The Summons - THEN

I had not been very interested in my Scottish ancestry, until the late nineties when I was in my forties. As a young man my father told me, "son, don't ever get interested in genealogy because you come from a long line of drunks and thieves." Enough said. Not sure how it happened but while I was working in New Jersey I caught the Celtic connection bug and would buy my kilt (filabeg) from Pipers' Cove in Kearny.

Later with my transfer back to Virginia, I took up residence in the Fredericksburg area and attended my first Scottish Highland Games there. At one of the festival booths I find the Clan McCallum Malcolm Society address and joined. I learned of the St. Columba connection to my name and was inspired by the life of this Saint. I also joined the Fredericksburg Scottish Society.


During this time I had been 'struggling' with a perceived call that I may have to ordination as a priest in the Episcopal Church. With entering the new century I found myself in a fortuitous situation that allowed me to step back from a fast pace professional work life and to discern this call to ordained ministry. I began the formal discernment process with the church and started taking online and intensive week long campus courses at Trinity Episcopal School of Ministry.

On December 7th 2002, I received my copy of the Argent Castle from the Clan McCallum Malcolm Society. As I sat in my office reading it and turned to the last page where I read an article by Donald McCallum who was calling men of the clan to join him in re-enacting St. Columba's departure in 563 AD from Ireland with twelve monk companions sailing to Scotland. Where they would establish an abbey on the Isle of Iona. These monks would bring the Christian faith to Scotland and northern England. Donald wanted to re-enact the voyage, but more importantily fan the embers of a diminishing Christian faith in his native Scotland.

When I finished the article, I called to my wife, Sharon who was in the kitchen that I believed God had placed me in front of an open door. She replied then I must go through it.

Donald had only gave his email address to contact him. I searched for his phone number via the internet and found it. I called and got Donald immediately. I told him I just had read his article in the newsletter. I explained that I was a Christian and had done some sailing. Yes, Donald exclaimed and a member of the clan! Donald explained that he had a letter of commitment to sign, but I was now welcomed aboard to be part of the crew.

As it turned out I would be the last of the four man American contingent. Donald had a fellow member of his church that was to go - Emmanuel Gorres. Donald had gave a presentation to the Washington DC, St. Andrews Society and two men had stepped forward; Tony Watson and David Levite.

Later That evening my wife asked about the door God had placed in front of me. After I told her about the voyage, she asked are you sure it's from God? Yes, I was!

Within a couple of weeks Donald, Tony, David and myself met for dinner at an Italian restaurant in Woodbridge to discuss the trip. There would be a couple of more meetings to make preparation for our departure.

Donald had been putting the trip together for over a year and had the ground laid on the other side of the pond with more crew members, boat, support and itinerary with local people to met us as we sailed along the coast.

It seemed Donald had thought of everything. His enthusism was contaigous. I had the expectation of an event of a life time. As it would prove to be.

I would be commissioned by my local church and Donald and David participated. When Donald heard the offetory song, he recognized it as the Summons from the Iona Community written by John Bell. The lady who sang it was my wife Sharon.

Six months had flew by from signing up. We would be departing for Ireland to begin this journey of a lifetime.