The founder of a monastery on a remote Scottish island where a New Zealand monk disappeared says it is believed he has been suffering from “long-term hypothermia”.
Justin Evans, 24 and originally from Christchurch, was last seen within the Golgotha Monasteryon Papa Stronsay, Orkney, shortly before midnight on Saturday.
Evans was described by Scotland police as being 1.83m tall with short hair and a dark beard. He spoke with a New Zealand accent and was last seen wearing a white robe, police said.
Father Michael Mary, the founder of the traditionalist Catholic order Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, which owns the monastery, said coastguards, helicopters and police had searched the island for Evans.
The vicar general of the monastery, Father Anthony Mary said he had been the last one to speak to Evans hours earlier and he had been “fortified with confession” the night before.
The monastery community is deeply affected and hoping for Justin Evans' recovery, while New Zealand authorities are also aware of the situation. Photo / Supplied
“We have no explanation of why this happened,” the message said.
A spokesperson for the order in New Zealand, also known as the Transalpine Redemptorists, said everyone in the order knew and loved Evans dearly.
“Our hearts are completely broken with the loss of this beautiful man. He loved being part of the religious family and probably would have become a priest.”
A worker at a shop in Orkney said monks from Papa Stronsay would come to the area to use the post office but had lived a more “hermetic” lifestyle in recent years.
She said they had their own boat, which she suspected was the only way to get off the island.
The temperature of the water at this time of year was still very cold, the woman said, and swimming was not recommended.
While the island was small, a local councillor earlier said it was not entirely isolated.
Dr Stephen Clackson was the Orkney Islands Council member for the North Isles Ward, which includes Papa Stronsay, and said he visited the monastery last year.
“We enjoyed a tour of the island and of the monastery and were made to feel most welcome. It is impressive everything that The Sons have achieved in the quarter-century their order has been present on the island, and all that they currently do and have planned for the future,” Clackson wrote in his regular newsletter to constituents.
“They are often seen on the ferry travelling back and forth to Kirkwall [Orkney’s capital], eg to do shopping in the supermarkets or en route to travel further afield. They have a house and chapel on Stronsay in the village of Whitehall and engage with the community there.”
Clackson said he hoped Evans was “found safe and well soon”.
The Transalpine Redemptorists were founded in the 1980s and had links to New Zealand, including a monastery near Geraldine.
The order was expelled from the Christchurch Diocese in 2024 after being accused of holding prolonged, unsanctioned exorcisms.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was aware of reports about Evan’s disappearance but for privacy reasons no further information could be provided.
