Saint Brigid was a 5th-6th century Irish abbess. She was born into Druid family, but at an early age decided to become a Christian. She began a nunnery in Kildare, and later, monks joined her. The original site of her abbey was a pagan shrine with a sacred fire. Brigid never put it out. Instead, she gave it a Christian interpretation, which we can all imagine was the perpetual light of Christ.
Saint Brigid is the patron saint of our diocese’s new church plant in Oceanside. Led by our former curate and current priest associate, the Rev. Brian Petersen, St. Brigid’s is a beacon of light to the community.
Just last Sunday, St. Brigid’s held its first Sunday morning Eucharist in a business space. The church plant also offers a Sunday dinner church gathering at a local house of worship. St. Brigid’s gathers for a fellowship time called “Resonance,” where people can join together for different types of creative activities.
“The main reason we chose Brigid as our patron saint is that she was a bridge between the Celtic and Christian communities in Ireland, and similarly we wanted St Brigid’s to be a place where people without a church background could feel safe and comfortable engaging with the Christian tradition,” says Pastor Brian. “Also, at the abbey of Kildare, she was a patron of artists and poets. We wanted to hold creative expression and support of the arts as important values.”
It was not too long ago that St. Bart’s was a church plant in a storefront on Midland Road in Poway. With the support of many, we became a fully recognized church with a stream of seven rectors. Let us pray for the flourishing of St. Brigid's as this church plant spreads the light of Christ. This weekend, and every first weekend in February, St. Bart’s will devote its plate offerings to St. Brigid’s, O’side. We do this honor Saint Brigid on her feast day, and to honor the work done in her name in Oceanside.
Mother Nina+