Mags Gargan
Bishop Denis Nulty has urged more parishes to answer the call of Pope Francis to have a church open for ‘24 Hours for the Lord’, saying “as Church we need to be present more often”.
A number of dioceses across the island of Ireland last weekend took part in the worldwide promotion of the Sacrament of Reconciliation created by the Pope in 2014, where a designated church is open for 24 hours offering the opportunity for prayer, adoration and Confession.
In Kildare & Leighlin, three host churches, Tullow, Portlaoise and Carbury, covering the three ends of the diocese, took part. “The experience was tremendous,” said Bishop Denis, who himself offered Confession in Tullow from 11pm to midnight. “It is wonderful for priests and people to be together looking for the mercy of God.
“Being available in 2017 is a huge statement of presence and I think as Church we need to be present more often. The fact that a priest is present – to be available and to have a light on, I think we need to do more of that,” he said.
Message
Fr Andrew Leahy in Tullow said the “symbol of having the doors of the church open was a message that everyone was welcome”. “It was the first year we did it in the parish and people liked to have the opportunity to have others with them in their prayer supporting them.”
Fr La Flynn of St Patrick’s Church in Ballybay told The Irish Catholic people now see the initiative as “part of the journey of Lent”. “The priests across four parishes in the pastoral area between us offered 12 hours availability for Confession and all of us were constantly occupied except for maybe gaps of 10-15 minutes,” he said.
Fr Peter McAnenly said 24 Hours for the Lord is now well established in Armagh parish, where it “has become built into the Lenten calendar”. “It is growing year on year and any opportunity to bring people to prayer these days is welcome to me,” he said.