Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown has called on people to join him on a “virtual” Lough Derg pilgrimage next weekend.
Bishop McKeown said he intends taking the pilgrimage from midnight on Thursday until 7am on Saturday to pray for freedom from the coronavirus and support for those fighting the virus. He said those taking the pilgrimage should “ask God for the wisdom to know how to live now and in the aftermath of the pandemic”.
'St Patrick’s Purgatory' on an island in Lough Derg in Donegal has been a place of pilgrimage since the 5th century. From May to August each year, people from all over the world take part in three-day pilgrimages on the island. This year’s retreats have been suspended until the public health situation permits them to go ahead.
Pilgrims fast for the duration of the visit, eating only dry bread, toast or oatcakes and black tea or coffee. While on the island, they walk barefoot at all times, taking part in set prayers around a series of penitential rock beds. They do not sleep on the first night and have limited sleep on the second night.
Derry diocesan spokesman, Fr Michael Canny said the time of prayer and penance at home would take its shape from the core elements of the three-day Lough Derg pilgrimage.
Fr Canny said: “Each person is invited to participate in whatever parts of the penitential virtual pilgrimage that they feel able to adopt. If anyone is suffering from weakness or ill health, they should not over-exert themselves.”
People are invited to adopt a Lough Derg-style fast from midnight on Thursday until after 7am on Saturday. During that time, they should just take dry bread, toast and oatcakes once during the day. Black tea, coffee and water can be taken at any time.
On the first day, pilgrims should pray three “stations” with four during the night, joining Bishop McKeown by webcam from St Eugene’s Cathedral.
“Bishop McKeown proposes staying in the cathedral during Friday night and leading the four stations on the webcam, at 12 midnight, 1.30am, 3am and 4.30am,” Fr Canny said.
The vigil will end with the special “Mass in time of a pandemic”, as proposed by Pope Francis, at 6am on Saturday.