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Fast and Vigil - Day of Prayer and Penance - 19 February 2021

Bishop McKeown is inviting people to join him on the 19th of February on a 24-hour period of prayer, penance. The vigil will be broadcast online from 6:00am on Friday, 19th February through to 6:00am on Saturday, 20th February at www.derrydiocese.org


Diocese of Derry Day of Prayer and Penance - an invitation from Bishop McKeown

Lent is an annual season of the Liturgical Year with a strong emphasis on the biblical practices of prayer, penance and almsgiving (Matthew 6:1-18). I invite people to consider joining us across the Diocese of Derry on the first weekend of Lent 2021. As happened last year, we propose to mirror some of the key elements of the centuries-old Lough Derg pilgrimage.

This pandemic has caused a crisis for many institutions in church and civil society. This is a time to open ourselves to God's grace through penance and intense prayer. We pray for an end to the ravages caused by the virus and by lockdowns. The Lenten emptying of ourselves is an invitation to the Holy Spirit to fill us with the fullness of divine grace in God's service. Only when we have died with Christ, can we join him in his Resurrection. (Romans 6:5)

+ Donal McKeown



Fast starts: 12 midnight Thursday, 18 February
24 hour Vigil starts: 6:00 am Friday, 19 February


Fasting 

Fasting reminds us of the reality that faces many people in our world today. You are invited, if you are physically able, to adopt the Lough Derg Fast from 12.00 midnight on Thursday night until after 6.00 am Mass on Saturday morning.

You can drink water at any time.

One simple meal is eaten on Friday. The meal consists of tea/coffee (no milk or sugar) dry wheaten bread, toast and oatcakes. You choose when to have your meal during the day, either early afternoon or evening. Some people may opt to continue the Lough Derg fast into the Saturday as well.

The Vigil 

Vigil broadcasts can be followed at: www.derrydiocese.org

Times of broadcast:
Friday: 6:00am
Friday: 8:30am
Friday: 12:00noon
Friday: 6:00pm

Saturday: 12:00midnight
Saturday: 1:30am
Saturday: 3:00am
Saturday: 4:30am
Saturday: 6:00am

The Vigil will last 24 hours beginning 6:00 am with Morning Prayer on Friday, 19th February and concluding with the Celebration of Mass at 6.00 am on Saturday, 20th February.

Throughout the first day on Lough Derg, participants would normally pray three 'Stations' outside. However, in this case, participants are invited to pray three Stations at home during the course of the day - Friday, 19 February at 8:30am, 12:00 noon and 6:00pm.

During the Night Vigil, just like Lough Derg, four Stations are prayed. Bishop McKeown will stay in St Eugene's Cathedral during Friday night/Saturday morning and lead the four Stations on the webcam – at 12:00midnight, 1:30am, 3:00am and 4:30am.

The prayers normally said at the Stations on Lough Derg are given below. They can be said standing, walking and kneeling - if that is possible.

Led by Bishop McKeown the Lough Derg Stations will be broadcast throughout the 24-hour period online from: www.derrydiocese.org

Vigil Timetable 

The times of Vigil Mass and each station are listed below. Normal Friday Mass and prayer services in the Cathedral are highlighted in blue.

FRIDAY, 19th FEBRUARY 2021

6.00 am The Angelus and Morning Prayer led by Bishop McKeown

6.30 am Mass celebrated by Bishop McKeown

8.30 am First Station

12.00 noon The Angelus, and Second Station

6.00 pm The Angelus and Third Station

12.00 midnight Fourth Station

SATURDAY, 20th FEBRUARY 2021

1.30 am Fifth Station

3.00 am Sixth Station

4.30 am Seventh Station

6.00 am The Angelus and Mass 'in time of a Pandemic' celebrated by Bishop McKeown

The Vigil will end with Mass at 6.00 am on Saturday, 20th February.


The Lough Derg Station 

The Lough Derg Station and Prayers are listed below. These are available in a format you may download to your PC and print out


The Station Prayer

In the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen

We begin the Station praying quietly in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
(Pause for 30 seconds)

-----

Kneeling at St. Patrick's Cross, say:

one Our Father

one Hail Mary

one Creed

-----

Kneeling at St. Brigid's Cross say:

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Standing at St. Brigid's Cross with arms fully outstretched say:

I renounce the World, the Flesh and the Devil (3 times)

-----

Walking around St Patrick's Basilica

Seven decades of the Rosary
(1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory be to the Father, for each decade)

one Creed at the end

-----

St. Brigid's Bed:

Walking around the outside

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Kneeling at the entrance

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Walking around the inside

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Kneeling at the cross in the centre

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

-----

St. Brendan's Bed:

Walking around the outside

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Kneeling at the entrance

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Walking around the inside

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Kneeling at the cross in the centre

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

-----

St. Catherine's Bed:

Walking around the outside

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Kneeling at the entrance

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

(Here after 30 minutes)

Walking around the inside

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Kneeling at the cross in the centre

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

-----

St. Columba's Bed:

Walking around the outside

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Kneeling at the entrance

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Walking around the inside

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Kneeling at the cross in the centre

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

-----

Large Penitential Bed:

Walking around the outside

Our Father; Hail Mary (6 times)

one Creed

Kneeling at the first entrance

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Walking around the inside

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Kneeling at the cross in the centre

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Kneeling at the second entrance

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Walking around the inside

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

Kneeling at the cross in the centre

Our Father; Hail Mary (3 times)

one Creed

-----

Standing at the Water's Edge:

Our Father; Hail Mary (5 times)

one Creed

-----

Kneeling at the Water's Edge

Our Father; Hail Mary (5 times)

one Creed

-----

Kneeling at St. Patrick's Cross

one Our Father

one Hail Mary

one Creed

-----

For the Pope's Intentions

Psalm 16

Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
I say to the Lord: You are my God.
My happiness lies in you alone.
He has put into my heart a marvellous love
for the faithful ones who dwell in his land.
Those who choose other gods increase their sorrows.
Never will I offer their offerings of blood.
Never will I take their name upon my lips.
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
it is you yourself who are my prize.
The lot marked out for me is my delight:
welcome indeed the heritage that falls to me!
I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight:
And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead,
nor let your beloved know decay.
You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand happiness for ever.
Give praise to the Father Almighty,
to his Son Jesus Christ the Lord,
to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,
both now and forever.
Amen.


Hail Mary 

Hail Mary full of grace
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen. 

Our Father 

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

The Apostles Creed 

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead,
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the
life everlasting.
Amen. 


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Diocesan Offices
St Eugene’s Cathedral
Francis Street, Derry
BT48 9AP

Tel: 028 7126 2302

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