Diocesan News
Bishop announces special ‘Week of Prayer’ in response to Coronavirus crisis
27th April – 3rd May 2020
The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Rev Andrew Forster, has announced plans for a special diocesan ‘Week of Prayer’ in response to the Covid–19 Coronavirus crisis. Parishioners are being asked to sign up for half–hour prayer slots between 9am and 9pm each day from next Monday morning until the following Sunday evening.
Announcing the initiative, on Wednesday afternoon, Bishop Forster urged parishioners to turn the ‘chain of prayer’ into a “tidal wave of prayer”.
“I really believe we’re seeing answers to prayer during this time,” the Bishop said on Facebook Live. He said he had good news about a friend of the diocese, the Bishop of Butere in Kenya, the Rt Rev Tim Wambunya, who had been put on a ventilator last week after contracting Covid–19. A week to the day after parishioners in Derry and Raphoe were asked to pray for Bishop Tim, and only hours before the ‘Week of Prayer’ announcement, Bishop Tim tested negative for the virus and was taken off the ventilator.
Bishop Forster told his online congregation on Wednesday afternoon that their prayers counted and that their prayers could do great things.
People who wish to sign up for the ‘Week of Prayer’ should email bishopsoffice@derryandraphoe.org or call 02871 377013 (0044 2871 377013 from the Republic) to book a slot. Prayer resources will be made available on the diocesan website and here on the Facebook page.
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Derry & Raphoe
Mr Paul McFadden
028 7126 2440
07525 826290
press@derryandraphoe.org