Urban Iona: Celtic Hospitality in the City

by Kurt Neilson

Urban Iona is a modern Celtic tale of healing and vision during and after the author’s pilgrimage to Iona and Ireland and Scotland.  Upon his return, a dream takes flesh for his church as an urban Celtic monastery, a gathering of pilgrims open to the world and serving those most in need.

This is a powerful account of the author’s search for his family’s story, and the meaning and inspiration that story brought to his life and his ministry. Chronicled here is the author’s pilgrimage to Ireland―not as a travelogue but as deep, moving, often humorous reflection on the meaning of what he discovered there. More important, the book chronicles the author’s efforts to put into action the unique brand of Celtic spirituality he took away from his pilgrimage, in the form of Brigid’s Table, a ministry to prostitutes and other marginalized people in the inner city of Portland, Oregon.

Also included are suggestions for applying this spirituality in other parishes, other places, and other lives.

Paperback

First published February 1, 2007

Reviews

[Ben Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book when I moved to NYC from Florida in 2018 by a deacon friend. Based on the title, it seemed to detail how to live in an urban metropolis and live a Celtic Christian life which was very appropriate for me. 85% of this book is about the personal pilgrimage of the priest/writer. Frankly, the writing is excellent. In all honest disclosure, I did not care at all about his family’s link or history to Ireland and was so bored in some passages, I nearly quit the book. I enjoyed the visits to Iona, Glendalough, etc. but the remaining 15% seemed to dwell on a mix of patting himself on the back for the Columba Center and feeling sorry for himself over its lack of success. The book felt like a justification he needed to give his parish for paying for his trip to Iona. I am neither impressed by the priest, his experience, his pilgrimage, his shoe-horning his Irish heritage down his parish’s throat, or his over-glorification of his own accomplishments. I was generous in giving 3 stars.

[Frederick Masterman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting account of a sentimental/spiritual journey of the author, an Episcopal priest seeking mid-life direction for his parish in Portland, Oregon. His quasi-mystical encounter with various saints on Iona and then in Ireland end up energizing him for the inner city ministry his parish has already addressed. I felt the book bogged down as the author goes into great detail of founding a Columba-like, Brigid-inspired 'monastic' community within his own parish as they care for all manner of distressed people. One drawback was the long description of the 'rule' they formed, so much like other Rules, especially Franciscan, that I wonder why that wheel had to be re-invented...except that it had to have a Celtic spin to it, even if in name only.