Madeleine McCann: Merseysiders gather to remember missing daughter

May 5 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

Madeleine McCann's mother, Kate, at a service in Liverpool

MERSEYSIDE marked the one-year anniversary of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance with poignant services at the weekend.

Kate and Gerry McCann returned to the church in which they were married for a public Mass.

Everton Football Club also commemorated the four-year-old’s disappearance by lighting up the empty Goodison stadium for 30 minutes.

The McCanns, along with hundreds of well-wishers, went to Our Lady of the Annunciation, at Childwall’s Bishop Eton Monastery, the parish church of Kate’s parents, Susan and Brian Healy.

The Mass was led by Fr Desmond Keegan, the Healys’ parish priest.

He was assisted by Fr Paul Seddon, who married Kate and Gerry in 1998 and later baptised Madeleine. Kate sat through the service with her son, Sean, on her lap and daughter Amelie to her left. Gerry sat next to Amelie with his arm stretched round to his wife’s shoulder.

In his homily, Fr Seddon described Madeleine as a “very beautiful little girl”.

He said she had been in the hearts and minds of just about everyone over the past year and added: “We have not given up hope that we will be reunited with her soon.”

He said the past 12 months had left the McCanns “so much more aware of evil in the world” and said he was proud of the couple’s campaign for a Europe-wide child rescue alert system. He added: “Wherever Madeleine is, she will know one day that her mummy and daddy, along with their family and many friends, have indeed left no stone unturned and have done everything they can to find her and will continue to do so.

“In knowing this, Madeleine will know that she is loved by so many people and that she is a very precious girl who has touched the hearts of thousands of people all over the world.

The McCanns played no part in the Mass, the usual Saturday evening first Mass of Sunday.

But it had been announced that it would be dedicated to Madeleine and missing children everywhere.

Hundreds of people crammed into the small church and others had to watch from outside. Afterwards, many queued to shake hands with Kate and Gerry.

The couple, with Kate's parents, then spent a short time in the parish hall where friends and parishioners had been invited by Fr Seddon to join them.

Mr and Mrs Healy then attended the light switch-on at Everton. The club has also joined a campaign, Light the Way Home, to show support for Madeleine’s family and friends.

laurasharpe