Jonas, the sixth century biographer of our patron, said of St. Columbanus “crowds of people from all over were attracted by his fame.” This was never more true than the weekend in July this year when hundreds of us, from all over Europe and as far away as Hong Kong, gathered in Co. Carlow under the banner, theme, ‘Walking Together in Hope’. Beginning in Carlow County Museum with the launch of the Exhibition, ‘Ireland and the Birth of Europe’, Professor Daibhi O’Cronin, outlined the strong influence that Ireland had all over Europe in the early centuries.
Under the lively guidance of Cynthia Ni Mhurchum, MEP, Father Sean McDonagh and Ann Gray then shared on the theme, ‘If you want to know the Creator, understand creation’.
The evening saw us gathering in the Church of Ireland Adelaide Memorial Church of the Redeemer in Myshall where Rector Lester Scot reminded us that as we gathered as Christians of different traditions, we were cherishing the intrinsic message of Columbanus, ‘unity in diversity’ among the diverse peoples of Europe and beyond. After processing from the Adelaide Church to the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Myshall, a relic of Columbanus was gifted to the parish. As Bishop Denis Nulty said, “Columbanus has come home.”
The next day saw over two hundred of us walking together as pilgrims on the beginning section of the Columban Way from the Nine Stones at the foot of Mount Leinster down to Myshall.
For many of us, we set off as strangers but as we made our way down, up and down the road again we had soon made new friends, all of us united through and in the spirit of Columbanus.
Any weariness that we felt from walking on such a hot day soon disappeared in the afternoon when we listened to Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland, share with us on the ‘Life enhancing vision of Columbanus, the man from Myshall’. Her passionate words reminded us of the ‘sacredness of each person and the earth – the sacred ordinary’. Her conviction is surely most pertinent today – “Columbanus believed with a ferocious certainty that love of one’s neighbour could change the world, could bring peace out of war and harmony out of discord. From his grave in Bobbio, Columbanus speaks still to a world that needs to hear and heed his voice”.
In the evening, our tired limbs were once again refreshed by the uplifting ‘Praise Resounds’ concert in the Cathedral of the Assumption in Carlow. The combination of various choirs, ensembles and soloists reminded us that through ‘Echoes of the Past’ is hope for the future.
Sunday morning saw us once again gathering in the Cathedral to celebrate Eucharist together. The theme was set with Pope Leo’s message of good wishes to all of us taking part in which he prayed that “by celebrating and reflecting on the witness of this ‘best known’ Irishman of the Middle Ages, the present event will bear much fruit for the building up of God’s kingdom in Ireland and beyond.”
In his homily, Bishop Denis Nulty, echoing the gospel of the day, remarked how Columbanus, like the Good Samaritan did not hold back in offering service. He reminded us that from the time Columbanus landed on the Breton shores, he did not look back – for him, Christ was always the anchor and centre of his mission.
The weekend came to an official close with a meal together but for the Magheramore community, our celebration continued into the next day as we prepared to welcome a large group of Friends of Columbanus from Piacenza and Bobbio on a visit to Magheramore. Although no one in Magheramore spoke Italian and very few of our visitors spoke English, all of us experienced the connection we have through following the ‘man from Myshall’ who continues to inspire and influence our lives of mission.
By Sr Ann Gray