Archbishops of Armagh Sign the Columban Charter of Partnership

Eamon Martin, the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, and John McDowell, the Anglican Archbishop of Armagh, signed the Columban Charter for Partnership on Tuesday 9 July. The Columban Charter of Partnership supports the development of pilgrimage, cultural and scientific activities relating to Columbanus, Gall and their followers in all the European regions and countries where their memory remains alive. These include Rebublic of Ireland, UK, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy.

Deborah Girvan BEM, Chairwoman of Friends of Columbanus Bangor explained, “The Columban Charter for Partnership was launched in St Gallen, Switzerland, in July 2023. Since then, thousands of signatures have been collected across Europe to support this important initiative. In particular, the Charter supports the development of the Columban Way, a pilgrim route which traces the footsteps of Columbanus from Mt Leinster in Co Carlow where he was born in 543 to Bobbio, Italy, where he died in 615. We are delighted that both Archbishops are supporting the project by signing the Columban Charter of Partnership. Their joint presence sends an important message of peace and reconciliation to people from all community and religious backgrounds.”

Back Row: Rev Stanley Gamble, Killinchy Parish Church; Charlie Reid, FoCB Member; Brigid Watson; Secretary of FoCB; Deborah Girvan, Chair of FoCB; Tomas Hodgins, Knight of Columbanus; Derry Healy, Secretary of Turus Columbanus. Front Row: Anglican Archbishop John McDowell and Catholic Archbishop Eamon Martin

After sigining of the Charter, members of Friends of Columbanus Bangor and the Turus Columbanus Group from the Rebublic of Ireland met with the Archbishops to give them an update about the progress of the Columban Way in Europe and on the island of Ireland. After the meeting the Archbishops issued a joint statement.

“In his message to a gathering of Columban Societies held in late June, Pope Francis reminded them of the contribution made by St Columbanus to the evangelisation of Europe at a time when “the first fruits of the Gospel were in danger of being lost” during what is sometimes called the Dark Ages.

In today’s Europe much of the full flowering of the Gospel, including many of its ethical implications about the uniqueness and dignity of each human person, is in danger of being lost. We pray that this pilgrimage route will provide a means of encouraging twenty first century Christians to follow in the path of St Columbanus, as disciples of Jesus Christ, our companion, our Lord and our Guide.”