At Sea, En Route to Tristan da Cunha
We are making our way through the roaring forties today and they are living up to their name. We are sailing north from South Georgia to Tristan da Cunha across the great expanse of the South Atlantic. These islands, and those which we will visit after Tristan, are far removed from one another and from the administrative centers which govern them from the Falkland Islands or from London. Tristan da Cunha, for example, is proud to be the "Most Remote (Inhabited) Place on Earth". Travelling with us this year from the Falklands to Tristan we are honored to have Monsignor Michael McPartland. Msgr. McPartland has an Irish background, but was born in England. He is currently Apostolic Prelate of the South Atlantic and is in charge of all the Roman Catholic missions of these islands. He is on his way to bring his ministry to his parishioners on Tristan who must depend on lay ministers most of the year. This year will be different because Msgr. McPartland is traveling all the way from the Falklands to be with them over the Easter period.
He is travelling with us because it is the only way to get there. In past years on this voyage up the Mid-Atlantic Ridge we have sailed in the company of Bishop John Salt, the Anglican Bishop of Saint Helena who was travelling to Ascension Island for Easter, and with other citizens of Saint Helena who are trying to get home or to get to Ascension Island. In this lonely part of the planet there are only two airfields, one in the Falklands and one on Ascension Island. All other travel and supply must be done by ship—and the ships are few and far between. We are very pleased to be able to help people get around when there are really no other alternatives, and it is a great pleasure for all of us aboard to learn of the problems and opportunities associated with the administration of such a far-flung ecclesiastic jurisdiction.
We are making our way through the roaring forties today and they are living up to their name. We are sailing north from South Georgia to Tristan da Cunha across the great expanse of the South Atlantic. These islands, and those which we will visit after Tristan, are far removed from one another and from the administrative centers which govern them from the Falkland Islands or from London. Tristan da Cunha, for example, is proud to be the "Most Remote (Inhabited) Place on Earth". Travelling with us this year from the Falklands to Tristan we are honored to have Monsignor Michael McPartland. Msgr. McPartland has an Irish background, but was born in England. He is currently Apostolic Prelate of the South Atlantic and is in charge of all the Roman Catholic missions of these islands. He is on his way to bring his ministry to his parishioners on Tristan who must depend on lay ministers most of the year. This year will be different because Msgr. McPartland is traveling all the way from the Falklands to be with them over the Easter period.
He is travelling with us because it is the only way to get there. In past years on this voyage up the Mid-Atlantic Ridge we have sailed in the company of Bishop John Salt, the Anglican Bishop of Saint Helena who was travelling to Ascension Island for Easter, and with other citizens of Saint Helena who are trying to get home or to get to Ascension Island. In this lonely part of the planet there are only two airfields, one in the Falklands and one on Ascension Island. All other travel and supply must be done by ship—and the ships are few and far between. We are very pleased to be able to help people get around when there are really no other alternatives, and it is a great pleasure for all of us aboard to learn of the problems and opportunities associated with the administration of such a far-flung ecclesiastic jurisdiction.
