Reflections on the Knights of St Columbanus, 2023 to 2026

Brother John Murphy, Last Past Supreme Knight

I had the honour and privilege to be Supreme Knight of the Order of the Knights of St Columbanus for the term 2023 to 2026, and my time working with the Supreme Executive has been a rewarding, enriching and fraternal experience. I take this opportunity to reflect on the fruits of the last three years.

• Recruitment, especially of younger cohorts, was a focus of the whole Order. While we were unable to maintain the circa 100 new Members in 2024, these efforts have put us in a more positive position to fruitfully interact with the younger generations and to ensure the future of the Order. This topic has been the subject of discussion at all our Command Meetings over the last two years and all Brothers are very aware of this existential issue.

• We have worked on our mission to all, especially our young people, to inform them and walk alongside them on their faith journey towards Christ in the Eucharist.

  • We have worked to promote St Carlo Acutis (patron saint of the internet) as a saint who speaks to young people, especially as shown by CK10 Newry with their support for a Student Faith Initiative in 2025 and a Novena in Newry in 2026.

  • In addition, our very successful public speaking competition, “Young People Find Language in their Faith”, led by Past Supreme Knight Brother Seamus McDonald, is a powerful tool in assisting young people in their faith journey. It was an uplifting experience to have the privilege to attend many of these events and especially the All-Ireland Finals, which were of a very high standard with Abbey Community College, Boyle winning in 2024, St Dominic’s, Belfast in 2025 and Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone in 2026.

  • This is also true of our support for the Pope Saint John Paul II Awards with the Kerry Diocese being the final Diocese introducing them in 2026. The role of the Knights in relation to these awards is the subject of consideration with the National Board.

  • Our support for Camp Veritas, a camp for young people to explore their faith. CK98 Ballinasloe were especially active in this regard. About 180 young people attended in 2026 and there is clear evidence of green shoots in the Irish Church.

  • Since 2024, Councils in Area 4 including CK14 Omagh have organised a very successful Retreat for Young People to Lough Derg.

  • The Order’s publications, such as “Lord Hear My Prayer” and its associated Workbook for children preparing for First Holy Communion, and “Understanding the Mass” and “Understanding the Sacraments” for young people.

• Practical Works of Charity. This forms the backbone of Councils throughout the country. Some highlights:

  • Area 1’s (Dublin) flagship project, the Christmas Day Dinner, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024. It has grown continuously, especially in recent years, and continues to promote its objectives and is a great example of practical Christianity informed by our faith and mission.

  • Financial support for the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Waterford, a female-only post-detoxification care and recovery centre.

  • Brú Columbanus in Wilton, Cork, which is owned by the Order. It provides accommodation for the families of seriously ill patients in hospital.

• The Order is supporting vocations through financial support for the National Vocations Office and our Northern Area Committees are working in this area.

• Press releases on relevant matters:

  • On the two 2024 referenda, on marriage and on the life of women in the home

  • On Election 2024, emphasising the importance of supporting life from conception to natural death

  • On the death of Pope Francis

  • On the election of Pope Leo XIV

  • On education, in 2025

• Promotion of causes and pilgrimages. Highlights include:

  • Promoting the cause of the Venerable Matt Talbot.

    • 2025 was the centenary of the death of Matt Talbot. The Centenary Committee set up by the Knights of St Columbanus spearheaded these very successful centenary celebrations and received the relics of Matt from Bishop Paul Dempsey at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Sean McDermott Street, on 3 November 2024. The celebration culminated with a Mass at the then Pro-Cathedral, St Mary’s, on 7 June 2025, with a procession afterwards to Our Lady of Lourdes Church. There was a pre-screening of the new film “Matt Talbot: Urban Mystic” on 8 June 2025.

    • The Knights set up a National and International Committee chaired by Brother Michael Murphy on 6 September 2025. Brother Michael has made contact with interested groups, for example, in the USA, Scotland and Australia.

    • Brother Michael Murphy had the honour to be appointed Vice Postulator for the cause of the Venerable Matt Talbot by Archbishop Dermot Farrell on 27 May 2026.

  • The Order and especially CK32 Drogheda promote the veneration of the relics of St Oliver Plunkett and there is an Order Pilgrimage each year in July with a procession through Drogheda. 2025 was the 400th anniversary of the birth of St Oliver and the 50th anniversary of his canonisation. The Order provided financial assistance and CK32 Drogheda were very involved, especially in relation to the excellent publication “St Oliver 400 Commemorative Book 1625-2025”.

  • The Order had a very successful Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi during the Jubilee year of 2025.

  • The Knights supported the very successful XXVI Columbanus Day celebrations in Carlow in 2025. This included a walk along part of the Turas Columbanus / Columban Way. I attended the XXVII Columbanus Day in the Diocese of Lodi, Italy, in 2026. This included a 13 km walk along part of the Cammino di San Colombano. The XXVIII Columbanus Day will be held in Bangor from 11 to 13 June 2027.

  • The Knights support the promotion of Turas Columbanus / Columban Way from Myshall (where St Columbanus was born) to Bangor (where he left Ireland). The inaugural walk along the full route took place in 2024 ending in Bangor on 21 September 2024 after 37 days of walking, a total of 581 km. Brother Tomas Hodgins walked the full route. Since then, CK31 Monaghan has organised an 11 km walk in its area in 2025 and 2026, and CK40 Trim organised a walk from Clonard to Trim in 2026. Councils all along the route are encouraged to organise walks along part of the Turas Columbanus / Columban Way. The Knights donated a relic of St Columbanus to Bishop Denis Nulty for installation in Carlow Cathedral.

• Councils throughout Ireland have contributed significantly to their Parishes and Dioceses. One example is CK25 Sligo, which celebrated its centenary in 2024 and produced a very interesting booklet “1924 – 2024 CK25 Sligo A Centenary Occasion”.

• International connections

  • The Order is represented at the Supreme Council of the Knights of St Columba (Great Britain) every year, and their Supreme Knight and Deputy Supreme Knight attend our Supreme Council each year.

  • For the first time, the Knights of St Columbanus were represented at the 144th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus in Denver, Colorado, in August 2026. In turn the Knights of Columbus were represented by Damien O’Connor, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Knights of Columbus, at our Supreme Council in 2026.

  • The International Alliance of Catholic Knights (IACK): I had the pleasure and privilege of representing the Knights of St Columbanus at its bi-annual conference in Cape Town in 2025, which was chaired by the President of IACK, Brother Brendan McCann, a Past Supreme Knight of the Knights of St Columbanus.

  • The Knights of St Columbanus have been designated by the Catholic Hierarchy as Ireland’s representatives to Unum Omnes. This is a global organisation that unites Catholic men’s associations for evangelisation, mutual support and promotion of Catholic Social Doctrine. The current President is Brother Seamus McDonald KCSG, a Past Supreme Knight of the Knights of St Columbanus and the current Secretary General is Brother Gerald Harbison KSK, also a Past Supreme Knight.

Our work in informing and walking alongside young people on their faith journey gives me the most satisfaction, and I pray that this will continue to be a focus of the Order into the future. The Knights of Columbus “Cor” initiative is one I hope the new Supreme Executive will promote over the coming years. Its purpose is to answer the needs of Catholic men through prayer (lifting minds and hearts to God), formation (becoming like Christ) and fraternity (centring brotherhood on Christ).