Cork Churches and people unite in Easter light

A Joint Message from Bishop Fintan Gavin (Cork and Ross), Bishop William Crean (Cloyne), and Bishop Paul Colton (Cork, Cloyne and Ross) published on Thursday, 9th April:

Church leaders in Cork are asking that local cathedrals and churches across the county be filled with light this Easter time as a sign of support and hope for all afflicted by Covid-19.

Churches are usually filled with people on the night before Easter to pray the Easter Vigil celebrations during which each church’s Easter Candle is lit.

In the tradition of all Christian churches this is the proclamation that Easter has arrived, that Christ is raised from the dead and that his light shines in the darkness and cannot be put out.

Bishop Fintan Gavin, Cork and Ross; Bishop Paul Colton, Cork Cloyne and Ross along with Bishop William Crean of Cloyne Diocese are asking that all churches have their internal lights turned on at 9pm on Saturday night to coincide with the lighting of the Easter Candle and then left on until dawn.

The lights from within churches, shining through stained glass windows, will be a sign of hope to even the few people who pass by and especially to essential workers who are on duty.

Although our Church buildings might be closed, the bishops said,

Christ our Light is still present and alive in so many ways as our light and hope.

Bishop Colton added:

There has been a groundswell of attraction to the idea of lighting lamps and candles this evening: Eater Eve. RTE are encouraging people to #ShineYourLight. Our President, Michael D. Higgins, in his Easter Message to Irish people, has said that he will be placing a light in his window in Áras an Uachtaráin.