A Sculpture by Imogen Stuart to celebrate the legacy of Saint Columbanus was inaugurated in the courtyard of the Centre Culturel Irlandaise of the  Irish College Paris.

The sculpture was commissioned by the Columban Fathers, the Foundation Irlandaise and the Irish Bishops Conference and was named as above by the artist.

German-born Imogen Stuart is one of Ireland’s best-known sculptors.

The monument was inaugurated on St Columban’s Day, November 23, 2005 by the President of Ireland, Mrs Mary McAleese.

Following an initiative by Fr Eugene Ryan of the Columban Fathers, on the occasion of the reopening of the Irish College Centre Cuturel Irlandais Paris, the courtyard sees the installation of a major work of sculpture by one of Ireland’s most renowned sculptors.

The coming together of the three sponsors through their active involvement in the commission reflects the power of unity of purpose.

Two Columban Sisters, Ann Ryan, congregational leader (right) and Marie Galvin home from her mission in Pakistan were present at the inauguration ceremony.

The Flame of Human dignity is a sculpture in Portuguese Limestone and represents the wings of two birds touching, symbolising peace and unity. The sculpture celebrates Europe as conceived by the European visionary St Columbanus, the Irishman who has arguably had the greatest impact on European history.

This monumental sculpture, standing over four meters tall is a celebration of craftsmanship – stone carver Philip O Neill has imbued its powerful wings with a sense of delicacy and gentleness, underpinned by strength and solidity in heroic gesture.

The President paid tribute to St Columbaus as follows:

“Columbanus was one of many Irish monks whose lives were dedicated to pilgrimage, exile and evangelism.  But his is the name that sticks.  So much so that Robert Schuman one of the founders of the European Union called Columbanus: “One of the patron saints of all those who today seek to build a united Europe”

The successors of Columbanus, Mrs McAleese said, are “all those who seek reconciliation who invest in peace, who instil respect for the otherness of others, who forswear sectarianism … Columbanus is the father of us all, whether we are Protestant or Catholic, Unioinist or Nationalist,”

The inauguration ceremony included addresses by Bishop Joseph Duffy, representing the Irish Bishop’s Conference, Tommy Murphy SSC, representing Columban Fathers, and representatives of the Foundation Irlandaise.  Imogen Stuart explained that she herself was surprised at the way her own reflective and artistic talents had given birth to this artistic monument.  Very simply and profoundly she said that it had been a contemplative experience for her over the four and half years, it had taken.

To contact the Columban Sisters,
E-mail:  

columbansrs@eircom.net