The Church of St Peter and Paul, Straide was packed to capacity on Tuesday night last for an Interdenominational Prayer Service marking the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  The congregation included both clerical and lay representatives from the main Christian Churches in the region. All the parishes in the Foxford Deanery - Foxford, Killasser, Attymass, Bonniconlon and Straide itself – were especially well represented.  The parish priest of Straide, Very Rev. Dermot Burns extended a warm welcome to all present. The entire service was conducted in a spirit of fraternal joy.

  

Attending the Interdenominational Prayer Service marking the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in The Church of St Peter and Paul, Straide last Tuesday

   The theme of this year’s service was ‘My peace I give to you’, which was chosen by the Christian Churches of the city of Aleppo in northern Syria.  They chose this text because of the desire for peace in their fragile situation in the turbulent area of the Middle East, a place of conflict and tribulation.  In doing so they express a longing for a peace, which is more than the absence of war.

  The theme was boldly reflected in the symbols of peace and reconciliation that decorated the sanctuary: the rainbow, the cross, and a dove. Fr. Burns, in his introductory remarks, reminded us that the ancient biblical sign of the rainbow, stretched out between heaven and earth was a sign of God’s enduring love, while the dove carrying the olive branch bore the promise of new life and a fresh start.  Our prayer must be that the Holy Spirit usher in a new era of peace in our time. The cross was where Jesus stretched out his hands in love that always forgives. We were to witness to his peace.

“But how can we speak of peace to others when we are divided among ourselves?  We must pray, therefore, that we may be one”, Fr. Burns  concluded.

  The highlight of the evening was the memorable homily delivered by Very Rev. Patrick J. Mangan P.P. Dun Laoghaire. The ecumenical movement is a process which is  irreversible. Our prayer service was another step on the journey to full unity. Church unity could never be a human achievement but would be the gift of God. Ecumenism was not about Protestants being converted to Catholicism or Catholics to Protestantism but about all denominations being converted more fully to Christ.

  

Taking part in the Interdenominational Prayer Service marking the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in St Peter and Pauls Church, Straide from left: Fr. Tommy Mulligan P.P. Attymass, Canon Andy Johnston P.P. Foxford, Fr. Chris Ginnelly. C.C. Foxford, Fr. Tommy Towey P.P. Bonniconlon, Fr. Patrick J. Mangan P.P. St. Michael's, Dun Laoghaire (preacher); Fr Dermot Burns P.P. Straide, Canon Gary Hastings, C. of I. Rector of Westport, Castlebar, Turlough, Achill, Rev. Alfie Mitchell, C. of I. Kilglass, Rev. Neal O'Raw, C. of I. curate, Killala/Kilmoremoy Group of Parishes. Photo Michael Donnelly

   Following the Scripture Readings and Prayers of Intercession the whole assembly recited the Apostles Creed, which - like the Bible and so much else - is the common heritage of all Christians.

  This was the first ecumenical event ever hosted by the parish of Straide. We will long remember the joyful liturgy we celebrated and the fellowship we experienced there.  We will not forget both the warmth of the welcome we received on arriving and the kind hospitality extended to us in the Parochial House before we departed for home.  To Fr. Dermot and his flock we extend our heartfelt thanks and our warmest congratulations.