Flourish Article Published in Scotland
by Ann McCay
On Sunday June 1st 2014 a large crowd gathered in a marquee at IOSAS Centre on the Derry Donegal border to give thanks and celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the priesthood of Fr Neal Carlin. Fr.Neal spent 11 years in Scotland before returning to Derry in 1975. Columba Community members, family members, staff, volunteers, friends old and new, gathered to give thanks for a man who has been for so many, a guide, a light, an inspiration, a prophet, a faithful follower of Christ.
The word God gave him in 1979 from Isaiah 40 verse 31 has remained central to Fr Neal’s ministry throughout the development of lay Community, a ministry which has seen him help prisoners, young people, families and those in recovery change their lives for the better. His dedication to the vision God gave him has been unstinting through difficult and painful times to times of fulfilment and joy.
‘They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not grow weary, walk and not faint’ Isaiah 40:31
I have been a member of Columba Community since its beginnings in Derry in 1980. When Fr Neal first spoke about adapting the South American model of Basic Christian Community to suit our circumstances in Derry/Donegal and applying the Young Christian Workers principles of See Judge Act to the situation here in the North we little thought as we met together to pray daily and discern Gods plan for our work that thirty four years later the Columba Community would still be journeying together, growing in the knowledge and love of God and helping people move forward with hope. Fr Neal has often described the vision for the Columba Community as being like a plough, moving slowly forward, ploughing several furrows at the same time, tilling the soil carefully, digging deeply and sowing where the ground is soft. This is a good description of the work which began originally with an outreach to those most affected by the conflict here; victims of violence from all sides, prisoners, their families, and involved us in working towards repentance and reconciliation through the Christians Together Movement.
The first of the four foundations - Columba House of Prayer and Reconciliation in the Centre of Derry was officially opened on June 9th 1981 and has over many years been an oasis of peace in times of trouble, providing counselling, prayer for healing, daily prayer and exposition in the heart of our city and I use the words ‘in the heart’ intentionally because prayer, repentance, reconciliation and acts of kindness have been the true reason why in the end peace has triumphed over violence and the endless killing has ceased. However we are not complacent for we know that we still have some way to go before the Peace of Christ which passes all understanding becomes the true and only banner/flag worth standing under. Then our land will truly be transformed. In Columba House today the daily prayer, exposition and weekly healing Mass continue. During Lent many hundreds of young people from local schools visit Columba House to participate in the Lenten Stations.
Saint Anthony’s Retreat Centre, opened in 1986, sits on the Derry Donegal border in the townland of Dundrean. This humble dwelling was and is a place of retreat, refuge, rest and respite from at first the troubles in the North and more recently from the problems of today’s world. Jesus often went off to a quiet place to pray and we have tried to create a modern equivalent - a place of healing for the soul.
In 2001 White Oaks Treatment Centre was opened as a response to the need we saw to provide a residential programme for those struggling with addiction and trying to arrive at a place in their lives where they have achieved contented sobriety, acceptance and serenity. Over the past 12 years the work of White Oaks staff and volunteers has gone from strength to strength and the records show an excellent success rate for clients maintaining their new lifestyle. Many former residents return to White Oaks each year on Medallion day to receive their medallion for from one up to twelve years free from addiction. They take the opportunity to thank Fr Neal, the staff, volunteers and very importantly their families for their help and support in achieving their goal.
Through all the years of working for others Fr Neal had a dream that one day we would open a centre dedicated to St Columba and the Irish Saints of the Golden age, when Ireland was honoured throughout the known world as the Island of Saints and Scholars. This was not merely to be a place to pay homage to the ‘holy men and women of old’ but to look at their gifts, lifestyle and prayer life and see how we can be in our day, what they were in theirs, in our response to the Gospel of Christ. The IOSAS Centre situated at Derryvane adjacent to White Oaks but in its own separate space is set among the Donegal hills just over the border, close to Derry City, not far from St Anthony’s. It was opened in 2006 by Bishop Seamus Hegarty and houses a Celtic Prayer Garden, Visitor’s Centre, Organic Gardening project and most recently the Sanctuary built to facilitate individuals or groups wanting to avail of residential accommodation or conference centre.
Individuals, small groups, families, adult groups, young people from schools and youth groups come there to rediscover, to pray, to deal with issues relating to the troubles, study nature in all its beauty, to paint and write, learn about organics, to holiday, or just get away for a few days of relaxation and fun. At Christmas time we run the Follow a Star Christmas trail which attracts families from near and far, the Celtic Garden is transformed into a space where the real message of Christmas can be appreciated and enjoyed. During the summer months reminiscence days and a summer camp are among the various events on offer. It is well worth a visit.
One of Fr Neal’s most important statements regarding sainthood which has stayed with me is ‘At the core of our being each one of us is a saint and that is what God sees’ this means that when God looks at you and at me He sees the goodness in each one of us. We may not always see this in ourselves or in others but these words serve as a reminder that we are all made in the image and likeness of God and that our main calling in life is to be holy, to imitate Christ and to see him in the face of everyone we meet.
In all the works we have undertaken and all the centres we have opened we have tried to remain faithful to the call we received which is the call of every follower of Christ - to bring the Good News to the poor, bind up hearts that are broken, proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison ……. (Isaiah 61). Listening Prayer, Reverence for the Word of God, for the Blessed Sacrament, openness to the Holy Spirit, Reconciliation and Prayer for Healing in all its aspects are essential for us. These were at the centre of the life of our Patron St Columba who founded this beautiful City and we continue to strive to develop them in our Community. In developing and using our gifts as committed lay members of Columba Community it has been our privilege to teach others about Jesus, intercede for peoples needs, to pray as part of a prayer team for the healing of those who are sick and for the anointing of the Holy Spirit, show hospitality and develop gifts of music art and writing. This would not have been possible without the strong leadership given by Fr Neal as he set an example for others to follow in involving lay men and women in ministry within the Church.
Our Wednesday night Community meeting which combines business and prayer takes place weekly at one of our centres and has kept us spiritually renewed and refreshed over the years while keeping our feet firmly on the ground. These meetings have helped us to maintain a balanced life style of listening prayer and outreach. The core committed group of our Community has remained small over the years with 12 – 20 members some of whom commit for a year or two and then move on, others like myself have been here from the beginning. I think St Columba and the saints of the Golden Age would be happy that we are trying to follow their example. We also have a good auxiliary group which meets once a month and prays for the needs of the Community and helps out at our centres when needed. There are thirty highly qualified staff members in all at the four centres and we have a great team of volunteers. All of this work is overseen by Fr Neal and a dedicated voluntary Committee at each Centre.
At this time of grace and thanksgiving we look back together at the uncharted journey and wait on the Lord for direction. We ask Gods blessing on our founder and director Fr Neal, may Jesus, Mary and Colmcille always be with him.
(Ann McCay)
Look out for Fr Neal’s new book which is entitled ‘Wait on the Lord’ (an uncharted journey) and is due out in September.
For further information
Email us at
Columba House columbacommunity@hotmail.com
St Anthony’s sarce@eircom.net
White Oaks whiteoaksrehabcentre@hotmail.com
IOSAS Centre goldenagecentre@hotmail.com
Visit our website at www.columbacommunity.com
The Columba Community 2014 at Iosas Centre
