Parish Mission Statement
Saint Columbkille Parish is an extension of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati; a “people called together” by Jesus to be His flesh and blood representatives; to be like Him as a priset(to worship), as a prophet(to teach) and as a king(to serve).

-Adopted June 1, 1998
Who is Saint Columbkille?
(A more detailed version)

Our parish, founded in 1866, is named after St. Columbkille. The more common form of his name is St. Columba. We also find his name spelled Colm, Colum and Colmcille. He was probably born around 521 A.D. in Gartan, Donegal, Ireland. He was born of royal descent. He studied in Moville and was ordained a deacon there. He also studied at Leinster and Clonard. He was probably ordained a priest in Clonard. Beginning around 543 A.D. he began preaching and founding monasteries all over Ireland, among them being Derry, Durrow and Kells.

A kinsman of St. Columbkille, Curan of Connaught, was killed by King Diarmaid's men after seeking sanctuary with St. Columbkille. This caused a family feud between St. Columbkille's clan and King Diarmaid's men. The feud turned into the Battle of Cuil Dremme and three thousand men were killed.

A synod at Telltown held St. Columbkille responsible for the deaths of these men and censured him. St. Columbkille decided to leave Ireland and do penance for these deaths by converting a like number of pagans.

St. Columbkille went to Iona, which is off the coast of Scotland, in 563 A.D. accompanied by twelve relatives. On the island of Iona he built a monastary that became the greatest monastery in Christendom. He spent his time evangelizing the Picts of Scotland and eventually evangelized all of Pictland including the conversion of King Brude at Inverness.

In 575 A.D. St. Columbkille attended the Synod of Drumceat in Meath, Ireland, and successfully fought to exempt women from military service.

St. Columbkille's holiness, austerity and reputation for miracles attracted many visitors to the monastery in Iona. His influence on Western Christianity was enormous. Because monks from Iona went all over Europe, the monastic rule he developed was practiced widely on the continent until the Rule of St. Benedict became almost universal.

St. Columbkille's practices dominated the churches of Scotland, Ireland and Northumbria until, in time, the Roman practices supplanted them.  Although not on the liturgical calendar, St. Columbkille's Feast Day is June 9, the day he died in 597 A.D. at the monastery in Iona.<