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. His baptismal name was Colum which signifies dove. Later, the form of Columcille appeared, believeably, for the dual purpose of distinguishing him from other saints of the same name and because the suffix means "of the churches". This latter reason is due to the fact that many churches were founded and dedicated under his innovation and also because he was often found praying in church.

St. Columbkille was born of royal descent. As a child, he was very normal boy, sturdy, high-spirited, and active. But wherever he traveled a book was his companion to read along the way. He was established as a remarkable Christian poet. His works bear the mark of true poetic genius. He was frequently engaged in recording the Scriptures, and is credited with some 300 books. From his youth, Columbkille was remarkable for his meekness, charity, and consummate prudence. He was ceaseless in spreading the Word of God. He studied in Moville and was ordained a deacon there. He also studied at Leinester and Clonard, where he was probably ordained a priest. Beginning around 543 A.D., he began preaching and founding monasteries throughout Ireland, among them being Derry, Durrow and Kells.

King Diarmaid's men killed a kinsman of St. Columbkille, Curran of Connaught, after he sought 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, accompanied by twelve relatives, spent the last 34 years of his life at Iona, off the coast of Scotland. On the island of Iona, he built a monastary that became the greatest in Christendom. Despite this personal triumph, the move abroad was difficult for St. Columbkille who held an unbounded affection for his Irish homeland. Nevertheless, he persevered, tirelessly preaching the Christian Faith to the Picks of Northern Scotland, until the whole area was evangelized; even King Brude at Inverness was converted.

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. His burial was at Iona. His relics are entombed at the Cathedral of the Down in Ireland. There he is venerated with St. Patrick, and St. Brigid, as one of the patrons of Ireland.

The above information was composed with information taken from:
Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney, published in Doubleday, New York, New York, 1980.
St. Columbkille Faith Journey, 1866-1991