News in Brief

Bishop Smith pays tribute to Irish Columbans

Bishop Michael Smith of Meath has hailed the courageous witness of the Society of St Columban on the centenary of its founding. 

Following a special Mass on October 10 at the Columbans’ headquarters at Dalgan Park, Co. Meath, Bishop Smith welcomed moves by the Catholic Church in Korea to promote the beatifications of seven Irish priests of the congregation who had perished while ministering during the Korean War. 

He lauded “their courage, their commitment, their witness to faith and the way that they stayed in the places they were assigned to during the Korean War and then ended up in prison or on death marches”.

Founded originally as a movement known as the Maynooth Mission to China on October 10, 1916, the venture was named the Society of St Columban on June 29, 1918.