The Columba Community was founded in 1980 by Fr.Neal Carlin. After leaving St. Eugene's Cathedral in 1978 he felt moved to explore the idea of Basic Christian Communities in Mexico and America. On his return small steps were taken to form a praying community here in Derry. After a retreat in Wexford he felt God saying that a stranger would point out a house to him. Soon a house was pointed out to him in Queen Street in Derry and with the princely sum of £200.00 Fr.Carlin along with this group of committed individuals decided to buy the house for £20,000.00.
A leap in the dark lit only by the light of God!
We are now in the year 2003 and to cut a long story short a basic Christian Community was formed and matured over 23 years. The centre in Queen Street was established as a House of Prayer and Reconciliation.
A small area of land was gifted to the community in 1985 and a Retreat Centre was developed there, the present St. Anthony's.
The Community is now facilitating the building of the White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre to cater locally for those who are suffering from alcohol and drug Addiction. This Centre is now complete and opened in October 2001. We have completed one year in training new counsellors and several have now taken up employment there and have been working since September 2002.
The Community will now concentrate a lot of energy on the refurbishment of Columba House in Derry and building up A Celtic Garden in the land across the road from White Oaks. This Garden, commemorating the Irish Saints, will serve as a therapeutic centre for those who may be recovering from alcohol or as an education centre for those wishing to study Celtic Spirituality. It will also serve as aTourist facility and as a place of quiet prayer.
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