The two Bishops of Clogher, Most Red Dr Joseph Duffy and Rt Reverend Michael Jackson jointly presided last Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, at their fifth annual Ecumenical Prayer Service Pentecost which this year, on their joint initiative, took place in historic Aghalurcher Graveyard near Lisnaskea.
There was an impressive inter-church representation, about 100 people in all who were told by Bishop Jackson, in his reflection, that Pentecost 'is a day on which we receive again from God a new creation. Pentecost is a day when law and grace meet and embrace. Pentecost is a day when generosity and response build a new community of three things: faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love'.
For each of their four previous get-togethers, the two bishops conducted the service at Clogher Fort, so it was left to Dr Duffy, a noted historian to sketch in the history of this still in use graveyard where people belonging to the various strands of the Christian community are buried.
He explained that, not one but two saints are associated with Aghalurcher, Felim and Ronan and that Felim, the older of the two, lived around 830AD and how his feast day, 23rd December was 'adopted' by Ronan who, he reckoned, came from Leinster along with the Fir Manach tribe.
He went on: "So, our gathering is about more than absorbing the tranquility of an ancient cemetery. It is also about confronting the issue of the Spirit which connects earth and heaven and praying here today adds to that tranquility a different kind of spiritual quality, one that encourages and inspires".
There was a marked lay participation in the liturgy, not least by two senior students, one each from the local St Comhghall's Secondary School and Lisnaskea High School, Charlene Brady and Grace Irwin. Each gave their impression of what the Scripture Readings were saying to young people like them in today's world.
The First Reading, by Mrs Paddy Leeman, centred on the Tower of Babel where the Lord confused the builders so that their nonsensical idea could not get off the ground, and the second was by Mary O'Reilly in which Jesus invites the thirsty to come to him.
The singing was led by David Drum, accompanied by Patricia McGonnell on the keyboard.
Present in the congregation were Canon Joseph Mullin, PP, Aghalurcher and Fr Ian Fee and representatives of two inter-church organisations, the Churches Forum and Faith and Friendship, from locally and across the county.
After what was a fascinating and touching event, for which the weather stayed good, the bishops and all those present adjourned to St Ronan's Parish Centre at Drumhaw for light refreshments and a chat.
