Diocesan News21 Mar 16

Bible–reading Marathon Gets Under Way in St Eunan’s Cathedral, Raphoe

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good, has launched a four–day Bible–reading Marathon in St Eunan’s Cathedral, Raphoe. The entire bible will be read non–stop, day and night, from beginning to end by parishioners and members of the wider community.

The event has been organised as part of the Cathedral’s contribution to the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe’s ‘Year of Opportunity 2016’.

People have been invited to come and read from the Bible in 30–minute sections between 8 pm on Palm Sunday and 8 pm on Maundy Thursday, the 24th of March. There will be 192 half–hour sessions over the four days of the event. Bishop Good performed the first reading – Genesis chapters 1 to 7 – and was followed by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Raphoe, Dr Philip Boyce (pictured below), who read chapters 8 to 14. The first lay–person to perform a reading was Cathedral parishioner Rosemary Meehan.

The Dean of Raphoe, the Very Rev. Arthur Barrett, says it is an event for the whole community and an opportunity for everyone to join together in reading God’s Word in the historic setting of St Eunan’s Church of Ireland Cathedral. “The Bible Reading Marathon is a significant event during the Diocesan Year of Opportunity 2016,” the Dean says. ”Our desire is to encourage and welcome as many people as possible from across the whole community to share in our unity of God’s Word.”

There is a limited number of places left. To take part and book your time, please contact Dean Barrett – preferably by emailing [email protected] or by texting 085 8833856.The Diocese of Derry and Raphoe has designated 2016 a ‘Year of Opportunity’, during which parishes are focusing on mission, generosity and children.