By Róise Collins
A COLLECTION will be held in churches across the Diocese of Raphoe this weekend to support the community of Gaoth Dobhair in rebuilding their parish church.
The proposed collection which take place on May 10 and 11 will support the devastated close knit community following a fire which destroyed St Mary’s Church, Derrybeg on Easter Monday morning.
“This is a gesture of hope and of solidarity,” Monsignor Kevin Gillespie told the Donegal News.
“Quite a few people, both clergy and laity, had suggested that it would be good for the diocese to make a gesture of solidarity with the people of Gaoth Dobhair given the destruction of the church.”
Msgr Gillespie spoke of the strong sense of commitment and solidarity with the people of Gaoth Dobhair within the diocese.
“The people are devastated and they feel the loss of the parish church very keenly,” he said.
“Everybody in the diocese really feels and understands the loss of a parish church and how central it is in the lives of the people. Particularly anybody in that part of the county, they understand the history of the parish and the place of St Mary’s in Derrybeg.”
In response to the devastating fire, an online fundraiser to support the rebuilding on the church has garnered strong community support, with close to €130,000 raised since its launch.
A fundraising concert, headlined by Daniel O’Donnell and held in Crolly also brought in an additional €11,000 toward the restoration efforts.
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