Diocesan News25 Mar 16

Raphoe Bible–reading Marathon Ends on Schedule

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.”

With these last words, from the Book of Revelation, the Dean of Raphoe, Very Rev Arthur Barrett (pictured below), brought St Eunan’s Cathedral, Raphoe’s four–day long Bible–reading Marathon to an end.

Over the previous 96 hours, parishioners, members of the wider community and clergy – from the Church of Ireland and other denominations – had read the Bible aloud, as part of the parish’s contribution to the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe’s Year of Opportunity 2016.

The event had been launched on Palm Sunday by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good, who performed the first reading. He was followed by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Raphoe, Dr Philip Boyce.

Over the following four days, people came forward – from all walks of life – to help read the Bible in its entirety, in 192 half–hour stints, right round the clock. Among those who called at the Cathedral to take part was the Fermanagh priest Father Brian D’Arcy. Readers were accompanied, night and day, by stewards from the parish.

There was applause from the 30 or so people who had gathered in the Cathedral to hear the Dean conclude the final reading, right on schedule.