All-night Lenten vigil planned for Mullingar parish

The Cathedral parish in Mullingar has unveiled a programme of prayer and reflection to help parishioners grow in faith during the season of Lent. The programme will run over the weekend of March 4-7.

The Cathedral will host a non-stop 24-hour vigil of prayer, beginning on Friday March 4 at 10am. This vigil, which will see people praying in the Cathedral during the night, will provide opportunities for confessions, Eucharistic Adoration, the celebration of the Eucharist, as well as guided prayer for vocations, young people, the sick and the Pope’s intentions.

Announcing the programme, Cathedral Administrator Fr Padraig McMahon emphasised that “the parish clergy and a team of lay leaders will welcome and minister to those who join us for this event during the day and throughout the night. Any parishioners in the Mullingar area or further afield who would like to take part in facilitating this event are welcome to contact the Cathedral office.”

The vigil will end with Mass on Saturday 5 March at 10am in the Cathedral.

The following day, Sunday 6 March, will see a focus on promoting the work of Trócaire in responding to those who are most in need throughout the world. Fr McMahon explains that “a vigil of prayer should lead us to some form of active engagement in the practical work of the Gospel”.

“The well-known story of the Good Samaritan is told to us in the Gospel of St Luke and helping Trócaire to help others is one sure way to follow the example of the Good Samaritan during the 40 days of Lent,” he said, before describing the theme of the Parish Lenten Talk, which will take place in the Parish Social Services Centre on Monday 7 March at 7.30pm.

“We have invited Fr Kevin O’Gorman, a lecturer in Maynooth College, to give a talk on the meaning of mercy in St Luke’s Gospel. Pope Francis wants us to engage in a fresh way with the theme of mercy. I am delighted that Fr O’Gorman will join us and bring alive the beautiful examples of mercy in the Gospel”.