Fr Tommy Murphy’s Daily Reflections - Columban · Fr Tommy Murphy’s Daily. Reflections. 8. August 25: Fr Raphael Amor, Cistercian, gave us a major overview of European medieval

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Fr Tommy Murphy’s Daily Reflections

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August 18: We arrived in Dublin where we were met by our kind and genial guide Annie O'Brien. We stayed at Academy Plaza Hotel, just off O'Connell Street for the next three nights.

August 19: We visited Glendalough where we first viewed a short video at the Visitor’s Centre giving the background to the early Irish Monasticism out of which St Columban emerged in the sixth century.

Fr Michael Rodgers SPS, founder and director of Tearmann Spirituality Centre, Glendalough led us on a guided walk around Glendalough in the gentle rain. His deep reflections and questions about the meaning and purpose of our lives gave us plenty to think about. Our light lunch at the Laragh Resource Centre gave us an opportunity to meet and listen to Pauline, the Coordinator there, as she energetically shared with us all the different community activities that take place there.

This was followed by a great visit to the Columban Sisters at Magheramore, where after a warm welcome by Sr Rose Gallagher, Fr Gary Walker led us in the Eucharist. Sr Anne Gray, their Congregational leader gave us a brief history of the Columban Sisters from their foundation up to the present time. Afterwards we were treated to afternoon tea with all the Sisters. Their peace and serenity was evident throughout the visit with them.

Fr Tommy Murphy’s DailyReflections

Ireland

August 20: We had an early morning visit to the Monastic site at Monasterboice to view the great High Crosses and round tower there. Then we visited the site of Mellifont where the first Cistercians to Ireland established a foundation. The guide there gave us a good overview of the history of the Cistercian Monastery.

We then went to Dalgan Park, the headquarters of the Columbans in Ireland. Columban Fr Pat Raleigh welcomed us and led us in the Eucharist in the College chapel which contains photographs of the 24 Columban martyrs. We then were treated to a full sit down lunch after which we walked to the Columban cemetery for a moving visit.

After that we visited the Hill of Tara where we watched a video, followed by a guided walk of the sites on Tara led by Gerard Clarke who works for the Columbans in Ireland on ecology and caring for the earth.


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August 21: We flew to Lyon (France) where we were met by Stephan our bus driver. After two stops along the way we eventually all arrived safely in our hotel in Luxeuil.

August 22: Mr Jacques Prudhon the President of the Luxeuil "Friends of St Columban Group" had arranged a full two day Programme for us. It started with a guided tour of Luxeuil by Philipe, a member of the ‘Friends of St Columban Group’ who showed us the excavation site where the unearthed graves of medieval monks can be viewed. Peter Delargy, an Irish cyclist passing through introduced himself to us as an English teacher in China on the Columban sponsored teaching Programme (AITECE) in China. Philipe also led us on a tour of the Luxeuil Basilica, outside of which is the striking statue of St Columban created by Claude Granges.

We then drove and walked to the Cave of St Columban where we had lunch followed by a 15 minute period of silent meditation.

We then visited Annegray, the site of St Columban's first monastic foundation where Jacques gave us more background information.


France

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August 23: We joined the local community for a well conducted Sunday Mass, led by Fr Etienne, the Parish Priest of Luxeuil, at the Church dedicated to St Terese of Lisieux. The choir and general congregational singing was impressive.

We then went to the Hermitage of St Valbert, the third Abbot of Luxeuil, where we had lunch. The rain interrupted our plans for the five kilometre walk back to Luxeuil.

That evening we attended the Concert at the Basilica of St Pierre et St Paul which consisted of an organ recital and Gregorian chant by a male choir from Berne.

August 24: Like St Columban in 610 we left Luxeuil for Bregenz (Austria). Before departing Fr Michael Morgan, one of our pilgrims, led us in a Eucharistic celebration in the Basilica which was followed by a visit to the Columban Chapel in the adjoining Abbey. The Director of the Abbey, Jeanmarc Gillard, gave us some background to the statue in the courtyard of the Abbey. We then set off on our journey to Bregenz. Our new Guide Karin met us on our arrival and we said goodbye to Annie O'Brien the next morning.


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August 25: Fr Raphael Amor, Cistercian, gave us a major overview of European medieval monastic history as he introduced us to his Cistercian Mehrerau Monastery in Bregenz. His erudite presentations as he walked us through his Monastery both captivated and enlightened us. We joined him and the monks of his community for the recital of Midday prayer.

In the afternoon we first visited the Church of St Gallus: originally this was a church dedicated to St Aurelius which Columban and Gall found here when they arrived in 611.

We then visited the Church of St Gebhard on a nearby hill which has a magnificent view overlooking Lake Constance from where you can see parts of Germany and Switzerland. St Gebhard's mother who died giving birth to him is the patron saint of pregnant mothers. When St Gebhard returned from Rome he brought with him the head of the great reforming Pope Gregory the Great, hoping to inspire reform in his own area.

We then headed to the modern church built by Mons Holistein and dedicated to St Columban where the current parish priest Fr Paul Solomon welcomed us. Fr Gary Walker led us in the liturgy after which Fr Paul showed us the relic of St Columban from Bobbio. Next year on July 3 the International Gathering of the Friends of St Columban will be hosted by this Community in Bregenz, which will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the construction of this church dedicated to St Columban.

AustriaFr Tommy Murphy’s DailyReflections

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August 26: We arrived in St Gallen at 9:10am where we split up into two groups led by our two new local Guides, Yvonne and Christine. San Gallen is named after St Gall, the companion of St Columban who decided to stay in this area instead of continuing with Columban over the Alps. San Gallen is famous for its linen industry from the 13th century. The city was rebuilt after a huge fire in early 15th century.

The Reformation brought major social divisions to the area but somehow both sides found a way to live together. The Abbey Cathedral and the San Gallen Library are a world UNESCO Site. We visited both the Library and the magnificent baroque Cathedral. The library houses more early Irish manuscripts than all the libraries in a Ireland.


A ninth century copy of the rule of St Columbanus was on display during our visit to the library. We later met Bishop Marcus of San Gallen who facilitated us having our Eucharist in the nearby Sacred Heart Chapel, which was led by Fr Gerard Keith, one of the pilgrims. We then proceeded on our journey as far as Disentis (Switzerland) along the path into the Swiss Alps on which St Columban travelled on his journey to Lombardy in present day northern Italy.

SwitzerlandIn Disentis there is a Benedictine Abbey dedicated to St Sigisbert, a monk from Luxeuil who built a church here in the seventh century. Here we were met by our new Italian Guide Anna who was to accompany us for the rest of the pilgrimage.

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August 29: We passed by Lake Lugano on the way to the Swiss - Italian border. Lake Como is just after the Italian border crossing. Columban Fr Robert McCulloch (Procurator General for the Society of St Columban based in Rome) met the group on our arrival in Bobbio as did Australian native Abbot Michael Kelly of the Sylvesterine Benedictines who had studied at the Columban seminary in Turramurra.

That night at 10:45pm we joined in the prayerful candlelight procession in the dark from the statue outside the village to the Basilica. Frs Joe Gunn and Joe Rooney from the Irish Diocese of Down and Connor were inaugurated as Canons of the Diocese of Bobbio at a ceremony after the procession. There were 45 pilgrims present in Bobbio led by Bishop Noel Trainor of the Diocese of Down and Connor.

There was also a large group of young people from the Neo-Catechumens movement present for the ceremonies. Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry Diocese was also present having walked the 100kms from San Colombano Al Lambro to Bobbio over the previous three days.

August 27: We walked to the Benedictine Abbey of Disentis for morning prayer at their Marian chapel for pilgrims. Brother Martin met us and gave us a history of the Monastery up to modern times. He sang his own composition of the Our Father for us at the end of our morning prayer.

We then headed off on the road to Olivoni and after 12kms a large group of our pilgrims walked a five kilometre stretch of the old pilgrim road up towards the Church of St Maria where we had a lunch break. In the afternoon we drove to the Church of St Columban in Scona near Olivoni where Fr Gary Walker led us in our evening liturgy.

August 28: We had a free morning. Tommy conducted a one hour talk/session on St Columban before lunch. After lunch we visited the Churches of St Peter of Motto and St Reminger of Dongio. We then returned to the Church of St Martin in Olivoni for our Eucharistic celebration which was led by Fr Michael Morgan.


Italy

August 30: In the morning Columban Fr Robert McCulloch led us on a guided tour around Bobbio.

In the evening the Cathedral was packed for the colourful international celebration of the memory of St Columban which started at 5:00pm and which was led by the Papal delegate Cardinal Scola.

Over 40 Bishops and mitred Abbots along with over 100 priests concelebrated with up to 2,000 faithful present. The colour, pageantry, and vibrancy of the occasion contributed to what was a very moving and experience.

This was the goal and highlight of our pilgrimage as we were taken up into the enthusiasm and welcome of the people in this memorable moment.

The Benedictine Abbot in his homily stated: "St Columban is not an easy Saint. He is a challenge and we need this kind of challenge today. How did St Columban manage to attract so many young people to the Monastic life? He proclaimed the joy of the monastic life but he was also pessimistic about the site of the world at that time. Today who is telling our young people about the joy of following the Gospel? Let us share with the people the joy that is filling our hearts today.”

Pope Francis's message was read at the end of Mass: All the pilgrims were treated to a meal after the celebration and a classical concert in the Basilica rounded off the evening.

August 31: As we arrived in town of San Colombano Al Lambro we were led by a police escort to the Church dedicated to St Columban. Columban Fr Robert McCulloch and Abbot Michael Kelly joined us for this outing.


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We had Mass at 11:00 which will was led by Cardinal Sean Brady who was joined by Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry Diocese. A large group of young people from the Neo-Catechuenate movement were also present at the Mass and they added much to the celebration with their youthful energy and vibrant singing.

In his homily Cardinal Brady asked us to consider what is the secret to the life and work of St Columbanus. St Columban did not water down the message of the Gospel.

"Jesus is the fountain of life: he calls us to drink from this fountain and to believe that we all have eternal life. "We belong to Christ not to ourselves" is the key and the source of his courage and inspiration. Today we try to understand the secret of St Columbanus: we too have the same faith and belief: we pray to the Holy Spirit so that we too can also become true missionaries in our own day.

Mons. Mario Cipeli, parish priest, spoke a few words, "For these two days we have been living in the shadow of St Columbanus. God wants us and calls us all. You young people are the light of the eyes


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Sept 1: After breakfast we headed by bus to the nearby village of Coli from where we walked to the Grotto of St Michele. A tenth century tradition holds that St Columban died here. For some of our group this was the highlight of the pilgrimage.

That evening Columban Fr Peter Toohey led us in our Eucharist in the crypt of the Basilica where the remains of St Columban are laid. He suggested that now. "We have to find our own cave". He helped us to recall all the people who have helped us along our journey of life so far.


of Jesus.” Emma Madigan, Irish Ambassador to the Holy See also spoke: it was a pleasure for her as representative of the Irish Government to see so many people getting benefits from the life and work of St Columbanus.

The Mayor of San Colombano Al Lambro stated that it is good to see so many young people here. He presented a statue of St Columban to Cardinal Brady, and to the representative of the Republic of Ireland. We completed our visit to this town with a wine tasting session at lunch in a nearby family restaurant.

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Sept 3: On our short train journey to Rome we met a PIME Missionary Fr Dino Pino who has worked in Hong Kong for 51 years and was on his way with his 94-year-old Parish Priest to have Mass with Pope Francis at 7:00am the next morning.

In Rome we stayed at the Irish College, where we received a warm welcome from the Rector Mons. Ciaran O'Carroll and vice-Rector Fr George Hayes. The warm cup of tea they had prepared for us was most welcome.

In the afternoon we visited the nearby John Latern Basilica and afterwards Fr George Hayes gave us a guided tour of the recently restored chapel on the Irish College.

Sept 2: We travelled from Bobbio to Bologna where in the afternoon a local guide led us on a three hour walking tour of the city: we started with a visit to the Oratory of St Columban which was built in 616 by the local bishop.

Today it houses a collection of famous pianos and harpsichords. We then visited the Cathedral and the huge basilica of St Peter: after viewing the two towers which are the symbol of the City we returned to our hotel.


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Sept 4: We had an early 6:30am departure for St Peters Basilica where Fr Gary Walker led the Eucharist in the crypt of St Peters. After a visit in St Peters some pilgrims went on a tour of the Sistine chapel while others opted for a city bus tour. Another group walked to the Piazza Navona and then visited the Church of St Louis of France where three of Carravagio's paintings are on permanent display, including the famous "Call of Matthew".

In the afternoon some of the group went to visit the well-known excavations in the nearby Church of St Clement, who happens to share the same feast day with St Columban on November 23. We then proceeded to the Columban House in Rome where Fr Robert McCulloch, the Procurator General for the Columban Fathers and staff had prepared a banquet for us. The Australian Ambassador to the Holy See John McCarthy was present to greet us and offer his good wishes on the completion of our pilgrimage.

Reluctantly we began our goodbyes and farewells as the main group were heading off early the next morning. Close bonds and new friendships had developed during our 20 days together as a mobile community of pilgrims moving along the footsteps of St Columban.

Before dinner we all gathered for a reflection session where we had an opportunity to share our impressions and highlights of the pilgrimage experience.


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Sept 5: Early morning breakfast at the Irish College was punctuated by goodbyes as most pilgrims headed off to the airport.

Frs Ciaran O'Carroll and George Hayes were on hand to say goodbye and send us on our way.


Documents

Fr Tommy Murphy’s Daily Reflections - Columban · Fr Tommy Murphy’s Daily. Reflections. 8. August 25: Fr Raphael Amor, Cistercian, gave us a major overview of European medieval