A major conference on the sixth century Irish missionary, St
Columban, later this month will begin the commemorations ahead of the
1,400th anniversary of his death in 2015.
‘St Columban and his relevance for the 21st century’ will take place
from 30 August to 1 September at the headquarters of the Columban order
in Dalgan Park, Co Meath.
A host of speakers will assess his contribution to the Church in Ireland and beyond.
It will conclude with an ecumenical service celebrated by the Church
of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin and Glendalough, the Most Reverend
Michael Jackson.
On the first day of the conference, Dr Damian Bracken of the
Department of History at University College Cork will discuss ‘The
Ireland which gave birth to Columban.’
On Saturday 31 August, Professor Jean-Michel Picard of the French
Department at University College Dublin will discuss ‘The Europe which
Columban Encountered when he Arrived in Luxeuil in 590AD.’
That same day, Fr Tommy Murphy, a former Superior General of the
Society of St Columban, and who has worked in Korea, Taiwan, Ireland and
China, will give a lecture entitled, ‘Columban’s Search for the
Heroic.’
Fr Murphy accompanied the Taoiseach Enda Kenny on a visit to the tomb
of St Columban in Bobbio in Italy on 10 June last, where Mr Kenny
signed a petition asking Pope Francis to make St Columban a patron of
Europe.
In his address, the Taoiseach said the Irish monk, who founded a
religious community in Bobbio in 614, could be seen as a truly European
figure.
“As a former teacher myself, I am well aware of the history and
tradition of educators, missionaries and saints from Ireland. I am well
aware of the history and the origins of Columbanus,” he said.
The Taoiseach added, “Back in the sixth century, he was writing in a
letter to Pope Gregory the Great about ‘Totius Europae’ – I suppose
politicians today might look back on that with interest. . . It is also
indicative of the fact that Ireland made an enormous, disproportionate
contribution beyond our own shores.”
Other lectures due to be given during the conference in Navan include
a talk by Dr Johnston McMaster, who is a lecturer and co-ordinator of
the Education for Reconciliation programme with the Irish School of
Ecumenics, entitled, ‘Columban spoke the truth to those in power in his
day; What would he be saying today?’
Well known Columban ecologist and ACP spokesman, Fr Sean McDonagh,
will discuss ‘Columban and God’s Creation’ while historian Clare
Stancliffe will lecture on ‘Columban’s Spirituality. What inspired
Columban?’
The life of Columbanus was written by Jonas, an Italian monk of the Columban community at Bobbio, c643.