ANNE-MARIE WILSON, a lay Carmelite and member of the third order of Carmel, has just graduated with an upper second class bachelor of arts degree in theology and ministry from St Cuthbert’s seminary, Ushaw College, Durham.
Durham University awarded the degree. The ceremony took place on July 2 in the majestic setting of Durham Cathedral.
Mrs Wilson said: “We were all blessed with the most gloriously sunny day which added to the immense joy of the occasion. All of my immediate family were there, my three adult daughters and my two grandchildren.” Mrs Wilson received congratulations from Bill Bryson, the chancellor of Durham University and a noted Anglophile, which she described as “a special moment” in the ceremony. Mrs Wilson is a parishioner of Our Lady and St Wilfrid’s Church in Blyth, Northumberland, part of the Hexham and Newcastle diocese.
“I feel privileged and honoured to have travelled alongside seminarians in the most challenging of subjects such as theology and ministry,” Mrs Wilson said. “I have undertaken all of my academic courses over the previous several years as a mature lay-student training for lay ministry in our Catholic Church.” Mrs Wilson also said the course had presented a number of logisitical difficulties. She said: “I travelled from Blyth to Durham each day and had my home and family to look after, but I can say it has all been worthwhile.” Mrs Wilson has applied for an Master of Arts course and awaits the outcome.