ALL-IRELAND WORSHIP TO REMEMBER DEAD
All-Ireland worship to remember dead
By Niall Blaney
ONE of the biggest mass acts of joint worship will take place this Saturday when towns and cities across Ireland come to a standstill to remember the dead from Omagh.
The leaders of the four main churches have called on people throughout the country to attend services of remembrance exactly a week after the massacre.
Those unable to attend church services have been asked to stop and pray at exactly 3.10pm - the time the bomb
exploded. The church leaders - Catholic primate Dr Sean Brady, Methodist President the Rev David Kerr, Presbyterian Moderator Dr John Dixon and Church of Ireland primate Dr Robin Eames - met in Armagh on Monday.
They said they did not want to impose any arrangements for a service on the people of Omagh and consulted clergy in the area about the plans.
The church leaders will be in Omagh on Saturday but will not take part in the remembrance service.
They have asked clergy to organise an appropriate act of reflection in their areas and for a minute's silence to be observed throughout the island.
The Rev David Kerr said: "The church leaders met to see how we could respond to this terrible tragedy. It was becoming quite clear to us that there was a call for everyone to find some way of expressing their grief and showing solidarity with the people of Omagh.
"We did not want to impose anything from people outside on Omagh but wanted to organise something they felt was appropriate. They felt this Saturday was the time to do it.
"We have issued a call to the people of Ireland to show solidarity with the people of Omagh next Saturday.
"We are asking all our clergy, wherever possible, to organise appropriate acts of reflection."
He said many would be inter-church services.
"If people can't get to a church, then we are asking that wherever they are, they stop and think about the people of Omagh."
Mr Kerr stayed in Omagh over the weekend and led services in the town's Methodist church.
"The church leaders will again be in Omagh. They will not be taking part in the service but will just be there to show their sympathy for the folk of Omagh," said Mr Kerr.
The Church of Ireland archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev Walton Empey, has asked for all parishes in his diocese to be open on Saturday afternoon for private prayer and meditation.
By Niall Blaney
ONE of the biggest mass acts of joint worship will take place this Saturday when towns and cities across Ireland come to a standstill to remember the dead from Omagh.
The leaders of the four main churches have called on people throughout the country to attend services of remembrance exactly a week after the massacre.
Those unable to attend church services have been asked to stop and pray at exactly 3.10pm - the time the bomb
exploded. The church leaders - Catholic primate Dr Sean Brady, Methodist President the Rev David Kerr, Presbyterian Moderator Dr John Dixon and Church of Ireland primate Dr Robin Eames - met in Armagh on Monday.
They said they did not want to impose any arrangements for a service on the people of Omagh and consulted clergy in the area about the plans.
The church leaders will be in Omagh on Saturday but will not take part in the remembrance service.
They have asked clergy to organise an appropriate act of reflection in their areas and for a minute's silence to be observed throughout the island.
The Rev David Kerr said: "The church leaders met to see how we could respond to this terrible tragedy. It was becoming quite clear to us that there was a call for everyone to find some way of expressing their grief and showing solidarity with the people of Omagh.
"We did not want to impose anything from people outside on Omagh but wanted to organise something they felt was appropriate. They felt this Saturday was the time to do it.
"We have issued a call to the people of Ireland to show solidarity with the people of Omagh next Saturday.
"We are asking all our clergy, wherever possible, to organise appropriate acts of reflection."
He said many would be inter-church services.
"If people can't get to a church, then we are asking that wherever they are, they stop and think about the people of Omagh."
Mr Kerr stayed in Omagh over the weekend and led services in the town's Methodist church.
"The church leaders will again be in Omagh. They will not be taking part in the service but will just be there to show their sympathy for the folk of Omagh," said Mr Kerr.
The Church of Ireland archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev Walton Empey, has asked for all parishes in his diocese to be open on Saturday afternoon for private prayer and meditation.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0084
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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