By Sarah Mac Donald - 11 December, 2015
In what is believed to be the only ceremony of its kind, the diocese of Derry’s Year of Mercy celebrations will begin with Bishop Donal McKeown joining the congregation of the Church of Ireland’s Christ Church for Morning prayer this Sunday.
The occasion will mark the start of the Year of Mercy, and Bishop McKeown will later, on Sunday morning, process from Christ Church to St Eugene’s Cathedral to open the designated Holy Door for the special Jubilee year.
The newly refurbished porch is earmarked as the place of welcome for the Year of Mercy. Above the Holy Door in the bell tower of the Cathedral, a statue of St Eugene is located.
Commenting on the significance of Sunday’s ceremony, Bishop McKeown said, “There is a great need for mercy, healing and forgiveness in our community. The Churches will continue to work as instruments of peace in order to build a cohesive community in which our young people can thrive.”
He welcomed “this unique opportunity to emphasise our shared mission of bringing God’s merciful love to our wider community”.
Welcoming Bishop McKeown to Christ Church ahead of Sunday’s historic occasion, Archdeacon Robert Miller, Rector of Christ Church, said it was “a great honour for the congregation of Christ Church to have been included in the ceremony to open the Holy Door in our neighbouring church, St Eugene’s Cathedral.”
He added that the friendship between the two churches has been growing and deepening in recent years and “Sunday’s unique occasion – the only ceremony of its kind we are aware of to begin in another Christian denomination’s church – is a further sign of that developing relationship”.
“I wish St Eugene’s every success during the Year of Mercy and beyond. I pray that 2016 will be a successful year for both our congregations and dioceses, and that it will herald a further strengthening of the friendship between us.”
The Holy Door for the Jubilee Year in St Eugene’s is entered through the newly refurbished porch. This porch will be the place of welcome for the Year of Mercy.
Above the Holy Door in the bell tower of the Cathedral is the statue of St Eugene. On entering the porch visitors can dee the eight newly positioned oak statues that were once in the canopy of the pulpit in the Cathedral:
o St Eugene, St Patrick and St Columba welcomes you. St Eugene, St Patrick and St Columba proclaimed the Word of God in Ireland;
o St Matthew, St Mark, St Luke and St John proclaim Jesus’ merciful words and actions in the Gospels and
o St Joseph and Mary who lead you into the Cathedral to Jesus.
Also in the porch are the words from the prophet Isaiah ‘Do not be afraid I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine.’
