First Columban Mission to China 1920

First Columban Mission to China 1920

One hundred years ago the first Columbans arrived in China. Fr Neil Collins recalls the challenges they faced in places like Hanyang – “a city of no Catholics”. “Didn’t this luggage belong to the Irish missionaries to China?” asked a dock worker in...
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...
Columban produces radio documentary on Irish-Chinese link

Columban produces radio documentary on Irish-Chinese link

Columban missionary Fr Malachy Smyth has produced a new radio documentary on a little known link between Ireland and China that will be broadcast on Mid-West Radio over Christmas. ‘Ireland’s Unsung Hero’ is presented by documentary-maker Brian Kenny and produced by Fr...
Address to Meath Archaeological and Historical Society

Address to Meath Archaeological and Historical Society

The Meath Archaeological & Historical Society invited Fr Neil Collins to address them to mark the Society’s Centenary. On Sunday 18 November, Fr Collins gave the following lecture titled: ‘The Columban Odyssey from Dalgan to the Far East –...
Families pay tribute to their Columban heroes

Families pay tribute to their Columban heroes

A new plaque commemorating Columban missionary Bishop Patrick Cleary was blessed and unveiled at St Michael’s Parish, Kildysart by Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe at a recent Mass to mark the centenary of the Society. In his address, Regional Director for the...