Sinéad Strong, co-founder of Catholic Mothers Ireland, with her husband John and some of their children. In a remarkable feat of leadership, Derry stood at the centre of the world stage on the feast of The Immaculate Heart of Mary last Saturday, June 13.
Creating history, 6,000 faithful reverently followed Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament past Derry’s iconic walls, spiritually leading 550 parishes and 15 prominent shrines across six continents, in the first ever united and coordinated global Marian Eucharistic procession. A further 22,000 people watched live online.
As the Derry air undulated with the devout drone of bagpipes, billowing banners, hymns and rosaries, the words of Fr Roland Colhoun CC Ardstraw East, during the opening Mass, were fulfilled:
“A procession visually and spiritually transforms streets and sanctuaries into places of contemplative peace…. The exercise of communal prayer elevates the district into a place of holiness. We venerate the image of Our Lady, adore the Eucharist, and meditate on the mysteries of the Faith, as we process.”
Spirit
The focus of the intercontinental event was to bring the world, “To Jesus through Mary” in a united “Blue Army” rising to answer the call of Fatima by praying publicly for world peace.
“By taking part today, you and I are making our contribution to world peace,” Fr Roland, a member of The Marian Movement of Priests, explained.
Barry and Anthony from The Guardians of The Faith, who organised the event, expounded:
“This time is anointed and appointed. There’s a very famous prophecy by St Patrick in 433 about a light rising and shining from the north of Ireland, spreading throughout the whole of Ireland, on to the UK, then continental Europe and the whole world.”
Our bishops are leading the way in helping people to recognise more and more the spiritual battle which we’re all a part of”
Expressing great gratitude to the Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown, for his “support, guidance and blessing” of the event, Barry continued:
“There isn’t any coincidence that this is all taking place so shortly after Archbishop Eamon Martin, a Derry man, reconsecrated Ireland to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in February 2025 and to The Immaculate Heart of Mary at the Rosary Rally in Knock on June 6. I see our Lord’s prophetic thread tying this all together, and it’s so, so beautiful.”
“These Eucharistic and Marian processions are like exorcisms on the land as Our Blessed Mother crushes the head of evil. The snakes which St Patrick cast out were only a symbolic term for the pagan spirits. Now, like St Patrick, our bishops are leading the way in helping people to recognise more and more the spiritual battle which we’re all a part of, as St Paul tells us, in Ephesians 6.”
“Be confident that God does not want you to hide your faith away!” Fr Roland encouraged.
Certainly the many people I had the privilege of meeting, from across the country and the world, were openly demonstrating a buoyant, joy-filled faith.
Danny Doyle, an uncle of Derry’s very own Servant of God Sr Clare Crockett, told me: “Clare would have loved today and been thrilled to have this on her own patch where she was born and reared!”
No doubt Sr Clare would also have been delighted that her religious sisters from Home of The Mother, were in attendance in Derry while other fellow sisters were participating from Spain.
Bro. Benedict CFR from Manchester was impressed by “the great witness to each other and to others, especially on St Anthony’s day which gives great hope.”
Assembly
Fr Antonio, another member of the Derry community of the Franciscan Friars of The Renewal, led the whole assembly in unison for the powerfully efficacious ‘Holy Staff of St Benedict Prayer’. That was a highlight moment.
Before singing movingly on stage with her daddy Hugh, Maria Doherty from Donegal shared that it was “such an honour to be asked and to be with such a large group of people who are all of one heart and one mind and want to honour Our Lady. I’ve just no words how much of a blessing it is, and we can all feel Our Lady smiling down on us today.”
Sarah McGarrity, dressed beautifully in blue, and Caolan McClelland sang a rousing rendition of The Heart of a Mother composed for the feast day. The praise “Derry is dripping with talent!” definitely sang true.
From the USA both the Campbell and Interiano families had flown in for the momentous occasion, while Gerry from Ballymena came with a visiting Slovakian friend. Gerry is part of the worldwide Men’s Rosary Group who, alongside The Women’s Rosary Group, led the first public Rosary of the day at The Guild Hall.
“The best thing”, Gerry told me, “is Our Lady pointing towards the most important thing; her Son Jesus in The Eucharist.”
Walking alongside Shauna Whitley, who had travelled from Cork with her mum Dolores and her four lovely, little girls, I listened to how impressed she was by “The Holy Spirit filled day” and the “Children’s singing in the Mass” which “was powerful.” The family had journeyed in memory of Shauna’s brother, Dean, who passed away in November, and they had to persevere through “lots of challenges to get to Derry.”
I’m going to go back to my congregation, and I’m going to try to encourage them with some of the joy that I’ve experienced”
Another Corkonian, Fr Patrick Desmond OP, from the Dominican Priory in Newry, shared: “It’s great to be here. It was so well organised, and everyone played their part. So many young people. So many young families. It would just give you confidence and encourage you to remember that The Lord is in control and it’s His Church! He is going to renew The Church in the world in His way and in His time, and it’s happening. It’s very exciting to be at the heart of it. I’m very encouraged, and I’m going to go back to my congregation, and I’m going to try to encourage them with some of the joy that I’ve experienced here and remind them that God will have the victory ultimately! This needs to be multiplied and magnified!”
Through every storm we can rest assured in Our Heavenly Mother’s promise: “In the end My Immaculate Heart Will Triumph!”