Report

On the back of the success of our 2024 pilgrimage following in the steps of St Cuthbert to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne plans are afoot for the Catenians to make a pilgrimage in 2026 that will follow in the footsteps of St Columba on the Islands of Iona and Mull.  The Isle of Iona Lying off the west coast of the Isle of Mull the tiny Isle of Iona, barely three miles long by one mile wide, has had an influence out of all proportion to its size on the establishment of Christianity in Scotland, England and throughout mainland Europe Iona’s place in history was secured in 563 AD when St. Columba, an Irish Monk, made the hazardous crossing from Ireland and arrived on its white sandy beaches with 12 followers, to established his mission.  On the island he built his first Celtic church and established a noted monastic community.  St Cuthbert, whose missionary way we followed last year from Melrose in Scotland to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, was a missionary member of that Celtic Christian community. Once settled, Columba set about converting most of pagan Scotland and northern England to the Christian faith.  Iona’s fame as a Celtic Christian missionary centre and outstanding place of learning eventually spread throughout all of Europe, turning the island and its monastery into a place of pilgrimage for several centuries to come. Iona became a sacred isle where kings of Scotland (48), Ireland (4) and Norway (8) were buried. Saint Columba Saint Columba (7 December 521 – 9 June 597) was an Irish abbot and missionary credited with spreading Christianity in present-day Scotland, and through his missionary disciples to most of northern Engalnd. He founded the important abbey on Iona, which became a dominant religious and political institution in the region for centuries. He is the Patron Saint of Derry. He was highly regarded by both the Gaels of Dál Riata and the Picts, and is remembered today as a Christian saint and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. Columba reportedly studied under some of Ireland’s most prominent church figures and founded several monasteries in the country. Around 563 he and his twelve companions crossed to Dunaverty near Southend, Argyll in Kintore before settling in Iona in Scotland, then part of the Irish kingdom of Dál Riata, where they founded a new abbey as a base for spreading Christianity among the northernPictish kingdoms who were pagan. He remained active in Irish politics, though he spent most of the remainder of his life in Scotland. Three surviving early medieval Latin hymns may be attributed to him Vita Columbae The main source of information about Saint Columba’s life is the Vita Columbae (i.e. “Life of Columba”), a hagiography written in the style of “saint’s lives” narratives that had become widespread throughout medieval Europe. Compiled and drafted by scribes and clergymen, these accounts were written in Latin and served as written collections of the deeds and miracles attributed to the saint, both during his or her life or after death. The canonization of a saint, especially one who had lived on the fringes of the medieval Christian world like Saint Columba, required a well-written hagiography to be submitted to Rome to gain approval from the Catholic Church The Isle of Mull The Pilgrimage The pilgrimage, like the previous walking pilgrimage to Lindisfarne, will take the form of an 6-8 day period walking around Iona and Mull to visit all the important sites.  As there is no formal walking route across the island of Mull, plans are being developed to arrange two days of walking in Oban area, three days walking on the island of Mull from a base in the town of Tobermory and the two final days on the Holy island of Iona where St Columba was based during his missionary journeys. Due to the difficulty of acquiring sufficient accommodation on Iona for those wishing to participate a provisional booking of six double and six single rooms at the Argyle Hotel has been made on Iona for two nights for the nights of 21st & 22nd April 2027 The Pilgrimage is a walking pilgrimage and will require stamina and fitness. How to express an interest? If members or their families are interested in joining the group for any part of the walk especially the section on Iona then please could they let pilgrimage organizer Andrew Sowerby know as soon as possible so the bookings can be confirmed and the detailed planning can take place. Circle Secretaries will be able to provide Andrew’s Email address. Please place the date of the pilgrimage in your diary now and let Andrew know of your interest as soon as possible.