PRAYER FOR OUR LEADERS
Prayer for our leaders
Father, we remember at the close of this act of remembrance our community and political leaders and representatives, and ask that you will grant
them wisdom and sensitivity in their efforts to help us live at peace with one another. May they, like we, be instruments of your peace and channel of your blessing.
When Omagh District Council Chairman, Allan Rainey read the above prayer near the end of last Sunday's poignant service to mark the first anniversary of the Omagh bomb, there was hardly a person amongst the huge crowd who would not have asked for a better wish.
Men, women and children, from all parts of the town, and indeed all parts of Tyrone and Ireland, stood shoulder to shoulder once again in dignified silence to offer their support to the families of the victims of last year's atrocity. They also stood in opposition to those whose viciousness wrecked so many lives in this county.
Sunday's memorial service was an uplifting one for many.
It should also have been an uplifting experience for many who were not there in person but who may have witnessed the scenes in the television broadcasts that were subsequently screened that evening.
Only those with a cold and callous heart would not have been moved by the occasion.
However, while the people of Omagh showed that they could live at peace with one another, it was sad to see that on such a weekend, others could not.
The events in Derry must have been gut wrenching for the families of those killed in the Omagh bomb as they must surely have been thinking that the deaths of their loved ones was all in vain. Obviously the tragedy in this town one year ago had little bearing on those involved in the violence on the streets of a city only a few miles from here.
Councillor Rainey's prayer on Sunday was directed specifically at the politicians and leaders on this part of Ireland who have a huge responsibility to their electorate.
Sadly there are many who have continually shown that they lack such responsibility by their careless words which have only served to inflame the passions of those who can only express their opinions through violence.
The Good Friday Agreement which was voted upon by the vast majority of people in the North was meant to secure a lasting peace, but the fact that it has now been 'parked' has meant that the men and women whom we all elected to help usher in a new settlement have actually failed us.
The onus is now on those same people to settle their differences and see the process through once and for all. The arguments have dragged on for too long and none of us want to endure another winter of uncertainty.
The people of Omagh and surrounding areas have always shown that they can live at peace with one another. It is about time that the rest of the country did likewise.
Father, we remember at the close of this act of remembrance our community and political leaders and representatives, and ask that you will grant
them wisdom and sensitivity in their efforts to help us live at peace with one another. May they, like we, be instruments of your peace and channel of your blessing.
When Omagh District Council Chairman, Allan Rainey read the above prayer near the end of last Sunday's poignant service to mark the first anniversary of the Omagh bomb, there was hardly a person amongst the huge crowd who would not have asked for a better wish.
Men, women and children, from all parts of the town, and indeed all parts of Tyrone and Ireland, stood shoulder to shoulder once again in dignified silence to offer their support to the families of the victims of last year's atrocity. They also stood in opposition to those whose viciousness wrecked so many lives in this county.
Sunday's memorial service was an uplifting one for many.
It should also have been an uplifting experience for many who were not there in person but who may have witnessed the scenes in the television broadcasts that were subsequently screened that evening.
Only those with a cold and callous heart would not have been moved by the occasion.
However, while the people of Omagh showed that they could live at peace with one another, it was sad to see that on such a weekend, others could not.
The events in Derry must have been gut wrenching for the families of those killed in the Omagh bomb as they must surely have been thinking that the deaths of their loved ones was all in vain. Obviously the tragedy in this town one year ago had little bearing on those involved in the violence on the streets of a city only a few miles from here.
Councillor Rainey's prayer on Sunday was directed specifically at the politicians and leaders on this part of Ireland who have a huge responsibility to their electorate.
Sadly there are many who have continually shown that they lack such responsibility by their careless words which have only served to inflame the passions of those who can only express their opinions through violence.
The Good Friday Agreement which was voted upon by the vast majority of people in the North was meant to secure a lasting peace, but the fact that it has now been 'parked' has meant that the men and women whom we all elected to help usher in a new settlement have actually failed us.
The onus is now on those same people to settle their differences and see the process through once and for all. The arguments have dragged on for too long and none of us want to endure another winter of uncertainty.
The people of Omagh and surrounding areas have always shown that they can live at peace with one another. It is about time that the rest of the country did likewise.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0576
Published Date: 19-Aug-99
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