By: CECÍLIA PIRES
HUNDREDS OF people waited for Gerry and Kate McCann to arrive at the Praia da Luz church for a special service marking One Hundred Days of Hope since Madeleine went missing.
The Roman Catholic mass took place at 11am on Saturday, August 11, with a full church and dozens of journalists, photographers and TV crews remaining outside the small building.
The Reverend Haynes Hubbard led the service “for Madeleine and for all missing children”. He thanked those present for their support of Madeleine’s family as well as thanking the McCann family for not leaving Praia da Luz, despite all the pressure from media reports during the past few weeks.
“It would have been easier, but it wouldn’t be the right thing”,
 Poster displayed outside Luz church. Photo: MARK RAWCLIFFE – The Resident |  |
he said in a comment clearly critical of those who have said that residents in Luz were anxious for the McCanns’ departure.
Kate McCann thanked all the community in Luz for their continuous support and asked the congregation not to give up praying and thinking of Madeleine until the end of this “difficult journey”.
“Gerry and I, Sean and Amelie and all our family and friends, but especially Madeleine, would like to thank you for the support we received during those difficult 100 days”, she said.
During the service, and without warning, a small group of people crossed the Church towards the McCanns. They felt moved to give their personal words of support. The remaining congregation stood and waited quietly for the service to continue.
Most of the service was held in English but, in Portuguese, one man asked for prayers for the Policia Judiciária and all their efforts, and also for the media, that they would be enlightened to “rightness and justice in their reports”, he said.
Following the lighting of candles of hope dedicated to Madeleine McCann, again Gerry thanked everyone for their support. In a weak and emotional voice he spoke of the 100 days since Madeleine’s disappearance as being the most difficult ever. “Although Madeleine has disappeared for 100 days, we will never stop looking,” he asserted.
At the end of the service, Gerry and Kate McCann offered green and yellow rubber bracelets and left the church holding hands, as they had when they arrived.
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