C&SI - A chat with Fr Columba McCann OSB, Abbot of Glenstal Abbey - 23 March 2025 (S05E17)

On this weeks podcast, John and Shane are delighted to catch up with Fr Columba McCann, the recently elected abbot of Glenstal Abbey, one of the oasis of prayer in the Limerick region.

We have our regular part one looking at the liturgical odds and ends for the coming week and prayer space to start things off. And in part three we have a brief reflection on what is an awkward enough gospel from Luke this week (Lk ) which is definitely one to sit and commune with to see what way the Lord is speaking to us as we enter into this third week of Lent. 

Elected and called to Abbot

Fr Columba McCann joins with us to share how things have been going for him since his election as abbot of Glenstal and what it means both to be a monk but also the leader of that monastic community in Ireland today. He shares his journey from being a priest of the Dublin archdiocese as to what drew him to monastic life. He reflects on both the day to day challenges of the role but also with the reminder out before him in the chapter two of the Rule of St Benedict that that ultimately the abbot's primary role is to bring the monks towards God. 

You can also have a listen to Fr Columba's story of coming to Glenstal in more depth in a video that was made in a series from Glenstal back in 2021.