Relatives of some of those who died on the Titanic will travel to the site in the North Atlantic where the liner sank to mark 100 years since the disaster.
MS Balmoral will leave Southampton docks later, retracing the route of the ill-fated cruise liner’s maiden voyage.
The ship, carrying the same number of passengers as were on the Titanic – is due to reach the wreck site next weekend for a memorial ceremony.
The Titanic hit an iceberg on 15 April 1912 and sank claiming 1,517 lives.
The Balmoral is due to leave England’s south coast at 15:00 GMT, and will follow the Titanic’s exact route – via Cobh in Cork, – to the spot where the liner sank.
Passengers will gather on deck for a memorial ceremony at 23:40 GMT, the exact time ship the hit the iceberg exactly 100 years on. Another service will be held at 02:20 GMT to mark the moment it sank.
Some relatives have planned to bring wreaths of flowers and family artefacts in memory of those who died.
“I don’t think it’s ghoulish or macabre at all,” said Mrs Allen, from Devon.
“I’ve been to the World War II and I cemeteries in various places across the world. I think it’s always important to remember.”
It is important to remember, that is why we are here, we are here to remember an event long before Titanic, and far more important.
During this past week we have remembered the Easter Event, we have recalled how Jesus was denied, betrayed, how he how he washed their feet and shared his last meal with his disciples, He said “DO this in memory of Me” that is why we are here, yes we are here to remember, but far more than that, we are not just remembering an event from history like titanic or the Easter Rising, as we gather to pray The Risen Jesus is with us in this community, in the Word and in the Eucharist. We are called to be in communion with Christ and one another, we are called to go from here and bring the message of Jesus, that He is Risen, he is truly Risen,
As those on the voyage to Titanic, we are on a more important voyage,
We gather, we listen, we eat and drink, and we go from here as witnesses to the resurrection – we witness by what we say and do,
We welcome of Oisin and Shane into our faith community, as they grow up I’m sure they will learn about titanic too, but more importantly, they will learn about Jesus the Christ, risen from the dead!!
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