Mother Nikola's Silver Jubilee

On August 06, we had the great joy of celebrating the 25th anniversary of Mother Nikola’s Solemn Profession. The occasion of Mother’s Jubilee was made especially joyous as we had the pleasure of welcoming Mother Franziska Kloos OSB, Abbess of St. Walburga’s Abbey Eichstatt. Abbot Hugh Gilbert of Pluscarden Abbey was main celebrant and Mother Nikola’s brother Michael concelebrated. Her sister Angela, and her brothers Johannes and Tobias, and Eglantine and the children were with us for several days and helped to entertain us during the Silver Jubilee celebrations. Although they could not be with us, her parents were very close in prayer. Mother Nikola says: “We have a custom of choosing an additional patron saint when we celebrate a monastic jubilee. I choose St. Lioba, an Anglo Saxon nun and missionary to Germany. She entered the monastery of Wimbourne in Dorset- the same community which St. Walburga originally came. It seems she spent a number of years here at Minster, studying under St. Edburga, the third Abbess. Later she followed her great kinsman, St. Boniface to Germany. Her monastic foundations in Thuringia became centres of teaching and pastoral care. St. Lioba was renowned for her love of the Liturgy, her great care of the poor and the sick and her cheerfulness. Her name- actually a nick-name means “Beloved”.

1. Mother Nikola on her Silver Jubilee Day
2. Mother Nikola at her First Profession
3. Mother Nikola with her nephew Emmanuel
4. Mother Nikola following the Celebration Mass
5. Mother Nikola with her sister Angela