“The Columban Way is about working across the frontiers of religion, language and politics for peace and reconciliation,” Fr Raymond Husband told a number of national, international and local dignitaries who visited Dalgan last week to pay tribute to the legacy of the 6th century Irish missionary.
The visitors included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, Helen McEntee; the Irish Ambassador to Italy Elizabeth McCullough; the Ambassador of Italy to Ireland Nicola Faganello; Michela Linda Majri, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute; Sarah Reilly, Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council; Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive of Meath County Council; and Frank Deane, Mayor of Navan.
They were met by Fr Raymond Husband, former Regional Director of the Columbans in Ireland along with other members of the Regional Council, Columbans living in Dalgan, the General Manager, Philip Gunn, and staff from the Mission Office.
All photos: ColumbanMissionImages
They were joined by members of Turas Columbanus and Thomas Hodgins of the Knights of Columbanus, who accompanied the guests around Dalgan’s grounds as they viewed the outdoor exhibition of the Nine-Step Pilgrim Way. It incorporates sayings from the letters and sermons of St Columban with nature walks at various junctures of the Columban Way Pilgrimage Route across Europe such as in Bangor (Co Down), Myshall (Co Carlow), Gavenola, Vernasca and Andora (Italy).
The visit took place in the context of Navan town being twinned with the town of Bobbio, Italy, where St Columban died, and Ireland’s presidency of the EU.
In his words of welcome, Fr Husband said it was fitting on the occasion of Irish Presidency of European Union and the twinning of Italy with the Co Meath town that he extend the hand of welcome.
“The legacy of St Columban is central to the story of modern-day Europe,” he stated and noted that Robert Schumann, when French Foreign Minister, called St Columban ‘the patron saint’ for all who aspired to unite Europe in the wake of the destruction of two world wars.
“In recent years, we as Columbans have supported the efforts of the countries across Europe who are connected to St Columban to re-create the Via Columbani – the Columban Way – a medieval pilgrim route that brings communities and villages across the island of Ireland and continental Europe together.”
“I was privileged to be in St Gallen in July of 2023 to sign the Columban Charter of Partnership on behalf of Missionary Society of St Columban together with representatives from church and local authorities from France, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein and from here in Ireland from Meath, Carlow and Bangor in Co Down.”
“This partnership is ever more crucial in present times when we see the effects of war and destruction and the displacement of peoples. The Columban Way is about working across the frontiers of religion, language and politics for peace and reconciliation.”
“We are very happy to be associated with the twinning of Navan town with Bobbio in 2022 and continue to support inter-community efforts through seminars, heritage and cultural events and pilgrim walks across County Meath and the many pilgrim paths in Italy.”
“This was borne out last month when we held a one-day conference on the Columban Way/Turas Columbanus here in Dalgan with Meath Co Co to mark the Irish Presidency of the European Union and with Italy, our twin country.”
Fr Pat Colgan, a member of Turas Columbanus involved in promoting the Columban Way Network in Ireland and Europe, explained to the assembled delegation the importance of St Columban in promoting unity and peace in a fractured Europe of his day.
The Columban Way or the ‘Via Columbani’ is a Pilgrim Route tracing Columban’s footsteps across Europe from his birthplace near Mount Leinster in 540AD to Bobby in Italy, where he died in 615AD.
This Pilgrimage Route is walked in St Columban’s memory and promotes friendship and collaboration both culturally and spiritually.
The ‘Via Columbani’ Charter, Fr Pat said, seeks to promote friendship, exchange, and collaboration – cultural, scientific and spiritual – in a spirit of equality and harmony and which offers the continent a “Path of Peace” in these fractured and troubled times, he explained.
The dignitaries signed the Charter.
In his remarks, Ambassador Faganello paid tribute to the Irish monastic movement which re-energised Europe at a dark time, and Ambassador McCullough mentioned that, in her speeches in Italy, she often references St Columban as a forerunner and visionary of a continent at peace.
The Chief Executive of Meath County Council, Kieran Kehoe, indicated his backing for the work that needs to be done in signposting, safety proofing and the provision of amenities of the sections of the route within Meath.
The guests were presented with a copy of Columban Missionary Fr Aidan Larkin’s book, ‘Saint Columbanus – A Pilgrim for Christ’ (Cumann Seanchais, Ard Mhacha) and ‘St Columban’ (Far East publication, available in German, French and Italian). They also received a Columban passport which is akin to that of the pilgrimage route Santiago de Compostella.
After their visit to Dalgan, the entourage moved to Navan Rugby Club, which through the efforts of the Columban movement’s Italian friend Manuela Bertoncini, became twinned with Piacenza Rugby in 2023.
