How is God working in Ireland?
Our City in Derry in the North of Ireland has suffered. The Derry City Walls built during the 1600s tell a story of British oppression and persecution. During ‘The Troubles’, a period of 30 years from the 1960s to 1998, Derry went through trauma, grief and untold suffering as sectarian violence and feuds were ongoing between paramilitary groups.
The trauma and suffering did not end with the ‘Good Friday Agreement’ which brought about fragile peace from sectarianism. The people across Derry and the rest of Northern Ireland continue to struggle with PTSD, issues of poverty, despair, mental illness, unemployment, imprisonment, addiction, violence, family breakdown, and suicide. Northern Ireland has the highest rate of suicide in the UK with higher rates among men and the youth.
It is into this darkness that Jesus chose to come and shine bright.
The Franciscan Friars: A Ministry of Hope
The Franciscan friars of the renewal settled in Derry in 2010 and since then they have ministered to the broken rejected and most in need in derry. They offer love, material assistance and a journey into intimacy with God as well as an invitation to find the ultimate joy in knowing that regardless of circumstances we are loved as sons and daughters of God.
The CFR friars regularly swap about the members of their community within the different friaries. In September 2023 Fr Antonio Maria Diez De Medina CFR was transferred to Derry Northern Ireland from London. In London Fr Antonio had been in active ministry with young adults alive in their faith as well as walking alongside a group called Cenacle Charismatic London led by Ania Graglewska, a Polish lady living in London sharing the joys of her own healing miracle and her love of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit.
Seeds of Revival: A Vision for Renewal
Fr Antonio could see the amazing love the people of Derry have for their faith , the Eucharist, Our Lady and our celebrated Sr Clare Crockett, newly made servant of God. Fr Antonio and his friends from Cenacle London decided to come alongside those in Derry seeking breakthrough for a renewal of the Catholic faith in Ireland.
Many of us in Derry wanted to be part of raising up Jesus in the most Holy Eucharist as the ONLY solution to all of what our people are suffering. The Franciscan friars of the renewal and a dedicated team of lay people began to step out in faith for something brand new to us. Fr Antonio encouraged us as we got in contact with other CFR friars in America to hear about how massive Eucharistic processions going across the whole of America were bringing about an ‘on fire’ Eucharistic Revival. In particular we connected with Br Damien Novak CFR in Newark New Jersey, Fr Gabriel Kyte CFR in Albuquerque New Mexico and more recently Fr John Anthony Boughton CFR who is the General Servant of the community in the Bronx New York.
The First Steps: October 2023 Procession
As we experienced and heard the witness of the friars and others in America talking about life changing experiences in the Eucharistic processions they were part of we found we were catching fire with the same flame of love! The same Eucharistic burning fire of the heart!
We had our first Eucharistic procession in Derry Ireland in the neighbourhood around the friary on 28th October 2023. This was a direct response to what we felt God wanted to come against the Halloween culture that has developed in our city over the recent decades as people, hurting and hungry for meaning and spirituality, search in pagan Irish shamanism and witchcraft for the solution to their problems. Derry has become so immersed in these alternative spiritualities that it boasts it’s title as Halloween capital of Europe.
The Eucharistic procession on 28th October 2023 just before Halloween was a cry from Our Lord in the Eucharist and His body of Christ the Catholic faith community in Derry , the Eucharistic beating heart of Jesus , to return to God who Is Love. Our God who has already done all this before us, who has won the battle against sin and death and is offering us Himself, body blood soul and divinity and an invitation to eternal life in Him.
Breaking Through the City Walls: A Historic Moment
The Emmaus 2023 neighborhood Eucharistic Procession was a great success. Following this celebration, Fr Antonio and his friends from London met with several local organizers. Together, they planned to create something entirely new for Derry in 2024.
Human Life International Ireland , Executive Director Patrick McCrystal, and many of the local Derry people felt our Lord wanted the next Eucharistic procession event along with the Cenacle London Charismatic involvement to be a breakthrough for LIFE. Patrick McCrystal held a reception after the procession at a hotel in the city centre. This gave an opportunity for all the teams involved in organising the procession to unite. What was communicated was a sense of joy and overwhelming to tears.
We knew we were part of something supernatural. We could not process what had just happened. “A breakthrough Eucharistic procession passed through the arches of the Derry city walls – the first in 400 years! Bishop Donal McKeown gave permission for this historic event. The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal led the procession, joined by diocesan priests and seminarians. The Benedictine Monks of Perpetual Adoration from Silverstream Priory and the Home of the Mother Sisters (Sr Clare Crockett’s Order) also participated. Hundreds of lay people completed this momentous gathering.”
The Impact on the Streets of Derry
We felt the sense that God was breaking bonds of division and free masonic strongholds. The impact was phenomenal. People were kneeling and crying in the streets, blessing themselves, walking with us. At one point, people sang the Divine Mercy Chaplet as the priest raised the Eucharist high in the town square. Everyone present—including busy shoppers and security guards—knelt in reverence and worship.
The Effatha ‘be opened’ Eucharistic procession carried deep significance. The people of Derry and their priests gathered to pray for specific intentions. They prayed for hearts to open to God and others. They sought reparation and repentance for humanity’s turn from God and His commandments. They asked God to overcome global forces of fear, evil, lies and sin. They prayed for revival and unity in the Church. They requested an end to human trafficking, abortion, and euthanasia. They sought freedom through the Spirit of Truth. Finally, they prayed for priests to embrace deep Marian and Eucharistic devotion.
Growing Momentum: From Local to Global
The Effatha procession in Derry also launched 40 days of perpetual adoration worldwide. The team in London created a website where adorers could sign up for an hour, regardless of time zone or location. It was hugely successful and the graces of the Eucharistic revival were evident all through it. Momentum was building.
On December 12, 2024, the lay teams, along with the Franciscan friars and the Sisters of the Renewal, organized a Eucharistic procession. It took place in their neighborhood in Derry to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of their community. This procession attracted huge attention and support and was filmed by EWTN. Many school children of all ages came out to join us as the procession passed the school yards. Some of the older students passed out roses and miraculous medals to people passing in cars and on the walkways. Again we witness families and the elderly in their gardens some with tears streaming down their faces kneeling and blessing themselves.
St. Brigid’s Cloak: A Global Revival Begins
Before plans for the December 12, 2024, Eucharistic procession had even begun, the teams received in prayer that Our Lord was calling for something greater. He was placing it on their hearts to organize an even bigger, wider-reaching Eucharistic procession in 2025. It would take place on the feast of St. Brigid, Saturday, February 1—one of Ireland’s most significant days. St. Brigid, along with St. Patrick, is a beloved patron saint of Ireland.
One young man on the team, devoted to Our Lady, felt she was asking for a simultaneous Eucharistic procession in Medjugorje. The idea was powerful: the same day, the same time. As soon as the announcement was made, it went viral.
Fr. Leon and his team in Medjugorje responded immediately with a heartfelt “yes.” In unity and agreement, they embraced the call. Tears flowed, emotions ran high, and the Holy Spirit moved powerfully as people around the world said yes.
Suddenly, people from all over the world began reaching out. They wanted to unite with us by holding their own Eucharistic processions. We quickly realized St. Brigid was interceding for us!
She once asked the King of Ireland for all the land where she spread her cloak. He agreed, and miraculously, her cloak covered the entire country. This sparked a great revival and a return to the faith in Ireland around 500 AD.
United in Prayer: A Worldwide Movement
Most recently we got news that Fr George Stewart a priest in the Bronx New York is leading a Eucharistic Procession to unite with us. We also just heard about 3 Eucharistic processions that will be happening in Dublin and converging at the Radio Maria studios as well as another procession in Manchester England with the Men of St Joseph.
The Eucharistic revival has sparked another beautiful development. Communities have stepped forward to offer 24-hour adoration with prayers of intercession during the feast of St Brigid on February 1st, 2024. Fr Gerry Campbell and ‘The 12’ in Knockbridge, County Louth, Ireland, joined this initiative. Craig Lodge House of Prayer in Argyll, Scotland, also participated. Both communities conducted 24-hour worship and adoration. Together, they united in prayer for worldwide Eucharistic Revival.
Looking Forward: A Call to Action
The Eucharistic Processions, adoration and pilgrimages of coach loads of people coming from all around is snowballing!
On February 1st, hundreds of school children will lead the faithful behind priests carrying the Eucharist in procession. The participants will pray for these intentions: that world governments recognize Jesus Christ as King, that abortion, euthanasia, war and other threats to human life end, that families heal from sin, division, addiction and suicide, that the Immaculate Heart of Mary triumph, that global elite agendas and healthcare dictatorships yield to the tranquility of God’s order, and that the Holy Spirit pours out a new Pentecost of hope during the Jubilee Year 2025.
We are seeing mighty miracles in our midst. Please get involved! This is a Eucharistic Revival! Jesus is coming for His people!
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