Long Tower expecting Columba baby

Published Date: Derry Journal 08 September 2009
By Staff reporter
Priests in Derry's Long Tower parish could soon be baptising a baby named after the patron saint of Derry, Saint Columba.
Several weeks ago, the administrator of St Columba’s Church, Long Tower, Fr Roland Colhoun, appealed for expectant parents to consider naming their child after the saint.

Fr Colhoun said special Latin masses would be said for any baby christened Columba, Colum, or Columcille, providing the name was used daily as the child’s first name.

At Masses in the parish at the weekend, Fr Colhoun announced that his call has been answered.

Speaking to the ‘Journal,’ Fr Colhoun said: “It has already borne fruit as a message came to the parochial house from an expectant father saying that he intends to have his child baptised Columba.

“The baby has not been born yet but we are delighted and are looking forward to it,” he said.

Fr Colhoun said he would like more parents to come forward and name their child after the founder of Derry.

“I’m going to keep plugging away with the call and it has been widened to the whole of the island. Latin masses will be offered to children named after the saint and they will have his protection,” he said.