21 Jun 2024
St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast

Corrymeela will be hosting an ecumenical service at St. Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast on Friday 21 June at 11.30am.

This service is part of the Day of Reflection, established by Healing Through Remembering in 2007 and held on the longest day of the year. Using the biblical practice of lament, Church leaders stand with victims and survivors in marking our collective hurt and in committing ourselves to ensuring we do not return to the violence of the past.

It is our belief that standing together on matters which are both painful and contentious shows collective civic courage. It is particularly important for Christian leaders to stand with and alongside the most vulnerable in our community. This service provides opportunity to do so within the context of ecumenical worship. We have been encouraged by the response from those who have attended in years past and by the ongoing support of the Commission for Victims and Survivors.

Reflecting on this annual service, the Very Revd Dr David Bruce commented on how rare it is for us to publicly address the shared trauma of our conflict. Archbishop Eamonn Martin has similarly observed that in our divided society even our grief is done separately. You can view a short film about the 2023 service here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pP9sTYkDLc. 

We hope that you will be able to attend this Service for the Day of Reflection as we create spaces to share our communal loss without fear of judgement or reproach.

If you have any questions, please contact Shona Bell shonabell@corrymeela.org