THE annual service for the Disappeared took place yesterday at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh.
Catholic Primate, Archbishop Eamon Martin, who celebrated Mass with Fr Joe Gormley, said it was "a humble expression of our compassion for" those who were still suffering the loss of loved ones.
For the last two decades, the relatives of those murdered and secretly buried by paramilitaries during the Troubles have gathered at Armagh every Palm Sunday.
Of the Disappeared, who include Belfast mother-of-10 Jean McConville, the remains of 13 have been found while three remain missing.
The families of Co Tyrone teenager Columba McVeigh, former monk Joe Lynskey, Captain Robert Nairac and Lisa Dorrian, who is believed to have been disappeared by loyalist paramilitaries in Co Down in 2005, are hopeful their bodies can be found.
The service, which could also be viewed virtually due to coronavirus social distancing rules, heard Archbishop Martin say the story of the Disappeared was one where "suffering and compassion meet and embrace".
"You and your loved ones have known terrible suffering," he said.
"You shared in so many ways the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ"
The archbishop also made a fresh appeal for information about those still missing.
"Sadly, there has been very little progress over the last year in the search for answers," he said.
"The Covid restrictions have only added to your sense of separation and loss.
"Not being able to grieve properly. Not being able to have a Christian burial or lay flowers on a grave, we can not imagine your pain and conscious of this heartache for some families, I appeal once more to anyone out there who has even the slightest amount of information to show compassion and mercy by sharing it with the Independent Commission.
"For the love of God, do not remain silent."
Anyone with information relating to the whereabouts of the remains of the Disappeared should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.
The ICLVR can be contacted by telephone on 00800-55585500; 0353 1 602 8655; by email at: Secretary@iclvr.ie; or by post at: ICLVR PO Box 10827.
