Darkness into Light Staff Reporter
The Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin has said he was “honoured” to take part in the Darkness into Light walk at the weekend to raise awareness of suicide.
Beginning at 4.15am in towns and cities across the world, over 150,000 people walked from darkness into dawn light in a movement against suicide which raises funds towards Pieta House’s counselling services for those in suicidal crisis, people who engage in self-harm and those bereaved by suicide.
Bishop Denis Nulty cut the ribbon on the event in Carlow, which gathered 1,700 people for the walk.
“It’s my third year doing it and I find it very fulfilling,” Bishop Nulty told The Irish Catholic. “I find myself walking with people who have been bereaved by suicide and living with family members in tense moments that are not easy. So it is great to accompany them on that journey and I am honoured to do it.”
Big issue
Speaking of the importance of highlighting the issue of suicide, Bishop Nulty said in compiling his report for the Irish bishops’ Ad Limina visit with Pope Francis last January he spoke about the issue, “particularly the suicide of males in our diocese and the high percentage”.
“It is a very big issue – a real issue – and I think sadly, as we know, death by suicide is not restricted to age or gender, it affects everybody,” he said.
