NeuroDivine

In the quiet hills of Antrim, where the wind whispers through ancient stone and story, we remember Oengus Mac Nisse—also known as Macanisius—the first bishop of Connor, whose life and legacy continue to echo through the Diocese of Connor and beyond.

Born into the early Christian landscape of Dalriada, Oengus is thought to have lived as a hermit at Kells before taking up the mantle of episcopal leadership. His story, preserved in tradition, speaks volumes of his devotion: rather than carrying his Gospel book in a satchel like his contemporaries, he bore it on his shoulders—hunched, even crawling—embodying a literal and spiritual burden for the Word of God. This image of humility and reverence resonates deeply with the Benedictine ethos of ora et labora (pray and work), where the sacred is carried not just in liturgy but in the labor of daily life.

The Anglican tradition in Ireland, rooted in both ancient Celtic Christianity and the Reformation, finds in Oengus a figure of continuity—a bishop who led not with pomp but with profound service. His witness invites us to pray for the Diocese of Connor, especially the parishes of County Antrim, and to lift up the schools and places of education that shape future generations.

We also remember the Corrymeela Fellowship, a beacon of peace-making and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. Their work, like Oengus’s burdened walk, is a pilgrimage—slow, deliberate, and sacred.

As we reflect on his legacy, we offer this prayer:

God,
for whom Oengus Mac Nisse gladly bore
the burden of leadership as bishop
among the hills of Antrim:
Keep those whom you call as leaders in Church and State
always mindful of their duty to Jesus Christ,
whose servants they are,
and to whom be glory in the Church to all generations, for ever and for ever.

May the memory of Oengus inspire us to carry the Gospel with courage, humility, and joy—whether in satchels or on shoulders.