St John Ogilvie was born in a Presbyterian family in the Keith area, Moray. As a young man, he converted to Catholicism, became a Jesuit priest and secretly ministered to Catholics and converts in Scotland. He was martyred in Glasgow on 10 March 1615. St John Paul II canonised him in 1976. Each year, on Saturday close to the 10 March, a special Mass is celebrated in St Thomas’ Church in Keith (AB55 5AL). This year it will be held on Saturday, 8 March, at 2 pm.
For those who love the countryside and active life, there’s a walking pilgrimage from St Peter’s Church, Buckie (AB56 1BU), to St Thomas’ Church, Keith, to arrive in time for St John Ogilvie Mass. The route runs along the old trail called “The Fishwives Path” on the tarmacked, quiet country roads and forest dirt tracks, with two possible muddy stretches. It offers excellent views of the Moray Firth and the rolling countryside. The distance is about 20 kilometres and requires proper walking gear. For more details, see the poster below.
