“Those Crazy Columban Colliers”

“Those Crazy Columban Colliers”

If Columban Mission is a “mad thing to do”, as our co-founder Bishop Edward Galvin once said, then there can be none more mad – nor more inspiring – than the three members of the Collier family who joined the Society, writes Fr John Boles. “When his family heard about...
A Priest Forever

A Priest Forever

Fr Neil Collins recalls Columban martyr Fr Jack O’Brien who served as a chaplain during the D-Day landings in World War II and was subsequently killed during the Korean War. John P. O’Brien was born in Donamon, Co Roscommon on 1st December 1918. He wrote to Fr...
Archbishop welcomes Extraordinary Month of Mission

Archbishop welcomes Extraordinary Month of Mission

Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly has welcomed the Extraordinary Month of Mission which will be celebrated this October. Pope Francis announced October 2019 as an Extraordinary Month of Mission to mark the 100th anniversary of Pope Benedict XV’s Apostolic Letter Maximum...
Family of Fr James Fitzpatrick gather to remember his mission

Family of Fr James Fitzpatrick gather to remember his mission

Fr Neil Collins recalls a pioneering Columban missionary in Burma. Fr James Fitzpatrick, born in Ballynahinch, Co Down on 11 December 1913, died in Burma (Myanmar) on 22 May 1969. Fifty years later twelve members of his family gathered for Mass in Dalgan and...