Life

Day of silent prayer at St Anne's Cathedral

The focal point will be a large plain wooden cross in Writers' Square
The focal point will be a large plain wooden cross in Writers' Square The focal point will be a large plain wooden cross in Writers' Square

A special day of prayer due to take place at the former Maze prison site has been switched to St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast.

The interdenominational Divine Healing Ministries (DHM) is inviting all to pray "for our land to help people find God's peace".

The event will be held on Saturday September 17 and is open to everyone.

This special day of prayer is the vision of Billy Moore, a lay-reader in Lisburn Cathedral who is responsible for the outreach work in the Hillhall Estate in Lisburn.

Mr Moore and Dean of Connor Sam Wright asked DHM to organise the event.

DHM itself has recently completed seven years of prayer "for the renewal and revival of the faith in this land".

The event was due to take place at Balmoral Park, Maze Long Kesh, however, organisers changed venues to avoid causing hurt to victims of the Troubles.

Br David Jardine of DHM said the decision was made after conversations with victims' groups who had suffered.

"We went and spoke to people and came to the realisation that it was going to be hurtful and upsetting. They have suffered enough and we are a healing ministry," Br Jardine said.

On the day, St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast will be transformed into a quiet, private prayer space.

People are being encouraged to come as individuals before God on that day - to lay down their own personal burdens from the past, to forgive those who have hurt them, to say sorry where they may have hurt other people, and to pray for the future of the north.

DHM say: "If your peace has been disturbed for whatever reason, maybe from experiences in the past, why not come and spend time with God in an atmosphere of godly calmness? Quietly,

between you and Him, you can lay down any of the things that disturb, forgive those who have hurt you, say sorry where you may have hurt others and make a commitment to help build a better future for our land."

The focal point will be a large plain wooden cross in Writers' Square in front of the cathedral. All the prayer will be in silence.