Last week's Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Day of Friendship and Prayer on Lough Derg attracted a large attendance, some 300 people attending the services and the address by Dr Ruth Patterson, who is the director of Restoration Ministries based in Dunmurray near Belfast.

The programme was run off in Davog House, the newest addition to a series of refurbishments to the 'Island' which, in the off-season, is the venue for cross-community and inter-church events. Lough Derg itself, of course, enjoys a world-wide reputation as a place of spiritual renewal and reflection and, each Ash Wednesday, it invites people across the community to share in an open prayer service.

Dr Patterson, this year's guest speaker, is the first female Presbyterian Minister to be ordained in Northern Ireland. Her work with 'restoration' ministries focuses on helping to overcome the barriers created by the 'Troubles' towards building a sense of reconciliation and renewal.

Last week was the third Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Day. The nearly 300 attendance included members of the Fermanagh Churches Forum.

The Catholic Bishop of Clogher, Dr Joseph Duffy welcomed those from their sister churches and, sharing in that welcome, was the Prior of Lough Derg, Monsignor Richard Mohan. Dr Duffy told the congregation that as members of the Christian family, people saw Lough Derg as a place, 'that helps us to get close to the person of Jesus Christ'.

The manager of Lough Derg, Deborah Maxwell, who, like Dr Ruth, is a Presbyterian, described the even as, 'a really fantastic day'.

She told the 'Herald': "It was very much inter-church. There were people there for the first time from the four main churches, definitely. Ecumenical Day first started in foundation year, then in 2005. Due to the building work, it wasn't held in 2006/07, but now this year. It is definitely going to be an annual event".

She went on: "It was great to see the turnout and, also, the numbers who expressed an interest in similar days at different times of the year, so hopefully we will do that as well". Asked about the way the Lough Derg season was expanding (traditionally, there was just the three-day pilgrimage from 1st June until 15th August), Ms Maxwell confirmed that it now extended from February right through until October. As for Ruth Patterson: "She was really, really good. Everyone who attended is looking for a copy of her address".