The Society is an independent ecumenical religious community in the Celtic Christian and Contemplative traditions. It is comprised of both the Chapel of St Columba and the Order of St Columba. We offer a supportive, spiritually nurturing community whereby people can come together to celebrate the seasons and connect to God and each other through meditation, prayer, sacramental worship, and ceremony.
Our public evening Chapel Services are held 8 times a year at 7:30pm on a Sunday evening and combine the beauty of traditional sacramental worship and liturgy with a nature-centered and mystical approach to Christian spirituality. Members of the Order of St Columba (by application or invitation) undertake daily meditation, personal spiritual practice and study, and attend seasonal ceremonies held 4 times per year for Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
Our Religious Community and the associated Order of St Columba are blessed to have The Rt Rev Dr. Francois Bothma (Australia) as our Bishop Protector, who provides spiritual guidance, mentoring and oversight regarding our liturgical and ecumenical activities.
Chapel of St Columba
The Chapel was established in 2016 as an ecumenical, religious community in the Celtic Christian and Contemplative Traditions. We are a continuation of other New Zealand based Celtic and Mystical Christian communities that operated from the 1970's and 1980's.
Join us in a beautiful historic church for our evening Mass. Our sacraments are open to all people. The services combine traditional liturgical worship with candles, incense, sacred music, poetry, contemplative prayer, and meditation. Steeped in tradition, the services evoke an atmosphere of spiritual stillness and peace.
Order of St Columba
Membership of the Order of St Columba is by application after a period of discernment. Members engage in daily meditation, regular personal spiritual practice and studyand attend the Seasonal Ceremonies held four times a year for Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer. The Ceremonies are participatory and held in a sacred circle with candles and incense and draw on the Celtic and Mystical Christian traditions, honour the four elements of creation and the archangels and include meditation, prayer, chant, seasonal readings, and ceremony,
Celtic christianity
Celtic Christianity draws on ancient religious and monastic traditions, yet this spiritual path is relevant for the contemporary world today. Revering nature as God's Creation and incorporating sacred music, art, and poetry in worship are integral elements of Celtic Spiritual and Monastic traditions. Through a deep personal spiritual journey a close relationship to Christ, Mary, and the Saints is developed. Distinctive features of this path include: Hope, equality, mystery, nature, holism, simplicity, and community.
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