Nationwide day of prayer to honour American dead

THE COUNTRY will unite in prayer today at a series of services during the national day of mourning to honour the victims of America's terrorist attacks.

The President and the Taoiseach are due to attend a morning ecumenical service of remembrance in Dublin's Pro-Cathedral, during which a three-minute silence will be observed.

And the bells of Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin will be rung muffled from 6.30pm until 8pm, a ceremony reserved for times of grieving. For close on 1,000 years, Christ Church bells have marked momentous events in Ireland.

Cardinal Desmond Connell asked for masses or prayer services to be held in each of the Archdiocese of Dublin's 200 parishes to coincide with the Pro-Cathedral event. A book of condolences has also been opened at the Pro-Cathedral.

Other services today include a 5.30pm commemoration in the National Cathedral of Saint Patrick, attended by representatives of the Government and Diplomatic Corps.

Defence Forces chief of staff Lt Gen Colm Mangan announced a series of memorial services throughout military installations "to show solidarity with the American nation". Personnel were encouraged to bring their families to today's services.

The Irish Baha'i community will hold a prayer meeting at its Dublin centre at 1pm.

Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Sean Brady, will celebrate a special mass at St Malachy's Church, Armagh, at 7.30pm. An ecumenical service will be held in St Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork at 10.30am attended by two bishops.

In Galway a noon civic mass is scheduled for the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed Into Heaven and St Nicholas, attended by the mayor and the borough council.

In Limerick a noon mass will be celebrated by Bishop Donal Murray, while Bishop of Clogher Joseph Duffy will celebrate mass in St Macartan's Cathedral in Monaghan at noon "to remember those who lost their lives and to pray for those injured and bereaved."

Cardinal Connell will celebrate mass at 12.30am on Sunday in Dublin's Pro-Cathedral to honour the victims, and Mary McAleese and Bertie Ahern will attend this event.

A special mass will also be held in St Peter's Cathedral, Belfast, at 11.30am on Sunday, celebrated by the Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Patrick Walsh.

People have been urged to pray for the victims of the American attacks and their families and for the people of the United States during the day of mournin by the four Catholic archbishops.

The principals of all schools in the archdiocese of Dublin have been invited to open books of condolences. These books will be brought to the altar at offertory processions on Monday.

Martina Devlin