Bangor rectors visit Rome to mark start of St Columbanus anniversary year
Rector of Bangor Abbey, Canon Ronnie Nesbitt and Canon Simon Doogan, rector of St Columbanus, Ballyholme, last month accompanied a group from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor who visited Rome to mark the beginning of the anniversary year of St Columbanus.
The group from Down and Connor joined numerous pilgrims from France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other parts of Italy to share in the festivities and Pope Francis made specific reference to the group in his Sunday greeting from the balcony of the papal apartments in St Peter’s Square.
Canon Nesbitt is pictured above at the Irish Embassy with the Irish Ambassador to the Vatican, Her Excellency Emma Madigan, after presenting her with a copy of the History of Bangor Abbey. He also preached at an ecumenical service in the beautiful Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome.
Pictured below L–R: Canon Simon Doogan, Rector of Ballyhome Parish, Fr. Henry McCann, Fr. Joseph Gunn and Canon Ronnie Nesbitt, Rector of Bangor Abbey at the Catacombs of St Sebastian, Rome.