Pictured above: Sr Ann Gray and Parishioners
When the Society of St. Columban, the Columban Fathers, were founded in 1918 and the Missionary Sisters of St. Columban were founded a few years later in 1924, both missionary groups took St. Columbanus as their patron. When I joined the Columban Sisters, I have to admit, I had never heard of St Columbanus. I thought the saint the Sisters were talking about with such devotion and admiration was St. Columcille! Both the Columban Fathers and the Columban Sisters were founded for mission in China and I soon came to realise that what drove these missionary priests and Sisters was actually the same as what inspired Columbanus and gave him the energy to leave his home here in Myshall and respond to the invitation we heard today in the Gospel – “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” This was the call that Columbanus heard so long ago in the sixth century – a voice deep within him which gave him the inspiration and the courage to set out from here on a pilgrim journey which took him across Ireland from the shadow of Mt. Leinster, up to the North to Cleenish and Bangor and then, at around 50 years of age, to leave the shores of Ireland for Brittany, France, Austria and Italy.
As a young Sister reading about Columbanus and reflecting on his writings, I very quickly grew in appreciation of him as I could see that he wanted to live his whole life as a disciple of Christ. His biographer in the sixth century, Jonas, who frequently refers to him as ‘the man of God,’ states that, “Wherever he went, Columbanus took care to preach the Gospel.” As a missionary, I could resonate with his sense of restlessness, the urge to leave home and share the Gospel message. In addition to being strongly drawn to his love of nature, he inspires me to follow his example of spending time in solitude in order to experience that sense of Easter peace and the strength to be able to respond to the call to be sent.
In 2006, I had the unforgettable opportunity to join the Columban pilgrimage organised by Fr. Derry Healy across the countries of Europe where Columbanus had set up monasteries which had attracted many to his way of life and mission. One of my strongest impressions during this pilgrimage across Europe was amazement at how Columbanus was so well known in each of these countries and so well remembered and revered. Clearly, Columbanus has never been forgotten in Europe. But at that time, in Ireland (and in Scotland) most people still confused him with Columcille.
Fast forward to 2014 – when preparations began to celebrate the fourteen hundredth anniversary of the death of Columbanus in 2015. I became very involved in this and it was here that I began to get to know some of the people in Myshall. One of the outcomes of these celebrations was the decision to develop a pilgrim route to link up with the Columban Way already well established in Europe.
In the ten years since we had that big celebration, the people in Myshall, in partnership with Carlow County Council, have done so much to develop the first section of this route of the Columban Way here in Ireland. They are an example and an inspiration so that for those who walk this first stage of the Via Columbani, they truly experience a journey of discovery. Beginning at the Nine Stones, I have walked this section of the Columban Way many times – sometimes with those of the people whom I know in Myshall, sometimes with our Columban Sisters and often with people I meet along the way – people whose initial contact with me is as a stranger but walking together as pilgrims, we do not continue as strangers for long.
Through the work done here around Myshall in developing the Columban Way, the people have put into practice the spirit of Columbanus who spent his life striving to encourage peace, and reconciliation. They have given me and the people with whom I have walked the opportunity to share some of the joys and concerns that are part of life for everyone and in that sharing, to come away refreshed and renewed. Probably unknown to themselves, they have succeeded in working in a spirit of openness, tolerance, and respect, following the example of Columbanus and his disciples who, like them, cherished the natural world, all creatures that inhabit it and all people, whatever their origins or beliefs.
2015 also happened to be the time when we Columban Sisters brought our mission in Hong Kong to completion. Before we left Hong Kong, we had helped form a small group of Friends of St. Columban. This local group of lay men and women, just like the people of Myshall, continue to strive to develop in their daily lives the spirit of Columbanus. In September last year, our Congregation celebrated our Centenary – we are now 101 years old! Maria Liu, one of our Hong Kong Friends of St. Columban, came from Hong Kong to Ireland to join our Centenary celebrations. After a visit to Myshall, she shared the following with us – ‘My journey of gratitude began in pilgrimage to Myshall and the Columban Way which transformed into a true blessing. In the past I tended to walk quickly but this time I slowed down to discover more. As I gazed at the hills and felt the wind blowing, I was in awe of God’s creation all around me. One moment that particularly excited me was when I spotted a large bell by the roadside. I struck it with a stone and the echoing sound was beautiful. While walking along the Columban Way we had brought a small bell with us and we rang it as we went along. The phrase, “Let us be Christs’ and not our own” echoed in my heart reminding me of the words of St. Columbanus and renewing my strength to continue my journey. Without the Lord’s grace, we can do nothing, everything we accomplish is through him.’
A few years before Maria’s visit, three of our Korean Sisters made visits to Myshall and walked part of the Columban Way as part of their preparation to make Final Vows. For each of them and for Maria, the experience of the holiness of this land here offered them an unforgettable experience and brought each one of them even closer to the spirit of St Columbanus and to God. Now, as well as being known in Europe, the people in this parish, have actually played a part in bringing Columbanus to the people of Asia. Through them, our Korean Sisters and Maria from Hong Kong experienced first-hand the meaning of one of Columbanus’ famous sayings – ‘Whether we are Franks, Irish or Britons or whatever race, we are members of one body.’
And now in July of this Jubilee Holy Year, we will be welcoming Friends of St. Columbanus and other pilgrims to Myshall and Carlow to celebrate in Ireland for the first time the International Meeting of the Columban Communities. And we will surely have Pope Francis looking down on us from heaven as we help to fulfil his desire that “Pilgrims of hope will not fail to walk along ancient and modern paths to intensely live the Jubilee experience.”
And may the paths of Myshall and Mount Leinster inspire us as we continue to pray, “Let us be Christ’s and not our own.”
By Sr. Ann Gray