

The link is the clip of the burial of Br Ignatius Maria, 13 May 2026.

Father Michael Marylast week

FACTUAL CORRECTIONS:
The two priests and seminarian who left the Transalpine Redemptorists:
1) The text above makes it sound as though they "escaped" in a boat. This is inaccurate. They did not live in Papa Stronsay but in Stronsay. They simply walked from the house in which they were living and took the evening ferry. That they "fled" is media nonsense.
2) Clearly because they left to go to the Bishop of Aberdeen they had to have been in contact with him. It was not a secret. Their complaints to the Bishop of Aberdeen had been ongoing since October 2025, but indeed without any reference to the monastery superior. All attempts by the superiors to talk matters through were in vain.
3) The date that they left the house in Stronsay and took the ferry was: 27 March. This was not after the death of Brother Ignatius Maria. Brother died 12 April. The text above wrongly states that Brother's body had not yet been found as of yesterday (23 May). Brother's body was found and positively identified on 7 May. He was buried on 13 May.
4) The departure of the three members did not come "shortly after" the publication of the "manifesto" as reported in the text above. The departure of the three was 27 March. The declaration was made only on 2 May. Thus the departure of the three members came "shortly before" the declaration. Also, the three good men did not know of the Declaration at the time of their sudden departure for the Bishop of Aberdeen. Again an inaccuracy.
5) The Transalpine Redemptorists have been in Christchurch not since 2017 but in fact since 2007, nearly 20 years and with what was deemed to have been a "canonical house".
6) My own note: I think that Fr Anthony was right to protest the departure of vowed men from their canonical house without reference to the legitimate superior. The legitimate superior was under no canonical penalty and nor were any of the members of the community. Objectively that was breaking canon law. They rejected the superior who had been appointed on the 26 March and walked out. It was not the correct manner of leaving a house.

J T Mlast week

You can either belong to the Club, or you can belong to the Church.

Ari Blast week

That’s sad that they went back to the CounterChurch. Back to the “church” of pervs.

Lux de Coelolast week

@SonoftheChurch how right you are!

Lux de Coelolast week

Who says its a false Papacy

SonoftheChurchlast week

They did not want to be sedevacantists. Nor to drink from such poison. Who can blame them?

la verdad prevalecelast week

Regrettably, the Prophecy of Saint Francis of Assisi warned that, during this time of the reign of the false papacy, there would be various schisms among the people.

Ari Blast week

I have my doubts that this is the time he was referring to. I think that is already long past. This is the time of the Novus Ordo CounterChurch and the smaller true Church.