SPIRITUAL and virtual worlds will collide as part of this weekend’s All Souls Day celebration at St John’s Cathedral.
In memory of deceased loved ones, candles will not only burn brightly at the cathedral this Saturday, but also across the worldwide web in a special celebration organised by international aid agency Bóthar.
In a unique move that will open the celebration to the entire nation, and beyond, those unable to attend the 6pm Mass at St John’s Cathedral will be able to light virtual candles online and have their loved one’s memory included in the service.
The Limerick-based aid agency will also stream the Mass live on its website at www.bothar.org. The All Souls Mass is the first of what the aid agency hopes will be a planned annual Bóthar celebration on the solemn feast day to commemorate those who have died.
According to Bóthar chief executive, Dave Moloney, this celebration was arranged as a way of saying thank you to the many people who have left the aid agency generous legacy donations over the years. These donations, he said, have been hugely important in keeping projects going across 20 countries in the developing world.
“All Souls is a very important solemn feast for people who have lost loved ones. Providing this virtual candle-lighting facility online and streaming the Mass on our website will ensure that no matter where they are on the day, people can participate and pay this tribute to someone dear to them that they have lost,” Mr Moloney explained.
“Those who make donations can have the satisfaction of knowing that in remembering a loved one they are helping a community in one of the most impoverished corners of the world,” he added.
Bóthar has already distributed hundreds of specially commissioned remembrance candles for donors to write the names of deceased loved ones on, with the candles being returned to the agency for inclusion at the Mass in St John’s Cathedral on November 2. Those who want to participate but cannot attend have the option of lighting a virtual candle online at www.bothar.org.
The Mass will be celebrated by Fr Godfrey Katumba from the Masaka diocese in Uganda, where Bóthar has developed many projects since it was founded 22 years ago.
