Coronavirus: Churches call for St Patrick’s Day to be ‘National Day of Prayer’ in response to COVID-19

A group calling itself ‘Irish Churches Together’ (ICT) has issued a call for a National Day of Prayer in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic.
By Philip Bradfield
Published 16th Mar 2020, 17:43 BST
Updated 16th Mar 2020, 17:53 BST
People wearing a protective face masks, walk across London Bridge as Britain braces itself for an increase in cases of the Coronavirus. Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images.People wearing a protective face masks, walk across London Bridge as Britain braces itself for an increase in cases of the Coronavirus. Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images.
People wearing a protective face masks, walk across London Bridge as Britain braces itself for an increase in cases of the Coronavirus. Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images.

The Dublin based group is also drawing attention to a newly released £5m film on Netflix based on the life of St Patrick.

ICT describes itself an initiative of “church leaders from the historic churches and the newer churches (Pentecostal, Romanian)” and says “we are calling for St Patrick’s Day to be a National Day of Prayer - but in the home”.

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It adds: “Many people are expressing genuine concern over the Coronavirus and others are being gripped by absolute fear. It’s good to remember that: ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind’.”

ICT is calling for a “Big Day In” of prayer on St Patrick’s Day, as opposed to a traditional family day out. Instead it is asking people to focus on prayer on the bereaved and front line health workers “that the Lord will protect them as they place their own wellbeing at risk in the service of all”.

“Let’s also pray for an effective vaccine to be developed soon. God’s wonderful promise is true for Ireland today that: ‘if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.’”

The group also called on people to read St Patrick’s original testimony of his faith online and be “inspired” as they read how he;-

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· “Acknowledges at 16 he didn’t know God and tells of his conversion

· Relates elegantly his wonderful concept of God

· Describes how he experienced the power of prayer

· Admits he was betrayed by his dearest friend

· How he learned to overcome fear and always give thanks in good times and bad

· And yet while being aware of his weaknesses, he persevered to the end. What a Christian hero to have.”

The statement added: “As Christians, may we hold Patrick as an inspirational model and know the closeness of the Lord as he did during this whole Corona virus phase.”

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Spokesman Paddy Monaghan, chairman of the Parish Council at Johnstown, Killarney, said the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) has made the £5m movie on Patrick entitled ‘I am Patrick’ which is being released in Cinemas in the US on St Patrick’s Day and can be watched locally on Netflix.

The film features Rev Henry Hull from Downpatrick, and actor John Rhys Davies, who played Gimli in Lord of the Rings. It is set in Ireland and England, is led by Irish actors and was produced by the Christian Broadcasting Network at a cost of £5m.

Related topics:CoronavirusNetflix