By Sarah Mac Donald - 05 September, 2020
Church bells will ring out today at 3pm across the Archdiocese of Dublin in solidarity with frontline workers and in remembrance of all who suffered due to the Covid-19 virus as well as with priests and all those engaged in ministry to the sick and bereaved during the pandemic.
The gesture is part of National Services Day which acknowledges and shows solidarity with those who work and volunteer in emergency and frontline services.
The theme of this year’s celebration of National Services Day is ‘Remembering with Dignity’ and there is a special focus on all those who have died from the Covid-19 virus, their grieving families, all who became ill from the virus and front-line workers.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin has encouraged parishes in his diocese to ring church bells as part of the initiative.
Under the current restrictions a small ceremony with limited attendance will take place in Collins Barracks Dublin to mark the occasion.
Those who lost their lives since the pandemic began, the bereaved, those who are ill and frontline workers will also be the focus of those remembered in the first ever ‘Virtual Pilgrimage to Lourdes’ by Archdiocese of Dublin next week.
Due to the current travel restrictions, for just the second time in over half a century there will be no Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes this year.
This contrasts with September 2019, when over two thousand people took part, including the sick, carers, their medical teams, youth groups, students and priests and parishioners.
The Dublin pilgrimage has only been cancelled on one other occasion since 1949. In 1953, Dublin pilgrims were forced to return home by a French train strike leaving them stranded in Paris.
Next Tuesday (September 8th) Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will begin open the ‘Virtual Lourdes Pilgrimage’ with an Mass in St Bernadette’s Church, Clogher Road, Dublin.
The pilgrimage will take place in six different churches across the Dublin diocese over five days and all these liturgies will be broadcast via webcam. As numbers are restricted in each Church, the wider public are invited to join live online. An ISL Interpreter will be present at all the venues for members of the Deaf Community.
Pilgrimage Director Fr Martin Noone explained that a direct connection will be made between Dublin and Lourdes next Saturday when at the same time as Mass is being celebrated in Dublin, a Dublin Pilgrimage Candle will be left at the Chapel of Light near the Lourdes Grotto by Mme Fionnuala Brua and Mme Caroline Traynor, who both live in Lourdes and have worked with JWT on previous Dublin Pilgrimages.
Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage Lourdes at Home
Full Schedule
Tuesday 8th September
Opening Mass 7.30pm in St. Bernadette’s Church, Clogher Road, celebrated by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. (Feast of the Nativity of the B.V.M.) A large Lourdes Candle will be lit at the grotto outside St. Bernadette’s Church and will be present at each ceremony throughout the week. www.churchservices.tv/lourdesathome
Wednesday 9th September
Lourdes Holy Hour at 7.30pm in Our Lady Mother of Divine Grace Church, Ballygall Road led by Fr. Damian McNeice. www.ballygallparish.ie
Thursday 10th September
Mass of Healing at 7.30pm celebrated by Fr. Pat O’Donoghue with the Sisters of the Redemptoristine Convent, St. Alphonsus Road, Drumcondra. While it will not be possible to have a congregation present, Fr Pat and the Community will be remembering in this Mass all those who are on working on the Frontline. www.rednuns.com
Recitation of the Rosary (Mysteries of Light) with Reflections and using illustrations from the front of Rosary Basilica posted on the Dublin Pilgrimage Website. www.lourdes.dublindiocese.ie
Friday 11th September
Mass for the Deceased 7.30pm in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Clondalkin, with Fr. Paddy Boyle. We will remember in this Mass the deceased of the Dublin Diocesan Lourdes Hospitalité, those from our Pilgrimage Family, former sick pilgrims and all those who have died during the Pandemic and in particular their families and friends who are grieving at this difficult time. www.clondalkinparish.com
Stations of the Cross with Reflections and images from the High Stations in Lourdes, led by former Students Pilgrims. www.lourdes.dublindiocese.ie
Saturday 12th September
Concluding Mass of the Lourdes at Home Pilgrimage in St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral at 12.30pm celebrated by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. The Pilgrimage Candle will then be gifted to the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Sean MacDermott Street.
Simultaneously, a Dublin Pilgrimage Candle will be left at the Chapels of Light near the Grotto at Lourdes by Mme Fionnuala Brua and Mme Caroline Traynor, JWT Reps living in Lourdes. The livestream for this Mass is at www.procathedral.ie
Recitation of Night Prayer each evening (Tuesday to Friday) at 9.30pm organised by the Pilgrimage Spiritual Director, Fr. John Gilligan, and streamed live from the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saggart www.churchservices.tv/saggart
The Deaf Community is invited to join a ISL signed Rosary on Facebook each evening during the Virtual Pilgrimage The Facebook link is: deaf prayers for those in need. There will be ISL signed Stations of the Cross on Friday 11th September at 2pm. Available on webcam from www.churchservices.tv/emmauschapel Deaf Village Ireland, Cabra. There will be an ISL Interpreter at all venues through the virtual journey.
