A MEMORIAL garden has been opened in Derry to all those who lost their lives during the present Coronavirus pandemic.
The Garden of Remembrance is situated in the grounds of St Eugene’s Cathedral behind the grotto.
The garden is dedicated to all those who lost their lives across Diocese of Derry during the pandemic, with 51 rose-bushes planted representing the 51 parishes in Derry city, and Counties Derry, Strabane and Donegal.
The Bishop of Derry, the Most Reverned Donal McKeown, has explained how the ideas for the Garden of Remembrance came about.
Said Bishop McKeown: ““It all began on the first anniversary of the lockdowns in March when we had an all-night vigil for all those buried throughout the diocese – 240 names were read out – those who had been buried across the diocese without all the Funeral Rites that we normally would associate with people dying and being mourned.
“We brought up a rose bush and a candle for each parish – 51 for each parish in the diocese – and had the candles burning throughout the Easter Season.
“So, we decided to build this memorial garden with the rose bushes – 51 rose bushes – to remember all those who died for whom families could not have the funeral that they would have wanted.
“It is a quiet space, it is a safe space – it was a waste space and we hope out of a waste space we have something that can create hope and space for people to reflect and pray for all those we have not been able to mourn in the way would wanted to.
“It is a place of prayer where people can come with their thoughts and memories of those who have died from across the diocese and we hope they can feel at home here.”
“We brought up a rose bush and a candle for each parish – 51 for each parish in the diocese – and had the candles burning throughout the Easter season.
“So, we decided to build this memorial garden with the rose bushes – 51 rose bushes – to remember all those who died for whom families could not have the funeral that they would have wanted.
“It is a quiet space, it is a safe space.
“It was a waste space and we hope out of a waste space we have something that can create hope and space for people to reflect and pray for all those we have not been able to mourn in the way they would have wanted to.
“It is a place of prayer where people can come with their thoughts and memories of those who have died from across the diocese and we hope they can feel at home here.”
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