The pilgrimage ‘In the footsteps of St Columban’ which extended over 21 days in August and September through Ireland, France, Austria, Switzerland and Italy is now over and I am back at my desk in Melbourne thinking about it.
We travelled as a group of 38 pilgrims: three Columban priests, two diocesan priests, one lay missionary from Korea, one Columban co-worker and the rest- pilgrims from Australia and New Zealand. Our ages ranged from 60 years to 86 years. The pilgrimage, unlike a tourist jaunt, had a deeper dimension of placing our normal lives aside for a short time and listening to the ‘small voice’ of God as we visited holy places.
We experienced the presence of God each day as we travelled to places where St Columban’s dynamic determination was evident, like Luxeuil from where he was banished for his truthfulness and his prophetic utterances about the morals and activities of kings and bishops. He left behind monasteries that flourished for many centuries and contributed to the rehabilitation of Europe and re-established the Catholic faith in what is now Europe.
It was in Luxeuil, France that we attended Sunday Mass at St Therese’s church where we experienced a dynamic liturgy and a full throated choir. This was a celebration at which we did not need to understand the language but felt at home with our Catholic faith in common.
We moved through a Catholic culture as we travelled by bus through the European countries that St Columban and his monks evangelised. We were uplifted and privileged to celebrate Mass in the magnificent churches and the small simple chapels where St Columban’s spirit and legacy was apparent 1400 years on. From the basilica in Bobbio, Italy packed with hundreds of people who gathered to celebrate his life and legacy on August 30th, 2015 to the small chapel of St Kolumban at Disentis, Switzerland which barely held our pilgrim group.
Our schedule included a visit to the cave overlooking Bobbio where St Columban died. The trek was a steep and difficult climb of one and a half hours each way and turned out to a serious challenge for those who wished to do it. However, to the delight of all, the goal was achieved with much effort and cooperation. There was great satisfaction and jubilation on arriving at the cave where we had time to pray and reflect on the fact that this is where St Columban came for prayer and solitude. For many the trek to the cave was the highlight of the pilgrimage where God’s presence was experienced yet again.
That evening, Columban Fr Peter Toohey celebrated Mass in the crypt of St Columban in Bobbio. In his homily, he referred to our trek to St Columban’s cave and asked us to try and find our own cave (metaphorically) where we can stop and think about where God is in our lives.
On our last night together pilgrims shared some of their experiences and reflections of their time on the pilgrimage. There was a general consensus that we were going home with uncluttered minds and heartened to see the love and spirit of St Columban and the Holy Spirit at work.
Fr Gary Walker SSC
director@columban.org.au
 |
From the Director - The perennial presence of God (Duration: 4:05mins. MP3, 1.91MB) |
Read more from the current The Far East Magazine
or
Read journals and reflections from Pilgrimage - In the footsteps of St Columban