The 1,400th anniversary of the death of St Columbanus on November 21st, 615, was marked on Monday at Maynooth by the conferring of three honorary doctorates there at St Patrick’s College.
The award of doctor of philosophy, honoris causa was presented to Bishop Gianni Ambrosio, Bishop of Piacenza-Bobbio, Italy, where St Columbanus established his last foundation, on Mr Mauro Steffenini, San Colombano al Lambro, Italy, and on Rev Kevin O'Neill, superior general of the Missionary Society of St Columban.
Each man was being recognised for the contribution they made in separate ways to continue the work and mission of St Columbanus in the 21st century.
In the case of Fr O’Neill, the honour was also intended as recognition of the work done by the entire Missionary Society of St Columban, formerly the Maynooth Mission to China, from its foundation to the present day.
As a pontifical university, St Patrick's College Maynooth specialises in the study of theology, philosophy and related areas.
It is completely separate from Maynooth University.
