Mags Gargan, Cathal Barry and Greg Daly
Dioceses across the island of Ireland have reported large numbers participating in Pope Francis’ worldwide promotion of the Sacrament of Confession as part of the ‘24 Hours for the Lord’ initiative which took place last weekend.
In Limerick Fr Tony O’Riordan SJ, who was commissioned as a ‘Missionary of Mercy’ by Pope Francis, celebrated the opening Mass in St Augustine’s Church which was the centre of a round-the-clock procession of the faithful attending Confession in the city. “For a number of people it was an opportunity to receive the sacrament after a long period of time,” he said.
The Director of Pastoral Development in the Diocese Cork & Ross said the initiative was “excellent” and numbers attending “were good throughout the day”. “Some schools were great too and took the initiative to bring the students to the church in the city,” said Fr Charlie Kiely, adding that the Year of Mercy is offering people “an opportunity to reconnect”.
In the Diocese of Clonfert, Msgr Cathal Geraghty reported a “large number of people coming in the first two hours and a steady flow of people after that”. “It’s a great initiative, even for those people who may accidentally stumble upon it. The exposition of the Blessed Sacrament taking place in the church at the same time meant there were people in the church praying and it created a real atmosphere of prayer.”
In the Diocese of Elphin the initiative was held in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo and Canon Thomas Hever said there “was definitely an uptake in Confession throughout the 24 hours”.
“In the early hours of the morning the numbers were small, but there was still a trickle of people for Confession,” he said. “I think these occasions stir something within people’s souls and they respond.”
Welcomed
In the Archdiocese of Armagh ‘24 hours for the Lord’ started in St Malachy’s Church on Friday and finished on Saturday in St Patrick’s Cathedral. Administrator in Armagh Cathedral, Fr Peter McAnenly said “there were steady numbers” for Confession “over the 24 hours, even through the night” and a number of people had come back to Confession for the first time in years. “People seem to have welcomed it, they seem to have thought it was timely and as being a good Lenten initiative.”
In Derry the initiative was held in St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry City, Sacred Heart Church (Omagh), St Mary’s Church (Maghera) and St Mary’s Oratory (Buncrana). The cathedral administrator Fr Paul Farren said there was “significant numbers” attending Confession and Adoration through the night.
“The numbers at Confession here would always be quite high, and over the last two years we would have seen an increase. I think that it certainly has to do with Pope Francis, I think it has to do with clarity about what the sacrament is – his clarity that it’s not a torture chamber, but is an experience of the mercy of God,” he said.
In the Diocese of Dromore, Canon Francis Brown also reported the initiative was a great success at Newry Cathedral. “It was a very positive experience” he said, adding many people “hadn’t been to Confession in a long time, two, five or 10 years in some cases” and in two striking cases 30 and 32 years respectively.
In the Diocese of Kerry the initiative took place in Cahersiveen, Listowel and Ballyheigue. Denise Foran, parish secretary in Listowel said the parish had 14 priests offering 24 hour Confession, and “numbers varied from a hundred to the tens, twenties, and thirties in the night”.
At the Cathedral of Christ the King in Mullingar, Fr Padraig McMahon Adm. estimates that around 7,500 people spent time in Eucharistic Adoration and prayer. “We heard hundreds of Confessions during the vigil and we were inspired by the faith and example of parishioners who gave up their time over the weekend to join us.”
At the Cathedral of the Assumption in Thurles, Co. Tipperary Fr Martin Hayes said there were “good numbers” and a “steady stream going to Confessions”. “The people that I met found it very quiet and calm,” he said.
Peaceful
The three deaneries of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin hosted the initiative in Abbeyleix, Caragh and Askea. Fr Gerard Ahern in Abbeyleix said there was a “lovely, peaceful atmosphere and people enjoyed the quiet, which we don’t have too much of today”.
In Caragh Parish, Fr Paul Dempsey PP said there was a “great turnout” and it was a “very positive experience.” “I said Confession from 2-4am and would have had five people in that period, which was extraordinary”.
Fr Dermot Ryan said the Diocese of Ossory is “delighted” with how well the initiative went in St Mary’s Cathedral in Kilkenny. The rota of priests saying Confession, which was organised by the St Joseph’s Young Priest’s Society reported good number throughout the 24 hours. “It really captured people’s imagination and seems to be resonated with people because mercy is something we all need,” he said.
Fr Pat Farragher, Administrator in Tuam Cathedral said the team of priests, cathedral stewards, Legion of Mary ushers and teenagers taking part in the Pope John Paul II Awards who volunteered to assist during the 24 hours all reported “a steady flow of people”.
“A lot of people returned to Confession after quite a while and we had very good, honest Confessions,” he said.
The Diocese of Down and Connor held the initiative in three centres in St Patrick’s Belfast, Ballymena and Downpatrick who all reported good numbers attending. In the Archdiocese of Dublin there was 24 hours of meditation and reconciliation in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral with Confessions, a penitential service and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. In the Diocese of Cloyne the initiative was celebrated in the church of the Most Holy Rosary in Midleton.
The Dioceses of Achonry, Ferns, Killaloe and Waterford are celebrating 24 hours for the Lord at a future date.
