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Two churches host Service of Prayer and Reflection for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The choir of St. Macartin's Cathedral leading the walk to St. Michael's Church.
A Service of Prayer and Reflection following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth took place in Enniskillen on Sunday evening, 18th September.
The service began in St. Macartin's Cathedral and continued in St. Michael's Church across the road as the clergy and congregation walked in the footsteps of Her Majesty during her historic visit to the town in June 2022.
Taking part were Dean Kenneth Hall and Monsignor Peter O'Reilly as well as Revd Lorna Dreaning from Enniskillen Methodist Church and the Revd David Cupples, from Enniskillen Presbyterian Church and the Bishop of Clogher, the Right Revd Dr. Ian Ellis who gave the sermon.
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 in a joint statement; “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.”
The hymns “All my hope on God is founded” and “The King of love my shepherd is” were sung in St Macartin’s and following the address by Dean Hall, the clergy and congregation walked across the road to St. Michael’s church while they sang “Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness.”
In St. Michael’s Church, further hymns included; “Nearer, my God to thee,” and “Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart.”
An address was given by Monsignor Peter O’Reilly.