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News
Enniskillen churches to host Service of Prayer and Reflection following death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
A welcome to everyone to St Macartin's Cathedral.
A Service of Prayer and Reflection is taking place in Enniskillen on Sunday evening, 18th September following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
It will begin in St. Macartin's Cathedral and continue in St. Michael's Church nearby.
Taking part will be Dean Kenneth Hall and Monsignor Peter O'Reilly as well as the Bishop of Clogher, the Right Revd Dr. Ian Ellis.
In a foreward to the service, Bishop Ellis said; “It is with profound sadness that we have learned of the passing of Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of the clergy and people of the Diocese of Clogher I offer our sincere condolences to the members of the Royal Family in their grievous loss and assure them of the prayers of the
parishes of this diocese at this time as they mourn the death of the Queen.
'During her long reign, Queen Elizabeth II has visited this area of her realm on many occasions and touched the hearts and minds of all who met her.
'Her visits are dearly held in our memories; most notable was the remarkable visit to St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen, in 2012, for a service to mark the 60th anniversary of her reign. On that occasion she reached out to members of the Catholic community and walked across Church Street to meet members of St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church.
'Queen Elizabeth has led the way in promoting neighbourliness and breaking down barriers to friendship and working together.
'Although our hearts are saddened by the death of Queen Elizabeth II, we give thanks to Almighty God for her long life and draw inspiration from the example of her clear faith, her devotion to Christ and selfless service.
'God save the King.”
Dean Hall and Monsignor O'Reilly 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.'