Pilgrim Guests

Nov 15, 2024

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of St Columban on 23rd November, we publish a piece by five Columban missionaries – Srs Virgie Mozo, Ha Suk Shin, Lucia So, Kathleen Mary Riordan and Ann Gray – who walked in the footsteps of our patron, St Columban, as part of their Centenary celebrations.

“We are guests in this world, not just travellers but pilgrims.”

Our itinerary included most of the places where St Columban established monasteries – Luxeuil, Annegray and Saint-Valbert in France, San Gallen and Arbon in Switzerland, Bregenz in Austria, Piacenza and Bobbio in Italy. In Piacenza we joined the European Friends of Columbanus for the annual celebrations in honour of St Columban.

Sr Kathleen Mary
In Luxeuil, we were privileged to participate in ‘European Day’ part of which was a lecture on ‘Robert Schuman and Europe’. He envisioned a united Europe after World War II and recognised Columban as the first to speak about such unity. To our surprise we discovered that Mother Mary Patrick, one of our first Sisters, had helped to organise a group of European Friends of St Columban from Ireland to participate in the International Congress celebrated in Luxeuil in July 1950 to honour the 14th centenary of the birth of Columban.

At this Congress the Schuman Declaration was presented, the most important stepping stone towards creating unity. May the prophetic voice that inspired Robert Schuman and others continue to inspire politicians today. In Luxeuil I felt we were walking in the footsteps of our founding Sisters. As we celebrate this Centenary year, I give thanks to God for the past, and I feel challenged “to live the present with passion and look to the future with hope” (Pope Francis). 

The Ponte Gobbo – Hunchbacked Bridge – over the River Trebbia in Bobbio, Italy, where St Columban died on 23 November 615AD. Photo: St Ann Gray.

Sr Ha Suk
Jesus said to them, “Come and you will see.” The pilgrimage in the footsteps of St Columban was a great invitation to see and touch the experience that St Columban had for Christ. It was a wonderful experience for me, especially during the year of the centenary of our Congregation. As a Korean Sister, I witnessed not only how St Columban’s spirit spread in Europe but also other countries such as: Korea, China, Philippines, Peru, Pakistan, Chile and Myanmar through our Columban Sisters, Fathers and many friends who love to follow St Columban. The pilgrimage opened my eyes to recognise St Columban in his message “Let us be Christ’s and not our own.” 

Sr Virgie
I felt so blessed and humbled to be part of the 2024 St Columbanus pilgrimage which also highlighted the Centenary year of our Congregation. Bobbio was one of the highlights, the resting and forested place of a great missionary, a place that was an inspiration to St Columban. I felt so connected as I trod the ground, the sounds of the water and the colourful wildflowers brought me so much life and communion with God’s creation. Reaching the final resting place of St Columban,

Unveiling of the plaque commemorating Venerable Robert Schuman at St Columban’s Abbey in Luxeuil (France). Photo: Sr Ann Gray.

I offered flowers and prayed with a thankful heart for St Columban who rekindled the missionary zeal and continues to inspire us in spreading the Gospel message. In truth our patron saint is inviting us migrants and pilgrims in the path of peace and harmony with all of creation. With gratitude to St Columban, I prayed as he did in one of his sermons, “We do not seek a God dwelling far off but a God who remains in us.” Amen.

Sr Lucia
As I was standing on the Bobbio bridge, I found myself in a valley which was so close to the nature of God the Creator. The bridge became for me as Christ – bringing us all toward God’s Kingdom. St Columban imitated his Divine Master just like that bridge, bridging relationships, uniting nations, bringing people together in peace and love. While I was there, I felt that the bridge was so nourishing, so alive and active, leading and guiding those who were willing to walk and pass by.

And I thought of Mother Mary Patrick, co-founder of the Columban Sisters, who worked so hard for the poor and was concerned for the unity of Europe. Columban had stepped onto the soil of Europe and planted the seed of Christ wherever he went. His ancient bell is still ringing. Our lands still need planting, the bridge of Christ is still inviting us, the flame once kindled still needs to burn even brighter. 

A signpost at Annegray in the foothills of the Vosges Mountains in eastern France where St Columban founded a monastery around 591AD. Photo: Sr Ann Gray.

Sr Ann
Walking along part of the European Columban Way and participating in the various events to celebrate our patron last summer during our Centenary pilgrimage, the words that frequently came to me were, “How awe-inspiring this place is.”

This was not my first experience of Columbanus in Europe but I was once again amazed at the sense of connection I have with the Friends of Columbanus in Europe. This connection comes from the love and respect that we all have for this man who lived so many centuries ago.This was particularly clear the day of the Eucharistic celebration in Piacenza.

Standing on the steps of the Cathedral before Mass began, I marvelled as I watched people of all ages and clearly from different parts of Europe and beyond, make their way towards the church from all directions of the city – such a strong illustration of Columban’s words to describe our life as a road – “long for some, short for others, broad for some, narrow for others, joyful for some, sad for others.”

Pilgrims make their way across the Swiss countryside towards San Gallen. Photo: Sarah Mac Donald

I was so aware during this pilgrimage that I was carrying with me the joys, suffering and concerns of all the Sisters in our Congregation, our families and all those who have so generously supported us to live our call to mission over the last hundred years.

For each of us, the days we spent in Europe were very meaningful. As we prayed at St Columban’s crypt in Bobbio, we particularly remembered all of you who have encouraged and supported us over the years. And we thanked God for calling us as a Congregation to follow in the footsteps and spirit of St Columban.

First published in the November 2024 issue of the Far East magazine. Please subscribe our support Columban missionaries. See: https://columbans.ie/far-east-magazine/

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