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by Rose Basada
It is a blessing and privilege for
me to have been able to participate at the opening of the 1400th anniversary of the death of St. Columban. There were four major events. It
started on Friday the 10th of October with the ecumenical vespers at
5 pm at the Basilica of San Clemente. The church was full of pilgrims from
different parts of Europe. It was a very moving celebration as people gathered
regardless of culture and denomination so I was able to meet pilgrims from
other churches, from catholic Christians to Anglicans and Methodists. The parish
priest of Bobbio held the relics of St. Columban during the procession. It was
said that the relics had been kept at the Bobbio Museum. After the ecumenical
vespers, we walked towards the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerv. Later, together fellow pilgrims, we listened
to “The Priests” in concert to raise money for the Hospital of St. Elizabeth of
Hyderabad in Pakistan.
On the second day 11th
October we gathered at the Basilica of St. John Lateran for the liturgical
welcome of the relics of St. Columban and solemn Eucharistic Celebration presided
by His Eminence, Cardinal Agostino Vallini, Cardinal Vicar of Rome. There were
thousands of pilgrims in this event as well as priests and bishops. I was very
blessed to have read one of the prayers of the faithful at this mass. It was
very important to me to be able to contribute and pray for peace and
interreligious dialogue, something I know is important in my work as a
missionary and in the world today. I was amazed at how devoted the pilgrims to
St. Columban were as many of them traveled from Germany, France, Ireland,
Bobbio, Florence and each group carried a banner with the image of St. Columban
on. I'm happy I got the chance to walk and make friends with other pilgrims. I feel humbled and inspired by their patience
and perseverance in joining the pilgrimage as I saw many of them walk for long
hours to transfer from one church to another. This trip was very important for
me as a Columban Lay Missionary as it helped me deepen my understanding about
our patron Saint.
On the third day there was a solemn
concelebrated mass of thanksgiving in honor of St. Columban. The main celebrant was His Eminence, Cardinal
Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armargh, Ireland, at the Basilica of Santa Maria
sopra Minerva. It was the only homily I understood because the celebrant
normally spoke Italian but at this mass there was also an English translation.
His homily was very informative and encouraging. It continues to gives me
inspiration to keep going in my missionary journey. It gave everyone more information about who
St. Columban was. Indeed, his memory lives on the life of the parishioners of
Bobbio and many Parishes in Italy and other places around the world today.
We ended our pilgrimage by attending
the angelus with Pope Francis in St Peters square. It felt like a very personal
welcome as though we were surrounded by thousands of people, Pope Francis was
so welcoming mentioning the Columban Pilgrimage. It was a blessing to see the
Pope and be able to pray with him alongside with my fellow Columbans.
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