The community of Creeslough held the first of its memorial services yesterday to mark two years since the devastating explosion of 7th October 2022.
A Mass in St. Michael’s Church was offered for the ten victims to remember their lives, celebrate their souls and send comfort to their families.
Parish Priest Fr John Joe Duffy said that each of the victims remains with their loved ones in a spiritual sense.
“Our loved ones who have gone, ten beautiful people, adults and children are no longer with us in the physical sense.
“There is a huge pain in that. You, the families, the loved ones know that more than any of us,” Fr Duffy told the congregation yesterday evening.
“Their souls are alive for all eternity. Their souls did not cease, their souls went ahead of us on the 7th of October, on that Friday at 3.17, they went ahead of us into eternity.”
On the journey of life and death, Fr Duffy said that the victims wait in Heaven to welcome their loved ones.
“We pray that God in the meantime in these days and weeks and years may give you comfort and consolation,” Fr Duffy said to the families in the church and online.
Massgoers were invited to a small gathering for tea following the Mass.
The remembrance ceremonies will continue in Creeslough tomorrow.
The bell of St. Michael’s Church will ring ten times at 3.17pm, the very time of the tragedy, to remember Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe; Catherine O’Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan; Jessica Gallagher; Martin McGill; James O’Flaherty; Martina Martin; Hugh Kelly; and 14-year-old Leona Harper.
Relatives have announced plans to meet at the former service station to mark the moment that tragedy struck.
Fr Duffy has called on all people, wherever they are, to pray at this time.
“St Michael’s Church invites everyone to join with us in remembering and praying for those that are bereaved and impacted by this tragedy,” Fr Duffy said.
“Your unity with us can be done from your own homes on Monday at 3.17pm, by joining with us in silent prayer for those who tragically died, for their loved ones, for their families and for their friends and our wider communities.
“I also ask you to keep in prayer those who were injured in the Creeslough tragedy, those affected by it in anyway, for those who lost their homes.
“The journey of healing will continue and we remain strong for one another.”
A prayer service will also take place in St. Michael’s Church on Monday evening 7th October at 7pm.
Following the service, there will be a gathering at the Creeslough Community Hub for refreshments, where people are invited to meet, share memories and support one another.
