Cardinal Coutts visits Mepkin

On Saturday, July 4th Cardinal Coutts, archbishop emeritus of Karachi, Pakistan, came to Mepkin for a brief visit.  His eminence came to South Carolina to celebrate the anniversary of ordination of a priest from Pakistan who is serving a parish in Bluffton within the Diocese of Charleston.  While in South Carolina he also visited Father Norbert from Pakistan, who is the pastor of the local parish in Moncks Corner, Saint Philip Benezi.  Father Norbert contacted us to say the cardinal would like to come and see the monastery.  

Pope Francis named Archbishop Coutts a cardinal after he retired from serving the faithful as archbishop of Karachi.  Many say this was in recognition of his work as a bridge builder in his country where Roman Catholics are a very small portion of the overall population.  Cardinal Coutts’ motto – “HARMONY” – may be a reflection of his many years of promoting dialogue among the various religious traditions observed by the people living inPakistan.  As we all know the Muslim faith is a very strong presence in that part of the world.  We shared with the cardinal that our first abbot, Father Anthony, initiated ecumenical dialogue during his time as abbot.  It was a wonderful privilege to have Cardinal Coutts spend a brief time with us at Mepkin.