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Tribute from Right Rev Monsignor Peter O’Reilly and the Very Revd Canon Kenneth Hall
The leaders of the two churches in Enniskillen who hosted Her Majesty The Queen during her visit in 2012 have issued a statement following her death.
The Right Revd Monsignor Peter O’Reilly, St Michael’s Church (Roman Catholic), Enniskillen and the Very Revd Canon Kenneth Hall, Dean of St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen said;
With the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, we pause in prayer to remember her family in their moment of renewed bereavement. The death of a parent and grandparent, even after a long life, is a painful loss. During the Platinum Jubilee of her life as Queen, her regnal qualities were widely remarked and acclaimed: service, duty and devotion. She did not disguise the roots of these qualities in her Christian faith but gave sterling witness to a practical belief in God, something for which Christian leaders like ourselves are especially grateful in time of changing culture. In Enniskillen, we experienced something of this at first hand. As was also evident in her visit to the other part of this island, she well understood the cause of division and the consequent ongoing need for reconciliation, something which her 'crossing the street' visibly demonstrated. She made a point of speaking about continuing to rise to this challenge when she met us personally in 2012.
God our Father, we give thanks for the life and service of Queen Elizabeth the Second.
As she so willingly answered your call in life, so may your generous mercy and grace enfold her beyond death in new and eternal life.
May those who most closely mourn her loss have the comfort of faith in eternal life.
At this time of change, strengthen all our hope in your lasting goodness.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.