St. Columbans Widney Manor Rd.Knowle, W/Midlands B93 9AB Tel: 01564 772096, Fax: 01564 770500 colsol@btinternet.com

They are named after Saint Columban, a sixth century Irish monk, (540-615 AD) who felt called by God to go with others on mission among the peoples of Europe, to witness to God’s loving compassion and goodness.

Today the Columban mission in Britain has many faces.
Mission awareness, Every weekend there are mission appeals in several parishes around the country made by  Columbans who are trying to raise awareness of the missionary dimension of the Church and calling for support for our work, Spiritually, Materially and in Personnel.

Vocation for Justice, Faith and Justice, click the section on Justice and Peace
 Asylum seekers Apostolate, click the section Sanctuary
dialogue, ClickHere
Lay Mission,  Click Here
Chaplaincy for Immigrants,
China Research programme Click Here
and Hospital  Chaplaincy.  

Columban Mission History in Britain

In 1918 the St. Columban's Missionary Society was founded in Ireland. While training of the first 19 students commenced, priests who had joined the Society promoted the new missionary venture in parishes in Britain. The first group of eleven Columbans set off from Liverpool for China on 27th March 1921. Priest friends from Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds came to wish them "God speed", as did a large number of Catholics from Liverpool. The Dockers, largely dependent on piece time work refused to take anything for handling their baggage. During the war years 1939-45, it was not possible to travel abroad. Twenty nine Columbans joined up as Army and RAF chaplains, while 32 Columbans joined various dioceses replacing priests gone as chaplains. Other Columbans, depending on where they happened to be on mission, served as chaplains to British, Canadian and US. forces.

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