Who was
St. Gall?
St. Gall was born in Ireland and
was one of St. Columban's 12
disciples. He trained with St.
Columban and St. Comgall and
traveled with them to France to
establish the Luxeuil Monastery
between the years 585 and 590
A.D. In 610 A.D., St. Columban was
exiled by leaders opposed to
Christianity and the church and
fled with St. Gall to Switzerland. In
their travels they found the church
alive and present, but many towns
were without monasteries and
cathedrals. Together they
established monasteries where
young Christian men could study
and learn the scriptures.

He died at the age of 95 in
Switzerland, at Arbon. He spent the
remaining years of his life in
prayer and study of the scriptures.
During his life in Switzerland, he
lived on the Steinach River, and
the monastery of St. Gall was
erected on that site.

The feast of St. Gall is celebrated
on October 16th. Images of St. Gall
typically represent him standing
with a bear. A legend recorded in
the Lives of St. Gall tells that one
night as commanded by St. Gall, a  
wild bear brought wood to St. Gall
and his traveling companions to
feed a fire they had kindled in the
desert.

St. Gall is remembered and
revered in Europe and especially
in Switzerland and in Ireland.
Decades ago when the South Side
of Chicago was predominately
Irish-Catholic, St. Gall School was
one of a few parishes immortalized
in the "South Side Irish" song. The
verse that mentions St. Gall Parish
is:

"Our parents came from Mayo, from
Cork and Donnegal.
We come from Sabina's, St. Killian's
and St. Gall, St. Leo, Visitation, Little
Flower and the rest. The South Side
parishes are mighty--they're the
best!"
St. Gall is pictured on the
right. The bear on the left is
bringing wood to help fuel
a fire for St. Gall and his
traveling companions.
5515 S. Sawyer Ave. Chicago IL 60629 (773) 737-3454