24 Hours for the Lord

Pilgrims of Hope - 24 Hours for the Lord

A key moment in this Jubilee Year 2025 is the celebration of “24 hours for the Lord”. This is an initiative of Pope Francis who writes, “special care should be taken to prepare priests and faithful to celebrate the sacrament of Confession and to make it readily available in its individual form” (SNC 5).

In Down and Connor “24 Hours for the Lord” will be celebrated on Saturday, 29^th March, in three centres:

St Mary’s Church, Belfast, from 11.00am until 5.30pm;

All Saints Church, Ballymena, from 12 noon until 5.30pm;

St Patrick’s, Church Downpatrick. 10.30am until 4.00pm.

Priests will be available for confession throughout those times indicated.

“24 Hours for the Lord” well presented, and promoted, in our parishes, will be welcomed by the faithful – particularly by those for whom the habit of Confession has been broken by the recent pandemic. Those who journey to one or other of the churches mentioned, are participating in the Holy Year as “pilgrims of hope” seeking a “genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the “door” of our salvation” (SNC 1).

To facilitate 24 Hours for the Lord”. the midday station of Confession, traditional in most parishes, is cancelled for that day, as our priests will be assisting with confessions in the three centres mentioned.