HUNDREDS JOIN PEACE PILGRIMAGE
Hundreds join in 'peace pilgrimage'
Over 500 people, from across the religious divide, converged on Omagh on Friday evening for a 'Pilgrimage of Peace' around four churches in the same vicinity.
The event was organised by the local committee of the Women's World Day of Prayer, and began in the Sacred Heart Church with 15 minutes of silent prayer before the congregation crossed to St Columba's Parish Church.
In the Sacred Heart Church a choir sang "Make me a Channel of Your Peace" to mark the end of the act of reflection, while in the parish church the short service began and ended with a hymn, and there was prayer, led by Canon Charles Leeke, rector.
The secretary of the Omagh committee of the Women's World Day of Prayer, Mrs Frances Gormley, introduced Mrs Joan Hannon, sister-in-law of Rt. Rev. Brian Hannon, Bishop of Clogher, who outlined the role of the organisation and joined in the prayers, and Mrs Marlene Moore, chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Woman's World Day of Prayer.
The third stop was at the Methodist Church, where Rev. Peter Good, and his wife, Jean, read Psalm 27, and Church member, Isobel Strong, sang the solo, "There is a Quiet Understanding". Prayers were also said.
The fourth, and final venue, was Trinity Presbyterian Church, where Mrs. Sheena Herron, wife of the minister, Rev. Robert Herron, welcomed the congregation, and a reading was by Miss Eilish Gallagher.
Mr Herron read a sympathy message from a family in India, who had been moved by the tragedy in Omagh, and the hymn was "The Day Thou Gavest Lord is Ended".
The Pilgrimage was brought to a close with the Blessing by Rev. John Murdoch, minister of First Omagh Presbyterian Church.
Organiser, Mrs Gormley, who spearheaded the event, said the Pilgrimage came to fruition after she telephoned the various members of the local committee and invited them to a meeting in her home.
Very pleased
Mrs Gormley said she was very pleased with the turnout, particularly as it was done in such a low key manner and had not been widely publicised.
She said there had been a strong desire among the committee members to keep the event simple, and thanked everyone for taking part and supporting it particularly Revs. Good and Herron,Canon Leeke and Fr. Michael Keaveny.
Canon Leeke said the services had "a wonderful sense of unity and togetherness", and said he would be raising the issue of joint church events at Monday's meeting of the Omagh Church Forum.
He said he fully supported inter-denominational projects, and said they were important after an event such as the August 15 bombing.
"They offer an opportunity for personal expressions of sympathy, the unity of longing for peace and the longing for togetherness. It gives people great strength and that is what's coming out," he said.
"A man said to me afterwards that there was not two communities in Omagh, there was just one, and I thought 'yes', that's exactly it," the Canon said.
Canon Leeke said the Pilgrimage had been the first opportunity for him to become involved in a major way with the events of Omagh, since the bombing had taken place while he was away.
"The numbers of people attending were very good," he said.
Mr Herron said he found the event "reflective".
"It just shows the prayerful feelings in the community and the desire there is for reconciliation. We were pleased with the numbers that turned up, although we were not thinking of numbers. We saw it is a low key event, but it turned out there were a lot more people there than expected," he said.
Over 500 people, from across the religious divide, converged on Omagh on Friday evening for a 'Pilgrimage of Peace' around four churches in the same vicinity.
The event was organised by the local committee of the Women's World Day of Prayer, and began in the Sacred Heart Church with 15 minutes of silent prayer before the congregation crossed to St Columba's Parish Church.
In the Sacred Heart Church a choir sang "Make me a Channel of Your Peace" to mark the end of the act of reflection, while in the parish church the short service began and ended with a hymn, and there was prayer, led by Canon Charles Leeke, rector.
The secretary of the Omagh committee of the Women's World Day of Prayer, Mrs Frances Gormley, introduced Mrs Joan Hannon, sister-in-law of Rt. Rev. Brian Hannon, Bishop of Clogher, who outlined the role of the organisation and joined in the prayers, and Mrs Marlene Moore, chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Woman's World Day of Prayer.
The third stop was at the Methodist Church, where Rev. Peter Good, and his wife, Jean, read Psalm 27, and Church member, Isobel Strong, sang the solo, "There is a Quiet Understanding". Prayers were also said.
The fourth, and final venue, was Trinity Presbyterian Church, where Mrs. Sheena Herron, wife of the minister, Rev. Robert Herron, welcomed the congregation, and a reading was by Miss Eilish Gallagher.
Mr Herron read a sympathy message from a family in India, who had been moved by the tragedy in Omagh, and the hymn was "The Day Thou Gavest Lord is Ended".
The Pilgrimage was brought to a close with the Blessing by Rev. John Murdoch, minister of First Omagh Presbyterian Church.
Organiser, Mrs Gormley, who spearheaded the event, said the Pilgrimage came to fruition after she telephoned the various members of the local committee and invited them to a meeting in her home.
Very pleased
Mrs Gormley said she was very pleased with the turnout, particularly as it was done in such a low key manner and had not been widely publicised.
She said there had been a strong desire among the committee members to keep the event simple, and thanked everyone for taking part and supporting it particularly Revs. Good and Herron,Canon Leeke and Fr. Michael Keaveny.
Canon Leeke said the services had "a wonderful sense of unity and togetherness", and said he would be raising the issue of joint church events at Monday's meeting of the Omagh Church Forum.
He said he fully supported inter-denominational projects, and said they were important after an event such as the August 15 bombing.
"They offer an opportunity for personal expressions of sympathy, the unity of longing for peace and the longing for togetherness. It gives people great strength and that is what's coming out," he said.
"A man said to me afterwards that there was not two communities in Omagh, there was just one, and I thought 'yes', that's exactly it," the Canon said.
Canon Leeke said the Pilgrimage had been the first opportunity for him to become involved in a major way with the events of Omagh, since the bombing had taken place while he was away.
"The numbers of people attending were very good," he said.
Mr Herron said he found the event "reflective".
"It just shows the prayerful feelings in the community and the desire there is for reconciliation. We were pleased with the numbers that turned up, although we were not thinking of numbers. We saw it is a low key event, but it turned out there were a lot more people there than expected," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1153
Published Date: 10-Sep-98
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