THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 1

ISSUE 60. DECEMBER 2020 PRICE - £1.50 /€2.00 The NET “Wishing all a Sharing fruits of faith in Derry Diocese Blessed Christmas”

See inside... “All the angels sang for Him, The bells of Heaven rang for Him, For a boy was born, King of all the world”. Sr Clare Rosary - Long Tower.

90th Anniversary - Ardmore.

Eucharistic Blessing - Creggan.

JPII Reflection - Claudy. Holy Cross RE Competition - Melmount. New Altar Relic - Newtownstewart. Pilgrimage of Remembrance - Clonleigh. in focus in People

Dr Joseph Varghese, Dungiven Fr Francesco CFR - Galliagh. Fr Roni Zacharias - Glendermott. Fr Stephen Kearney, Aughabrack, RIP. Pat Carlin - St Eugene’s

Also featuring: Online youth activities, JPII reflections, Youth writers share about Christmas, Inspirational Garvan Byrne story, Drawing God and Advent, Melmount prayer for deceased, Connecting Generations Campaign, Irish Section, Termonbacca Novena to Child Jesus, Children’s Catechism Club and Quiz... and much more... 2 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 Bishop Donal reflects on the Pope’s prayer intention for December... Contents “We pray that our personal relationship with Jesus Christ be

CopiesParish of ‘The Net’ will deliveries be available in parishes again after restrictions, as a result of Covid-19, are lifted. nourished by the Word of God and a life of prayer” Reflectionby Bishop Donal...... p2 St Columba celebrations launched...... p2 WE all know the phrase wrote: “The word is not simply in Bible stories through afflicted the comfortable! As Parish Post-its...... p2 from St John’s Gospel - used in audible...It has a face...that of Mass readings, stained glass Pope Francis wrote in ‘The Joy St Eugene’s Christmas Concert...... p2 the ‘Angelus’ – ‘the Word was Jesus of Nazareth”. (Verbum windows, Stations of the Cross of the Gospel’ (2013): “God’s made flesh and dwelt among Domini 2009 para 12) and other non-verbal retelling Word is unpredictable in its Walking with Jesus amidst a pandemic – Hollie Frystal reports on Holy Cross College RE us’. That is the heart of the Our deepest encounter is of the Bibles stories. power… The Church has to Competition...... p3 Christmas message. with the person of Jesus. A Pope Francis has a clear accept this unruly freedom Sr Clare devotees gathered in heavy rain This is an importantChurch document from the invitation to us all. In this of the Word...in ways that to pray birthday Rosary...... p3 teaching. Sometimes we can Second Vatican Council puts season when we celebrate surpass our calculations and World Youth Day 2023...... p3 imagine that the ‘Word of it this way – “Christianity the Word becoming flesh ways of thinking”, (para 22) Advent Vocations Prayer...... p3 God’ is made up of words is not a religion of the book and dwelling among us in and “The word is always Pope John Paul II Award reflections...... p4-5 written in the Bible. And, we but a religion of the word of Bethlehem, he invites us to beyond us…we are neither proclaim at every Mass that God...The incarnate and living be nourished by the Word of its masters or owners, but Youth writers share thoughts on... the scripture readings are ‘The Word”. (Dei Verbum, 1965, God as we find it written in its guardians, heralds and - Celebrating Christmas - Inspirational Garvan Byrne story Word of the Lord’. para 10). the Bible – and by prayer. servants”. (para 146) – Drawing God...... p6-9 But the first Word of God In Catholic teaching, we Reading the Bible and St Jerome loved the scriptures Online youth activities for Advent...... p8 is Jesus. As Pope Benedict encounter that Word in the prayer are not two separate and translated the Bible into wrote in his first letter to the scriptures, in the sacraments places where we meet Christ. Latin from the original Greek Bishop Donal Advent – The Coming of Christ by Hollie Frystal...... p10 whole church, ‘Deus Caritas and in prayer. Often in the In lectio divina, we read and Hebrew in which it was Holy Father wants us to make Hope and Love by Filip Betlejewski...... p10 Est’ (2005): “Being Christian Catholic Church, we believe and re-read a passage of the written. He said: “Ignorance a permanent resting place in Lights of Hope at Melmount Prayer for Deceased is not the result of an ethical that we know little about scriptures. We allow that of the scriptures is ignorance our hearts for the Word of by Hollie Frystal...... p11 choice or a lofty idea, but the scriptures. In one way, reading to touch our heads – of Christ”. God, verbal and in flesh. If we Pat Carlin shares thoughts on the encounter with an event, we have a lot to learn from and then our hearts, leading At Christmas, we celebrate do that, the prayer will flow ‘Connecting Generations’ Campaign...... p11 a person, which gives life a our Protestant brothers and us into prayer to the Word Christ’s birth in a stable. The spontaneously from our hearts. Clonleigh Pilgrimage of Remembrance a special time new horizon and a decisive sisters. But, while not having a who is Jesus Christ. by Fr Colm O’Doherty...... p12 direction”. (para 1). great tradition of studying the But the Jesus, Word of God, Newtownstewart gets a new relic Elsewhere Pope Benedict Bible, we have been saturated comforted the afflicted – and by Fr Roland Colhoun...... p12 MON 21ST DEC 2020 9PM First Saturday Prayer for Ireland...... p12

Ardmore marks 90th anniversary of St Mary’s Church...... p13 Celebrating 1500th anniversary Creggan Eucharistic Blessing...... p13 Fr Stephen Kearney Tribute...... p14 of St Columba’s birth Dungiven celebrates doctoral success of Fr Joseph Varghese...... p15 Protestant, Presbyterian and called. Comforts are great, but Fr Roni arrives from India...... p15 Methodist Churches. in a world where it is all about Following the stone Over the next year, there me, no-one thrives”. by Fr Oliver Crilly...... p16 will be a series of events He added: “Columba grew commemorating the life of in his belief that he was loved Françoise Henry Irish Page by Fr Oliver Crilly...... p17 Derry’s Patron Saint, and by God and that forgiveness Bishop Donal has encouraged was always available for our Memories of Christmas Past... people to celebrate his legacy mistakes”. ...and hopes for Christmas 2020...... p18-23 in some way during the Bishop Donal went on to Columban Year. highlight that the Columban My faith journey by Fr Francesco Gavazzi CFR...... p24 In his homily, Bishop Donal Year was not just a Catholic Novena to the Divine Child asked that Columba be celebration, saying: “The main with the Termonbacca Carmelites...... p25 remembered “as a real human Christian churches in Derry Prayer for Vocations...... p25 being who grappled with the and Donegal are working Prayer for Priests...... p25 Pope’s Prayer Intention...... p25 human problems of his day together so that we can and would challenge us to do remember one who is part of The Stable and The Cribs by Vera McFadden...... p26 A programme of events to the same in this generation”. our shared history”. mark the 1500th birthday Considering what the And he noted that the A Word of God for your Family Life of St Columba has been Donegal-born Saint might year of celebration was “a celebrations by holding an all- IOSAS Centre, on the Derry- - ‘Ambition’ by Fr Johnny Doherty CSsR...... p27 An Advent like no other Advent launched by Bishop Donal at have to say today, he chance to reconnect with the night vigil of prayer for health Muff border. by Fr John McLaughlin...... p27 a special Mass in St Columba’s suggested: “Columba would Celtic spirituality that left an and healing, through the Fuller coverage will be Church, Long Tower, followed tell us that if we pamper indelible mark on Europe”. intercession of St Columba, included in the January It is a holy duty to hand on the faith by a digital launch featuring ourselves, we lose any sense of The Columba Community in St Canice’s Oratory in the edition. by Roseann O’Donnell...... p28 the leaders of the Catholic, the greatness to which we are also marked the start of the Celtic Prayer Garden, at the Fr Neal Carlin’s latest book reviewed – ‘The Eagle, the Tiger and Covid’...... p29 Radio Maria – A great faith resource the praying of the Rosary and Morning Prayer of the Church from St Mary’s College, Derry, by Sarah Moynihan...... p29 Novena prayer, petitions, and at 7.45 am on Mondays, will read Scripture, poetry Parish Post-its a short talk given by various Wednesdays, Thursdays and and sing songs. ‘Preparing for St Teresa of the Andes – Part IV Suffering and Dying with Love guest speakers, followed by Fridays and Rosary and Night Christmas in Strange Times’ by Fr Stephen Quinn OCD...... p30 Burt Inch & Fahan since the first one appeared in a ceremony of healing, with Prayer at 8 pm, Monday to continues on Thursday nights The highly popular Burt 2012. Over €35, 000 has been Benediction of the Blessed Friday. On Advent Tuesday’s at 8pm, and on Fridays, at Children’s Catechism Club – C3 Inch and Fahan Calendar raised since then for deserving Sacrament. the Rosary will be prayed 11am, Mary Murphy presents by Veronica Harley...... p31 for 2021 is due in the shops charities. For further details St Pio Mass: The next St for all families, and, on short Christmas reflections. Quiz Time with Lawrence...... p31 mid-December. Kathleen email kathleengrantburt@ Pio Mass to be celebrated in Wednesdays, Fr Patrick Lagan Grant and Lily Elder wish gmail.com. St Columba’s Church, Long will led a Gospel Encounter The ministry of to acknowledge the solid Tower, for healing in mind after Night Prayer. support from their advertisers, Long Tower and body, will be on Monday, The programme includes The NET the business fraternity for Novena: The annual Solemn December 14, at 7.30pm, and events in the Cathedral was dedicated to Our Sharing the fruits of the faith in the Derry Diocese selling the calendars, the Novena in honour of Our Lady can be viewed via webcam. Hall viewed via webcam. Lady, through the media, Paddy and Louise of Perpetual Help, which runs On Mondays, Anne Marie intercession of Contacting us: at Bizz Print, those that for the nine Sundays before St Eugene’s Advent Programme: Hickey and Trevor Burnside St Maximilian Kolbe, in a If you have a story that you would like to share or an event you would like covered by The Net, just drop an email to kindly allowed the use of Christmas in Long Tower The Cathedral’s Adventprovide live music from 3.15- ceremony celebrated by [email protected] their photos, and the public Church, is underway. Starting Programme runs until 4pm, and on Wednesday, Bishop Donal McKeown or ring/text 07809292852 for purchasing the calendar at 6 pm, each night includes December 24, and includes December 9 and 16, pupils on August 14, 2019. THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 3 Hollie Frystal writes about Holy Cross College, Strabane, RE competition… Walking with Jesus amidst a pandemic EVERY year in Holy Cross due to the coronavirus, as it creates a sense of wonderment Especially this year, the world College, we have our annual was vital to maintain safety and the young people were invited has undergone severe heartache, school Mass to mark the start of regulations. However, we did not to open their minds and hearts to anxiety, fear and stress, amidst the academic year. Our primary let such valuable time pass without the meaning of ‘Footprints in the the pandemic. However, Jesus aims are ‘Excellence in Education, thinking of something else for Sand’. They were also asked to be comforted the man by settling his Formation in the Catholic Faith our young people. The initiative creative in drawing a poster with confusion when He responded, The Year 8 winners in the Holy Cross College, Strabane, RE competition were, and Care for All.” was taken to engage the Year 8 the poem centered in the middle. “…when you see only one set of right to left, Aimee (1st), Luke (2nd) and Lily (3rd). Photograph by Hollie Frystal. In Holy Cross, we are very pupils in a faith-based activity. The beginning of ‘Footprints’ footprints in the sand, it was then response of so many fantastic Year In 1st place - Aimee O’Donnell; fortunate to be surrounded by The task involved keeping with the expresses a deep feeling of that I carried you.” For young 8s who decided to take part in this in 2nd place - Luke Bogle; and in fantastic priests from our parish, theme of November, which was loneliness, fear, sadness and, people, it is so important that we wonderful activity. We both found 3rd place - Lily McAleer, whose teachers and staff of rich faith. As the ‘Commemoration of All the most of all, confusion. The man understand that ‘Emmanuel’ – the judging difficult as the posters posters were terrific! Enjoy your a Catholic school, we see faith as Faithful Departed’. expressed his confusion over ‘God is with us’, and that the poem were absolutely brilliant! Their prizes! our priority to share and to teach The Head of RE decided that the why there was only one set of represents the challenges that lie creativity and their dedication This December, in keeping with the lessons taught by Jesus, and competition would involve the footprints, “I don’t understand ahead of us in life, and that we are were so apparent in their work the safety regulations, Holy Cross to inspire and guide the young Year 8 pupils reading and reflecting why when I needed you the most not alone in them. and so rewarding. The style of College will hold its annual Carol people in their faith and vocational on the beautiful poem, ‘Footprints’. you would leave me.” This is a I am a student in upper-sixth handwriting, colours and symbols Service pre-recorded and will be journeys throughout post- The poem is said to date back to common misunderstanding of and I assisted my teacher in co- used were amazing! available to watch on the school primary. the first half of the 20th century, Jesus’ love and support; in which judging the top three winners A big thankyou and a well done website, and on other social Like most schools, sadly we and although it is famous, the we mistakenly feel abandoned and of this competition. We were to all those who participated, and media platforms via Facebook and had to cancel our school Mass author remains unknown. This that challenges our faith. delighted with the phenomenal congratulations to our winners: Instagram Sr Clare devotees gathered in heavy rain to pray birthday Rosary was pursuing a promising acting normally five years after death, career, shocked her family and which will be April 16, 2021 in everyone who knew her when she the case of Sr Clare, and the hope announced that she was going to is that steps will be taken then to become a nun, after an amazing open the process for canonisation. conversion experience. Meanwhile, back in her Entering the Servant Sisters, of hometown, plans are afoot for a the Home of Mother Order, in series of celebrations to mark the 2001, she took her perpetual vows fifth anniversary of Sr Clare’s death in 2010 and went on to touch the in the week after Easter. Bishop Donal looking forward to WYD 2023 lives of many, particularly young Such is the interest in Sr Clare people, through her ministry, that her Novena prayer cards are THE date of the next World travelling with a substantial group from next year, this will be held on before her sudden death during continuously selling out, while Youth Day has been put back of young people and their leaders the Solemnity of Christ the King. an earthquake in Playa Prieta, 10,000 Sr Clare candles have to 2023, when it will be held in from the Derry Diocese to Lisbon”. The theme for WYD in Portugal Ecuador, on April 16, 2016. sold since they were launched Lisbon, Portugal, and Bishop The official dates for WYD Lisbon is ‘Mary rose and left in haste’ and THE growing devotion to the Since her death, a growing in August to help cover printing Donal is hoping to make the 2023 will not be announced until the logo includes a cross with a road late Sr Clare Crockett amongst number of people in her home expenses, and over 3,000 Sr Clare pilgrimage there accompanied by a further details about the pandemic running over it, representing the the people of Derry was again city, and across the island of calendars have also been snapped large group of young people from are known, but the organisers are road Mary took to visit Elizabeth, reflected in the number who Ireland and the world, have been up since the start of November. the Derry Diocese. hoping to release these in 2021 as well the figure of Mary and a braved heavy rain to gather around attributing prayers answered, As a former teacher and and expect to provide the typical Rosary to represent the spirituality her mural, painted on a gable wall many in a seemingly miraculous principal, Bishop Donal has a WYD schedule, which includes the of the Portuguese people and their in the Brandywell area, to pray the way, to her intercession, leading to great interest in young people and Opening Ceremony, Catechesis, devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. Rosary together on what would calls for her cause for beatification promoting youth initiatives, and Youth Festival, Papal Welcome, Via With Fatima less than 70 miles have been her 38th birthday, and eventual canonisation to be has wonderful memories of the Crucis, Pilgrim Walk, Prayer Vigil from Lisbon, many of the young November 14. considered by the Church. uplifting experiences of past World and Closing Mass. people may take the opportunity Amongst them was Bishop The waiting period before Youth Days. The event is open to youth of all during WYD to visit the place Donal, who had just returned to this initial step can be made is Initiated by Pope John Paul II faiths and is attended by thousands where Our Lady appeared to Lucia, the city following the funeral and in 1987, WYD usually takes place of young people from various parts Jacinta and Francisco. burial of Fr Stephen Kearney, in every three years, but while the of the world, just as Pope John Paul Surrounded by thousands of Co Tyrone. Speaking to ‘The Net’ last WYD was in January 2019 II had hoped for. youth from around the world, afterwards, he said: “As I arrived in in Panama, the next one is now He told pilgrims at the last World Youth Day has helped many the Brandywell, it was great to find scheduled for the summer of 2023 international WYD he attended: young people deepen their faith a very large crowd standing in the in Portugal, because of Covid-19. “I imagined a powerful moment and grow closer to God, through rain at the Sr Clare mural; people Last month, Bishop Donal in which the young people of the prayer and the celebration of the of all ages, proudly saying the took part in a world-wide Zoom world could meet Christ, who is Sacraments. Rosary to mark what would have conference of 240 delegates, eternally young, and could learn Encouraging young people to been Sr Clare’s 38th birthday. organised by the Pontifical Council from Him how to be bearers of the answer the call of WYD, Pope “It is impressive to see how the for Laity, Family and Life. Gospel to other young people”. Francis has said: “Dear young life of one of their own has become Explaining that the conference In the years between the major, people, cry out with your life that a focus for not just prayer but also Home of the Mother Servant Sisters pray at Sr Clare’s grave on her birthday. was organised to evaluate Panama intercontinental WYD, dioceses Christ lives and reigns! If you keep pride in their community.” 2019 and to start preparing celebrate the event locally. The silent, the stones will cry out!” Bishop Donal went on to say: “I synodally for the Lisbon gathering diocesan WYD celebration usually For further information on WYD know that the Home of the Mother of huge numbers of young people, takes place on Palm Sunday, but Lisbon 2023 visit www.lisboa2023. is keen to keep her story before the Bishop Donal added: “I hope to be Pope Francis has announced that, org/en/ eyes of the world, and that there are moves to promote her cause for canonisation. Advent Sunday Holy Hours for Vocations “According to Church Law, such AS 2020 comes to a Advent. Cappagh. December 20, will be led a move would have to be led by the close, the Diocese is This time of prayer Fr Pat O’Hagan, PP from St Joseph’s Church, bishop of the diocese where she encouraging prayer for is being led by four Moville, will lead the Banagher by Fr Micheal died.” vocations through the parishes and is broadcast Holy Hour on Sunday, McGavigan. Sr Clare Maria of the Trinity provision of vocation online, with the first two December13 from St See the Diocesan and the Heart of Mary, who grew themed Holy Hours Sundays having been Pius X Church, and the website for viewing link. up in Long Tower parish and during the Sundays of led by Creggan and final one, on Sunday, 4 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 I gained so many new skills and confidence My parish through my JPII experience by Lisa Brennan involvement helped I completed a lot for my Pope were set a task with a different to help out, then, once it was local shop and brought it up the John Paul Award, both in the theme to complete each week and up and running, I helped out at community and parish, for which it was worth one parish hour. This the sessions. We played games my relationship with I had to do 20 hours of each was a bit difficult, but it was also a involving religion and did many because I was doing the Gold unique and fun way to do the Pope things for the chapel and parish, Award. Through my parish hours, John Paul Award. so the children felt like they were the church by Caoimhe Melaugh I either took part in the Offertory When things settled down a part of the community and parish. at Mass each week or organized bit, and we could go back to the We sang songs and did a prayer TAKING part in the Pope A further social activity I primary school children to do it, chapel, I helped as a steward to and reflection as well. On the last John Paul II Award was a great participated in was as a FLARE so they could be more involved in make sure everyone was following night, we had a party for them and experience and I looked forward ambassador. FLARE is a project the parish. the Covid guidelines properly. made a hamper for Fr Farren, for to complete my parish and social run by the Education Authority, I also helped out at special Masses We had to take their name for the parish. volunteering hours every week. which supports young people and throughout the year, including contract tracing and took them to I also collected money for the For my parish hours, I helped to promotes positive mental health. the Mass for Deceased Children, a seat. We also had to give them a school outside the chapel gates clean my church with my friends By being a FLARE ambassador, at which I handed out candles sanitising wipe to wipe down their before Mass started, and helped after school, which comprised of I received mental health training and then lit them for people, so seat before they left the chapel. My out at my local youth club on a things such as polishing the seats, and participated in and produced they could pray for whoever they job was to make sure that everyone Saturday night, doing different mopping the floor and dusting the a social action project, which was wanted. At the Youth Day Mass, stayed two metres apart at the activities in the kitchen with the religious statues and displays. I also a short movie on mental health I handed out wrist bands to all main door when waiting to get girls, like making bracelets and Lisa Brennan, Parish of Iskaheen. did activities including handing awareness. the young people afterwards and into the chapel, and I had to make painting their nails. I served in the out leaflets at Mass and taking part Overall, I really enjoyed taking helped at the Penitential Service, sure they were wearing a mask tuck shop as well. next time I was going up. in the Offertory Procession, which part in the Pope John Paul II where I handed out leaflets for and sanitising their hands. I really Again, when lockdown hit, the I loved doing the Pope John Paul also contributed to my parish Award. Something I really loved the the Mass. After this Mass, the enjoyed this because I got to know youth club shut down, so it was Award. I gained so many new hours. about taking part in this award was other JPII students and I had tea the people of the parish a lot more. really hard for me to get hours. skills and more confidence to talk In addition, for my social being able to contribute in some with a couple of the priests in the For my social hours, I wrapped However, I came up with the to new people and get involved hours, I volunteered to assist with form to my parish and community. sacristy. When it came around to boxes for the SVP Christmas food idea of doing shopping for old in my parish more often. I loved fundraising for my school’s PTFA I was able to express my love for Christmas time, I made Advent appeal and placed them in each people. My daddy has a gardening getting to know the people in my team, which involved selling break- helping people in need, especially trees for the two parish chapels form class, so they could donate business and a lot of his customers parish more too, as I didn’t know time snacks to the junior students. through the social awareness and we hung the quotes on it from food to people in poverty. I also are elderly people who have no many older people before I did the I also helped with the St Vincent de aspect, and I feel that my parish the primary school children about filled up Holy Water bottles with families to get them things like Award. Paul Christmas Hamper Appeal; involvement definitely helped Christmas. Holy Water from the local wells, bread and milk throughout the I also learnt a lot about the packaging Christmas gifts for me with my relationship with the Then, when lockdown hit, it for the people of the parish for week, so they would leave out different special events that happen children from poor backgrounds. church. was really hard to get my Award New Year’s Day. money and I would go down to in my parish and what really goes finished because we couldn’t do Another activity I helped with the local shop and get what they on behind closed doors. There anything in the chapel because was organising the parish GIFT needed and leave it at the door are so many hard working people it was closed, but Lizzie Rea programme for the primary for them, or if they lived in the that do a lot to make sure that the started up an online programme school children. We discussed countryside with no shop close, chapels are well looked after and where we would watch a live on what activities to do with them they would text daddy what they the people of the parish too, which a Monday evening at 8 pm. We and what days suited everyone needed and I got it for them at my was nice to see. My JPII Award experience helped me grow in my faith by Ellen McCloskey I am a Year 14 pupil in Thornhill Before our chapel re-opened after which has been the most rewarding College and, over the past year, lockdown, I assisted with the new experience and has taught me so I have had the opportunity to seating arrangements according to much. I have dealt first-hand with complete the Pope John Paul the new Covid-19 guidelines. people in need in our community II Award. This has been such a All of these activities encouraged and have enjoyed getting to know Pope John Paul Award 2018-2019 Loreto College, Omagh. fulfilling and rewarding experience me to grow in confidence, interact them and being able to help them and has encouraged me to partake and learn from local parish leaders get on a better path. in many things I otherwise would and allowed me to help give back Overall, I would highly The JPII Award enabled me not have done. to my parish. recommend the Pope John Paul I am a part of the Claudy Parish I also volunteered at ‘Follow II Award to anyone considering it to feel more involved in my and completed most of my parish The Star’ before last Christmas, as it has helped me grow on both hours there but unfortunately, due which is a Christmas trail with a spiritual and personal level. It Church and community to Covid-19, they were cut short. a spiritual twist, aiming to teach has allowed me to grow closer to However, prior to this, I took part children about the real meaning God and helped grow my faith by Orla Kerrigan in the ‘Growing In Faith Together’ of Christmastime, beyond all the that I had started to drift from. It (GIFT) programme, where Year 8 materialistic meanings. also helped me give back to my I participated in the Pope John For my parish hours, I had pupils in our parish learned about For my social hours, I completed community and gain a greater Paul II Award of 2018-2019, weekly sessions where I and five their faith in a modern and fun a range of different activities. I community spirit. beginning my journey in Year 13 others engaged with the YOUCAT way in the year following their arranged a bag pack in Iceland Ellen McCloskey, Claudy Parish. through my parish, Ardstraw East, (Youth Catechism). It was led Confirmation. We helped to show to raise money for Children in and my school, Loreto Grammar by our priest, Fr Colhoun and them how the Gospel relates to our Crossfire. I also made up a beauty Omagh. catechists, Veronica and John. lives today and how we can keep it hamper and sold tickets around Participating in both parish and Our goal was to better understand active and relevant in our everyday the school to raise money for the social activities was extremely and increase our faith, while we lives. charity. Inside school, I helped enriching and I gained a lot from debated modern issues faced I thoroughly enjoyed connecting with a range of activities as well, these experiences, including by young people on their faith with local youth through our including helping the Year 8 pupils increasing my own confidence and journey. parish and helping them grow in prepare for their talent show, and allowing me to explore my faults. It allowed me to feel more faith. I participated in charity bun sales For my social awareness, I involved in my Church and my I also started reading at Mass and other fundraisers before the worked with young people, both community, and provided me with on Sunday mornings, and helped school closed due to Covid-19. as a leader in my youth group and insight and opportunities that I to give out and collect Children I regularly volunteered at as a friend to a special needs child, never would have stumbled upon in Crossfire Advent collection the Foyle Foodbanks Social where we created a lesson plan to if not for the Pope John Paul II boxes prior to Christmas last year. Supermarket over the summer, engage with the child. Award. THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 5 Completing JPII Award during Covid-19 shows how teamwork can get you across the line! by Peter Grant my experience there, and I also us feel really special, with everyone During that time, Bishop Donal felt honoured to serve the parish was a massive achievement by the recognised some familiar faces giving us great praise for our hard McKeown made a surprise visit to and the community. Derry Youth Group and it was a there too, from my parish, who work. Iskaheen chapel, in my parish, and During my experience of the great experience for me. I couldn’t visit the trail every year. The After Christmas, we helped at the that gave me a sense of positivity Pope John Paul Award, I learned have done it alone without my IOSAS Centre staff were very meeting of the parents of the First during uncertain times ahead. so many different new things that friends and other Pope John Paul kind to all the volunteers, giving Communion and Confirmation Bishop Donal was impressed I never knew I could do and that II students and the Award leaders us soup and rolls whenever we children in Muff. Here we helped with the involvement of some of also got me out of my comfort in my parish and school. For me, arrived from school during the set up the church, passed out the us Pope John Paul students, who zone, including being a part of this sums up how teamwork can weeknights it was on. It was a candles to the parents and helped had come along to help. We were ‘The Net’ publication’s youthget you across the line. Covid-19 wonderful experience as it got me those presenting the evening to given so much praise for our work writing team. didn’t stop me in my tracks with into the Christmas mood, and it pack up their belongings, which during that time period before the We still managed to continue the regards completing the Award. snowed on one of the nights! we helped carry to the car. We second lockdown, and we again Award during Covid-19, which it Our parish has an annual ‘Eye received great praise for this too. and Head Well’ Mass, which Some of us Pope John Paul consists of blessing the water students took part in the annual gathered up from the two local Diocesan Sleep Out for the Reading at Mass is helping me grow wells and this is then given to Homeless in February. We learned people to take home for blessing and understood a little of how it IN undertaking the Pope John in confidence by Eimear McGarrigle themselves with. I and another felt to be a person who is homeless, Paul II Gold Award, I completed Award student helped gather the as we were given talks by different 20 hours for both parish and MY name is Eimear and I started I am to read at Melmount Mass bucketfuls of water from both homeless organisations across social activities, even during the the Pope John Paul II Award every Saturday night for 20 weeks wells, which involved taking some Derry City and we took part in Covid-19 pandemic as well. We last month. I have always had an and I am currently a month in. dangerous paths along the way. We activities throughout the night, started by attending the Award interest in this award, as my twin For my social hours, I have been had to bend down, on our hands including saying prayers for people opening ceremony at Knock cousins both did it when they completing tasks online with the and knees, to get the water from who are homeless. Everybody had Shrine, where the Derry Diocesan were at Holy Cross College. Seeing Derry Youth, as with COVID-19 both wells like people in our parish to spend an hour outside with their Youth Group and Fr Farren them read at Mass and listening to restrictions I am unable to had done in the past. groups to understand what it is like explained what it was about and them talk about it to me, I knew I’d volunteer. Next we had to full the water into to try and sleep like a person who how to achieve it. This was a love to take part when I was in 6th I’m really enjoying taking part small bottles for the people at the is homeless in the cold and wintry wonderful experience and a great Year. in the Award and my confidence Mass to take home with them, and conditions. Overall, everybody way to launch the Award. I’m currently also studying RE is definitely growing with reading thankfully we got help with that enjoyed the Sleep Out. It was a We had Pope John Paul Award as one of my chosen A’levels and the Prayer of the Faithful at Mass Eimear McGarrigle, Melmount Parish. from some of the Children and great success once again. Group meetings regularly in our I have a big interest in it. After each week. Young People Group and some Unfortunately, Covid-19 came I look forward to the months parish of Iskaheen, organised by leaving school, I’m hoping to go By doing the tasks online, I am youths from the parish. There were and we were forced into lockdown ahead and being able to complete our parish leader, Helen Grant, to university to study to become a becoming more aware of my faith, 500 bottles to fill for the service, across the country, but that did my Award and, if restrictions ease, where we discussed what we had teacher and RE is a subject I could such as different saints and how we and as the old saying goes ‘many not stop me from completing volunteering could be an option I been doing and our experiences teach. feel that God fulfills His mission hands make light work’. We helped my Award. Lizzie Rea set up a would enjoy. of it, and if we found it difficult or For the Pope John Paul II Award, and how it relates to us. organise the Mass too, which was a Derry Youth Group account on easy. We also had our sheets signed great success and we look forward Instagram for all the Pope John at these. Delighted with the growing engagement of youth in parish to keeping this tradition alive for as Paul Award students, and we I participated in Church long as we can in the future. took part in activities that we did Collections, Reading and also life, Pope John Paul II Award national coordinator, Tony ourselves for the Award. We also organised the Offertory gifts every Reconciliation took part in games and quizzes Brennan encourages... Sunday before Covid-19. The kids I was also involved in preparing through Zoom, which cheered me were delighted to be part of this in our Church in Muff for the up all the way through lockdown. bringing up the gifts to our priest, Parishes to offer more opportunities for Service of Reconciliation. We lit Whenever restrictions were Fr John Farren, and some even did candles and placed them around lifted, I wanted to get back into it every week which was great to the Church and handed out the volunteering at the church and I youth involvement in lead-up to Christmas see at the Church. reflection sheets to those who decided to help out in stewarding THE Pope John Paul II Award is testimonies of the wide range of The first activity outside the came. Fr Farren led the service, at Masses to keep people safe and a tool to assist parishes in engaging activities that they can engage in Mass was to help out at the GIFT which helped me to see Confession happy in the Church. Some weeks with young people, so that they are within their parish, even during programme, which our parish was in a different way. There were six or were quiet and some the Church visible in their church. If you take Covid-19. Yes, Covid did have an hosting for the first time. Myself seven priests there for the occasion. was just about full to its new what is happening in parishes such affect but when parishes began and some of the other Pope John Fr Farren made us feel really part of limited capacity, but the stewards as Iskaheen in Co Donegal, the to reopen and were calling for Paul Award students in my parish the Parish when he thanked us and and I handled it perfectly. Award is being used exactly for the volunteers, many young people helped out every Friday evening told everyone of the work we had The Award participants all took purpose it was created for in 2006, stepped up to take on roles as for the eight weeks it was on. I done. We all took the opportunity photographs of our home May by Fr Paul Farren in St Eugene’s cleaners, stewards, readers and also helped the Children and to go to confession. Altars and these were displayed We can see that clearly in Eucharist Ministers, etc. They are Young People Group organise the Once again, we really felt valued during the month of May in St the testimonies shared here, of visible in their parish not only at activities for the participants every members of our parish and Patrick’s Church, Iskaheen. During young people being welcomed weekends but during the week. week and tidy up afterwards. The honoured to be invited afterwards May, our leader, Helen organised and actively encouraged in their When you have a parish where young teenagers looked up to us up to Christmas, we want to see to come and have tea with the for us to say the Rosary each day parishes. They are learning about you have a very active volunteer as role models for them and, of more and more opportunities priests, which enabled us to get to at 8 pm. We did this within our life in their parishes and how faith team, or salaried leaders, and they course, the craic was mighty every for young people to get engaged know them, like what they did and own families and sometimes as is part of that. They are discovering are working well and engaging week we did it. in their parishes, and I would where they were from. This made an Award group, through ‘Zoom’. that faith isn’t something they just with the young people, you can I then helped with our annual learn about in school, and it’s not see the fruits of all that work, and encourage any young person to get parish trip to ‘Follow the Star’, being forced on them. that is where the Award comes involved in the life of their parish which is in the IOSAS Centre In parish life, they are growing into play in assisting the parishes community. and also part of the Parish. There in confidence and faith and that in getting that active engagement. The Diocesan Youth Ministry was a full bus load of families and is the whole point of it. Schools It’s great to see that particularly Team has a very active online other parishioners. After helping are doing great work in teaching here in the Derry Diocese. weekly programme, so I would with the bus, I had to go straight young people about their faith but Throughout the country, there are ask young people, if they have to the IOSAS Centre, where I was it is important that this is done small pockets of these, but during enrolled in the Pope John Paul II a tour guide of the garden, taking in partnership with the parishes, Covid it was really obvious in Award and are trying to make up families to different huts where so that the young people are also the Diocese of Derry that when hours, to seek out @Derryyouth Christmas stories were read to get learning it as part of their parish parishes where opened, their on Instagram and engage with the the children and families into the community life. young people were engaged in Youth Ministry Team, who will Christmas spirit. There are some fabulousthat. I was delighted to see this. help them get actively engaged in I met new friends through examples in young people’s In the coming weeks leading their parish and faith. 6 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 THIS month, Hollie, Peter, Oisin, Gemma, Zara and John, ‘The Net’ youth contributors from the Co Tyrone, Let’s pray in thanksgiving and for all those who Inishowen, Co Derry and Derry City Deaneries, share their most treasured memories of Christmases past and will be heart-broken this Christmas by Oisin Mulhern their hopes for this one, as well as their thoughts on the CHRISTMAS is a holiday that The most important part of of Our Lord Jesus Christ. During It is with great sadness though inspiring story of 12-year-old Garvan Byrne, of Irish many people look forward to; Christmas is getting to spend Advent we prepare for His coming. that Advent begins this year like background, who died of a rare form of leukaemia in 1985 some looking forward to time off time with my family and meeting It is such a special and meaningful no other, with no access to Mass and relaxation, others the many family members I have not seen in part of the liturgical calendar and in person for the first few weeks. and showed such great courage and deep faith in God that presents that Christmas day offers, a while around the festive period. one which I thoroughly enjoy each Let us all hope and pray that the his legacy is still impacting those who view videos of him and some even the snow of the On Christmas Eve, I attend the year. It is a season of hope as we Church doors are once again talking about life and death, and his love for the Eucharist. winter months. Midnight Mass with family and remember that Christ our Light opened to welcome parishioners To mark World Drawing God Day, they also share images Christmas has become then we all go to visit my aunt. On came into our World to lighten in to prepare for and celebrate the increasingly commercialised and Christmas Day, we enjoy a lovely up the darkness and bring us coming of Jesus Christ. that express how they see God, with Bishop Donal taking indulgent over the years. Many family meal and afterwards go to hope and salvation. It is a time to All in all, the true meaning of up the invitation to do so as well. In addition, Hollie, and love Christmas solely for receiving visit the graves of all our deceased celebrate His birth and rejoice in Christmas is not gifting presents fellow Derry Youth Ministry Scholarship member, Filip gifts, which is the least integral relatives. It is a time of joy mixed His coming. and enjoying snow, it is about part for me. This materialistic side with a tinge of sadness as we In our home, we also light a coming together and being with Betlejewski, reflect on the meaning of Advent. of the holiday is less important remember all those close to us that candle on Christmas Eve and family, acting selflessly for others due to the fact that it focuses us have passed on. The graveyard put it in the window as a sign to and celebrating the birth of our totally on ourselves. This is the becomes a solace, going to pray welcome Jesus into our homes. Lord Jesus Christ. more secular side of the holiday, for those who have died. I then These special touches make where gift-giving, etc, replaces the call into the Church to visit the Christmas extremely meaningful process of Advent and the birth of crib, light a candle and say a few to me. Christ is given less focus, which prayers. This is what Christmas is in my opinion is not the true about; being close to family, both meaning of Christmas and, in fact, living and deceased. actively undermines it During Christmas, I often For me, one of the parts of find myself reflecting on life and Christmas that means a lot to me the year as a whole. I often feel is the selfless and caring aspect. gratitude for the amazing family I We are invited at Christmas time have, who look after and care for Hollie Frystal, Oisin Mulhern, Peter Grant, me. This year, in particular, has Co Tyrone Deanery. Co Derry Deanery. Inishowen Deanery. to become more aware of each other rather than ourselves, and been an extremely hard year for all give ourselves up for the sake of and I know I am blessed to be able others. This can be seen in certain to spend it with those I am closest areas like giving money or food to too. those in dire need of it. There are many people this I do enjoy opening presents year who may not be as lucky as with my family on Christmas Day, me due to travel restrictions, or however, I have always tried to may have lost loved ones due to keep a selfless attitude in regard the virus. For those of us who are to others at Christmas time, by as lucky as me, we should pray in engaging in the Christmas Shoe thanksgiving to God and pray for Box Appeal through school and all those families who are going to making donations to the poor be heartbroken at Christmas. Gemma Gallagher, John Agustine Joseph, Zara Schlindwein, and needy with the expectation of Finally, the most important Derry City Deanery Derry City Deanery. Derry City Deanery. nothing in return. aspect of Christmas is the birth Hollie Frystal reflects on Christmas in a pandemic… We do not need to try and ‘save Christmas’…it is Christmas that saves us! WHEN the government watch it through the webcam. This meaning of this very important regular Mass-goers. It is so special released new and stricter Covid is happening all over the Diocese, and wonderful season. I love the and wonderful to have everyone regulation measures to try and and it is something that we would religious aspect of Christmas! It together, as a Church, celebrating ‘save Christmas’, the news of never have anticipated. has a real, touching, and heartfelt the birth of our Lord. closure of places of worship for In Melmount, we are currently atmosphere, which brings to our Afterwards, my brothers and two weeks, from November 27, about 60% down in our attention the most important sisters and I change into our new was devastating, especially when congregation size, however, the things in life, and what it is that we pyjamas and, sometimes, get this meant that we would ‘miss’ the virtual congregation has increased. are grateful for. trying a bit of the turkey for the first two weeks of Advent. Melmount Chapel is built to I remember having a next day. We have the same routine However, we have learnt from accommodate 1,300 people. At conversation with someone every year and wake up in the the season of Lent that the element last year’s Christmas Mass, the whilst on the youth pilgrimage to morning with excitement to open of preparation is still doable and Chapel held an estimated 1,400 Croagh Patrick. We were speaking our presents and then visit Granny is greatly required. Preparation people! This year, it can only passionately about the life of and Granda. consists of penance, fasting, prayer accommodate 250 people for the Jesus, and how extraordinary it This year will be a lot different, and, most importantly, reflection. Christmas Masses. This is terribly is that the Son of God was born however, we will have to try our This year greatly requires valuable sad, although, the enormous cut into the world, delivered by Mary best to have a joyous Christmas, time given for reflection, because is implemented to minimize the His Mother in a humble stable in and to keep in mind those who not being able to attend Mass size of the congregation to prevent Bethlehem and suffered, died and have gone before us and to and Confessions means we could or, at least, weaken the rate of rose from the dead for us! That is understand that these fearful times spend more time in a quiet and infection. just mind-blowing. will not last forever. solitary place in prayer. Reflection Thankfully, the Chapels are My memories of Christmas are Finally, I think I speak for many can be done in any shape or form, permitted to stay open for private crystal clear. In my family, we are when I say that we will sorely miss Hollie’s Christmas story - Hollie with her sisters and little brother celebrating from doing an activity, for instance, prayer at least, especially during traditional. We go to Christmas the first two weeks of Advent, a Christmas the LIVE virtual Nativity arranged this Holy season. Also, we need Eve Mass and the Chapel would and that we will be praying that and launched by the Derry Youth, to be thankful for the gift of normally be jam-packed. A huge we will miss no more than that. to diminish the rate of infection that saves us. Let’s not lose sight or private prayer, etc. Try to make technology that has substituted congregation clearly reflects the Although, we must remember that through closing shops, restaurants, of what is important. If we can that personal connection with physical attendance to the Holy true Christmas Spirit which is if things are not normal, we can etc. then reopening them a couple think of anyone who maybe lonely God. Mass. present. It is amazing! still celebrate the true meaning of of weeks before Christmas in order at Christmas, maybe we should I am a Melmount parishioner Although many would argue What strikes me is that everyone Christmas, with access to online to get the ‘big shop’ done. try to call or visit them, socially and this year we, unfortunately, that Christmas has become very makes it their priority to unite and Mass via the webcams. However, the irony is, that distanced in the garden, etc, to have to book tickets for the commercialized throughout the rejoice for the birth of our Saviour, There is so much chaos over we do not need to try and ‘save wish them a Happy Christmas. Christmas Mass or choose to years, we must not forget the true especially those who may not be trying to ‘save Christmas’ by trying Christmas’, because it is Christmas Happy Christmas! THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 7 Maybe this will be an opportunity to celebrate a true humble Christmas by Zara Schlindwein it can be a time that awakens decide to become easy pickings the loneliness and melancholy to the easy and unfulfilling way of their world. Despite the of life or we can choose to live by woeful situations that we may God’s message, and live out the find ourselves in, the light that true meaning of Christmas. It Christmas provides will almost may be more challenging, but the always lift someone’s spirits. gifts do not even compare. I believe that the message of I, personally, consider myself Christmas is that even on dark extremely privileged to be part days, there will always be hope. of a big and loving family, to not That message should be preserved, be alone during the loneliest even more so, this year. As we all time of the year for many. That face so much uncertainty, we is why it is our duty to help those can still find the light during the in need, to live out our collective caliginous winter months. Our responsibility and ensure that no- lives can become illuminated by one feels alone. That is the true the peace and joy that the birth of challenge that we will face on this A Christmas Jesus provides. Meaning, that we especially different Christmas. should not seek contentment in Not whether or not we will be able shallow commodities that supply to get out to shops, indulge in fine short term and empty delight. cuisine or host plenty of parties. Christmas means celebrating But rather improve our lives by like no other the birth of Jesus. It is not about forgetting our meaningless wants by Peter Grant presents or parties but about and immersing ourselves into spending time with our loved the real problems of the world, THE first thing that comes to Those are the Christmas ones, finding peace in the time and using our gifts to do good for my head whenever I think about memories that I will cherish for as we spend together, and helping those in need. Christmas is not presents or long as I live, but this year will be others find peace for themselves. There will be no doubt that this spending whole wallets of money different due to Covid-19. In the I feel that the true essence of Christmas will be different from on gifts to give to others. No, it’s Republic, restrictions have been Christmas has become buried those of the past, but that doesn’t family. eased to Level 3, which means beneath the false happiness that mean that we need to rebel Every Christmas, whenever I everyone is allowed to visit up FOR me, the most important The warmth and wonder that was young, I was like any other to two other households nearer feature of Christmas is the time contrasts the weakening winter we all seem to crave. against the way things should As we approach the end of a be. Maybe we have become too child on Christmas Day; waking Christmas and churches will re- my family and I spend together. is a marvellous gift that we all up early in the morning and going open. The time which allows us to share excitedly wait for each year. very dramatic year, I believe it’s obsessed with nonsense and have time to reflect on how we choose finally been given an opportunity to my parents’ bedroom and Unfortunately, this year, my in the love and joy that Christmas Christmas, for many, is one of shouting from the bottom of my Great Auntie and Fr Keaveney grants and allows us to show our the most merry and celebratory to live our lives, if we have not to celebrate a true humble done so already. We can either Christmas, just like the first. lungs, “It’s Christmas Day! Santa can’t visit, as they can’t cross the true appreciation for each other. times of the year, but for others, came!” border to see us this year. This is I would sit in front of the devastating for our family, but it Christmas tree and open all my is their health we must consider O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by John Augustine Joseph presents that Santa had brought this Christmas and this year. They and be amazed at what I got; won’t be coming with the fun and THE 2020th year of Our Lord unusually, a well-functioning like Easter, will also be affected eyes, they are only challenges to ripping the wrapping paper off laughter they always bring, and I has been quite an unusual year Stormont. Nevertheless, the first greatly by the pandemic which we overcome, and I think that it is the all my presents as my parents will miss their critique on mum for many of us. It has brought highlight of the new liturgical are still undergoing, albeit with best way to look at it. opened theirs too. After that, my and dad’s cooking! us Brexit, a Pandemic, high year approaches – Christmas. The fewer restrictions than which we As an Eastern Catholic, it is quite mum would cook the breakfast for But I have thought of a great idea unemployment and, quite day of the Nativity of Our Lord, endured during Easter. traditional for us to prepare for everyone while I played with my about how we could possibly still Christmas, the days preceding Christmas, during the season of new toys. see them this Christmas and keep and succeeding it are days of Advent, by abstaining from certain However, the most important our tradition going; by setting up great jubilance and excitement foods, praying more regularly and thing on Christmas Day has a Zoom call at the dinner table, so for me and others. Decorating giving more to charity, just like one always been to have Christmas we can still socialise by staying safe our homes with lights, putting up would do as if it were Lent. Dinner with my family, including and catch up on everything they the Christmas tree and buying Instead of preparing with my Great Auntie Nancy did this year, as we couldn’t see presents are all things that many for Christmas, by the and Fr Michael Keaveney. They them too often. However, we won’t families usually do as they prepare usual overindulgence and have come every year from their be pulling any Christmas crackers for the big holiday. People book commercialisation which has home in Eglinton, as far as I can with each other! flights, make food, and gather as overtaken our homes and our remember, and always put a smile Technology has had a huge big families to celebrate the end of cities, this year, it would not only on everyone’s face around the table impact and use during this the year through this great holiday. make financial sense but spiritual from funny jokes, as we listened to pandemic, keeping families However, that does not seem to be sense, to wait and to prepare for Fr Keaveney’s old stories and about together the whole year round. the case this year. the baby in the manger through his journeys in the priesthood There are probably other Whilst many look forward to these spiritual means. and, of course, pulling open the people thinking like me about Santa Claus and Christmas dinner, The experience of forgoing Christmas crackers at the table communicating through video we often forget the primary focus something dear to you, to talk to and wearing the hats that were calls to family members across of Christmas, Jesus. God more often and to help those inside them. the world, so they can enjoy ‘The Word was made flesh and in need, each year during Advent Afterwards, we would all sit Christmas together while staying dwelt among us’; that’s the great allowed me to better understand down in the sitting room to have safe at the same time. gift Christmas offers to us, and the mystery behind Christmas. our trifle and ice-cream, with our Yes, this year hasn’t been a yet many among us choose to And there could be no better cup of tea or Americano coffee, great one, but Christmas is going neglect this wonderful mystery. time than this year to start this as Fr Keaveney likes it. We would to be unique compared to past That’s their choice. But this year, new tradition of preparing for have a nice warm fire lit and watch Christmases and, due to the I believe it is time to change, to Christmas like you would for some Christmas movies. uncertainty about Covid, maybe be radical, and to go back to the Easter. My mum would also give some in the future too. But this year, roots of what Christmas is meant And when Christmas comes, of our Christmas food to my Great at least I will get to see my Great to be. To return to God the Father enjoy it, and remember the reason Auntie Nancy and Fr Keaveney to Auntie and Fr Keaveney living and celebrate the wonderful gift for it, Christ, who is always with us. take with them back to their small across the water and we can talk that He gave to this world, ‘His retirement flat over in Moville, and to each other through a screen. begotten son’ – Jesus. (Sources: https://www.pinterest. we then would go and visit them I never thought I would ever see The pandemic may have placed co.uk/pin/785104147510158425/) in the New Year. that day come! us with many obstacles, but in my 8 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 Peter sees God as a kind, old man

I see God as a kind, old man with a beard, who welcomes anyone into the Kingdom of Heaven. I also see Him as the Shepherd of His flock. Zara sees God through the medium of nature I think that God can be seen through the medium of nature. I decided to draw this pointillism piece in order to represent everyone; we are all part of God’s Gemma’s image of God... picture. IN honour of World Drawing include the dove because it shows Despite how consuming and God Day, I created this image as peace and love. important our lives may seem, we my visualisation of God. This image came to me because can only contribute our talents I decided to draw flames as I see God as having an everlasting when we are united. a visual of the Holy Spirit, and love for all of His people. In my opinion, our main cause that we must unite for now, is the world in which we live. Online youth activities for Advent

Rublev’s Trinity is Bishop THE Derry Youth online Facebook page on Monday, programme has plenty happening December 21, at 8 pm. Donal’s favourite depiction of during Advent in preparation for And, the Youth Alpha course Christmas. will continue during the month of God For the Pope John Paul II Award December. MY favourite depiction of God We are welcomed by name and participants, as well as the Advent For youth resources visit: www. is the famous 15th century Icon of invited to share in the divine life. programme, there will be a take catecheticalcentre.org/category/ the Trinity by the Russian painter, And, of course, the connection over from Mary’s Meals. youth-resources Andrei Rublev. with the Eucharist is central. In the The JPII programme can be The three figures of the Trinity sit breaking of bread, we recognise accessed through @derryyouth in contemplation around a table. I the Risen Jesus, and we welcome social media pages on Facebook love the idea of God in the divine among us, the God who welcomes and Instagram. fullness having a place at the table us. The youth from the Derry for each one of us. Youth Scholarship will give a short Advent reflection live on Instagram on Wednesdays at 6.30 pm, during the weeks of Advent. There will also be a virtual youth Nativity Live on @derryyouth

Oisin’s image of God is as a guiding light WHEN I was drawing this as a guiding light. picture, and even before I had My other idea for the picture was drawn it, I had an image in my God as a beacon to bring people mind of God as a guiding light and together. This was also shown with a beacon to bring others together. bright light behind the image of I have mentioned many times God and people near Him, because before how I believe that God I believe that god can bring a shows us how we should act, and collective peace and hope to many that we should follow His example. people, and that people’s belief in This piece shows this, as we can see Him can form relationships and people looking up and following bond people together. God. This is my depiction of Him THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 9 Zara Schlindwein comments on the inspirational story of Garvan Byrne... We can always be guided and strengthened by faith GARVAN Byrne was a 12-year- lost his faith. He never questioned old Irish boy who died in 1985 of why it would have to be him, why a rare leukaemia called Fanconi’s he would die so young. Instead he Anaemia. In an extremely accepted his fate in such a mature emotional video, he talks to a nun way for such a young age and about his faith, revealing that he always held his faith to account believes Jesus will look after him for his strength, with the help of and his family after his death. his family and the medical staff Hollie sees God He speaks with conviction and that helped him. No matter how confidence; with no doubt in his difficult things got, he always revelation. remained strong in spirit. through others The inspiration that transpires I believe that Garvan’s story is LAST month, November 9 was when I may have had many through this young boy’s story truly inspiring. It shows that no ‘World Drawing God Day’. This is questions to ask. is remarkable. Garvan knew matter the circumstances you may an excellent initiative that has got I thought about Church perfectly well that he was going to find yourself in, you can always be me thinking and reflecting on how Community because I feel a real die, but did not appear reluctant or guided and strengthened by faith. I see God and where it is that He strong sense of belonging when I downhearted, instead he spoke of The fact is that Garvan’s story, is present? am with others of great faith, and his impending death with passion no matter how depressing it may When I was asked the question, the Church becomes visible to me. and enthusiasm. He became be, has a glimmer of light within “How do I see God?” it struck For example, our new monthly reminiscent of the loved ones it. The light that Garvan himself me, because I was never asked meeting for ‘The Net’ consists of in his life who had gone before shone on the situation. The rare that question before and, more a group of young people coming him, mentioning his granny and inner peace that he possessed is importantly, I never thought about together to share stories, and to uncle who he would soon meet in something that many people may it before. discuss the themes of our articles Heaven. never find, but he was able to Instantly what sprung to mind across various different topics. The nun went on to ask if he acquire it in such a short space of was Community and Church. I see As Jesus said, “Where two or would miss his family, and a time. I think that that is amazing. God through others. As we know three have gathered together in troubled look emerged on his Some may say that despite from the Book of Genesis, God my name, there I am with them.” face, which was then dismissed as Garvan’s unending love for Jesus, created us in His own image and The dynamic that we have is so he explained how he would be in that he was neglected by him. How likeness. I see a deeper and further important and it brings the faith their midst, always watching over he was never healed. I don’t believe hands of the surgeons, doctors Although Garvan’s life could meaning to this, when people to life. It is a chance of spiritual them. that, I think that Garvan was and nurses were guided by God to not be saved, he will still live on respond to God’s message to love growth; a time to learn and make He said “They may not see me, healed and nurtured in a different ensure that he was met with care through the wonderful optimism Him and one another. For instance, friends across the Diocese. but I’ll be there watching them, way, spiritually. He was never and compassion. This thought can and hope that he left behind. There look at our charity volunteers who My drawing consists of a range of looking after them all the time”. afraid and, when it came down to be applied today. As we are in the are some in the Church asking give up their free time to help bright colours connoting joy, hope, Garvan was borrowing the words it, he accepted his plan and never midst of a global pandemic, we for Garvan to be considered for others, and our support network positivity, inclusivity and different of Jesus, “for where two or three questioned it. must have faith that the incredible sainthood, which is, of course, an from family, friends, helpline walks of life. Keeping in mind that are gathered together in my name, Garvan’s condition was aided, work provided by all key workers indication of the sort of inspiration services and even the stranger! our identity as ‘Catholics’ means there am I in the midst of them.” through the work of the medical is the true work of God. They have he has been to countless people Also acknowledge those who give ‘universal’, I have drawn a group of Despite the unbearable pain that staff at Great Ormond Street been sent with a mission to try and around the world. up their lives for the sake of others characters representing men and Garvan had to endure, he never Hospital. He was certain that the save lives. and God’s Church. women of different ethnicities. My These are only a few of so many drawing presents a general view of wonderful examples, ranging how I see God, present in each and Garvan’s story shows the great hope God from small acts of kindness to big every person, no matter who you acts of love and sacrifice. Human are, as we are all God’s children. nature can be extraordinary and, In my opinion, the Church sadly, we do not always get to see community is the biggest sign and the Eucharist can give in any situation this. Likewise, in the media, we are of God’s presence, as we stand by Oisin Mulhern mostly bombarded with negative as brothers and sisters in Christ news, rather than acknowledging with firm belief. In relation to the WHILE I had not heard of going to Heaven to meet relatives a fear of death in general. and celebrating all the positivity coronavirus, the sense of a Church 12-year-old Garvan Byrne, who that he had not had the chance to There have been many times out there. community has remained strong died of a rare leukemia in 1985, meet before they died. where I have found myself worried Personally, my faith journey during these unprecedented times, until recently, when I watched a Furthermore, when discussing about death and, with the ongoing has been continually assisted by where a virtual congregation series of videos on him that had the relatives he would leave behind pandemic, it is a thought that we a range of different people, who has bonded successfully and been recommended to me, I am when he died, after showing only are all grappling with, so to see have provided their support emotionally together. It proves that now greatly inspired to find out a mild troubled look he calmed such a young boy handle the issues and expressed their enthusiasm, God is the bond and connection more about him. instantaneously and began with grace and dignity is quite interest and, most importantly, between us all, even if we can’t It was because of his condition discussing how, even when he amazing. have kept their patience in times physically meet. that Garvan developed a deep and was gone, he would watch over Garvan’s story and interview connected bond with God and the them. He quotes Matthew 18:20 illustrates to me in particular Eucharist. In the videos I watched, verbatim, saying “Where two or the great hope God and the Gemma’s thoughts on Garvan’s story... he speaks candidly about life both more are gathered, there I am in Eucharist can bring to each and before and after death and his the midst of them.” every one of us, no matter what WHEN I first noticed what things in such a beautiful way. great belief in both God and Jesus. Watching this interview, it type of situation we are in. Many age Garvan was, and heard what His story will always be stored What amazed me about hearing becomes harder to acknowledge in Garvan’s situation would be his health problems were, I was in my head as I find it absolutely him speak was his confidence that this is a 12-year-old boy, consumed by sorrow and despair, amazed at how a 12-year-old boy amazing how a boy his age dealt and sheer conviction in God, for a rather it feels like a person at peace knowing that they are soon going even when we are dying, we still could deal with such major health with such things. young boy aged 12. and content which is unusual for to die, yet Garvan faced this head have the great hope that God will issues. His mother and father were also Throughout the whole interview such a young person. on because of his great belief in take us up to Him and a world of I am beyond mesmerised by very strong and commented that there is never a shred of doubt After learning of Garvan’s story, it Christ and a life after death and his eternal joy and happiness. For it Garvan’s story, as he seems so Garvan was always laughing and in his voice, never a wavering in was difficult to see him as anything hope to meet his relatives. is as both Garvan and the Gospel joyful and free even about his looking for the good. his beliefs; he merely continually else other than a great inspiration We can all learn from Garvan of Matthew said: “Where two or health condition. This will be a story I will always affirms his belief. There are even to not only young people but that, no matter what situation more are gathered I will be there Everyone commented on how remember; it is so very interesting areas in the interview where also to others that may have life- we are in, God is there with us with them”, and no truer statement Garvan had an amazing sense of and special. speaks with joy about death and limiting conditions or even simply and is constantly helping us, and can be said. humour and how he dealt with 10 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 AS part of their preparation for Christmas, Derry Youth Ministry Scholarship members, Hollie Frystal and Filip Betlejewski share here their thoughts on the special time Advent and Christmas can be in our lives as people of faith. Advent – The ‘Coming’ of Christ This Season marks the beginning of the Great love story between God and Man by Hollie Frystal ADVENT is a four-week long the way for the Lord, make social injustices around the globe. period given for preparation straight paths for him”. The theme of Peace for Christmas on the lead up to the Lord’s During this season of Lent, let’s reminds me of an advert which birth. The word ‘Advent’ comes reflect on our baptismal promises presented the heart-wrenching from the Latin, ‘Advenio’, which and respond to God’s call to be true story of Christmas Day refers to ‘the coming’ of Christ. the light amidst the dark, just like in 1914, 106 years ago. Men of Our preparation must consist John. We acknowledge that, at this different language and uniform, of penance, fasting, prayer and time of the year, Christmas can be opposed to each other, stopped reflection. a struggle for so many people. As fighting on Christmas Day and On November 27, we entered Christians, we should help one played a game of football. This a two-week lockdown, therefore another in times of difficulty and decision to stop fighting reflected missing marking the first two distress and remember the less the true meaning of Christmas, weeks of Advent as we normally fortunate. John proclaimed, “I am as the men welcomed the Prince do. Similarly, this also happened the voice crying in the wilderness.” of Peace. For once during that in mid-Lent and at Easter. This Christmas, let’s open our war, there was a genuine sense Although it is devastating, we ears to hear the cry of the poor of humility and humbleness. can still prepare for the coming of and also our hearts to respond to However, we should maintain Christ and the joy of Christmas. them with love. In some way or that peace and not let ourselves In doing this, we can take part another, we may all be destitute lose control or go backwards. in various activites, for example, in some areas in our lives, which Finally, the white candle Hope and Love participating in the virtual need attention and time given to represents Christ. The Christ Nativity launched by the Derry it. We should use this holy period candle is lit on Christmas Day “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the Youth, or we can follow the online to reflect on the poor aspects of and signifies purity reflecting Advent programme in St Eugene’s our lives, and to welcome the Son Christ born sinless and pure. It is land of deep darkness a light has dawned”. (Isaiah 9:2) Cathedral or other parishes, of God on December 25 with joy. extraordinary to believe that the private prayer/practice, etc. The fourth week of Advent falls Son of God was born into this by Filip Betlejewski We must remember...“When on the last week before Christmas. world, lived, suffered and died for God closes a door, He opens We light the third purple candle us, then rose from the dead. It is Hope will be a bright light for them, full or find it hard to cope, we need to a window”, in other words, if representing Peace. The colour mind-blowing and His love for us This is a quote from the Prophet of hope, even if you may not think remember that we are not alone. we have learnt anything in this purple symbolises prayer, penance is beyond our understanding. To Isaiah which perfectly describes that is necessarily true. The strings of love won’t break pandemic, it is that we have and sacrifice, and it marks the think that he was rescued from what hope is. Hope is something Love easily because, even over long discovered alternative ways to closure of the penitential season. King Herod’s decree on a donkey, that everyone can have, regardless “At this Christmas when Christ distance, we can try to show and unite and celebrate the most The purple candle is also known and thirty-three years later He of sex, age or race. It doesn’t comes, will He find a warm heart? express that love and concern to important days in the Church’s as ‘The Angels Candle’, reminding was brought back by a donkey to matter whether we are poor or Mark the season of Advent by others, maybe not even to any of year. However, we do pray that us of the message of the angels, suffer and die for us. rich, healthy or sick, happy or loving and serving the others our family or friends but maybe to the lockdown will only last two “Peace on Earth, goodwill to This Season marks the sad; regardless of all that, a light of with God’s own love and concern”. others who may not have anyone weeks, and that we will get back men.” beginning of the great love hope can dawn upon all of us. (Mother Teresa, ‘Love: A Fruit to spend this time with. So we all in the Chapel for Gaudete Sunday, During Advent, we should story between God and man. In the Advent wreath, hope Always in Season’) should remember, we aren’t alone the fourth week of Advent reflect on our relationships Let’s prepare and welcome the is represented by the evergreen Love is a very beautiful feeling and we will never be, as it is our representing Peace, and most and bridge the divides in our ‘Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty- leaves which it is usually made that can be expressed by anyone desire to love and be loved. So let’s importantly Christmas Day. community by making peace. God, Eternal-Father, Prince of of, and it represents all our hope towards anyone or anything. It can share that love with others. The third week of Advent is also We must keep in our thoughts Peace’ this Christmas with faith, for eternal life brought by Jesus range from a simple love towards Christ known as ‘Gaudete’ Sunday, which countries that are at war, and other hope, love and joy. Christ. Most of us probably use the materialistic things, familial love, The Christ candle represents that involves lighting the pink candle. term hope for many things, like “I romantic love or maybe spiritual Jesus Christ is a symbol of light to ‘Gaudete’ comes from the Latin hope I get this new game”, “I hope love towards God. In the Advent all of us that repels all darkness, word for ‘rejoice’ and the pink I get a good grade”, or even “I hope wreath, love is represented by so we should never live our lives candle symbolises the joy of the I get this for Christmas”, but there the circular design of the wreath, fearing death but rather embracing Lord’s birth that is ‘coming’ closer are some people who simply hope which symbolizes God’s infinite life. We should live our lives like at hand. It marks the midway they will have something to eat love towards us and every living there is no tomorrow, try to be point in the season of Advent, to today or maybe hope they will be thing. the best we can, make as many take a break from the preparation able to give someone a simple gift. During these hard times of happy memories as possible with of the penitential season to reflect, No matter how big or small a pandemic, we may have a the ones closest to us but, most of celebrate and rejoice on the our hope is, or what is it that we hard time expressing this love, all, make your own family. What I ‘coming’ of Christmas Day. are hoping for, the one thing that especially towards our family as we mean here is not a family related The season of Advent is very connects all of us is hope and we may be separated, be it by towns or by blood to you or someone you similar to the season of Lent, should never forget that, especially even countries, but what links us must love romantically, but simply and we often compare ‘Gaudete during a time like this, when we all together is that desire to express creating strong connections with Sunday’ to the fourth week of may not be able to have our family that love and feel that love and be various people and have people Lent – ‘Laetare Sunday’. Both over for Christmas. So, the one surrounded by it during the time you can really rely on and trust days are celebrated and practiced hope I can safely assume everyone coming up to Christmas, which no matter what; have someone to as a day of rest in the preparation has is to be able to see them during we all know is a time we could be share your hope, love, joy, peace leading up to these joyous events. such a special day. spending with our family. and life. This year, on Gaudete Sunday, we Instead of physical gifts, we Unfortunately, that may not This is what I would think of hear in the Gospel of John, John should reach out to those with be possible for all of us, as not as a true family, personally, as the Baptist being questioned by the same hope as us to be able to all of us may live with any of our that would be the type of family the Priests and Levites. John the spend this time of the year with family members, or even friends, I would feel like I am the happiest Baptist is a perfect example of someone, be it your love, friends to spend this time with but, as with. So, during a time like this, how we should prepare for the or family, or maybe even that Mother Teresa says, “Mark the when we are possibly distanced ‘coming’ of Christ. We know one person you started talking season of Advent by loving and from our family, those family that he wore camels’ skin, and a to recently, and show them that serving the others with God’s own bonds won’t break. What matters leather belt around his waist, and they are not alone. Maybe by love and concern.” is maintaining those bonds and ate locusts and wild honey as a just simply calling or messaging We should take example from making sure we can spend this form of penance. John became them during a time like this and this and, even when we aren’t time the best we can. a “witness to speak for the light” showing you are there for them, happy with this current situation and we are called also to “prepare THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 11 Hollie Frystal, Tyrone Deanery youth contributor, reports on the Melmount Parish service for the deceased… Lights of hope lit for each of deceased “I will stand between my Father and the dying person, not as a just judge but as the merciful Saviour” (Jesus’ words to St Faustina – Divine Mercy Chaplet) I am a parishioner of St Mary’s not get this. We keep them in our was sung, there was a display of John Doherty then read the Gospel Church, Melmount, in Strabane. prayers. lit candles set flat upon our Good according to St John. The Gospel On November 15, we had our Every year in Melmount, we Friday Cross. The Paschal candle acclamation proclaimed, “Blessed annual service for the deceased. have a massive turnout at the was also lit. The light represents are those that mourn, for they The year of 2020 has been a annual service for the deceased; hope amidst the dark and signifies shall be comforted.” The beatitude chaotic one…a rollercoaster of however, very sadly, it could not eternal life. A candle was lit in reminds us of Jesus’ presence and ups and downs. As a result of happen this year. Adhering to memory of each person who His continued love and support Covid-19, there has been much safety regulations, the service was died since last November. The whilst we grieve. devastation throughout the world, broadcast live to a virtual audience photographs show the display Jesus said: “I am the way, the the main being the dangers of the via the webcam. The opening and the candle that I collected, truth and the life. No one can come coronavirus and its capability of hymn was the ‘Old Rugged Cross’, which was lit in memory of my to the Father, except through me.” making people very ill. reflecting the pain and hardships granny. Although under unique Similarly, Jesus said to St. Faustina, Since March, the traditional Irish which the family and friends of the conditions, it was a beautiful and “I will stand between my Father wakes and funerals have been deceased are bearing. It is also a serene moment. and the dying person, not as a just suspended for the unforeseeable reminder that Jesus knows exactly Comfort judge but as the merciful Saviour.” I future, and the size of the how we are feeling and that His are Sr Margaret read the Scripture love this quote, as it reiterates that congregation has been reduced the footprints in the sand. Reading from ‘The letter of St the deceased person is not alone in in accordance with Covid safety I remember once having a very Paul to the Romans’. St Paul first their journey, nor are the family left restrictions. This is heart-breaking, interesting conversation with presented the question, “Brothers on their own. because a typical Irish wake is a someone whilst on the pilgrimage and Sisters, what will separate us Fr Michael addressed the virtual stronger and more resilient from to the faithful amidst these time when family and friends come to Croagh Patrick in 2019. It was from the love of Christ?” When congregation by reading aloud this testing time”. unprecedented times. Online together and tell old stories and about two weeks before Easter death occurs, this is a common the published pastoral message of Following the Irish Bishops’ resources have been difficult to use reminisce about past events and Sunday and we were talking about feeling, and we can become the Irish Bishops. Speaking in the words, our deceased parishioners for some, and I am so appreciative share memories. It is considered a the Resurrection and Pentecost. anxious and possibly doubtful context of the coronavirus, the names were called out, and then that our Diocese has pulled huge part in the process of healing To cut a long story short, we of God’s love, His intentions, message said, “The virus has already the first Glorious Mystery – the together to support each other, and acceptance. were speaking of the disciples and His existence. However, St taken the lives of almost three Resurrection – was prayed. and to ensure that we can still unite However, if we have learnt grieving over the death of Jesus Paul responds by telling us, “No, thousand people, across the island Concluding with a prayer and celebrate Masses and Services, anything about dealing with the and their fear to go forth and do in all these things we conquer of Ireland.” This is a scary statistic dedicated to ‘Our Lady of Knock feasts and seasons throughout the coronavirus, we must acknowledge the Lord’s work. Finally, 50 days overwhelmingly through Him that makes this global situation for liberation from the epidemic’ Church Year. I also would like to that “when God closes a door, He after the Resurrection, the Holy who loved us…I am convinced… more real and hard-hitting. The – adapted from the prayer Pope thank all our doctors, nurses and opens a window.” We need to stay Spirit came in and helped them by nor any other creature will be able letter also acknowledged people Francis prayed before St Peter’s healthcare workers who work hopeful and think of what other, giving them that encouraging and to separate us from the love of who had died due to other illnesses Basilica, in his ‘Urbi et Orbi’ tirelessly to try and keep us safe but ‘safe’ ways we can have these consolidating push. God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In - both natural and tragic – and blessing this year on March 27. and well. special moments. The Resurrection represents the other words, nothing can stand in remembered those who have put The final hymn was ‘Laudate And finally, we pray for those I, personally, lost my granny this fact that there is life after death, and the way or separate us from God’s their lives on the line for the sake Dominum omnes gentes’ (first line who have died, ‘Eternal rest year on February 16 – a month we should find some comfort and love. I find peace and comfort in St of others. from Psalm 117), meaning ‘Praise grant unto them, O Lord, and let before lockdown. We were very joy in that, and until then we ask Paul’s words. The Bishops finished on thea Lord, all you nations.’ perpetual light shine upon them. fortunate in being able to have a the Holy Spirit to give us the grace Followed by the hymn, ‘Hiding positive note, “…with Faith, Hope I want to say a word of thanks May their souls, and the souls of all ‘normal’ wake and funeral, and to bear the difficulties of life. Place’, which continues to reflect the and Love we are called to support to all our parishes around the the faithful departed through the we acknowledge that so many did Whilst the ‘Old Rugged Cross’ ‘search’ for light amidst the dark, Fr one another so that we will emerge Diocese for continuing to minister mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.’ Cherishing the importance of faith when the going gets tough, St Eugene’s parishioner and community worker, Pat Carlin is delighted at... Great support from City Churches to ‘connecting generations’ campaign a teacher, which shone through “In all the ups and downs, and alleviated through the use of be made, if none is available. These during her years teaching in St I have these in my own life,” she modern technology, GSAP has donations will also be used to pay Anne’s PS and stemmed from added, “I have an awareness of how launched a campaign entitled, ‘Let’s for IT experts to overhaul iPads in her belief that education is about Christ has been very much part of Get All Generations Connected’, the interests of data protection.” the whole person, have also been i t ”. in partnership with many local She continued: “The plan is that central to her contributions to Smiling as she thinks about her churches and are seeking used or once the churches have gathered community projects. place of work, where she is the new iPads, or monetary donations, the iPads, GSAP will be on hand, to “There is no one size that fits Families Connect Coordinator, to be left with local churches, in a help allocate the materials to those all”, she told ‘The Net’, adding: “It is Pat said: “Our organisation is bid to help reconnect our older who need them. We will contact important to see each individual’s sensational. Our manager and staff people. our church and community needs and that they know they are the most caring people I have Celebrating its 25 anniversary, partners across the city, to ask for have a gift/talent from God,ever encountered. They go above Pat recalled how GSAP had the names of older residents who without which the world wouldn’t and beyond”. worked tirelessly over the years to they believe would benefit most Pat Carlin. Grainne Nugent be the place it should be”. She went on to talk about how provide a voice for many who have from the campaign. AFTER 30 years of teaching many have gone out of their way She also believes in the GSAP, along with many of the found themselves marginalised, “At the point of delivery, we in the primary sector, St Eugene’s to help others. Pat is particularly importance of the spiritual aspect City’s churches, had embarked adding: “Our older citizens are will then allocate church and parishioner, Pat Carlin has been appreciative of the prayer support in education and in general, on a campaign aimed at digitally also badly in need of a way to link community volunteers to help set keeping busy in continuing offered online, not only from St especially when life gets tough: connecting older people across the with the outside world. Many of the equipment up. We will also to put her time and talents to Eugene’s but across the Diocese “We have a lot of suicide in this city, in a bid to offset the harmful our older people are devoted and help reassure any recipient that good use through her work with and the island of Ireland, and to the city; it is a lack of hope. Faith-based effects of the isolation caused by highly valued members of our the helpers, will fully abide by the Greater Shantallow Area many thoughtful people who come education gives hope to children, Coronavirus. city’s faith communities. So, we government guidance on social Partnership (GSAP); the support for window visits to the home and to adults, that there is someone “Apart from the horrendous have turned to our church leaders distancing and will use PPE on agency for communities across she shares with her dear friend, there who loves them despite human cost of the pandemic, one to use their cherished leadership their visits, to avoid any undue Galliagh, Shantallow, Carnhill, Grainne Nugent, and offer help, everything. We don’t have to earn of the most insidious effects of in spearheading the ‘Let’s Get All anxiety or stress about that issue”. Culmore, Skeoge, Pennyburn, and as they are shielding for health God’s love. We need to show that Covid-19 has been the dreadful Generations Connected’ campaign, These volunteers will also be Ballynashallog, as well as the wider reasons. our God is a God of forgiveness. loneliness that it has caused,” to appeal to their parishioners to able to arrange for follow-up visits, Derry City & Strabane District This kindness is a response to “People have had bad starts but remarked Pat, pointing out that donate IT equipment. through GSAP, to make sure that Council Area. the kindness and generosity of that doesn’t mean that they are older people in particular had felt “If the donation of iPads is not any ongoing assistance will be One of the positives to come Pat and Grainne, themselves, to a bad person. We need to help the impact of this, with enforced possible, then we would ask people available on the use of the iPads, so out of this time of upheaval and others through the community people realise that faith makes life disconnection from family and to make a contribution to their that the links to family and friends devastation in the lives of many and parish initiatives that they a bit easier. The lack of hope can friends known to severely impede church, so that materials such as and their spiritual community as a result of Covid-19, is how are involved in. Pat’s qualities as become hope when you have a upon mental health. dongles can be provided, which continues. relationship with God”. So, with this loneliness greatly will allow internet connections to 12 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 Pilgrimage of Remembrance in Clonleigh Parish a special time, with... Hundreds of pilgrims drawn to Good Shepherd prayer trail by Fr Colm O’Doherty, PP Clonleigh

WELL over a year ago, I was how people carry the pain of in the parochial house, I was The volume of the online appointed to Clonleigh Parish to loss for many, many years, I felt delighted to have it incorporated engagement, the comments of serve the people of Murlog. Little something special was needed. into the pilgrimage. appreciation and prayer, and the did I know, or for that matter, What occurred in the immediate St Patrick’s Church, in Murlog, messages received from across little did anyone know, how days post the lockdown, was an lends itself to a prayerful walkway the globe, have helped our stay- different things would be in terms evolving, inspired development within. Mindful of the need to at-home and our emigrant of ministry, in terms of building of what was to become our maintain boundaries and social parishioners to touch into their parish relationships, in terms of ‘Pilgrimage of Remembrance.’ distance between stopping points, faith roots as collectively we have attending to our spiritual well- I wish to go on record as we created a prayer trail. prayed for our faithful departed being, in terms of coming together expressing my sincere gratitude Taking some key lines from friends. to pray. Geraldine, Noreen and Sr verses of the psalm, a variety of May all our beloved dead, I actually had hoped to launch a Perpetua from Thornhillmedia was chosen, meditative for whom we are asked to pray Church Decor Group in the parish Ministries, for developing, with chant and an accompanying throughout the year, be assisted by and, because of earlier efforts, was me, a unique and profoundly reflective prayer leaflet allour prayers. May all our deceased delighted that quite a few people moving prayer experience for combined in the making of the hear the call of the Good Shepherd had expressed an interest in this all who have engaged with our ‘Pilgrimage of Remembrance’. leading them to their heavenly ministry of support to the Liturgy. pilgrimage throughout November. I am humbled by the engagement home. Having invited Thornhill of the people in undertaking this Ministries to do the training, you The Pilgrimage of pilgrimage. While in any hour of can imagine that the cancellation Remembrance the day in the weeks of November, of it was just one of many it would have seemed as if a steady disappointments, when Donegal When the idea of building the trickle of people were doing the was lock downed all those weeks pilgrimage around ‘The Good pilgrimage, the numbers of copies ago. Shepherd’ Psalm was presented of the prayer leaflet that needed In trying to think positively, the as a possibility, it resonated with reprinting was a great indicator call to support parishioners in me. Many decades earlier on a to me that many hundreds of their private prayer in visiting the trip to Jamaica with a number pilgrims came to St Patrick’s, church was both challenging and of other priests, I was presented Clonleigh. For that, I am very essential. The people of Lifford are with a beautiful carved statue of grateful. so faithful to visiting the graves of the Good Shepherd from an ex- The virtual pilgrimage is now their loved ones. From morning prisoner I had met in the parish I on Clonleigh Parish Facebook until night has fallen, and was visiting, who had a wonderful page. Thank you to three most sometimes after, our parishioners talent in detailed workmanship. I generous parishioners who took make their constant visits to the remember carrying it all the way photographs or who filmed the resting place of their beloved dead. back to Ireland and hoping it prayer-trail. Clonleigh is blessed, And so, conscious of the month would travel safely. indeed, with so many good and of the Holy Souls and knowing While I keep it as a prayer focus committed people of faith. Newtownstewart gets a new relic! by Fr Roland Colhoun TO celebrate the 20th The Mass is a sacrifice because In the fourth century AD, eternal liturgy, united with us in anniversary of the new Oratory Christ sacrificed His Body and Christianity began to be tolerated the Mass on earth. on Main Street, the parishioners Blood on the Cross to give us and then became the official So, on November 12, exactly 20 of Newtownstewart were delighted His Eucharistic Body and Blood religion of the Empire and years after the Consecration of the to receive a new relic for the on the altar. The martyrs also Christians were allowed to build new Oratory in the Jubilee Year, I altar. Since the early centuries of sacrificed their lives, in union churches. The practice of throwing solemnly deposited a bone-relic Christianity, relics of the martyrs with Christ’s sacrifice. Therefore, Christians to the lions ended but of St Oliver Plunkett inside the have been associated with the the united sacrifice of the Saviour the followers of Christ still wanted altar. As Archbishop of Armagh, Fr Colhoun installs altar relic Mass. and the Saints is at the heart of our the martyrs to be near them, so St Oliver visited the Derry Diocese At the beginning of Mass and at reverence for the Mass. they opened the tombs, removed in 1670. He is eminently suitable as the end of Mass, the priest makes Scripture authenticates this some of the bones and put them the new companion in the Oratory an important gesture. He kisses practice of placing relics of into jars, which they placed and intercessor in heaven. the altar. This is an act of reverence martyrs in the altar. In the Book of beneath the altars in their new because the holy sacrifice of the Revelation it is written: “And when churches. Mass takes place on the altar. But he opened the fifth seal, I saw To this day, in some of the there is another aspect to it. The under the altar the souls of those churches of Rome, you can see the First Saturday Prayer for Ireland part of the altar that the priest who had been slain for the word of jars with relics on display beneath THE call to pray the First against the Immaculate Heart of and the intention of the Glorious kisses contains the relic of a saint. God, and for the witness they had the altars. And many churches have Saturday Devotion for Ireland Mary. Mysteries is Vocations to the It’s specifically the relic of a martyr; borne”. (Rev 6:9). the complete incorrupt bodies of has been taken up by a number of Responding to the call, the Priesthood and Religious Life. a saint who was killed for the Faith. In the early Church, the bodies saints behind glass panels in the parishes in the Diocese. Coastal Rosary team promoted The time of prayer finishes at The word ‘relic’ comes from the of the martyrs were placed in table altars. Pope St John XIII is a recent Archbishop Eamon Martin a First Saturday programme 3 pm with the Chaplet of Divine Latin verb ‘relinquere’, meaning tombs above the ground, rather example in St Peter’s Basilica. encouraged parishes around the including three hours of Mercy, followed by the prayer to ‘to leave behind’ or ‘to remain’. than buried in the earth. During At the end of the eighth century, island of Ireland to organise the Adoration from 12 noon to 3 pm, St Michael the Archangel, and, if Therefore, a relic is what is left the persecutions of the Roman the Church decreed (Second First Saturday prayer for the first the recitation of three Rosaries, possible, Benediction. behind of the martyr, the remains Empire, the Christians used to Council of Nicaea, 787AD) that five Saturdays of the new Church with meditations, in this period, Confession is also encouraged, of the body. It is usually the bones, gather secretly for worship in the every altar should contain a relic. year, with the first being on with time for silence in between either on the day if possible or the durable parts of the body. catacombs, where the martyrs The practice continues in the December 5. each Rosary. within eight days to fulfil the five Every altar has a tiny relic of a were entombed. To celebrate the Catholic and Orthodox Churches The First Saturday Devotion The intention of the Joyful First Saturdays obligations, and martyr, inset, beneath the surface Eucharist, they used the table- to this day. Veneration of the relics was requested through Our Lady, Mysteries is for The Protection the celebration of Mass either on of the wood or marble, on the spot tombs of the martyrs as altars, so of the saints reflects our faith during her apparition in Fatima, of Family and Youth, while the the First Saturday or, again, within where the Blessed Sacrament will that the bodies of the martyrs were that the saints in heaven are in with the intention of making Sorrowful Mysteries are offered eight days. be placed. under the altar during Mass. perpetual worship of God in the reparation to God for the sins for The Conversion of Sinners, THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 13 Ardmore marks 90th anniversary of St Mary’s Church pandemic wreaked its havoc. here to worship and support the He continued: “This is our time But maybe the low-key church, parish and schools, etc, and our place to minister in Jesus’ celebration was more in keeping and it is people that Jesus came name. As we celebrate 90 years of with how things were when to mix with. The Church exists to this Church, we do so with deep people first gathered for Mass make Jesus known and loved.” gratitude”. in what was a much more rural Bishop Donal paid tribute to Thanking Bishop Donal chapel then, before it became a the parishioners of Ardmore for for coming to celebrate the parish church in its own right. their passionate response to the anniversary Mass with them and Noting that it was 90 years to pandemic, in seeking to ensure for his words of encouragement, the date when the church was the safety of all coming to the Fr Neil said: “The various dedicated to The Blessed Virgin Church for worship. associations that we have here is Mary, Help of Christians, Bishop Mindful that the winter months what makes a parish very healthy. THE 90th anniversary of St Donal felt it was fitting that Fr will be a real challenge for It’s good to stretch our muscles. Mary’s Church, Ardmore, was Neil Farren was the priest of the everyone, he encouraged families “We thank the generations marked on the Feast of All parish nine decades later, as his to practice prayer in their homes, who came before us for their Souls, when parish priest, Fr great-uncle Fr Neil Farren had and highlighted the abundance of endeavours and I thank you for Neil Farren and his parishioners been based at Chapel Road, as resources available free online. your endeavours as well,” said Fr were delighted that Bishop Donal president of St Columb’s College, “The whole focus,” he stressed, Neil to the congregation.” was able to join them for the at the time of the dedication. “is not what we can’t do in Church A photo canvas was then celebration of evening Mass. “Our understanding of Church in these times, but what we can do presented to Bishop Donal to While the congregation size is much richer now,” noted Bishop in our domestic churches; our mark the occasion, featuring was restricted in accordance with Donal, saying: “The Church is the homes.” an image of the old church of St Covid-19 restrictions, and organ disciples of Jesus in every time Highlighting the example of Columb and one of St Mary’s music, with no singing, filled and place, and we give thanks for St Mary, Patron of the Ardmore Church, Ardmore, along with a the air of the yellow and white those clergy and religious who Parish, Bishop Donal told those photo of Bishop Donal. ribbon bedecked church, the 90th made up the praying body of this gathered: “Remember her plans The ceremony was broadcast celebration was not quite what parish down the years. were turned upside down and she online via the church webcam the parish had been planning “It is the people, who gather was told, ‘Do not be afraid’.” and also on Facebook. and looking forward to before the Peace filled the air during special time of prayer around Creggan ON The Feast of Christ the The Persecution of Addiction blessing bestowed on all living Feeling the same sense of peace, King, a special time of Eucharistic and joined in prayer for there. Fr Joe remarked: “That’s how blessing and prayer took place persecuted Christians, with visual Earlier in the year, the Creggan it is here most of the time. The around the streets within the testimonies. pastors undertook a similar Creggan is just a beautiful place Parish of Creggan, for the relief of Launching the prayer time of prayer for the protection with beautiful people to minister addictions and for the Holy Souls. programme, Fr Joe Gormley, PP, of all in their care, praying the to. I love it.” The Sunday prayer preceded and Fr Daniel McFaul, curate, set Rosary on that occasion, as they As darkness fell and their soles three days of prayer and talks off early on the Sunday afternoon walked the daily paths of their tread the pathways leading back in the parish leading up to Red on foot from St Mary’s Chapel, parishioners. to St Mary’s Church, in time for Wednesday, during which St carrying the Blessed Sacrament And on each occasion, they Benediction at 6 pm...the thought Mary’s Church was lit up red to Lower Creggan and Upper were greeted with words of came that new shoes might well in recognition of all those who Creggan, respectively. appreciation by those who stood make a fitting gift for Fr Joe and are being persecuted for their Each was accompanied by two at their doorway to receive the Fr Daniel this Christmas! Christian faith throughout the parishioners, one carrying a blessing; from young families to world. banner of Our Lady and the other elderly couples. From Monday to Wednesday, leading the prayers during the Soaking in the peace that each day started with the four-hour blessing session. filled the Sunday air during this celebration of Mass and Adoration On each street, the prayer to time of prayer around the many of the Blessed Sacrament, and St Maximilian Kolbe for those neighbourhoods making up the included Confessions in the suffering from addictions was Creggan Parish, including the Divine Mercy Chapel from 3-6 prayed, followed by the Divine spot where young journalist, pm, followed by Mass in the Praises, and then an Our Father, Lyra McKee had been fatally shot evening. Hail Mary and the Creed for during rioting in the area in 2019, During this time of prayer, the Holy Souls, as the Blessed it was hard to imagine scenes like parishioners heard a talk on Sacrament was held up and a that taking place here. 14 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020

Fr Stephen enjoying producing a Tributes flow for late Fr Stephen Kearney special going away gift for Fr Daniel McFaul, following his appointment to ...the compassionate, witty pastor who wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty Creggan from Cappagh. to look after Aughabrack He continued: “As his health following the sudden death of deteriorated, he moved seven Fr Brian McKenna. His first years ago to Cappagh where he permanent appointment was as was very happy in Knockmoyle a curate in Glendermott, in the – blessed with supportive and Waterside area of Derry, where caring colleagues, and readily he ministered until 1980. winning the fond regard of the Remarking that the Waterside parishioners”. Parish offered a great start in Empathy ministry to a newly-ordained Indeed, Fr McDevitt noted priest, with its “very varied that, in all his parishes, Fr ministry”, Fr McDevitt noted Stephen had “identified totally that Fr Stephen had been given with his people, in a truly responsibility for the Top of the remarkable way, through his Hill – Gobnascale Estate, were empathy and natural warmth there had been a lot of social and interest”. At Maynooth. deprivation, with a number of “Parishioners responded to MINISTERING for over 50 young men getting caught up in this”, said Fr McDevitt, “and he vegetables and herbs”. years in various parts of the The Troubles and ending up in won the love and loyalty of great He also had an interest in Diocese, the late Fr Stephen Long Kesh Prison. numbers of people in the course engines and motors, with Fr Kearney touched the lives of Saying that Fr Stephen had of his life. This was obvious in McDevitt describing him as countless people who were “ministered untiringly to the celebration of the golden an electrical or mechanical greatly saddened to hear of his them and to their families”, jubilee of his ordination last engineer at heart, as well as a death on November 12, after a Fr McDevitt pointed out that year, attended by people from all builder, farmer, horticulturalist, period of illness. these had been difficult years arts and parts.” comic actor, naturalist, apiarist, Fr Stephen on his Ordination Day, with his parents and siblings, l-r,Mary, Teresa, Although the number for everyone in Derry, during In addition to his parish counsellor, lover of people and Gerard, Philomena, Eugene, Bernadette, Paddy Joe, Dolores, Seamus, Kevin, Margaret attending his Requiem Mass in which five men watching a ministry, Fr Stephen served brilliant conversationalist. and her husband, the late Brendan Donaghy. St Mary’s Church, Killyclogher, football match were shot dead many years within the Marriage But it was family that meant was restricted to 25 due to in Annie’s Bar at Top of the Hill Encounter community in everything to the eldest born Covid-19, huge numbers paid in December 1972. Ireland, presenting Marriage child of Patrick and Bernadette tribute to the 76-year-old Tyrone Transferred to Sessiaghoneill, Encounter weekends around Kearney, with Fr McDevitt stalwart by sending messages, in Co Donegal, in 1980, Fr Ireland and in England, remarking: “The family bonds paying their respects as his Stephen ministered there for America, Germany, Norway were never stronger than in his remains reposed in St Mary’s 11 years before moving to and Denmark. last months and weeks, when Church, Knockmoyle, and Faughanvale, where just two Highlighting also Fr Stephen’s he was never, for a moment, standing outside Killyclogher years later, on October 30, exceptional care for the sick, without someone to care for Church and in villages en-route 1993, he found himself deeply including those suffering from him”. to St Mary’s Aughabrack, as the involved in ministering to a anxiety, depression or mental At the end of the ceremony, funeral cortege made its way to community traumatised by the illness, Fr McDevitt noted: Anne McNamee, who had his home parish for the burial. shooting of eight people in the “Time meant nothing to him been Fr Stephen’s secretary and Fr Stephen wearing his Marriage Encounter Fr Eamon McDevitt, Rising Sun Bar, in Greysteel. if his presence could bring housekeeper when he was in vestments for the marriage of his sister, Mary “His work for cross- comfort to someone in distress. Newtownstewart, paid tribute parish priest of Donagheady, to Denis McLaughlin. encompassing Dunamanagh community projects as a means He never allowed his own bad to his “wisdom, compassion, Fr Stephen and Fr Edward Kilpatrick and Augbrack, concelebrated of healing some of the wounds, health to prevent him from humour and humanity” and with Bishop Neil Farren, on their the Mass with Fr Stephen’s was widely admired and doing good”. expressed a hope that his legacy Ordination Day. close Cappagh colleagues, Fr respected by all denominations Fr Stephen’s interest in drama will live on. Kevin McElhennon PP and and their leaders,” recalled was mentioned too, with Fr She concluded: “Let us bring Fr Declan McGeehan CC, Fr McDevitt, adding: “Many McDevitt remarking: “There his humanity, his charity and his who was privileged to have remained in contact over the was something of the comic deep faith, and the deep value known, and learnt from, such years. He also won the esteem actor about him; he would dress he placed on family life into the an experienced pastor in his of Lady Jean and Sir Patrick in the most bizarre costumes lives of all those we meet”. first years of priesthood. Bishop Mayhew, the Secretary of State”. at Christmas parties and other In a tribute to Fr Stephen, Donal was also in attendance. Fr Stephen moved to get-togethers. He enjoyed Bishop Donal said: “He was In his homily, Fr McDevitt Newtownstewart in 1995, when playing to the gallery, and it from farming stock and never said that it was “difficult to do he was appointed as parish really pleased him to know that forgot what a good shepherd justice in words, to the multi- priest of Ardstraw East, were he was a source of light-hearted does. He was a highly intelligent faceted man that Fr Stephen despite chronic ill health, he amusement to others”. man who carried his learning Kearney was”, and recalled worked hard on behalf of his Going on to talk about Fr very lightly. his “unique style of being parishioners; Stephen’s “great love of the land, “Last year, at the celebration of provocative, contrarian and building an oratory dedicated and of nature, identifying birds his 50th Ordination anniversary, Fr Stephen giving his blessing to his sister, even outrageous”, which had to Mary, Mother of God, and a by their song”, Fr McDevitt said; I was very impressed to see the Dolores on his Ordination Day. endeared him to many. new parochial house, amongst “He was supremely faithful to huge crowd who wanted to Having entered Maynooth in other projects. his roots. He loved getting back celebrate with him. We still need 1962, Fr Stephen was ordained, “He had suffered over many to Clogherney to be with the good pastors who can gather along with Fr Eddie Kilpatrick, years from myasthenia gravis, family, and to get his hands dirty people on their faith journey by Bishop Neil Farren in St a rare long-term condition that either at farming or at working and who do not mind getting Patrick’s Church, Killenagh, in causes muscle weakness. Yet he with machinery. His love of their hands dirty, physically and Dunamanagh on June 15, 1969, never let it define him,” said Fr the land extended to his love metaphorically!” and within weeks was appointed McDevitt. of his garden, growing his own THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 15 Dungiven Parish celebrates doctoral success of beloved curate, Fr Joseph Varghese where he has faithfully ministered Fr Joseph explained that he had Derry Diocese needs to be a place to engage in dialogue with civic for the past four years. been “inspired by the theological where prayer, pastoral outreach society. He also pointed out that their method of French theologian and intellectual formation are all “Christianity is based on a curate had already secured a Henri de Lubac, especially the taking place. strong rational basis and in its Master’s Degree in Aramaic two principles that can be gleaned “It is great that Dr Joseph has engagement with society it seeks, (Syriac) – Jesus’ own language from his inaugural theological achieved his doctoral award, while as Pope Benedict XVI wrote in - from university in India and a lecture in 1929, viz. the Principle also doing all his pastoral work. Deus Caritas East 28, to ‘help Master’s Degree in Theology from of Auscultation (the action That will be a blessing for himself purify reason’. There is no role for Heythrop College London in 2009. of attentive listening) and the as well as for the Syro-Malabar church to hide behind walls and “In the Gospels we find that Jesus Principle of the Catholicity of community. But it is also a sign to lob theological firecrackers at the praised the quality of perseverance. Truth, the latter being the basis for us all that we have to be prepared infidels outside!” He reminded his disciples that the former”, adding that Lubac’s when you place your hand on the theological method “provides a plough there is no place for looking template for mission and dialogue”. back,” said Eugene, adding: “Well, Happy to be a source of some Fr Joseph, without looking back, good news “in this time of doom has ploughed a long and lonely and gloom”, Fr Joseph expressed furrow for the past four years to deep appreciation and gratitude enhance his ability to proclaim the to all those who had helped and kingdom and dialogue with his encouraged him along the way, compatriots when he eventually especially his thesis guide, Revd Dr returns to his native India”. Noel O’Sullivan, “for his valuable Offering congratulations, headvice, thoughtful guidance remarked: “The disappointment and unflagging support”, Bishop that we feel about the scarcity of Donal, for his “exceptional support Irish priests to minister to us is and ongoing encouragement matched by our deep gratitude to regarding both his research project this dedicated priest from far away and ministry”, Fr Seamus and the THE parishioners of Dungiven and congratulated him on behalf Kerala, in India, to be our curate. parishioners of Dungiven, and the have been joined by the many of the parish. Ireland has been known in the past Syro-Malabar Church. people that have come to know With the ceremony broadcast as the island of saints and scholars. “It all began with my parents and love Fr Joseph Varghese, through the church webcam, Fr I hope it is not too fanciful to and family; that is where I was in congratulating him on being Kelly welcomed those watching suggest that now we are allowed introduced to the faith,” he added, awarded a Doctoral Degree in online as well, including Fr to include Kerala in that category”. saying: “The encouragement, Systematic Theology (PhD) from Joseph’s family and friends. To Fr Joseph was transferred from concern and prayers of my beloved St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. add to the occasion, the clip from London to Northern Ireland 10 parents, Mr Mathew Varghese and Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the recorded conferral ceremony years ago by his Archbishop, His Mrs Annamma Varghese, loving the Syro-Malabar priest had been in which his name was formerly Grace, Mar Joseph Perumthottam, siblings and their families are unable to go to Maynooth for called out, was screened in the and has ministered in parishes in much appreciated. the graduation ceremony, but Fr church. the Derry Diocese, including St “In total fulfilment, to my Seamus Kelly, the parish priest Fr Kelly noted that Fr Joseph’s had Eugene’s Cathedral, Long Tower heavenly Father, who called, of Dungiven where Fr Joseph been one of only three doctorates and Waterside, as well as to the inspired and guided me all the way, ministers as curate, along with the conferred during the Maynooth Syro-Malabar community. I express with heartfelt sincerity, Parish Pastoral Council, stepped in ceremony, before introducing Entitled ‘Mission and Dialogue: Deo Gratias”. to ensure that the occasion was a Dr Eugene McElhinney, of the An Emerging Christology of Henri Congratulating Fr Joseph, Bishop special one for Fr Joseph. Pastoral Council, to speak on De Lubac: A Hermeneutical Tool Donal remarked that a healthy In front of the restricted behalf of the parish. for A Wider Theological Dialogue’, adult Christian faith “touches the congregation gathered in St Familiar with the workload Fr Joseph’s doctoral study focussed head, the heart and the hands”. Patrick’s Church, Dungiven, for required in studying for a on the Lubacian Approach – a “There is a need,” he added, “for a the weekend vigil Mass on the day doctorate, Eugene commended Fr Model for Inter-Faith Study and balance between faith, knowledge of the virtual graduation ceremony, Joseph for his commitment and for Dialogue, especially relationships and action. As with any three- Fr Kelly presented a gowned-up Fr doing so without compromising between the world religious – legged stool, if one leg is missing, Joseph with his doctoral certificate his priestly duties in the parish, Christianity and Hinduism. the whole lot will fall. Thus, the Dr Joseph Varghese with Bishop Donal. Fr Roni arrives from India Varghese, will be ministering as curate in the Glendermott Parish following the required period of self-isolation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “I am most grateful to Mar Joseph Perumthottam for sending Fr Zacharias on loan,” he added, “and to Fr Zacharias for his generosity in coming to Derry. I wish him a most fruitful ministry Fr Roni Zacharias, on loan to the among us. May God bless him in Derry Diocese from the Archeparchy his ministry.” of Changancherry. The 39-year-old priest is reputed for his excellent ministry while THE Derry Diocese has serving as a director of Lourde welcomed the arrival of Fr Roni Matha Cancer Care Centre in the Zacharias, on loan from the Archdiocese for 10 years. Fr Daniel McFaul, CC Creggan, welcoming Fr Roni from self-isolation. Archeparchy of Changancherry for Delighted with the arrival of his a three-year period. fellow countryman, Fr Joseph told home. the Archeparchy of Changancherry Bishop Donal explained that ‘The Net’: “I am extremely happy “The Indian family will be happy and the Derry Diocese is enriched the Syro-Malabar priest, of the because Fr Roni is from my own to see another priest from India through this”. same Archeparchy as Fr Joseph Archeparchy, and not far from my here, and the relationship between 16 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 ...a sculptural perspective on the history of the early Irish Church...

Following the stone by Fr Oliver Crilly idea of bringing the Irish Church Benedictine spirituality. He invited Maghera Crucifixion, Co Derry.) into line with the diocesan and Bernard to send some monks to Having said that, the twelfth parish structures of the Church Ireland, and they founded the century crosses are recognised throughout Europe. great monastery of Mellifont - an internationally as hugely It wasn’t that Malachy or Mhainistir Mhór - which became significant in the development of Laurence O’Toole didn’t appreciate the first of several Cistercian European sculpture: they are part the contribution of monasticism: monasteries in Ireland, and though of the back story which led to the both had the roots of their in ruins is still a significant tourist great Romanesque and Gothic spirituality and ecclesiology in the attraction off the M1 between stone carvings in places like Paris monastic life. Laurence O’Toole Armagh and Dublin. (Notre Dame) and Chartres. will always be associated with Like the Céilí Dé spirituality, Domhnall Ó Murchadha, the Glendalough, and Malachy had the twelfth century renewal and great sculptor and lecturer, with restored and renewed the great reform was accompanied by Françoise Henry, in early Irish northern monastery of Bangor enormous spiritual and creative art in UCD, wrote beautifully before being sent to the monastic energy: the High Crosses came about the Irish crosses (see e.g. centre of Armagh. But they were back! The twelfth century high The Capuchin Annual 1969). He disillusioned with the direction crosses are just as big as the believed the teams who worked the Irish monasteries had taken. earlier scripture crosses, and on the great Irish crosses provided They had lost their energy, and in just as impressive, but they are what could only be described as some cases powerful families had different. Interestingly, the earlier a school of sculpture which fed taken over monasteries and used scripture crosses were found in into the European experience. them to promote their own family Leinster and Ulster, and associated Sculptors had no hesitation in fortunes. with monasteries, especially the travelling widely in pursuit of When Malachy set about the monasteries of St Columba. The their craft, and in search of work. reform and renewal of the Irish twelfth century high crosses are Domhnall Ó Murchadha had a Church, he kept closely in contact in Munster and Connaught, and lovely phrase for it. He said: ‘The with the Pope in Rome. He they are associated with kings sculptors followed the stone’. travelled to Rome several times, and bishops. Sponsorship had its The sculptors of the early and on his journeys he used to attractions long before the Tour de scripture crosses created panels in stay with St Bernard in the new France or the Aviva stadium! relief on the four sides of the cross. Cistercian monastery of Clairvaux. Perhaps the most significant The twelfth century sculptors Malachy and Bernard became difference is in the iconography moved from figures in relief close friends. On his last trip to of the crosses. Among the things to rounded three dimensional Clairvaux, Malachy became ill I miss are the extraordinary figures, and sometimes even and died. Bernard had him buried scriptural detail in the images, attached additional parts to in the grave he had prepared for and the clear emphasis on the emphasise the movement in space. himself, so that these two friends Church as community — the It didn’t always stand the test of and spiritual leaders are buried in earlier scripture crosses are time, but their work pointed the the same grave in Clairvaux. peopled crosses, and the Church way to a future that would flower Sculpture Week, Co. Wexford Malachy hadn’t forgotten the is represented by panels of the in the great Gothic cathedrals, and potential of the monastic life, twelve apostles. (In the Derry in the Renaissance. THE last great Irish scripture energy and creativity of the Céilí Into this vacuum, in the twelfth and he was impressed with Diocese, we have a great example cross was carved in AD 930 at Dé renewal. There were external century, strode two amazing the Cistercian renewal of the of that ecclesial emphasis in the the Columban monastery in pressures also, of course, in the men, whose vision and energy Durrow, Co Offaly. The period of aftermath of the Viking invasions. would dominate the Irish Church the scripture crosses was initiated One way or another, the great throughout the century. One was by the unique Carndonagh cross, scripture crosses didn’t just peter from the North, the other from the first example of the tall stone out gradually: they fell off a cliff. the South. The southern figure was slab taking on the shape of the The climax of the sculptural St Lorcán Ó Tuathail - Laurence cross, rather than having a linear achievement was reached with O’Toole - of Glendalough and cross inscribed on the stone. The the extraordinary crosses of Dublin. The northern figure was continuous creativity of nearly Monasterboice, Clonmacnois, St Malachy of Armagh. With them two hundred years of sophisticated and Durrow. And then nothing. a whole new renewal movement sculpture coincided with the The Durrow cross (AD 930) was swelled up in the Irish Church. movement of the Céilí Dé - a great created about a third of the way This movement wasn’t just movement of spiritual renewal in into the tenth century. For the rest inspirational - it was structural. the early Irish Church. of the tenth century and all the way It is usually referred to as the The end of the scripture crosses through the eleventh century there twelfth century Reform of the Irish coincided with the decline of the were no High Crosses. Church, and central to it was the

The Christ of Maghera, Paul Crilly

The Cross of Muiredach, Monasterboice The Last Judgment, Cross of Durrow THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 17 Eangach Ár nDúchas Françoise Henry Ba í uair na cinniúna ag Françoise thiar den ábhar cruthaithe agus Henry í nuair a tháinig sí ar saoire teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an go hÉirinn agus nuair a rinne sí duine a chruthaigh é. teagmháil le hoidhreacht ealaíne agus ailtireachta na hÉireann. Scríobh sí leabhar ar ealaín D’aithin sí go raibh obair a saoil Leabhar Cheanannais. D’inis sí fán leagtha amach roimpi. Ach bhí an triúr ealaíontóir a chruthaigh cuid tsaoire sin cinniúnach d’ealaín na de na píosaí is áille atá i Leabhar hÉireann chomh maith, agus do Cheanannais: an gabha óir, a dhuine ar bith ar spéis leo eolas a rinne leithéidí an leathanaigh Chi- chur ar oidhreacht chultúrtha na Ro—mionliníocht gheoiméadrach tíre. Tháinig sí ón Fhrainc, agus chruinn agus dath buí an óir bhí sí ábalta súil neamhchlaonta a a chuirfeadh obair mhiotail i chaitheamh ar na saothair a raibh sí gcuimhne duit; an portráidí, a ag déanamh staidéir orthu. Ach bhí rinne pictiúir de Chríost agus de daonnacht inti, agus anam íogair na soiscéalaithe—leathanaigh oscailte. Ní hamháin go raibh sí in iomlána agus fráma geoiméadrach ann fíoraicí na staire agus éifeacht orthu, ach portráid shainiúil taobh na saothar ealaíne a aimsiú go istigh den fhráma; agus an scéalaí, cruinn, ach bhí sí in ann dul taobh a rinne pictiúir d’imeachtaí i saol A Mhuire agus a Mháthair Íosa (a bhreith sa stábla, agus é ag A Mhuire agus a Mháthair Bheannaithe, fulaingt i nGairdín na nOlóg, mar molaim thú ó mo chroí shampla) — léirithe le saorlíníocht ós tú rug ár Slánaitheoir, bheo agus dathanna geala corcra ár dTiarna ’gus ár Rí, agus uaithne uirthi. i stábla i mBeitlethem Tá an daonnacht agus an ar uair an mheán oíche, Françoise Henry is nár bhreá binn ceol ainglí íogaireacht chéanna sa chur síos a de agus eolas an Scrioptúir agus an an uair ’rugadh é an Rí. rinne Françoise ar na crosa is mó agus is áille i measc ardchrosa na liotúirge ar a dtoil acu. (Buíochas le Foilseacháin Ábhair Míle glóir leat, a Rí na ríthe, hÉireann: dhá chros i Mainistir Spioradálta.) ós tú d’iompair an chroich Bhuithe, Cros na Scrioptúr i gCluain amach go Sliabh Chalvairí Mhic Nóis, agus Cros na Scrioptúr is tú loite ins gach ball. i nDarú (Darmhagh Cholm Cille). Glacfaimid misneach ó doirtíodh an fhuil Ní thugann Françoise ainm ar bith agus leanfaimid ár Slánaitheoir, ar na healaíontóirí sa chás seo, ach ár dTiarna ’gus ár Rí tá sí cinnte go dtáinig na saothair go Cathair na Glóire seo ó lámha na scoile céanna i gcuideachta an tréad dealbhóirí, ar a dtugann sí Scoil naomhaspal agus ainglí Mhainistir Bhuithe. Sár-ealaíontóir go háras Mhic Dé. amháin a bheadh i gceannas na hoibre, agus a chuirfeadh críoch (Ár bPaidreacha Dúchais 442.) chruinn ar na máistir-phíosaí seo d’ealaín an dealbhóra. Ach is cinnte go raibh foireann ag obair leis, agus Cros na Scrioptúr, Darú go raibh manaigh oilte taobh thiar Chi-Ro, Leabhar Cheanannais Dextera Dei, Mainistir Bhuithe Beart de Réir ár mBriathair Nuair a bhronntar Sacraimint Cuirtear an t-ainm breise sin le ag a charas Críost. Tá ciall agus nuair a théann siad faoin lámh an Chóineartaithe, caithfimidhainm an Bhaiste istigh i leabhar tábhacht leis sin. Ach níl ciall ar an Easpaig, agus séala an Spioraid a dhéanamh cinnte go bhfuil san Eaglais, ach cuimhnítear go bith i saol na hEaglaise le ainm naoimh orthu in ola an Chriosma. comhluadar ag an duine óg, agus speisialta ar an naomhphátrún ar a roghnú ó aisteoir teilifíse nó Braithfidh a lán orthu lá is faide tacaíocht faoi leith istigh i saol leis an t-ainm. In amanna shílfea scannáin, nó ó dhuine clúiteach anonn, agus le cuidiú an Spioraid na hEaglaise. Sin é an fáth go gur rud deas a bhí á dhéanamh an lae inniu. Ní ar an ábhar sin a Naoimh chéanna beidh siad roghnaíonn sé naomh-phátrún le nuair a tugadh ainm eile don thugtar ainm breise don duine óg ábalta troid a chur ar chaighdeáin bheith mar chompánach aige ina duine óg agus é ag dul faoi lámh ag an Chóineartú. agus ar luachanna an tsaoil. Is ar shaol spioradálta, duine a bhfuil easpaig. Ní rud deas é, ach rud mhaithe lena neartú le luachanna eolas an bhealaigh aige agus a tábhachtach, go bhfuil an duine Is chun obair a dhéanamh a an tsoiscéil a chur os comhair an bhfuil aitheantas tugtha dó i saol óg seo ceangailte de theaghlach na chóineartaítear an duine óg mar phobail a Chóineartaítear iad, agus na hEaglaise, duine a dtig leis stiúir naomh, agus faoi stiúir ag naomh bhall iomlán den Eaglais. Is ar táimid uile mórtasach astu ina a thabhairt don duine óg ó na amháin, faoi léas an Spioraid mhaithe le buanna a úsáid agus mbeart úr. flaithis agus don duine fásta agus é Naoimh. Uaireanta roghnaíonn le pobal a chruthú a théann sé ag dul anonn in aois. duine ainm naoimh a bhí mar faoi lámh Easpaig. Tugann na (Buíochas le Foilseacháin Ábhair ainm ag duine muinteartha dó, nó daoine óga seo dúshlán an tsaoil Spioradálta.) 18 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 A blessed time is the prayerful wish for all this Christmas AS we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Our Saviour, still in the midst of the upheaval, uncertainty and suffering caused by Covid-19 that has dominated 2020, a number of people from various parts of the Diocese have shared their memories of Christmases past and their hopes to be able to celebrate this one safely with family, and with a deeper sense of the peace and simplicity of that first Christmas. A blessed time is the prayerful wish for all. A message from Bishop Donal... THE first Christmas was a very turmoil, the angel announces, hearts, and may you find light in up on Whatsapp video, and simple event; an almost unnoticed “Glory to God in the highest and the birth of Christ our Saviour. for a while it was as if all five of birth of a poor child in poor peace to people of good will”. One of my recent Christmas them were on the floor together, surroundings. God speaks that message of memories was at my sister’s laughing and just so happy to be This year, we know something reassurance to us this year, in the house. Four of her adult children in each other’s company though of the uncertainty and worry that different circumstances of our were there, simply enjoying each 5,000 miles apart. Love changes must have hung over Mary and lives. other’s company. The fifth sibling everything. Joseph. But in the middle of the May the peace of God be in your was in the US. They called her Our beautiful crib will adorn our home and give us true Christmas cheer for many a year by Ashlene Canning THOUGHTS and memories feeling cheerful. Singing in a choir of Christmas past will certainly is a natural dose of serotonin if be prominent in the minds of ever there is one! The sense of many people during our first, and accomplishment which we all felt hopefully last, COVID Christmas. after the weekly Vigil or Sunday The families and friends who have Mass is one that we cherish and suffered the extreme devastation sincerely look forward to, in the of a premature loss of many hopefully not too distant future. who were greatly loved will, At the 9 pm candlelight vigil undoubtedly, be at the pinnacle of on Christmas Eve 2019, there our prayers. was a nervous excitement among As a family, we endeavour to all the members. Since early We will have to be creative have a silent prayer daily for autumn, we had been learning the victims of this horrendous and practising a beautiful hymn, pandemic and their loved ones The Blessing of Aaron. It sounded about how we can share left behind. I have no words the way the musical director to understand or describe the intended, with all four vocal anguish and suffering that the ranges in perfect harmony. It joy of Christmas bereaved people are experiencing. was a moment of humble elation by Bronagh Currie I simply want to offer a silent and accomplishment for Eugene prayer for them. McGonagle (organist), Mickey I have lots of memories of own family, we get to share this The one thing which instantly McGurk (guitarist) and the entire Christmas which I have cherished joy and wonder with our family, springs to mind when asked team of choristers. I felt very over the years. I remember, as a putting up our own crib, visits to what I’ll miss most this season is privileged to be a part of such greatly feels the loss of his altar with her great attention to detail, child, all the joy of the Christmas Nana and Granda’s with all the our parish choir, St Eugene’s. My an amazing group of talented serving duties during this time of would determine the best crib. presents from Santa, decorating cousins, and seeing our aunts and daughter, Darcey and I joined the people who all contribute in Covid. Although he still has the And Tilly, three-and-a-half years the house and getting the crib uncles. choir in late 2018 and it has been their own special way. It’s hard to opportunity to ring the bell from old, was set to find the perfect (hand made by my dad) made up The photograph I have shared the main activity we have sorely describe the joy of having my then our pew during the Consecration, Baby Jesus. Nicky and I were mere at home with the nativity scene, is one of my children a few years missed since our last Mass on seven-year old daughter beside he quite often comments that he chaperones! and the excitement of seeing the ago at my mum and dad’s house March 17. The weekly practice on me while we sang together the misses his work and his singing After some discussion around big crib in the chapel and all the for the ‘all important’ visit before a Tuesday evening in the Oratory beautiful sacred hymns to a full together with Fr Colhoun at Mass. the displays, they reached life-size statues, and finally seeing we went to Christmas Eve Mass. of Mary Mother of God has, congregation. Each year, my father gives us agreement on the perfect crib for the baby Jesus statue being put This year will be different on every occasion, left us both Our 10-year-old son, Oscar a gift before Christmas; money our family home. But it was down into it on Christmas Eve. because of Covid-19. We will have to spend on the family. Last year to Oscar to seal the deal with I also remember, as a child, to be creative in thinking of how my husband, Nicky and I decided Lucia and get a reasonable price. being fascinated by the whole we can share the joy of Christmas that we would ask our children, This simple little experience has Christmas story and thinking and the Christmas story without Oscar, Darcey and Tilly, if they given us a wonderful memory of of what it might have been like putting the ones we love, who are could help us decide how best to Christmas 2019. And we would the night baby Jesus was born to vulnerable, at any increased risk. spend Grandad Kennedy’s gift. never have had it, had we not Mary and Joseph in the stable. This year, we will be keeping After a very short deliberation shopped locally. I have lovely memories of the that social distance and finding between the three, they were The click of a button and a debit Christmas Carol services and other ways to make new unanimous in their decision card transaction online does not everyone singing along to all my Christmas memories, and maybe that we should invest in a great last very long in the memory of favourite Carols. appreciating it all the more when crib for Christmas. And so, to many, but an actual in-person I have special memories of we can share a hug with mum the Holy Shop in Omagh’s High buying experience and the haggle Christmas dinners and the and dad, family and friends, and Street we headed. It had success of a good bargain will last a warmth of home with my mum, we will look forward to the time written all over it because the lifetime in the memory of a child. dad, brothers, and sister, and when all our choirs can sing and children had a great plan. Oscar This beautiful crib will adorn meeting up with friends and play again and restrictions aren’t A Christmas past in Newtownstewart - junior choir members with Fr Roland would do the negotiating with our home and give us true wider family. needed anymore. Colhoun. Lucia, the shopkeeper. Darcey, Christmas cheer for many a year. Now, with my husband and our THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 19 Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store... Maybe Christmas means a little bit more by Deirdre McElholm WOULDN’T it be wonderful beautiful delicacies in Christmas to not hear the words, ‘lockdown’, continental markets. This year, it ‘self-isolate’, ‘Covid-19’, ‘R-rate’ for will be punctuated by a tone of just one day?! The reality is that sadness as these events will no Christmas this year will be very longer be possible. Whatever Christmas looks different for many of us. There Additionally, I will remember is already an air of caution and and reflect on the loss of loved anticipation of what is to come ones, including my late granny, like this year...it will be just in the next few weeks. However, Anna, who is pictured, and seeing I believe that this Christmas empty chairs around the table. as special if not more so can still be one of joy, hope and However, I have a lot to be grateful camaraderie. and thankful for. by Charlotte Gormley This year has given us all a When I think of Christmas harsh wake up call to the true Day, I will be surrounded by my WHEN I think about everything else that comes with fundamentals in life. What people close family and all that springs Christmas, I immediately the season of Christmas. Even are yearning for most this year to mind is joy and contentment. think about family. I know that though I will be looking forward is human connections, hugs, We have stocked up on board Christmas can be a sad and lonely to all the same things this year, family time and togetherness. games and will be tuning in to a time for many people, which what will be the most special part Gifts, material possessions, all variety of virtual Carol services makes me appreciate my family of Christmas for me will simply seem somewhat superficialand Christmas Masses, and there and the Christmas’ we have be going home and seeing my and secondary in this current will be an unlimited supply of hot together even more. family; something that a lot of us pandemic. chocolate and marshmallows! When I think about past haven’t been able to do for a long Christmas is normally a No doubt, there are preparations Christmas’, each one brings me time. time to rekindle with school already in place for a McElholm back to very happy, funny, joyful Christmas 2020 will definitely friends, to attend Christmas quiz night! nativity scene, combined with ‘O vaccinations in sight, the words: and loving memories. There be different from Christmas’ party nights in the most sparkly As Pope Francis reminds us, Holy Night’ echoing the Chapel, “A thrill of hope, the weary world is never just one memory that past, for example, my family dress possible, and to eat all the “Christmas is joy! Christmas is a hauntingly beautiful call to rejoices”, can still ring true today. stands out to me, just lots of and I would normally go to our isn’t a temporal celebration in experience the humility of that great ones that will stay with me local parish carol service and the memory of a beautiful event. first glimpse of Jesus’ life. Mary forever. Mass on Christmas Eve night. Christmas is an encounter with experiences the birth of Jesus in a I am from Northumberland, in We then come home full of joy God!” condition of extreme poverty: she the North East of England, and and excitement and maybe wrap When I think of my past has to lay him ‘in a manger’, with have lived in Derry for a couple of up ‘pigs in blankets’ for the big Christmases, I have fond shepherds the first people to visit years now. I love living in Derry, dinner the next day, and give each memories of pure joy, thrill, the baby Jesus. but naturally there are times other our secret Santa presents. and love. The build-up and Today, I think of charities at when I miss home and all my This year, however, we will not anticipation are arguably the most this time that have struggled so family and friends in England. be able to go to a carol service and exciting moments in December. much in this pandemic and it is I’m sure a lot of people can relate we might have to gather around Particularly, in school, there is important to remember the words to this, even if they haven’t moved the TV to watch Mass on the a palpable atmosphere of the of Jesus, “Whatever you did to one away from home, because of the webcam on Christmas Eve. Christmas festivities. Secret Santa, of the least of these my brother, world that we currently live in; But for me, whatever Christmas Christmas jumper days, Nativity you did it to me.” where maybe we haven’t been looks like this year, it will be just plays and Talent shows are the Health and happiness are the able to see our family or friends, as special, if not more special, as highlight of both staff and pupils’ true gifts this year; we must thank due to the pandemic. I will be able to spend time with December. There is a happiness in God for this and pray for those However, I look forward to my family, enjoying old traditions the chaos! less fortunate this Christmas. Christmas every year for the fun, and also embracing new ones! One thing I will miss most this Deirdre’s late Granny Anna. Finally, with the news of A past school Christmas. food, games, time to relax and year are the Carol Services. The A sense of belonging...... the essence of Christmas by Edel O’Connor FOR me, the essence of Rose walking hand-in-hand However, in reality it has been a Christmas is that warm magical with my parents. Every year, lonely, isolating year for so many feeling of belonging. To be human Christmas brings us all the and our trust in the future has lost is to belong; to belong in the opportunity to bring alive the its innocence, with a real sense community of family, friends, chain of connectedness; linking of crisis hitting our world. Crisis neighbours, colleagues at work generations between the past and comes from the Greek word and our faith community. the present. ‘krinein’; meaning ‘to sift’. I grew up in Wexford in a house In my role as RE teacher in Scoil This year has also given us the with three generations living Mhuire Buncrana, a community opportunity to sift through our together. I was blessed to have our spirit across generations is thoughts, to listen to our hearts dear granny live with us and thus celebrated every year during and become aware of what it benefitted from that extra source Advent. The students organise the truly means to belong. Like never of love, comfort and belonging. senior citizens’ Christmas party, before, we have valued the people The magical season of Christmas make St. Vincent de Paul hampers in our lives. was and continues to be loved by and perform at carol services My prayer for this Advent season all in my family. Over the years, in the parish and local nursing is that people get to celebrate each generation brought their homes. Our faith is allowing us Christmas with their loved ones. own special touches, including to weave connections between Christianity is built on and rooted my late granny’s homemade people in our community. It is in relationships. May the founder Christmas pudding and my dad’s wonderful to see the students of Christianity, the Lord Jesus handmade wreaths for the graves, responding to the call of the Holy Christ shine his light brightly on now made with the assistance of Spirit to be true witnesses of our world and may this Christmas my nieces. Christ in our society. be filled with faith, hope, love and I have included my favourite 2020 has become the year of the a real sense of belonging. photo from Christmas 2019, community with that message, which is of my daughter, Emma ‘we are all in this together’. 20 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 Christmas for me has always been about The Crib by Jacklyn Roberts CHRISTMAS for me, for as long as I can remember, has always been about The Crib. From a very young age, it was my privilege to be given the job of putting up A real Christmas my Granny’s crib - a small paper mache manger which symbolised by Jean Doherty love in abundance in the most simple of forms. I have lots of memories of own family, we get to share this Granny always reminded me Christmas which I have cherished joy and wonder with our family, a few days before the Feast of over the years. I remember, as a putting up our own crib, visits to The Immaculate Conception child, all the joy of the Christmas Nana and Granda’s with all the that it was almost time for the presents from Santa, decorating cousins, and seeing our aunts and masterpiece to be revealed. It was the house and getting the crib uncles. such a special occasion. If it was a (hand made by my dad) made up The photograph I have shared school day, I remember I would at home with the nativity scene, is one of my children a few years be so excited, I couldn’t wait to get and the excitement of seeing the ago at my mum and dad’s house granny’s as I knew the amazing big crib in the chapel and all the for the ‘all important’ visit before memories to be made lay ahead. each symbolised something so of ways, through a smile or a kind pride of place in my own home, life-size statues, and finally seeing we went to Christmas Eve Mass. When the day arrived, the mystical and magical, which I can word. that I share with my husband and the baby Jesus statue being put This year will be different box was placed in front of me only wish and pray for my own The Jesus I know and love, born my son, and each year I spend into it on Christmas Eve. because of Covid-19. We will have and enclosed where some of the son. in a lowly manger with hay for a sacred moments placing the I also remember, as a child, to be creative in thinking of how most fragile yet important pieces Year after year, the memories bed, reminds me every year to cotton wool, the stable, the hay being fascinated by the whole we can share the joy of Christmas of the Nativity, which included made truly became a testament pause, wait, follow that shining and the golden star all as an act Christmas story and thinking and the Christmas story without cotton wool, hay from previous not only to my granny’s faith star, breathe and contemplate the of prayer and love, knowing she of what it might have been like putting the ones we love, who are cribs in the Long Tower Chapel, a but I have absolutely no doubt majesty of the Chosen One, who is right there beside me, watching the night baby Jesus was born to vulnerable, at any increased risk. golden star and, of course, the tiny this tradition shaped the person every day graces us with breath in and smiling, as I now pass on this Mary and Joseph in the stable. This year, we will be keeping figurine of the baby Jesus. It was I am today. Togetherness, love, our lungs and spirit in our souls, family tradition to my own child. I have lovely memories of the that social distance and finding all about simplicity. simplicity, purity and hope were that we may recognise Christmas This Advent, as we await the Christmas Carol services and other ways to make new Granny taught me the art of among the graces bestowed isn’t about the lights, trees or arrival of the Christ Child, may everyone singing along to all my Christmas memories, and maybe contemplating the Crib and now, during these moments and the presents. Christmas is for we be enriched with hope as favourite Carols. appreciating it all the more when when I look back on it, the art of forever memories. Christ; the Christ that loves you we contemplate the nativity in I have special memories of we can share a hug with mum getting lost in love and adoration More than ever, especially this with an everlasting love and has our own homes and witness Christmas dinners and the and dad, family and friends, and of Jesus. For something so small, year, how I wish that she was here shaped your destiny all from the love in abundance in our own warmth of home with my mum, we will look forward to the time I spent hours making it fit for a to walk me through Mary and beginning, from a tiny manger. families, in our friendships, in our dad, brothers, and sister, and when all our choirs can sing and king. And, after all, there I was Joseph’s journey to the birth of The Boy Child of Mary who communities, and in the kindness meeting up with friends and play again and restrictions aren’t waiting for the arrival of our King our Lord just one more time. If came that we may all experience a and compassion we show to our wider family. needed anymore. Jesus. The figures were old and Covid-19 has taught us anything, Christmas in our hearts everyday neighbour. For after all, Jesus Now, with my husband and our worn and I held them tenderly it is to never underestimate the by knowing we are loved beyond will always be the reason for the with love and affection, as Granny value of human connection, to measure. season. May your memories taught me the importance of appreciate those we love just that Since my Granny made her way reflect this always. We can only do our each figure. I listened with the little bit more and to gently touch safe to the arms of Jesus 15 years wonder and awe of a child at how each other’s souls in the humblest ago, this little crib I speak of sits best to make this As daylight falls, so rises the joy and Christmas just as happiness of welcoming the birth of the special as others by Niamh McLaughlin by Fr Patrick Lagan MY favourite thing about With Covid-19 here, I am gutted Saviour Christmas is a family tradition that we won’t be able to have our SHORTLY after I arrived at St the mercy and compassion of that occurs every Christmas Eve. gathering on Christmas Eve. I Eugene’s Cathedral, I was told Christ. Every year, my family go to Mass don’t know what it will be like that one of the highlights, one It is a powerful reminder that, on Christmas Eve, and then after this year, but I know that we can of the many treasured moments despite the many hours and Mass, most of my mum’s family only do our best to make it just as in the life of our parish, was the laborious efforts to celebrate come to my house after. special. atmosphere that surrounded the season of Christmas, the We stand by the stove to try and Christmas Eve. Not only for the greatest preparation we can have get heated from the cold, get the altar server rehearsals, the sound as Children of our loving Father kettle boiling for the numerous of choirs practicing, but in the is to encounter Him in His cups of tea and coffee, and then strained distance, the sound of compassion, to come before the we exchange our gifts. muttering. You might say a type priest, to humble ourselves and to I just love the hustle and bustle of sacred muttering, for these name that which may be causing that comes with that tradition; it words were noises of people us hurt or shame, and to hear has been happening for as long coming throughout the day for those words uttered that we not as I can remember, and I look Confession. have only been forgiven but that forward to it every year. Following the 10 am Mass, we are sent forth in peace, a peace Throughout the years, we have the Cathedral was prepared and we are told by Jesus the world so many who come here on that celebrated. That even during days lost loved ones who would have as the day progressed so did the cannot give. blessed day to receive strength to and weeks of lockdown, people been there every other year, but many smiles, the greetings and The image that I have chosen welcome the birth of the Saviour. will still have the opportunity to even though they haven’t been the warm wishes from so many captures the almost dark My hope for this Christmas, come and have that encounter with us in the last while, we never who had come to this very sacred Sanctuary. As the daylight falls, albeit in certain restrictions, is that with the Lord of love and mercy. forget that they are still there with ground to have an encounter with so rises the joy and happiness of this same joy and peace will still be us. THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 21 All my best Christmas memories have nothing to do with the presents by Margaret Keys WHAT a year! As 2020 draws to put up to decorate the town and, morning. I would usually sing! to my parents. an end, I find ‘surreal’ coming top in particular, visit the wonderful ‘O Holy Night’ was a very special For 2021, I can only pray that we of my mind. For a brief moment animated moving toy display in hymn in our family. Until I sang may have many more memories. in our lives, this Christmas we Austin’s window. that, my father only then felt his May we move forward after this can pause, with time to stop, And then there was the Christmas had started! watershed year to remain focused think, and consider what is truly excitement of Christmas Eve. My The times that really stand on what is truly meaningful in our important, and all due to a global mum always used to leave us a set out as good memories are the lives. pandemic that brought such of brand new pyjamas on the bed. ones where my family focused (Margaret will be doing a live despair to the world. She said that they were “delivered on helping others have a great online concert on Christmas Night Kathleen Grant and her twin, Briege, enjoying a past Christmas. As Christmas approaches, if, by the elves so we’d look smart for Christmas too. and has been busy with recordings like me, you are worrying about Santa”. I loved the idea of the elves I have been blessed to have been for Songs of Praise, which will whether you’ve got the right sneaking in to make sure we ready part of many amazing stories. be broadcast in the New Year. Christmas presents for your for the big man. Understanding the gift of giving Check out her website, Facebook This year has been family, we have to stop and think And, of course, there was as a child has completely shaped and Twitter accounts for further about our memories of Christmas Christmas morning. It was full the person I am today – all thanks details.) and what truly mattered. of anticipation, excitement and difficult and sad Thinking back to my childhood, thrill. We only had one rule: mum I’ve realised that all the best and dad told us we couldn’t wake Christmas memories have up before 7 am. That was torture! nothing to do with the presents. My sisters, brother and I would but we are there for My fondest recollections are all anxiously wait until the clock mostly of special events I had finally hit 7. Then, we would with my family. In the run up to sprint down to mum and dad’s each other Christmas, journeys to and from room and open our stockings in relatives were fun, when there bed together. We all got into my by Kathleen Grant were Christmas trees to count parents’ bed – which was quite a CHRISTMAS past for me and the yarns were great, tea in the windows of the houses squeeze! held great excitement for Santa’s made, and photos were taken. we’d pass. One special night each We would, of course, put on our December, we’d stroll through new Christmas clothes and attend visit! Dandy, Beano and Bunty When everyone was leaving, two Margaret (right) and her twin sister, Rosemary, with their parents, Bill and Derry City admiring the lights 12 o’clock Mass every Christmas annuals, the board games and hours later, I remembered I had Mary Keys. windup toys, colouring books forgotten to come back to the were amongst the presents he poor turkey. I had to sit up late to brought. I also remember getting see the cooking project through. The first Christmas was a range once, with all the pots and I now mark Christmas by pans. sending lots of cards. It’s lovely Christmas meant as well that to think of each one as you write pretty simple... It’s ok if members of my family, who their name and, sadly, each year in the 50s had to emigrate for a name or two must be crossed yours is too work, came home to spend their out. I use battery candles for Christmas with us and that meant the windows for safety and, on by Fr Gerard Mongan financial gain to my little purse! Christmas Eve, a blessed candle is AMONGST my memories the children present nonetheless. Later in life, lovely memories lit and placed in a window. of Christmases past has to be That was the same year that the I have are of my mother mixing I look forward so much to Thumper and Nelly, the donkeys Baby Jesus couldn’t be found and and boiling the plum pudding Christmas Day Mass, celebrating who graced both Long Tower someone kindly brought a crying in a flour bag that had come this beautiful feast and singing and Carnhill with their presence doll from Creggan. It roared all from Swan’s Mill, in Buncrana, along with the choir the old at Carol services and Christmas the way up the middle aisle as with the name washed off. She traditional Christmas hymns. Mass. it was brought to the crib at the had to make two because one of I think the current pandemic Thumper was bold enough to beginning of Christmas Eve Mass. the brothers ate most of one of might change the way we get in to Long Tower Church in This year, things will be a lot them. The aroma in the kitchen celebrate socially this year. 2009, leave Mary off and get out quieter. But perhaps that’s the way was mouth watering, but all the Perhaps no handshakes or hugs as quickly as he could in case of the first Christmas was. water stains on the ceiling were and having to wear a mask. I accidents! Much to the delight of not welcomed! My mother did look forward to visiting the crib not weigh any of the ingredients; in the church and there’s one at her judgement was spot on. The home that my brother made and turkey was reared by us, and it takes pride of place each year. Jesus is our hope...and we can celebrate His birth thankfully I never had to get it Thankfully, all parishioners can table ready! Wasn’t it wonderful view Mass on our newly installed way back then that each family webcam if numbers are restricted. regardless of what lies ahead by Mary McMenamin could provide so much of the Burt community puts up a fine CHRISTMAS in our home has season. Fr Oliver Crilly is a truly blessed that God has given It is important to remind food themselves. Christmas tree with lights that always been a very happy time wonderful priest and he always us this wonderful gift of family. ourselves that Jesus is our hope. On Christmas Day, my father brings warmth to Christmas of year. We have always tried to makes everything very special. This year will be different, no He is always with us and we can had a rule that the cattle and for us all and strangers that pass remind ourselves what Christmas Christmas is so important to doubt, without the same freedoms celebrate his birth regardless of horses got an extra meal that day. through the area. This year has is really about and to keep that at us as a family, especially since of Christmases past but, please what lies ahead. In the 50s, that must not have been a difficult and sad one for a the centre of the celebrations. my son, Christopher was born God, we will be allowed to attend Wishing you all a very Happy, been easy. It touched my heart lot of the families but we are there When we decorate our home, on Christmas Day 21 years ago Christmas Mass and still enjoy the Holy & Peaceful Christmas. to learn that is what Christmas is for each other. This time of year my husband’s handmade crib this Christmas. He was born a company of our families. about. does bring the best out in people. is the most significant feature, few minutes after midnight, so I It was a must in years past that Our parochial bingo is also holding a special place in our spent that Christmas Day in the you went to confession and the a casualty of Covid, and the house. hospital, but it was truly special. numbers were big; something Christmas one was always extra Each year, we prepare for I have hosted Christmas dinner that is sadly not seen now. fun with all the goodies in the Christmas and the birth of the in our home throughout the years One Christmas Eve, our local raffle. baby Jesus by going to confession with our family gathered together curate paid a visit to our old home May you all be blessed with the and Mass on Christmas morning but, for the last few years, our one as the following year we were beautiful peace of Christmas. One as a family. children have been taking turns at moving house. It was around 8 last wish I have is that it snows in I am a member of our local hosting Christmas dinner for all pm and I had the turkey in the Burt around Christmas, so that Church choir in Castlefinn, and the family. sink getting it ready. I showed my garden will look as good as I particularly enjoy the beautiful The sound of laughter and him into the kitchen, where the next and I can capture some hymns and carols sung at the grandchildren playing echoes some neighbours had gathered photographs too. Keep safe. Masses during the Christmas through our home and we feel 22 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 This Christmas...less buying could give more time to be with oneself, with others and for prayer with God! by Noel Bradley MY first strong memory scone every day, made marmalade is better. How do you get that at was hoping for a bicycle for jam for the shop and hotel, and the time? Life is lived forward Christmas. I believed in Santa made other jams when fruit was and understood backwards as the at the time but was on the edge in season. She often recited the philosopher Kierkegaard said. of unbelief and wondering. I do long poem, ‘Sam Magee’ while Anyway, you can imagine how not remember telling my parents baking, leaving me with plenty precious that time was for us. Of what I would like for Christmas. of homely memories and smells. course, who did all the cooking? But there it was in the kitchen, as I can still see her lovely, strong So even at this precious time my I came down the stairs early in the hands baking; the shape and mother had still to worry about morning with great expectation: smoothness of their skin. She the bulk of the cooking. Then a black Raleigh bicycle! It was the occasionally sang ‘She moved there was always the odd person happiest moment of my life so far, through the fair’. ringing the door bell looking for at that time. It brings joy and a All lovely memories! But the a carry out from the bar - half a tinge of tears even now recalling main one is that for one day in dozen stout or bottle of whiskey! it. the year, Christmas Day, the hotel, A pain in the neck! Over all the Christmases of shop and bar were closed and My hopes for this Christmas many years, it was being together we could be together, as a family, would be that people would as a family that I appreciated the around the table eating a meal and appreciate that it is the closeness most; just being together. There together in the sitting room after and unity of family or friends that were seven children in all; three the meal. matters. I cannot understand all boys and four girls. It meant so This was the only day in the the talk and concern, during these much because we had a business year that this could happen. We restrictive times of Covid-19, to run, with a family hotel, bar never got the opportunity to sit about getting out for Christmas and grocer shop. We were always down together during the year. shopping. Do most people not go won’t add to our happiness. Less Christmas with just the basics of a friendship, plenty of kindness and busy serving people in one way One or other of the parts of the over the top in all the buying at buying could give more time to be plate of rice and a miniscule bit of forgiveness and love all round. or another, in the shop or hotel business would be open. It is hard Christmas anyway? Would it take with oneself, to be with others and goat meat and sauce, pausing and We did not take spontaneous or bar. So, there was always work to believe looking back. Now I see away from your happiness if you even for prayer with God! praying devoutly in gratitude for photographs back in the fifties and to be done and no time to sit that work and business can take bought less? And while we need “Less is more”, Pope Francis their food. sixties. This photo is a very formal together as a family. over the life of a family and you to celebrate, do we need to do so says. It certainly can be. I have I’m dreaming of a waste-free one in 1963. I like it because I am My mother was in the hotel pay a price for letting it happen. much shopping to celebrate with seen people in Nigeria happy Christmas, less buying, more the best looking of them all! cooking all day. She baked a big Hindsight is great but foresight each other. More and more stuff with each other and celebrating sharing of companionship and To share a happy family Christmas would be highlight of difficult year by Shaun Doherty WHEN I think back to the cheap suitcase for carrying to St 1950s, I was living on the Eugene’s at 6 am on Christmas Northland Road, Derry, with my morning - no time for examining parents and seven siblings - later Christmas presents that I can to rise to 10 living; five boys and remember. five girls. I became an altar boy The weather that morning was in St Eugene’s Cathedral in the cold and icy. Because I lived on early 1950s, having gone through Northland Road, opposite the the ritual of being taught the Fire Station and next to the old Latin responses for the Mass Asylum, the road down to the This Christmas we are by my Principal teacher in St Cathedral allowed me to sleigh Eugene’s Boys Primary School, in down the main road to the Model being forced to return to Rosemount, Mr Lawrence Duffy, School and walk the rest of the who had picked us out in Primary way. I was excited and honored to 1, now it would be Primary 3, after serve Christmas Mass. simplicity of Christ’s birth Baby Infants and Senior Infants. The old sacristy is still there, the cloth played, as the paten I was will be open for Midnight Mass He would take us out of class, modernised. We got dressed in by Sonya Darcy holding was there to catch any and Mass on Christmas Day, with which was in one of the Nissan red soutanes for the occasion, particles of the Most Sacred host. full participation; if no choral CHRISTMAS has always been As a parent, I usually welcome huts on the Rosemount site, for lined up at the sacristy door in As a seven or eight-year-old, singing, at least the participation my favourite time of year, so I the peace and tranquillity of practice and rehearsal of the Latin pairs and waited for the priest it was hard to have to wait until of all of us who can attend Mass, have many happy memories of Christmas Eve. The mad dash Responses for the Latin Mass. to exit from the priests’ sacristy, after the Dawn Mass for the Day while remembering those people Christmas; Nativity plays, lights for last minute presents is all So when Christmas beckoned, which became a confessional. The Mass, when my thoughts were who have to isolate and are sick; being switched on in the town forgotten, the fire is lit, and the I was on the rota for the 6.30 am priest may have been Fr Dessie wandering towards my Christmas and that we will be able to share a centre, new pyjamas on Christmas house is tidy for a short time! Christmas Mass; the Mass of the Mullan, Fr Anthony Mulvey pressies. happy family Christmas with our Eve, Santa coming and, of course, This year, more than ever, it is Dawn. Due to my tender years, I or the ADM, Fr Hugh Browne. Those old days have long children and grandchildren. It having to leave my new toys to go less about the glamour and glitz, was spared having to serve at the The altar was lit up with candles, passed; Vatican II has brought will be the highlight of a difficult to ‘God’s house’. the presents, and the rush. It is First Mass at Midnight. There including the tall ones at the back the Mass face-to-face, with us year. As I grew up, Christmas very poignant that we are being were more senior altar servers of the altar, which, at the end of using our own language. We The photo I have chosen is became much more about family. forced to return to the simplicity appointed for this! I was probably Mass, if you were lucky, you were are now actively responding from the Christmas we took our Christmas Day and Boxing Day of the birth of Christ born in a one of six altar servers appointed sent out by the sacristan, Paddy when we attend daily/Sunday first grandchild to Causey Farm meant meeting up with cousins manger, and the hope that came to serve at the Dawn Mass and the Gormley, to extinguish. Mass with our priests. One great in 2016. We might have been and uncles and aunts, who all were with His birth. pecking order was important. The My memories of the Dawn difference in 2020 is that we know looking for the spirit of Christmas, home and, somehow, we all fitted I know it will be different in older altar servers, some aged 14, Christmas Mass and the Mass of our priests on a personal level. but we didn’t reckon on a camel, in Granny T’s house at the one many ways. We are being forced hogged the main jobs of the bell the Day are blurred, as we went They have come down from the reindeer and a whole host of furry time! Christmas Mass was always to slow down once again, to ringing at the consecration and through the rituals. What I do rarefied atmosphere of the 1950s friends too, when we visited there. packed, and everyone joined in recognise the important things moving the Roman missal and remember is myself holding the to a position where we can share Causey is a real working farm in singing Christmas carols. in our life and to remember the stand from one side of the altar. paten reverently under the chin our thoughts and needs with Co Meath, with cows, pigs, geese As a teacher, Christmas is lessons from the first lockdown. I had to wear my soutane and of each communicant as they them, and even suggest ideas to and chicken. And the rumour usually about community, Advent I can’t wait to have my family white surplice, along with my received Jesus on the tongue, them. was that Santa Claus was holed up Prayer Services, Carol Services, around me and to put on our black gutties aka plimsolls. No while they knelt at the altar rails, Sandra and my hopes for there too, with Mrs Claus and his SVP food hampers and our coffee Sunday best to go to ‘God’s house’; Nike/Adidas in those days! These which also had a cloth folded over Christmas 2020 are: the churches army of elves. mornings for past and present something we all took for granted. items were deposited in my little, them. I don’t know what purpose staff. THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 23 The real joy of Christmas We come in truth to another is the good news of a December...keeping faith...that Saviour born to us peace will come by Sr Perpetua McNulty by Rhonda McColgan IN the last number of years, the AS I sit here and reflect upon tv and, no doubt, plenty of treats. Crib Festival has been synonymous Christmas’ past, I cannot help So the dreaded guilt marked my with Thornhill Ministries. And but notice a range of different thoughts of Christmas for quite a while a festival was not going to emotions being stirred up in few years. be possible this year, the planned my heart. When I think of the So, fast forward to 15 years ‘Celebration of Cribs’ has become joy of Christmas, I am filled later, and the photo I chose is of yet another casualty of the more with warm thoughts of family, us feeling proud as punch as we prophesied approximately 700 through me”. (John 14:16) He years before, in Micah 4:8, and tells us many times in the bible to recent Covid restrictions. treasured friends, Christmas presented our baby girl on her first A fascination with the crib has parties, wrapping presents, turkey Christmas to friends and family how Mary, having pondered all “Follow me”. things, must have been filled with There will be sadness over loved been with me all of my life. When dinners, mince pies and festive (she’s in her baby seat). This photo asked about the source of this, cheer! Another emotion that reminds me of how I found my joy different emotions as her son was ones taken by this dreaded Covid, being born. other illnesses too and death I struggle to offer explanation. presents itself is sadness. Sadness, in Christmas again! I knew that I Maybe it is the simplicity of it, as I think back on loved ones no owed this to God, who blessed me However, this is the real joy of caused by tragic circumstances. Christmas, the good news of a But we must always know that the or perhaps its capturing of the longer here, failed friendships, with a loving husband and three mystery of God becoming one of understanding. and regrets over poorly handled beautiful children. saviour born to us. Jesus loves us Lord loves us and is with us during so much that He gave Himself in these trials. We were reminded us, or the inconspicuous way the situations. I am reminded of how our same crib sat on the same window Emmanuel For many years I didn’t dear Mother Mary presented her the most brutal way, so that we a few days ago at Mass, in Luke’s sill in our house, year after year - God-with-us, Emmanuel - particularly look forward to precious bundle to those who could spend eternity with Him. Gospel, of how Jesus wept bitterly going sometimes unnoticed, but we come in truth to another Christmas. When I was 15 years were sent to find him in a manger. ‘For God so loved the world over the city of Jerusalem saying, always present, always an essential December old, I celebrated what turned out It makes me think of my own that He gave his only Son, that “If this day you only knew what part of our family’s Christmas visiting again the joys and sorrows to be my brother’s last Christmas mother, Lord have mercy on her. whoever believes in Him shall not makes for peace”. tradition. born from love and struggle with us, as he died the following Did she contemplate how perhaps perish but will have eternal life’ Maybe we could use this special During Advent, the musician in and keeping faith in Your promise that April of 1991. Mark was 22 years her baby boy would be taken (John 3:15) time of the year to be that joy of me awaits the singing of the great peace will come. old when he died of pneumonia. home too soon, given his fragile This year, amid the pandemic, the nativity at Christmas. Perhaps, ‘O come, O come Emmanuel’ A fragile boy from birth, he was diagnosis at birth? we may have uncertain feelings by offering to help out an elderly hymn that heralds the imminent God-with-us, Emmanuel - prone to infections and frequented Mary, having known the about what lies ahead. Mary and person with shopping, sacrifice a celebration of Christmas. Its we know the natural impulse to reach St James’ Hospital many times in scriptures very well, most likely Joseph surely felt the same, but gift to give to one in need, drop a edict to ‘Rejoice! Rejoice!’ stirs out to others Dublin, where we grew up. In fact, wondered about her baby always kept their eyes fixed on meal or a treat into a neighbour. the consciousness to marvel once to gift a world in need of generous his last Christmas turned out to being born in this place as she the Lord. They listened to the Maybe, make that olive branch more at the wonderful exchange hearts be celebrated around his hospital approached the cave. I recall Lord and observed the signs. ‘phone call that you know would and relationship between our God where refugee and stranger bed, as he had been admitted for an explanation given from an Perhaps the signs of our times are make a difference. Jesus tells us, and all of us. re-echo a pregnant couple from a few days over Christmas for yet American author, Sonia Corbett; permitted by the Lord to wake in Matthew 25:45, “I tell you At this time of year, we refresh Nazareth another chest infection. she states that this place was a us up. Maybe we should use this solemnly, in so far as you did again our Christian faith when the in seeking a place where Love For many years, I was filled with watchtower in Bethlehem, where time to stop, look around and ask this to one of the least of those God of Love assures us of God’s enfleshed feelings of guilt because if I had sacrificial lambs were guarded by ourselves what is truly important; brothers of mine, you did it to me”. the luxuries of this life that are May the peace of Christ be with presence in eternity, God’s coming brings hope and possibility. known that that would turn out to shepherds to ensure they were in time at Bethlehem, God’s be his last, I’d have made a bigger unblemished. Therefore, they passing or being together with our us all and may we, in turn, share coming to us in every moment of God-with-us, Emmanuel - fuss! Instead, I remember feeling were wrapped in swaddling cloth loved ones in the next. that light with others. We can do our lives, God’s presence in the we live through fear and isolation in a bit bored in the hospital and to keep them from injury or Jesus tells us that the way to the this together, united in the body of hearts of all who love and God’s Covid times was anxious to get home to the harm. How amazing that this was kingdom is through Him; “No Christ and thus remain unshaken! one comes to the Father except promise to come for us at the hour when familiar norms of greeting and of our death. comforting In the last few years, one of the have been denied to giver and receiver ‘in-vogue’ expressions has been and communities of faith have Christmas is about celebrating the Lord’s to speak of 2020 vision. The hungered anew pandemic, which has been so for the Sacrament of Your presence. birth…and that I will be doing by Brenda Deery prevalent throughout this calendar year, has given us all a new vision, God-with-us, Emmanuel - EVERY Christmas to date has never want to. playing the usual board games. all the time. I do want to get a few a new way of seeing. we celebrate your birthing at been special with many and We also had the beauty and Christmas is always a special presents but definitely not going We have begun to reflect on a Bethlehem varied lovely memories, but challenge of dealing with real time and being in Iceland with so overboard. number of questions: What is and hear once more Isaiah’s comfort I guess the most memorable snow. We would have to clear many wonderful people merely I am very conscious of the it that is core? What is it that is where those who walk in darkness Christmas was the one spent in away the footpath everyday to added to our joy. We all missed many people out there who are necessary? What is it that really experience the greatness of Your light Iceland as a volunteer with the get out the door. Inside was very our families but knew we would so worried about their jobs and matters? that shines in the manger of our hearts Legion of Mary. cosy, but outside not so. However, get to talk to them at some point finances. I will miss not getting to In the absence of a more when faith proclaims You our It was the Christmas of 1986 and my memories of assisting at in the day, and would be returning visit my friends and celebrating eloquent response to these and Emmanuel I was with Ann Marie Hasson, also Christmas were lovely, as we home the following year. with them but will keep in touch other questions I offer this prayer- Our God is with us! Amen. from the Derry Diocese, together got to decorate the tree and get With Covid-19, it would be easy other ways. poem of mine that holds a hint of with a number of other volunteers cribs sorted in the local Church to dismiss this Christmas but, For me, Advent is a lovely time from different parts of Ireland and our oratory. We got to to be honest, it will still have the of the year to stop and ponder on and other countries. We had the prepare our Christmas dinner for same focus for me. The crib will the real meaning of life and how privilege of living in community approximately 12 people and Fr go up first and the decorations fickle life is for all of us. In a time with Fr Robert Bradshaw, a Bradshaw did his yearly brandy will follow sometime early of so much doom and gloom, diligent and holy priest. He was sauce. December. I could easily not celebrating Christmas and the always joyful and never missed Christmas Day was so special bother as no-one will get to see birth of Our Lord will continue to an opportunity to evangelise, but sharing it within our little them but, for me, Christmas is restore my joy and hope in God always in very respectful ways. community and, after our about celebrating the Lord’s birth and His people. Christmas in Iceland was Christmas Masses, we did our and that I will be doing. I am so conscious that in times particularly special as we had lots weekly meeting and greeting I do hope we get back to Mass of great evil, grace abounds and of snow and wind. I remember parishioners and making them soon and that would be the best we are blessed to be living in a having to go to collect our parcels tea with Christmas goodies. We Christmas present. I like Advent time of grace, where Our Mother from the post office during were always conscious of ensuring as it is a chance to reflect and, like will, at our request, shower down horrendous winds. I literally everyone got an Irish welcome. Lent, change myself in some way. many of God’s graces. remember holding onto each The whole Christmas story was I think there will be less pressure My Christmas wish is that more lamp post, to ensure that I stayed so alive with all the beautiful cribs this year as, with the lockdown, and more of us join the great on my feet, and being blown to the and beautiful sermons. It was a it has made me realise that I have chorus of prayer to ensure we are next one. I’ve never experienced joyful day, with lots of sharing too much anyway and I don’t doing, and continue to do, God’s a wind like that in Ireland and stories, opening presents and need to be running to the shops will in all things. 24 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020

wouldn’t get in, but that if I did get What is the reason for the hope that you have? (1 Peter 3:15) accepted then I would know that it was God’s Will. Part of my reason for deciding to apply to Steubenville was to My faith journey discern about vocation, as it is a solid Catholic university. There was still a hope in me that I would by Fr Francesco Gavazzi CFR meet a young Catholic girl and Y earliest prayer experience that was something new. get married. I got accepted and In 2005, during the final began studying for a Masters happened while singing the semester of my time at university in Theology at Steubenville in hymn, ‘Here I Am Lord’, in my in Sydney, my twin brother and I January, which was the beginning went along with a Jesuit group to of the second semester. It was a FirstM Grade class, when I was about six or World Youth Day in Germany. two-year course but I only ended We turned up at a church one up being there for six months. seven years old. At home, I remember saying morning for a Catechism session A lot happened in those six bed-time prayers, and mum and dad taking with one of the bishops and months. I visited the Franciscan the Franciscan Friars of the Friars of the Renewal, in New my twin brother and I, and our younger Renewal were facilitating it. They York and, for the first time, met brother and sisters, to Mass on Sundays. introduced the bishop, played a girl I thought I could marry. I music and gave some witness, and also went to Russia for a month During my teenage years, I went too excited about that because I it was pretty significant hearing with a group from Steubenville to a Jesuit High School in Sydney. wanted to get married and have their stories. One of the friars who University, which did mission I loved surfing, skate-boarding, a family and, hopefully, a house shared his story that morning trips all over the world. I would basketball and playing guitar, near the beach so that I could was Fr Columba Jordan; he was have liked to have gone on Fr Francesco Gavazzi, the new local servant of the Franciscan Friars of the so my teenage years were fairly continue to surf. So, when that Brother Columba at that stage. mission to a nice, sunny place but Renewal, in Galliagh. typical. The significant year in my sense of a call from God started The way he described his own I ended up in Vladivostok, on the made about three or four visits for have the summer months free and faith journey was when I was 17. to surface at that stage in my life, journey really spoke to me. He Sea of Japan. It’s about as far east ‘Come and See’ weekends, which are sent to another friary outside That year my mum gave birth to my reaction was that I was young, said that he had heard a call but as you can go in Russia. I got my give the experience of living with New York. So, in the summer of my youngest sister, Emma, who only 17, and I was just going to had almost put on ear muffs to love for travel and venturing off the Brothers for a few days. The 2016, I was sent to Derry to spend has Down’s syndrome, and just live my life and ignore this; which block it out, and that was exactly into the unknown from my dad. beautiful thing about the friars the summer with Fr Columba, Fr after this a lump was discovered in I did for about three years. what I was doing. That day, as I He always encouraged my twin was that I never felt that they were Isaac, Fr Thomas, Brother Patrick mum’s neck which turned out to After High School, I went watched and listened to the friars, brother and me to travel. These recruiting me. They just wanted to and Brother Seraphim. I had an be cancer. I remember our family on to university in Sydney I was pretty sure that if marriage days, both he and mum are great help me discern if God was calling amazing couple of months here. really shifting with regards to and got a degree in Business wasn’t for me and I was going to examples of trusting God to take me. It felt special and that there was our prayer life at that time. Mum Administration. Through all these join a community, it would be the care of everything, no matter By the end of that semester, I had something for me here, but I didn’t began rising early to pray and our years, I was trying to keep God at CFRs. what. enough information and enough know what that meant at the time. family was praying more together arm’s length, so to speak, but I was I finished my degree but, in the In Russia, we were involved in clarity. I had spent a lot of time in I remember flying back to New too. still going to Mass. last month of university, I felt a a number of things with the local Adoration during that semester as York feeling really renewed and That same year, I met a young One day, our parish priest real strong desire and some kind church. It was really a mission to well and that is where that deeper excited about finishing my studies Jesuit priest, who was in his 30s. announced that there was going to of inspiration to settle the question the poor in that city. We visited clarity and conviction that God and getting ordained. In the days He came to visit our school and be a week-long parish mission in about vocation. I was only 21, hospices where conditions were was calling me, not only to be a before I left, people were saying I saw something different and the evenings. Our family decided but I wanted to give myself and horrendous. People were dying priest but a Franciscan, had come to me that I would be back and alive about him. He had a peace to go every night together. It God some space and time to and only had the bare basics of from. There was a little Perpetual that they would be praying that I and a joy, and was just so natural was led by a Redemptorist priest make it clear. I had been listening what they needed. We did quite a Adoration Chapel on the campus, would be back. when discussing his relationship called Fr Joe, and, again, I just to cassette tapes of American few visits to different hospices and where I was able to go any time of Derry with God. I was amazed that his found that there was something theologian, Scott Hahn, which my to the homeless on the street, as the day or night and pray before I remembered quite a few people relationship with Jesus seemed to about him; he was alive and mum had given me. During my well as the local high school and the Blessed Sacrament, and that on my return and was surprised be the most true and meaningful joyful. My brothers, sisters and university days, I was a courier a soup kitchen for the homeless. was so important. I was able to that they remembered me. It relationship in his life. He was I were the only young people driver and drove all around It was really a mission to bring sort through my feelings for the wasn’t quite like a homecoming a witness of someone in love at this Mission, so Fr Joe must Sydney delivering magazines to Jesus to the poor there. We did girl I had met and was friends but it definitely felt like a return with God and he was free. We have seen something and came Real Estate agents, and I listened some evangelising with words with. It could have been confusing to something familiar, which has reconnected years later and are and introduced himself, and we to Scott Hahn talking as I drove and preaching, but also with our but that clarity and confidence of been great in helping me settle still friends today. got chatting. He became a good around. It was like a formation presence and through getting the call of Jesus to really follow in. It certainly made a difference The third significant thing to friend of our family and we had of my faith while I was driving. I to know them and sharing our Him as a priest/friar was given having spent those months here happen that year was the impact him over for dinner often in the was getting catechised by a great resources with them. I was 22 at there in Adoration. in 2016. The Derry hospitality, on me of a novel I had been years that followed. teacher of the faith. that time. It was at the end of my So, after the mission trip to generosity and welcome are a reading, about a missionary Fr Joe invited my twin brother Steubenville first semester in Steubenville and Russia, I returned home to great gift. London is a big multi- priest who had been given two and I to a silent retreat and it was After finishing my degree, mum was a very interesting experience. Australia and then joined the cultural city and less personable, years to live and was sent by his during this time that he taught me suggested out of the blue that I go The girl I mentioned was also on CFRs in New York, in September less friendly in general, so it was bishop to a native American how to pray and listen for God’s to the Franciscan University of this mission but I think God was 2006, as a postulant. Those first really beautiful to be welcomed village, somewhere in Canada. I voice in the Scriptures. The biggest Steubenville, where Scott Hahn getting me in touch with a deeper five years before making final here by people coming with food remember finishing the book one fruit of that retreat was that I was teaches. I hadn’t been thinking desire than marriage – to follow vows is a period of discernment. and cakes. evening, and then walking into the genuinely open to God’s Will, about going there, but when mum Him wherever He leads in a total It’s kind of like an engagement... I arrived on June 8 to join Fr room where my twin brother was whether it was marriage, religious said this to me I began to think way. By the end of the trip, I knew you can always leave. While there Isaac, Fr Thomas, Fr Charles and saying that I thought God was life, priesthood or anything else. of it as a possibility. So I decided I was going to join the Franciscan were struggles and trials during and Brother Benedict in the calling me to be a priest. I wasn’t There was a real openness and to apply, thinking I probably community that I had been that period, I had this underlying community here, and Fr Columba visiting in New York. certainty that this was my path. before he was assigned to England. The Redemptorist priest, Fr Joe I may not have looked back but With Covid-19 restrictions, I have was an old friend of Fr Benedict I still thought about the ocean a not been able to do much yet. So, Groeschel, who was one of the six lot...waking up in the concrete the ministry so far has been fairly founders of the Franciscan Friars jungle of New York, I certainly organic; encountering people of the Renewal, and one night he missed the ocean and surf. on the street, at Confessions and got Fr Benedict on the ‘phone to I made my final vows in 2011, Mass in St Joseph’s Church. talk to me and my brother. I had five years after joining. I went to This has been a bit challenging got a sense of their community the seminary in 2012 and was as I was expecting to hit the from their website and felt drawn ordained for the priesthood in ground running. However, I think towards them in a way I never felt 2018, aged 35. I was assigned to it is the new season that we are towards diocesan priesthood or the community in London for moving into – it has been a slower any other religious community. two years, before being assigned time for us in terms of ministry. So, when I was at Steubenville, as the local servant here in Derry, Within our community, we feel I drove the eight hour journey which I was delighted about that this is from God to give us to New York to spend weekends as, four years ago, I spent the time to listen and really hear what with the friars. During those six summer with the community it is that He is calling us into, so months, I had been in touch with New local CFR servant, Fr Francesco, second left, with Fr Isaac, Fr Thomas, Bro Benedict and Fr Charles at the Galliagh here in Galliagh. Seminarians that when we open St Pio House, Friary. the CFR vocations director and THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 25 we are following Him rather than Derry. We are anticipating that scroll of the Prophet Isaiah and be a place where we can gather blazing our own trail. It is helping there is more to come. reads: “The Spirit of the Lord is on to worship God, and there will us to clarify both the vision and I would love to continue our me...He has sent me to proclaim be music. In the Gospels, when mission that God is calling us to. presence in St Brigid’s College. freedom for the prisoners and Jesus goes to a place, the people The work on St Pio House It is just a joy to be with the recovery of sight for the blind, to are amazed at the way He teaches started the year after I left and it sixth formers who are in that release the oppressed, to proclaim with authority and heals all who is almost finished now. We are critical time in life. Derry is full the year of the Lord’s favour”. come to Him. And because of hoping to open in January. I’m of amazingly beautiful and gifted Then he rolls up the scroll and what they experience all give so grateful to God and every one people and we have a desire to see says, “Today this scripture is praise to God on His account. So of His people who have been them flourish. fulfilled in your hearing”. that is the hope, that God will be involved in the project, because I remember hearing one time That scripture is really speaking praised as all of us here in Derry through each of them God has that Assisi, in the Umbria region to us at this time. All of the baptised become more and more fully provided for every aspect needed of Italy, where St Francis was are given the gift of the Holy alive, because this is the reason for the work. We have been blown born, was known as the Italian Spirit, but so many of the baptised we’re alive – the glory of God. away by the generosity of the Galilee. I find the similarity in the don’t know that they have gifts (The Franciscan Friars, in people and have a real excitement names of Galilee and Galliagh an and charisms. We want to help Galliagh, continue to have their about what God has in store for interesting connection; maybe people discover the gifts that they First Friday Healing Nights, with His people through that place. Galliagh can also become a little have, so that they can give them the December service to be online We have a real sense that God Galilee, where the goodness and away with joy. We feel that there because of Covid restrictions. Fr wants to bring renewal and do power and love of Jesus is not will be such a renewal in the area Charles will give the main talk and amazing things in the life of the only spoken about, but really and St Pio House will be a place Christy McQuaid will provide the people. All of us brothers have an experienced in our midst. where that can happen; where music. The Living Disciples Prayer excitement and a growing sense I am reminded of the story the Gospel is shared, community Group is still meeting only online, that God is going to continue to in Luke’s Gospel of Jesus in the is lived, God’s people are served, through Facebook, on Tuesday do something wonderful here in Synagogue, where he opens the healed and empowered. It will nights at 7.30 pm.)

Derry Carmelites respond to suffering and upheaval of Covid-19 pandemic by instituting... Novena to the Divine Child him may not be lost but may have traced back to the 14th century that Jesus gained during his 12 in the path of faith, hope and love, eternal life.” (John 3:16) in Europe, with several depictions years of childhood by asking the in the footsteps of Christ, As Christians, perhaps we are in paintings and statue form Divine Child to help us. the eternal priest, who offered in need of a change of mindset venerated in many Churches In 1636, Our Lord made a Himself on the cross for the life of that opposes the world view that throughout the world. promise to Venerable Marguerite the world. Amen. has almost eliminated the birth of Child of Prague of the Most Holy Sacrament that the Christ Child from Christmas. Over many years devotion and became famous: “Everything Remember in prayer: However, it most certainly is an personal communal veneration that you want to ask for, ask occasion for Christians to exclaim has taken various forms. Probably for it through the merits of my Fr John McDevitt (Dec 1st) with great joy, as the angel told the one of best known in Europe childhood and your prayer will be Fr Micheal McGavigan (2nd) shepherds “that a savior has been and Ireland is the devotion to h e a r d ”. Fr Kevin McElhennon (3rd) born to us; He is Christ the Lord”. the Infant Child Jesus of Prague. In many Carmelite monasteries Fr Daniel McFaul (4th) (Luke 2:10-11) Indeed, many Irish homes will or convents, an old tradition grew Fr Dermot McGirr (5th) This novena will have a unique place the ‘Child of Prague’ statue up of placing the image of the Dr James McGrory (6th) aspect to it, mirroring the in a prominent window, facing infant Child Jesus, which would be Fr Brian McGoldrick (7th) Carmelite tradition of housing outside, for protection of the placed in the crib at Christmas, in Fr Neil McGoldrick (8th) the image of the Child Jesus in home and all who live there. A a nun or monk’s cell for one night. a nun or monk’s cell prior to it tradition, still very much prevalent This was part of a nine-day novena, Fr Patrick McGoldrick (9th) being installed in the crib. The in Ireland, is to place it outside in during which, they prayed and Fr James McGonagle (10th) image of the infant Child Jesus the garden on the eve of a bride’s venerated the infant Child Jesus, Pope’s monthly Fr Edward McGuinness (11th) THE Discalced Carmelites in will be carried to nine homes, in wedding and pray for protection reminding themselves that the Bishop Donal McKeown (12th) Termonbacca, Derry, is instituting nine different local areas, by an from inclement weather on whole purpose of the incarnation intention Fr Con McLaughlin and Fr George a Novena to the Divine Child escort of volunteers. It will stay the day. Many devotions to the was ‘the word becoming flesh and McLaughlin (13th) this year, which will run from overnight in these homes each infant Child Jesus will focus on living among us’ (John 1:4). The Holy Father has asked for Fr Peter McLaughlin (14th) December 15-23 and will be day of the Novena. This journey in protection from harm of one sort So, in following on from those prayer during December for: streamed live from the Retreat Msgr Ignatius McQuillan (15th) many ways will also call to mind or another. rich associations and traditions Centre each evening at 7.30 pm, Fr Peter Madden and Fr Anthony the journey of Mary and Joseph The Carmelite Order has a of the Order, the Discalced writes Denis McGowan. A life of prayer: Mailey (16th) to Bethlehem to be counted in rich tradition of devotion to the Carmelites in Termonbacca With its strong emphasis on We pray that our personal Fr Gerard Mongan (17th) the census; a journey of some 90 Child Jesus and can trace their decided to institute this Novena to protection from harm, the family relationship with Jesus Christ miles. beginnings back to the hermits the Divine Child in the lead-up to All priests(18th) and young people, it is very fitting be nourished by the Word of The novena will comprise of nine that lived on Mount Carmel. Later, Christmas this year. Fr Aidan Mullan and Fr Kevin that the Novena is to be introduced God and a life of prayer. evening Masses celebrated by the when the Carmelites spread out in Whether you are taking part Mullan (19th) in this time of pandemic, with Carmelite Fathers and followed by Europe, they carried the devotion or not, the Carmelite Fathers are Fr Michael Mullan and Fr Patrick Covid-19 causing much suffering the public Novena prayers. Prior to the Divine Child everywhere. encouraging that old Christian Mullan (20th) through serious illness, death, and Prayer for Priests to the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass, at It was most popularized by St tradition of placing a lighted Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless Fr Seamus O’Connell (21st) impact on lives and livelihoods. 11 pm, the image will be installed Therese of the Child Jesus and the candle in the window of homes in our bishops and priests and to Fr Joseph O’Connor and Fr Colm The Novena to the Divine in the crib. Everyone is encouraged Holy Face, known popularly as Derry for the entire nine nights, as confirm them in their vocation of Child highlights the real meaning O’Doherty (22nd) to take part and join in the Mass St Therese of Lisieux, St Teresa of a sign of hope in the midst of this service. of Christmas - that Christ has Fr Kieran O’Doherty and Fr Brian and devotional prayers, placing Avila and St John of the Cross. pandemic and as a welcome of the As they stand before us as come among us. It presents for O’Donnell (23rd) their daily intentions before the Following the example of their infant Child Jesus into your homes ministers of Your Sacraments, us all, as believing Christians, Fr Francis O’Hagan and Fr Patrick Christ Child. This Mass will also founding saints, St Teresa of this Christmas. They are also may they be channels of the love an opportunity to be still and be streamed live via Termonbacca Avila and St John of the Cross, encouraging those taking to erect and compassion of the Good O’Hagan (24th) ponder the incarnation and what Facebook and YouTube. the Discalced Carmelite Order and display a crib prominently in Shepherd, who came not be served Fr David O’Kane and Fr Patrick that event means to us today. It While there is an emphasis on has made the point of explaining their homes. but to serve. O’Kane (25th) provides time for personal and the protection of families and that the devotion to the infant Novena prayers will be Give them the grace they need to Fr Peter O’Kane and Fr Kevin family prayer and allows us to young people during the Novena, Child Jesus is not the belief that available from Termonbacca or respond generously to you, and Mulhern (26th) refocus our attention on the Christ everyone, who can, is invited to an image made of plaster, metal or by going into the Termonbacca the courage to proclaim your Fr Arthur O’Reilly (27th) Child, the nature of His coming - join along with Carmelite Fathers wood, will perform a miracle for Facebook page or emailing Word of justice, love and truth. Fr Michael Porter (28th) born in a byre – and, importantly, in Termonbacca in this first us, because images cannot work [email protected]. Bless, in a special way, why He came. Fr Sean O’Donnell (29th) Novena to the Divine Child. miracles for anyone. It is an image Those living close can call up to Your servant The answer to that question is Fr John Ryder and Fr Gerard The Novena has a long tradition that helps us call to mind and to Termonbacca and collect them. provided in the Gospel of John, Sweeney (30th) dating back centuries in many honour the first hidden 12 years of Please note if doing so, masks will Father.... “Yes, God loved the world so Dr Joseph Varghese and Fr John countries throughout the world. Jesus’ life on Earth, His childhood need to be worn before entering Send your Spirit upon him much that he gave his only Son, The religious images can be years, and to draw from the merits the Monastery. So that he may always walk Walsh (31st) so that everyone who believes in 26 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020

The Stable and The Cribsby Vera McFadden coming from Bethlehem, people through woodland and been young age, I was deeply aware that did not know that it had been parked in a clearing. We were no matter how carefully I drew, I fulfilled. That was soon to change. going up to Grecio for Mass in could never achieve the beauty of Visitors came to the stable – the little church that held the cave. the Child and His Mother. This shepherds, who knelt in adoration I looked up at the top of the hill. is surely emphasised in the third of the child and excitedly told of It was quite a distance away. Then verse of ‘Silent Night’ – ‘Silent great glory in the sky, of wonderful I looked at the steps. They were night, holy night, Son of God, music, of hosts of angels, of the short, even and roomy. I felt that loves pure light. Radiant beams great news of the Saviour’s birth, I could go up at my own pace, for from Thy holy face with the dawn of how they had been directed my walking was still quite slow. I of redeeming grace, Jesus Lord at to come and find Him wrapped told my friend to go on with the Thy birth, Jesus Lord at Thy birth’. in swaddling clothes and lying in others. I really enjoyed my climb, We never tried to make a crib. a manger. And Mary pondered stopping every now and again to There was a war on and everything these things in her heart. And admire the beauty of the wooded was scarce. Packaging in those there, in that animal shelter with valley below. I was in time for days was remarkably simple. One all the sweat and odours about Mass and afterwards we visited time, there was a cardboard box in ST Luke’s Gospel tells us about it, they knew that all Heaven was the nearby crib museum and saw our house and it served as a cart, the birth of our Lord...“She gave rejoicing with them and they cribs of various sizes from all over cradle, container, or something birth to a son, her first born, and adored the Child, overcome with the world. They were behind glass else, depending on who was she laid him in a manger because joy by it all. along the corridor. There were playing with it. We thought it was there was no room at the inn.” So, Later, other visitors came to few buildings in the area, but the the most wonderful thing ever to we know that Jesus was born in an welcome the child – wise men who city of Grecio was hidden from come into the house. animal shelter, for the manger was had journeyed an exceedingly our view on the other side of Years later, there were more a container for their food. long distance, bringing special mountain. cardboard boxes and a variety I remember once, at a gifts for Him. St Matthew’s Gospel The second time we went to of materials with which Hilden Christmas Mass, a priest pointing tells us that the star they had been Grecio, the itinerary was very could make their own herbs – out that the baby Jesus being following stopped over the house badly organised. We left Dublin paper, corrugated cardboard, pipe placed in a manger, a feeding where the Child was and, when airport at four o’clock in the cleaners, Plasticine, felt, paper trough, was very symbolic for He they went in, they found the morning and, on the way to Assisi, mache, twigs, moss, straw, and would eventually offer Himself Child and His mother and they we were to stop for Mass at Grecio. lichen. as food for His people in the worshipped Him. My eyesight had deteriorated When the little clay and plastic I have found some cribs very inspiring memories of the crib in Eucharist. We are not told that Mary was rapidly for three weeks before figures came into the shops, inspiring. There was the outdoor the Guildhall Square, and made Traditionally, there was an ox in a different place. Some of the the journey and I was to have families were able to have their crib in the garden at St Anthony’s little ceramic pictures of it, that and an ass in the shelter. When people who had come to register an operation one week after my own little cribs. Ours was always Retreat centre, and the torchlight included Shipquay Gate and some my mother told us the Christmas may have gone home again, and return. I had been thinking of put on top of the piano. My procession there, with the of the Guildhall. story, she said that the animals so the Holy Family may have cancelling my journey but was brother made a plywood stable Joyful Mysteries and the carols. The most meaningful crib that had knelt. They are not even been able to get more suitable told to go anyway. When we got for it and painted a little window The rural setting and nearby I have ever seen is the perpetual mentioned in the Gospel story, accommodation. Otherwise, they to Grecio, I began to climb the at the back. A tinsel star was hills added to the wonder. The one at Rossnowlagh. All the but surely their presence can be were still in the animal shelter. steps. The courier passed me and attached to the middle of the roof. Columba Community also had an outdoor prayer gardens there are taken for granted. The manger St Claire of Assisi once had a told me that I should not make I still have the little crib that outdoor crib outside the window beautiful, but this one has a wealth indicated at least one resident vision of the birth of Jesus when the endeavour. She was surprised we had when my children were of the Adoration Chapel in Queen of symbolism. Near the entrance, animal, and Mary and Joseph she was singing in the choir, and when I told her I had been there growing up. A friend gave me a Street, to remind passers-by that there is a statue of St Bernadette would most likely have used one it was St Francis of Assisi that already, after I had rehabilitated gift of a beautiful, white, porcelain this was the anniversary of His kneeling. She is looking upwards. to make their long journey more created the first crib. He wanted following my accident. I went up crib from Fatima. There were birth. A little distance away, there are comfortable. to remind the people of the great another stretch, but then decided no shepherds as it was a little The Austins building at the two flights of steps, one going In chapter one of the Book of discomfort and poverty of Our that I was keeping my friend back Christmas crib and there were Diamond was always one of to the right and the other to the Isaiah, we can read the following Lord’s place of birth. because I was being slowed down touches of gold on the edges of Derry’s architectural gems. It was left. Either of these leads to a – “The ox knows its master, and The first crib was on the top due to my limited sight and the the clothing. Unfortunately, as one of the first stores to display a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, the ass its owner’s crib, but my of the hill at Grecio, in Italy, on lack of rest. I told her to go on and they were being moved from the crib. I will always remember when the Immaculate Conception. people do not know me, they do Christmas Eve, 1223. Thomas very carefully manipulated my cupboard upstairs to the table the beautiful, almost life-size This is where Bernadette was not understand.” The two animals of Celano told of it. St Francis way back down, telling a passing downstairs, they broke. However, figures appeared in the big window looking. Behind Mary, there is a in the shelter at Bethlehem could wished to create a deepened man to ask the priest to bring me two paper clips held the heads at Ferryquay Street. I stood there representation of a scallop shell. have been given an awareness, just awareness of the great discomfort Holy Communion. and bodies together and no one examining every detail. Sadly, the The other half of the shell contains as centuries later an ass would fall and poverty of Our Lord’s place There was another lady waiting noticed. I added some shepherds store has been closed for a long a pool of clear water, with a to its knees in adoration before of birth. Francis had also been on the bus. As we sat there and and angels of various sizes, a time, but coincidently once, a fountain in the middle. The shell the Eucharist which St. Anthony born in a stable, near his home. A prayed and waited, I could see the couple of sheep, a church, a house, few evangelists standing by that represents the special protection had brought. passer-by had knocked at the door little statue of St Francis sitting and a little coniferous tree. window were offering gifts of from sin that God gave to Mary. Mary and Joseph felt great of their house and told Pica, his with his walking stick at the A few years ago, I was given lovely bags to passing shoppers. This singular privilege, the adoration and awe. They knew mother, to go there when the time bottom of the steps. His feet must knitted crib figures, some of them On one side the reason for Immaculate Conception, made that this little boy was the Chosen to give birth was approaching, have been very sore. He had had about eight inches long. They Christmas was shown – a picture her worthy to be the Mother of the One, the Son of God made man. and she did. an operation on his eyes also and, had been made by Fiona, a friend of the globe and the words, “For Son of God. She was the Chosen God had revealed that to them. Francis asked Sir John Valette on my last visit to Italy, I had been of my daughter. The little wool God so loved the world that He One. The water represents purity, He had also shown the baby’s to organise the people. He was in the upper room of an ancient manger had its own blanket, and gave up His Only Begotten Son so grace and the action of the Holy identity to Elizabeth, and the child the Lord of Grecio. They came, house in Fonte Columbo where it the figure representing Mary had that all men who believe in Him Spirit. The steps on both sides lead in her womb, nine months before climbing up the steep mountain had taken place. been made with the left elbow may have eternal life.” to a spot near a stable and cave- the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. to the cave at the top. A donkey When I was a child, the only bent so that the baby could be held Everyone loved the crib in the like shelter and beautiful Nativity Nobody else knew. Although and a cow were brought, and crib in Derry was in the Nazareth there also. Where could I put it? Guildhall Square. It seemed to figures. There is a great feeling of there was a prophecy about Him a woman and man and a baby House. It had been there in 1898, The only place left was the corner bring a greater joy to our town. peace. The message of Gabriel is represented the Holy Family. It and there is a photograph of it in of the kitchen by the end of the big We gathered near it for the pro– fulfilled. Jesus is born, and it was was an experience that they would ‘Derry Columbkille’. During the table. Two low tables would hold life candlelight procession on for this that Mary was preserved remember for the rest of their Christmas season, our parents the figures, but some background the Feast day of The Immaculate from all stain of sin. lives – the wonder of it – on this took us there to pray by it, and was needed. Fortunately, I had Conception. We went over When our churches began anniversary of the Nativity, the many families did likewise. been saving cardboard rolls in Foyle Street, up Orchard Street, to display cribs, everyone was prayers and the singing, and how Apart from this, our reminders case I got some creative impulse. turning the corner into Castle delighted, and family groups it emphasised the hardship of the of the Nativity came from stories These provided a wall for the crib, Street and then into Linenhall gathered beside them. They Holy Family. at home and in school and, of and a fence, with a couple of posts, Street, then walking towards the were placed in different parts of Grecio course, from the graphic word on the uphill approach, for one Diamond, round it, and down the church; whatever position I visited Grecio twice. The pictures in the carols. table was lower than the other. Shipquay Street, and back to the was thought the most suitable. first time we were on an outing Sometimes we drew a picture A tinsel star placed above and a Guildhall Square. We had been Several years ago, I remember a from Assisi, several weeks after of the stable and star, the Holy tinsel angel on each side provided saying the Rosary and singing live donkey being brought in one I had a pin removed from my Family, the angels, shepherds and a little more atmosphere. hymns, and it was reminiscent of of the side doors of St Columba’s ankle. Our coach had been driven kings. I remember that, even at a Inspiring Lourdes. My artistic daughter had Church, Long Tower, and taken THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 27

around the left-hand side of the the Christmas Mass, spent the altar, where there was a nativity Christmas period with his parents by Fr John McLaughlin pageant at the front of the church. and then went up the mountain An Advent like no other Advent It was very well behaved. to the monastery with his teacher LIKE I would say to others warm reception they were given. take joy and hope for Advent out different for me in their meanings The crib was moved a few and a friar. They had one shared many times, “Where are you Can I ever forget the ‘phone call of that pastoral initiative! through the Masses of this Advent. years ago in St Columba’s Church donkey between them. this Advent?” Ronaldo Muñoz, from Margaret that sad day as she On the Columban front, there And a big hope that one lady to beside the Padre Pio statue. Everybody loves the crib; it the lovely man and theologian prepared me for the news of the were many moments of hope and has just expressed to me that When Padre Pio was a boy, he reminds us of new beginnings of my times in Chile, used the tragedy...“Of course Father, you thanks. Lay Missionary, Kevin her mother, Noreen, in a home remembered that St Francis had and helps us to reflect on the birth phrase ‘tejer pueblo’; put the know them!” There was almost Sheeran gave a lovely narrative in Fahan, might be once again created the first crib and he and of Jesus. No matter which is the pieces together from your own immediately a ‘phone call from from Hong Kong of getting away around the family table with them a friend then made a little crib, favourite crib or what it consists experiences and its many strands, Dalgan and I could not get the from General Administration for this Christmas. She is surely guided by his parents. When I was of, none of them can equal the weaving in the strands of the words out. and venturing on a soup run not alone in that, as people worry in Pietrelcina, a low shed, on the one which St Francis created national consciousness from its Seeing the recent coverage of amongst the poor in the city. over the welfare of their mothers other side of the little road and in 1223. And even that cannot own reality. the planting of a little tree in the Places that my own nephew and and fathers. near Padre Pio’s parental home, recapture the wonder, humility What are the strands in my life? Community School, I read it with his children there will hardly ever Finally, why not share, once had figures, crib and background, and poverty of the stable in the Almost all spent in Moville and wonder and gratitude. Surely there see, not least the attractive leader more, the poem I put on my which included the hills and city first nativity...“Away in a manger with a Columban worldview and is a hope and a gratitude in my living like a philosopher whom Christmas card for the beginning of Bethlehem. It was beautifully no crib for a bed the little lord Church experience. own, and others’, lives from all this Kevin encountered amongst the of the year 2000? A friend even illuminated. When Padre Pio Jesus laid down his sweet head”. There was the absorbing and bravery, for this Advent. vagrants. Kevin had the same quoted me on the Late Late was 15 years old, he served indelible celebration and funeral This Advent and Christmas, dedication to the poor in his time Show…leading to confusion in my of John Hume, passing through we, in Moville, will miss the care as a Lay missionary in Santiago, family, as to whether I had become Moville on a very wet night, with and the presence of Fr Paddy and in my own former parish on a poet–author overnight! hundreds on the roadside in McGoldrick after spending 22 the hills of Valparaisa; a calm and silent tribute to a prophet for our Advents here, his simplicity and gentle listener whom they had time and whose legend will never measured reflection on all the loved. Our time is now tarnish. events in the life of the Parish On one morning recently, as There was that awful tragedy, community, fire-tried in his own I celebrated Mass in my sitting Dark and cold we may be, but where Geraldine Mullan became a personal faith; an embedded room reading from the texts on my this is no winter now. national figure, in grief and in the memory in the lives of so many iPad, I finished saying aloud the The frozen misery of centuries nobility of her mourning, shared families and individuals. Another final collect, “through Our Lord breaks, cracks, begins to move, by friends in Dublin and Moville, strand to be woven into my Advent Jesus Christ”, only to be startled The thunder is the thunder of people the world over, in the wreath, surely. by a voice that came apparently the floes; streets and on the Zoom. Another positive memory of the form the iPad…“I am unable to I had seen the same family Covid comes in the form of a little locate the item ‘Through Our Lord The thaw, the flood, the upstart in the pews in front of me on a video sent on by a Dublin priest Jesus Christ’, but I will continue to Spring. Good Friday, first as a possible colleague, Fr Paddy Gleeson. It search in the Web to locate your Thank God our time is now distraction, then bemused and showed St Mark’s in Tallaght, item”. Here, to my shock, spoke When wrong comes up to face admiring as she, Geraldine, helped where we both served, but this time Alexa, now a cultural figure to us everywhere. Amelia through the ceremony and in the care of Fr Patrick McKinley many young people on the media, Never to leave us till we take sang everything that could be sung and his curate. They took out their but hardly putting forward an The longest stride of soul men in that celebration. We smiled chairs to the car park and a book ‘item’ like that! and women ever took. warmly at each other at the end for comfort for two hours, on three Maybe some of us know a little Affairs are now soul size, of that Good Friday service, me afternoons, and heard confessions. more about Jesus the Saviour to The enterprise is recognising John from the Garden And there was no lapse to read bring us into and through this Exploration unto God”. Centre. Later, with the Legion of any book while waiting. Fr Patrick Advent actively and prayerfully. Mary, I shared the story as they had been an altar boy while we Isaiah and his words still hold a (Christopher Fry- ‘A sleep of told about taking the Statue of Our both served in his home parish in challenge to a world that is more prisoners’) Lady to that family’s house and the Marino. Could we older men not than slightly adrift. They will be

A Word of God for your Family Life Ambition by Fr Johnny Doherty, CSsR restrictions imposed on us by the theme ‘Ambition’ has been chosen Sacraments of the Church and we parents of their children’s friends leaders, will express his hopes and Covid-19 virus and the urgent for this month of December. St all have a stake in it as Catholics. give to them. Are your ambitions dreams for the next year. What are need to protect ourselves and Paul writes in his first letter to the The marriage relationship stays purely centred on material things, yours? How would you like to see one another from contracting it. Corinthians: “Be ambitious for the very alive when husband and wife on success, on advancement? the world in twelve months’ time? This may be a real blessing for us higher gifts” and then places love are working together to make it How much of your ambition is What can/will you do about it in because we can now focus on what at the top of all of those. We need happen. You can only work at focused on wanting your children order to bring that dream at least Christmas is really about and on to place it there also. a marriage when you are going to grow and live in freedom, in some of the way to reality? where we most need to celebrate somewhere with it! So many joy, in faith, and in the security It is easy to have vague hopes Christmas, in our homes and What is your ambition for your couples simply settle down and of knowing they are accepted about things. This generally shows families. own life in the year ahead? get into a rut. It becomes dull and and forgiven and admired? That when we spend our time blaming That may seem a strange dreary rather than being strong ambition might mean some others and even God for the way Look where you are going! question to you, but it could be a and wonderful. Where do you as changes with your time, your things are. When we develop At this time of the year, the very important one. What would a couple want your marriage to attention, your ability to show ambitions in all these areas, we are nights are closing in quickly, the you like to have accomplished be this time next year? How will them your love. immediately involved ourselves temperature drops and there by this time next year? So many you work at bringing it there? For and it is in that involvement that THE month of December marks is need for heavier clothing, people just drift along year after those of us who are not married: What are your ambitions for the we experience life to the full. for us, as Christians, the beginning and nature takes on a certain year and are surprised at so how will you encourage married Church in the year ahead? of another year in our journey of bleakness. All of this tends to much that happens – sometimes couples to work on their marriage This may seem another strange Ambition in the Word of God faith. With the first Sunday of force us to look inwards and to surprised even to find themselves not just for their own sake but for question to you, but it is one that The ambition for us in the Word Advent, which we celebrated on withdraw into ourselves. still alive! the sake of the Church and the both laity and clergy need to learn of God is that the future will November 29, we begin to prepare Towards the beginning of the Life will always hold surprises, world? to ask and to pursue. The Church always be better than the past ever for Christmas and the coming year, either Church or calendar, but they are more enjoyable has been given so much power for was. We can see this, if we look of Christ, the Son of God, in our we can be inclined to look back when we are going somewhere. What are your ambitions for the world by Jesus Christ. Much for it, in every celebration of the human flesh. But we are also at what has happened or not Where are you going in your life? your children and the children of it remains unused because we Eucharist, especially in the Sunday preparing for beyond Christmas happened in the year just gone. Is it leading to eternal life? Is that of your parish, in the next year? do not have ambitions for setting celebration each week. Day, to the Baptism of the Lord Sometimes, what we see there anywhere in your ambitions or is Parents always want the best for it free. What would you like your It is up to us to grasp the and His mission to the world on gives us joy and comfort. Some it just a vague hope for you? their children, and it pains them parish to be like this time next possibilities that are there for us January 10. of what we see might fill us with when they are not able to give year? How could you contribute to and to commit ourselves, week by In this we are reminded of our regret or anger or self-blame. What is your ambition for the them as much as they want. That bringing it to that point? week, to all that is good and best own mission, to bring Christ to Faith teaches us to keep looking Sacrament of Marriage in the pain will be experienced by many for ourselves, for one another in the world through the way we live ahead, to see all the wonderful year ahead? parents in the next few weeks What is your ambition for our marriage and family life and in our lives in marriage and in family possibilities that are there for us This is a valid question for all of if they cannot give what their world in the year ahead? our faith communities, so that the life, and in our parish community. in God’s love for us and our love us, whether we are married or not, children want for Christmas, or At Christmas and the New Year, world may believe and give praise This year, Christmas is going for one another. That is why the since it is about one of the great maybe cannot give as much as the Pope Francis, among many world to God. Happy New Year! to be different because of the 28 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 It is a holy duty to hand on the faith by Roseann O’Donnell the treasures of Heaven and, if we Talking with teens autobiography, that “mental prayer claim those treasures, we will have Allow your teenagers to ask is nothing else...but being on terms at our disposal all the necessary questions and to express doubts. of friendship with God, frequently means to become saints, and to A young person whose questions conversing in secret with Him help others to become holy as well. are not answered, might not ask Who, we know, loves us”. Mental Remember what Jesus said: “Is again, but they might look for prayer is sometimes also referred there anyone among you who, if information elsewhere, which to as the ‘prayer of the heart’. In your child asks for a fish, will give leaves them open to false teaching. fact, St Therese, the Little Flower, a snake instead of a fish? Or if the If you don’t know the answer wrote that, in her opinion, “Prayer child asks for an egg, will give a to your children’s questions, tell is an outburst from the heart; a scorpion...how much more will them so. Most young people will simple glance directed towards the heavenly Father give the Holy respect an honest response, rather Heaven”. No-one understands this Spirit to those who ask him!” (Lk than a made-up answer. Look for better than children. They can pray 11:11-13) the answers together, maybe using from the heart without much need Roseann O’Donnell Family prayer is not expected to YouCat (a Catechism for young for guidance. They don’t use big IN a recent homily, Bishop Donal replace the Mass; nor are parents people, which is also online). You words or fancy imagery - love and presented an interesting challenge asked to take on the role of the could also have a look at such intention are all that are needed. to the people of the Diocese, when priest - that would be impossible. YouTube channels as Ascension Sr Breige McKenna, in her book, he observed that: “Limitation in Instead, we are asked to claim Presents, which posts videos on a ‘Miracles Do Happen’, tells of a church attendance means that the the grace which comes from our wide range of topics, ranging from family whose youngest child was is God’s time and that we show better understanding of prayer as domestic church has to take on a spiritual adoption as sons and how to pray to questions such as very seriously ill. She advised the love when we give Him all our a loving conversation, rather than greater part of handing on the rich daughters of God, Our Father, and ‘How far is too far?’ (when dating). parents to pray together as a family attention instead of taking calls or as something to be got over with treasure of faith”. to use it well. Let us ask our Father If you want to develop your with their children, and to ask the reading texts while the Mass is in so that you can get on with your What does that mean? The in Heaven for what we need, and own knowledge of the faith, have older children to pray for their progress. day. If God is invited into the daily website of the Diocese of trust Him to give it and to help us a look at any of the excellent online little brother’s recovery. *Deal with any potential activities of the family, He becomes Cincinnati defines the “Domestic to use it to good effect. resources, such as: Every evening, they did as Sr distractions before Mass begins, so more familiar and a welcome part Church”, as “the family, the A very practical way to witness Discerning Hearts - www. Breige had asked, and the parents that you can stay focused from the of the day, rather than a remote smallest body of gathered believers to faith within the home, or family discerninghearts.com/catholic- were surprised to find that their opening prayer until the priest has entity to be kept at a distance. in Christ”, adding that “the home setting, is by having an attitude podcasts/ children had no awkwardness left the altar. There are many other ways to [is] fertile ground for discipleship, of joyful reverence for the Mass. Ascension Presents - or difficulty in praying for their *It is helpful to pray for a few share the faith, if we just have sanctification, and holiness”.Now that the Sunday obligation https://www.youtube.com/ sibling. The child’s condition minutes before Mass begins, confidence to do it. For example, (http://www.catholiccincinnati. has been (temporarily) suspended, channel/UCVdGX3N- continued to worsen, but the asking the Holy Spirit, the Blessed during lockdown, a lot of people org/ministries-offices/family- every family member has a golden WIJ5nUvklBTNhAw family persevered in prayer and, Mother, your Guardian Angel and shared their beautiful prayer life/family/parenting/what-is-a- opportunity to witness to the Home of the Mother (Sr Clare after almost a year, the child’s the souls of those you will pray spaces online. The prayer space, domestic-church/) value of the Mass by attending Crockett’s congregation) - website condition - which had been for during Mass, to help you to like the work space or the TV- What does that mean in practical anyway - not because we have has a section for youth: https:// very serious - began to improve. to, but because we want to. We pray well. With that practice, it watching space, can help to focus www.homeofthemother.org/en/ As he continued to recover, the are no longer compelled by duty; will become easier to stay focused the mind. Again, it might give rise about-us/hmy family maintained their daily now, when we attend Mass, we are during Mass. to useful questions from family YouCat (not just for young routine of prayer and, even after impelled by love. You can also ask your family members. You don’t have to be an people!) - youcat.org the tumour had disappeared, the There are, of course, many who members to think of an intention expert theologian to answer the Bible online - https://www. older children never left the house cannot attend weekly Mass for for the Mass and encourage them questions. Just be sincere and keep biblegateway.com/ without having prayed with their a variety of reasons - even in to put that intention into the it simple! Ask the saints! parents and the younger children. ‘normal’ times. However, most Chalice at the Consecration. It Some ideas for the prayer space: The saints are our friends in The parents told Sr Breige that have the opportunity to ‘attend’ is said that our Guardian Angels *Don’t clutter it up with too Heaven, and many of them led the experience had changed their online, or on TV, giving us the bring our intentions to the altar many pictures and other objects, interesting lives before becoming family for the better. Prayer space. opportunity to demonstrate, by during the Eucharistic prayers. but have a central focus, eg the holy! It can be encouraging to learn Teaching children the joy of This is also a good opportunity to Sacred Heart picture, the Divine terms? Well, the term, ‘disciple’ our manner of participating, how their lives turned around, conversing with God is, perhaps, explain Jesus’ death on Calvary and Mercy image, a crucifix or a statue (from a word that means ‘to the great value that we place through grace. You could start one of the most precious gifts the resurrection, explaining that of Our Lady. learn’) usually refers to anyone on the Eucharistic sacrifice. It with your name saints, or with a we can give to them. Prayer is a the bread and wine really become *You could keep your Rosary who follows Jesus Christ and takes no more than a humble favourite saint. What do you know treasure that will never lose its His Body and Blood. Jesus made beads there, along with your shares His message with others. demonstration of reverence and about your Confirmation saint? value and that nobody can take an unimaginable sacrifice for us, prayer book, if you use one, so that ‘Sanctification’ means ‘to make love during participation, whether Children’s books can be an away from them. It is the doorway so the power of the Mass is beyond they are easily accessible. holy’ and ‘holy’ means to be set at home or in the parish church. excellent way to find out about the to a lasting relationship with God our understanding, especially *A blessed candle is an apart for God. Suggestions lives of the saints. There is a wide who loves them, and it is a gift when we have difficult or painful appropriate addition, along with So, the ‘domestic church’ refers to Below are some suggestions, range of inexpensive books and that will last them a lifetime and intentions to place before the Lord. a small bottle of Holy Water or a any household where people learn relative to the celebration of Mass colouring books by Fr Lovasik beyond. When we have nothing, *Reflect on the Mass readings Holy Water font. about God, choose to follow Him online, which can help to add a which can be ordered online or we still have God. in advance and invite the Holy *Finally, make sure that your and share His Word, and grow spirit of respect and devotion to found in the shops of our local The Rosary Spirit to explain them to you. If seating/kneeling arrangement in relationship with Him. This the online participation in the monasteries and religious goods Fr Peyton, the ‘Rosary Priest’ you Google ‘Mass readings today’, is comfortable, so that you don’t is, undeniably, something worth Holy Mass: shops. In addition, if you are on coined the phrase, “the family that you should find several websites spend your prayer time focused on striving for, but how can it become *Prepare your prayer space. Facebook, you can find pages prays together, stays together”. The which provide the readings. There sore knees or a creaky chair! a reality? Maybe put your laptop or tablet dedicated to the saints, such as family in Sr Breige’s book certainly are also apps which send you the *Overall, the prayer space can be It is a holy duty to hand on the on a white cloth, or simply light ‘Portraits of Saints’, to name but seem to have proven that maxim. readings every day. Have a look as small or big, plain or elaborate faith, and we have been given all a small candle and place it beside one. These post short descriptions There are many ways to pray - at the links at the bottom of this as suits your personality, finances the necessary means to do it. We your TV or computer. This shows of the lives of the saints, usually on either individually or as a family - article. and available space. might be tempted to think that, that we’re not just ‘watching’ a their Feast Days. and, while it is a very good thing to If you have small children, Be ready to explain to family because most of us are neither video or TV programme, but You can explain to your children teach children to pray in their own explain in advance, that you are members why this space is catechists nor theologians, we giving the Mass its due place of that the saints help us from Heaven words, it is equally good to teach going to spend time with Jesus. important, but keep it simple. This are ill-equipped to take any honour. and that, if a child has a saint’s them the value of vocal prayer, or Do what you would in the chapel could be a beautifully simple way responsibility for handing on *Dress for Mass. This shows name, that saint takes a particular praying formal prayers. to keep them occupied, eg an age- to witness to your relationship the faith. However, as baptised respect for God and helps you to interest in the soul of the child and Some people complain that the appropriate Mass book or Mass- with God. I still have memories of Christians, we are commissioned feel that you are attending a special will pray for him or her, especially Rosary focuses too much on Mary, themed colouring book might be seeing my father kneel in prayer to share God’s message of salvation. event. It also shows the younger when the child asks for prayers. the Mother of Jesus. However, a useful. Explain what is going on. by his bed each morning, before We are also re-commissioned at family members, or the older, Take delight in learning with very little observation will show *After Mass is ended - this he started his day, and I am still the end of every Mass, when the cynical members, that the Mass is your children and don’t be afraid that this is not so. In fact, when might be a good time to take a encouraged by the simplicity and priest tells us to, “Go in peace to something important that you will of their questions! There is a lot of praying the Rosary, we meditate few minutes to thank God for humility of that gesture. He had love and serve the Lord”. take part in, rather than something freedom in saying, ‘I don’t know’ on the life of Jesus. The advantage His blessings and to pray some a simple faith, but it was deep. When He gave us the Holy to be ‘watched’ with detachment. because then you are free to learn of praying the Rosary is that we simple family prayers. If your Many times, the memory of it has Spirit in Baptism, and again in *Turn off your phone before together without feeling that you focus on the life of Jesus in the children hear you ask God to given strength to my own faith, Confirmation, God did not merely Mass begins, and keep it off until have to be the expert. company of the person who knows stay with you all throughout the especially when it has been weak stamp us with a label marked after the final blessing.You can Pray Together Him better than anyone - except, day, they might grow to have a or challenged. ‘Christian’. He gave us access to all explain to your children that this St Teresa of Avila writes, in her of course, God the Father and the THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 29

Overall, the Rosary is an that the angels are messengers despise one of these little ones; for, learn with them, asking the souls excellent way to introduce the life of God, who are also our friends I tell you, in heaven their angels of our loved ones, our Guardian of Jesus through prayer, and an and our protectors. It is a good continually see the face of my Angels and the three Archangels, easy way to introduce the prayer opportunity to warn young people Father in heaven.” to help us, and if we pray for one of meditation. Even one decade against the dangers of taking part The angels are our friends. We another and, most importantly, prayed with love, perhaps with a in occult practices. There is no won’t get to know them through love Jesus in the Eucharist, in His Scripture verse between the Hail need to be sensationalist, or to cards or fortune tellers. There are Word and in each other, we will do Marys, will help anyone (young over-emphasise the dangers. It can fallen angels who long to bring more than we can ever imagine to or old) to reflect on the mysteries be enough to say that, in Scripture, us into error, but if we pray to the hand on the rich treasure of faith. of Christ’s life and love. Even the we learn the names of only three angels in Heaven, whose names we Let us claim our inheritance as youngest child can have his/her angels - Gabriel, Raphael and know, and to our Guardian Angels, the sons and daughters of God and, own beads. Michael. who are also in Heaven, they will as His children, let us stride out in Holy Souls Michael, whose name means, delight in teaching us about God faith, trusting Him to provide us St Teresa of Avila Teach your children about St Therese of Lisieux. ‘who is like God’, is the one who and helping us to know Him, to with all that we need. Purgatory. Many people, defeated the rebellious angels and grow in right relationship with Useful Links: Holy Spirit. nowadays, refer to those who they have left us? Moreover, we who helps us when we are tempted Him and, ultimately, to take our Daily Mass Readings - Google If the full five decades are have died, as being in Heaven. know that the souls love to pray or in danger. We can invoke him as places in Heaven. For, as Scripture ‘Today’s Mass Readings’. Google too much for your children or Purgatory is hardly mentioned, for those they have left behind. a powerful protector against evil. says, “In my Father’s house there ‘9 best Catholic apps for 2019’. teenagers, choose one decade and yet the saints such as Padre Pio, They cannot pray for themselves, St Raphael accompanied Tobias are many dwelling places. If it were Apps - Laudate; Universalis.com; pray it slowly, but first talk a little prayed unceasingly for souls. In but they can pray for us. We can on his journey, on behalf of his not so, would I have told you that I MissalDaily.com; Magnificat (also about the Mystery and/or show a fact, Padre Pio was often visited by help each other, then, by praying father, Tobit. It was Raphael who go to prepare a place for you?” (Jn available by post, in booklet form - picture that illustrates it. the souls of the dead, who begged for each other - they for us and we helped Tobit regain his sight and 14:12). daily readings and short reflections You can find the mysteries of him for prayer. for them. We can also offer little he is often invoked for healing. His Witness on the saints and on aspects of the the Rosary here: https://www. St Faustina, in her diary, tells of (and large) sacrifices for them. name means, ‘God has healed’. We have been given many faith). catholiccompany.com/mysteries- visits from souls, including those Children love to show love, so it The angel Gabriel, of course, opportunities to witness to faith. Roseann is from the parish of of-the-rosary/ and here: https:// of Sisters in her own convent, who would not be difficult to tell them appeared to Our Lady, bringing If we teach our children to pray to Moville, where she is part-time www.catholic.org/prayers/ had not gone directly to Heaven. that a little sacrifice made with her the message that she was God as Father, if we attend Mass sacristan. She is also a lecturer at mystery.php. The Catholic Catechism tells us love, consoles the heart of God to become the Mother of Jesus. every Sunday (in person or online) the North West Regional College, There are also YouTube channels that Purgatory is a “purification, so and helps someone in Purgatory - His name means, ‘God is my and do so with joyful respect, if we in Derry. dedicated to prayer, which include as to achieve the holiness necessary maybe someone that they loved. If strength’. Gabriel is mentioned learn the basics of our faith and the recitation of the Rosary, with to enter the joy of heaven,” which is the loved one is already in Heaven, in the Angelus and his words are share them with our young people, images to help you focus on the experienced by those “who die in the sacrifice is not lost, as it will go used in the Hail Mary - it was he if we answer their questions and Mysteries, and a virtual set of God’s grace and friendship, but towards helping another soul, or to who greeted Mary with the words, Rosary beads to help you keep still imperfectly purified” (CCC helping someone in this life who “Hail, Mary, full of grace”. count. No need, any more, to count 1030). https://www.catholic.com/ is struggling with temptation or Each of us has a guardian angel on your fingers, if you can’t find tract/purgatory. some other difficulty. whose task it is to help us get to your beads! https://www.youtube. If someone is loved in this life, The Angels Heaven. In Matthew 18:10, Jesus com/watch?v=sSy77qPkgRE why would we not love them after Finally, we can teach children says: “Take care that you do not Shaun Doherty reviews Fr Neal Carlin’s latest book... The Eagle, the Tiger and Covid Imaging God Re-calling Ireland of an eagle a month earlier. The who works good out of evil. The Indian’s wisdom and humility author invites us to visualise, pray touched Sean deeply and propels and work not only for a reformed him to seek him out so that he can church, but for the island of better understand his philosophy Ireland where unity and mutual of life. respect for differences allow for In the searching, Sean reflects real and lasting peace. on his own alcoholism, faith, Fr Brian Grogan SJ, in reviewing loves and losses, and gains some the book, commented: “The insights into the “new normal.” author condenses a lifetime He reconnects to a philosophy of wisdom into this book. It and way of life that has already will stretch your imagination, been tried and tested in the early challenge your values and broaden Celtic Christian communities your heart.” that once thrived in Ireland, and ‘The Eagle, the Tiger and evangelised millions in Europe. Covid’ may be purchased from Celtic Saints like Colmcille, whose the Iosas Centre Muff. Telephone faith was fuelled by a powerful 0749384866/00353749384866; contemplative lifestyle, fired Sean’s and later will be available from imagination. bookshops and the Columba Radio Maria – Sean Conway has a Kairos Community’s other centres. moment during the journey, A great faith resource which leads him to stop, to pray and move to the margins. He by Sarah Moynihan reconnects with the poor and the addict that is in all of us. He AS Ireland’s gently growing of apostolates and local Church sees a new model for church in Catholic Radio Station, Radio activity. WHILE lockdown has presented not just for those searching for Maria has been extraordinarily We are learning together how many challenges for people, Fr meaning in today’s society; its the Christian Community in the Native American reservation, providential for these trying times important the digital realm is in Neal Carlin set himself a challenge. fiction fact novel-based format and is bringing tremendous solace the work of evangelisation in the He decided to write another book! is a thoroughly gripping and where the wisdom of the elderly is valued and the young are initiated and sound faith formation to a 21st century. Set in the context of a grim, Covid fascinating piece. great number of people, thank May I take this opportunity to gripped Ireland, Fr Neal takes us The book describes the journey into healthy, wholesome choices. Sean Conway has listened to God. extend the service of Radio Maria on a journey clearly based not undertaken by Sean Conway, a Most popular among our to all readers of ‘The Net’. We seek only on his vivid imagination, retired journalist who goes in another voice that speaks when one is truly silent and able to listen. daily programming is prayer – to be an extension of parish life and but weaved intricately into real search of the Native American the Holy Mass, Liturgy of the a real support and encouragement life experiences that offer an Indian prophet who spoke, back That voice, he discerns, is inviting us to change. “The sheep who Hours and Rosary. There is of to clergy, religious and laity alike. insight into today’s culture and in 1987, on the Late Late Show of a course a lively mix of chat and Do please tell your friends about tomorrow’s possibilities. “good omen” for Ireland, following belong to me listen to my voice.” The book exudes hope in a God music each day, and a plethora of this great faith resource. The story is an engaging read the flight from the USA to Ireland Fr Neal Carlin, Columba Community. interesting testimonies and stories 30 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 St Teresa of the Andes – Part IV Suffering and dying with loveby Fr Stephen Quinn OCD T is hard to believe that we are now in the very the solemn Mass was finished Teresa thanked her prioress and for drinking a little water. She never and the Blessed Sacrament was community for the confidence that indicated what might be bothering teeth of Christmas, given all that has unfolded exposed for adoration. The Mother they had shown in her. her. And her infirmarians do in this last year. It is not a difficult assessment Prioress noticed nothing that was After April 7, 1920, Teresa’s not remember her giving them toI make that this Christmas is quite unlike any that particularly alarming or even delirium became more severe the least hint in this sense. She we have known before. The Coronavirus pandemic out of the ordinary; Sr Teresa as her disease came to its awful obeyed, even concerning the most simply demonstrated her habitual climax. The pain that she was in painful and mortifying things. She has imprinted this time, usually dominated by light recollection and contemplative seemed to grow exponentially always had a smile on her lips and and excitement, with the gloom of sickness, death, spirit. She remained in the chapel and there was no pain relief that a thankful word for her sisters. Sr and empty seats at the table. beside the Lord as He literally could touch it. Convulsions began Teresa believed herself unworthy sweated blood for the sake of the to shake her body with awful of such attention and care.” We, here at Termonbacca, are originated in the primitive World until one in the morning. regularity. There was but one rally What are we to make of such not immune from this grief. We conditions that continued to When Teresa returned to her little after that point. On Saturday, April a commentary on Teresa’s death? lost one of our own, early on endure in the newly founded cell, hidden from the gaze of her 11, they celebrated Mass in her Is this simply what happens in the pandemic, to this deadly monastery at Los Andes. In Teresa’s community, she discovered that infirmary room. The nuns noticed whenever someone dies, in order she was so exhausted that she that she sang out with a particular to be polite, a person air brushes disease. It would be an obscenity to day, the disease was incurable. St Teresa of the Andes. pretend that all this did not happen Even in these times of rapid was too weary to even fall asleep, beauty and she was able for the out all the negative stuff, and talks she only managed a few hours of first time in days to recognise up all the positive? You hear it all bemoan our ‘luck’, we only see it as and that it does not continue to advances in medicine, unless this darkness and loneliness, and as an burn through other families at disease is caught at an early stage fitful sleep the whole night long. her sisters who came to celebrate the time at funerals, but I do not On Good Friday, she rose with the Eucharist with her. That very think that it applies in this case. end in itself. Surely, we can see that this very moment. Baubles and and medicines prescribed rapidly, that means there cannot be any oil tinsel cannot make us forget! It is the patient cannot be expected the community and followed the afternoon she slipped into a coma These are the words of someone schedule of the day without a that she did not wake from until who had sat at a bedside, at close in our lamps, there is absolutely maybe a moment to throw away to live more than a few weeks. nothing to light our way through the trifles of so many celebrations The disease incubates in its first complaint. She spent three hours just a few moments before the end. range, and had carefully taken in prayer and meditation, she sang The sisters gathered around her in the details of a sickness and a sickness, coronavirus, pandemic, of Christmas and to return to stages, giving few signs that there is and even death. the great truth of these days that, anything at all wrong, only in the strongly during the solemn liturgy, to recite the prayers of the dying. death. Mother Angelica had no and she remained in prayer in the Some observed Teresa as she interest in manufacturing a fake Teresa shows us the way out of because of the Child, death is third stage does the patient become the darkness that surrounds this overturned and humanity can live aware of the serious situation that chapel before the exposed crucifix awoke for some moments and they heroine. The behaviours that on the altar. saw that “her gaze was upward, her the prioress carefully recorded, pandemic. From her own sickbed for ever more. they are in, and in the final stage, she points out the light. She shows In the little, insignificant child this terrible disease races to its Again, it was only sometime face shone, she seemed to radiate although good in themselves, have later, when she had returned to intense peace and even joy at such a significance beyond the value us how to fill our lamps with oil. that was born in the grime and fatal conclusion, with pain and She tells us that no matter what straw of a stable in Bethlehem, the sufferings that are excruciating. her cell that she felt the same a moment.” The end came to her at of each; they were indicators for exhaustion overwhelm her. 7.15 in the morning on April 12, the prioress of how Teresa was comes, we should not take our Lord God repeated the words that Teresa, in her reading of the lives eyes away from the everlasting love He had already spoken through and books of the Carmelite saints, Her novice mistress, with her 1920. internalising what was going on in customary astuteness, guessed that Teresa’s last month is, indeed, this tragic situation. Teresa was not of God. He will not come in our the lips of the Prophet Jeremiah, “I had become aware of Carmel’s tried and tested rationalisations; have loved you with an everlasting witness in regard to suffering and all was not as it should have been a sad and painful story; in being just surrendering to the inevitable, with Teresa. When she came to that it could simply be one of passively undergoing this trauma, instead He will come in the most love”. Only this time, He made death. She was utterly familiar unexpected and unorthodox places those words that He spoke become with the testimony of Elizabeth Teresa’s cell, she noticed that her many. How many other people and or even waiting for death. Teresa’s face was extremely flushed. She families have been through exactly silence, her resignation, her and manners but, no matter, His flesh and blood; tangible enough of the Trinity. Elizabeth had said everlasting love goes on shining for the Virgin Mary to reach out in the midst of her own terminal believed that Teresa had a fever the same excruciating experience, serenity, and her selflessness, were and ordered her immediately to even in the last few weeks and days? her action, her response, and her on us. He is coming. He is always and hold. And, in response to that diagnosis of Addison’s disease that coming. child, the human heart can only “there is an interchange of love that bed. The doctor was called for The fact that Teresa’s story ends in a language as she faced the situation and only then did Teresa reveal sad tale is not of particular interest head on. These responses came By living sickness with patience, exclaim with St Paul, “What now takes place only on the cross.” And silence, selflessness and serenity, can come between us and the love it was with these words ringing in that she had been feeling ill for a to us here. Neither do we take together to form an ‘oil’ that she number of weeks. She said that she sadistic pleasure in the details of placed in her lamp to welcome not we can turn these ‘terrible’ of Christ?” Teresa’s ears that she made the turn moments into what St John of the There is one perturbing aspect into Holy Week 1920. In the holiest had simply accepted this illness her pain and suffering. Rather, we death, but Life. To welcome the as a cross but now felt guilty for are fascinated in what makes this One who was coming to her in this Cross calls a “sweet encounter” and about that love, it never seems week in the Liturgical Year, Teresa allow Christ to come up close to to come to us in the ways that attempted to personally respond keeping her superiors in the dark, tale stand out from other multiple most unexpected manner. and attempted to ask forgiveness of stories. To correctly interpret Teresa’s us. St Teresa did this and she was we imagine and plan. It always to the invitation of the Lord to His transformed into a human being in seems to want to come in the most disciples in Gethsemane; “keep the Mother Prioress. Accepted decline and death, we have to put Six different doctors were called It was Mother Angelica who put it in its proper context. Jesus, in whom Christ renewed His whole unexpected and unrecognisable watch with me”; a request to keep mystery. The Church recognised fashions, just as it did in Bethlehem. company and walk with Jesus successively, each attempting to her finger on what stood out as Matthew’s Gospel, shared with reduce her fever without any real different, as she sat all those days us a parable about two distinct that fact on March 23, 1993, when Who would have thought to look as He made His journey from Pope John Paul II canonised her a for the King of kings in a stable? Gethsemane to Golgotha and to success. The last of the doctors beside Teresa’s sick bed. Mother groups of ten bridesmaids: one diagnosed that Teresa had Angelica wrote, “One never heard group brought lamps with oil to Saint of the Church. The unexpected andthe garden of the Resurrection. Now the only thing that remains unrecognised Love of God came Cross perforated typhus in its final stages. her complain through all this or burn in them and the others did By Easter Week, Teresa was slipping to ask for anything which would not. The group that brought no oil to be said is a question for each of to Teresa of the Andes in the most Teresa said of herself that she us: What are we prepared to do shocking way just ten months wanted “to be a little Cyrenian” for in and out of consciousness, relieve the pain. She accepted for their lamps are representative she was at times delirious with everything and refused nothing, of the manner so many of us are with the witness of St Teresa of the into her first year as a Discalced Jesus; to be like Simon of Cyrene Andes? I suggest to you all to ask Carmelite nun. She was just in picking up this secret message fever and her body was racked painful though it might be. She did ‘doing’ sickness and death these intermittently by convulsions. She not show the least desire, not even days. Far too often, we surrender her to lead you to the Bridegroom, beginning her first Lent in the of her impending death and to go for He is coming to you! Carmel, when she had one more with it through the growing signs received Viaticum and Extreme for changing her position or even to the feelings of unfairness, we Unction, as her grip on life became of her regular experiences of the that it was all about to happen. St Teresa of the Andes lying in state. Eucharist. We do not know when This was her cross and she chose ever more tenuous. the experience happened, but we to carry it on her shoulders in Mother Angelica suggested that can guess that the Lord did as He love, walking directly behind her this novice, who had not lived in had done so many times before Lord. She said of this experience the monastery even a single year, and spoke with her about events of the cross, “In the shadow of should take her final and solemn that were about to transpire. The the cross all bitterness disappears. vows in danger of death. During only thing that we know for certain No one suffered as much as Jesus, a period of lucidity on April 7, she is that Teresa shared the message and from the cross He taught us to made her religious vows of poverty, with the Discalced Carmelite friar bear all with resignation, with His chastity, and obedience. She forced who was the confessor for the outstretched arms on the cross. He herself to speak the vows in a good monastery. The Lord had told her said to all ‘come to me, all you who loud voice and seemed to do so that she would die within a month. are bowed down by the weight of with a truly joyous spirit. Her Within days of this admission, she sorrows, because I will grant you community that gathered around had contracted typhus, a flea borne r e s t ’.” her sick bed was no longer blind, disease that slowly undermines its Teresa spent very nearly the they now realised that every word victims over a number of weeks. whole of Holy Thursday in prayer that she spoke cost her much This disease seems to have and, most particularly, afterenergy and pain. At the end of the hastily assembled ceremony, THE NET | DECEMBER 2020 31 feast and it is one of only three feast to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Children’s Catechism Club - C3 days on which the Catholic Church Joseph. We ponder their life together celebrates birthdays. The other two in Nazareth and pray for our own by Veronica Harley are the births of the Blessed Virgin families. Hello children. C3 welcomes you to the month of December. name. Each of these names begin Mary and John the Baptist. All three The Gospels do not tell us anything This is a very exciting time of year as we prepare during Advent with ‘O’, for example, ‘O Come O of these birthdays have one thing about Jesus’ life when He was Come Emmanuel’. They are called in common – John the Baptist, the growing up in Nazareth. The last for the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. The month of December O Antiphons, which means they are Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus were story St Luke tells us is the finding is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, which prayers which are sung or chanted. all born without Original Sin. of Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:41-52) is celebrated on December 8. They are seven jewels of liturgical Christmas is a special time when we and so we have the hidden years of signifies the eternity of God’s love for song which sum up all our Advent gather together to celebrate the Birth Jesus’ life (CCC514). We know that us (with no beginning or end) and longing for our Saviour. The O of Jesus. We exchange gifts in our during this time Jesus’ relationship the candles represent hope and light, Antiphons tell us the different names homes and give thanks to God for the with Mary and Joseph helped Him which Jesus brings into a dark world. which speak of Christ (listed below) wonderful gift of His Son to us. as He grew to maturity, increased in The fifth candle is lit on Christmas and also highlight the prophecy of wisdom and found favour with God. Day as a symbol of Christ, born as the prophet Isaiah, who foretold the The Holy Family provides us with the Light of the world. coming of the Messiah. If you take a perfect model of how to live: they the first letter of each name and loved God and one another. Families write them backwards, you get “ERO are like ‘schools of love’, for within CRAS.” This means “Tomorrow, I our families we learn how to receive will Come”, in Latin. and share love (CCC 2207). God’s love is transmitted to us through Dec 17: O Sapientia (Wisdom) the love of our families, through Dec 18: O Adonai (Lord and Ruler) the ordinariness of family life, God Dec 19: O Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse) is present. The family has been Dec 20: O Clavis David described as the domestic church (Key of David) (CCC 2204) - a place of ecclesial Dec 21: O Oriens (Dawn of the East) community and a communion of Dec 22: O Rex Gentium persons, an image of the Triune God. (King of the Gentiles) Holy Family of Nazareth, grant Saints of the Month Dec 23: O Emmanuel (God With Us) that our families too may be places St Ambrose – December 7 of communion and prayer, authentic Immaculate Conception St Lucy – December 13 Christmas Day schools of the Gospel and small On the Feast of the Immaculate St Stephen – December 26 Christmas Day is celebrated Feast of the Holy Family domestic churches. Jesus, Mary and Conception, we celebrate and honour St John – December 27 every year on December 25. The The Feast of the Holy Family is Joseph graciously hear our prayer. the holiness and innocence of Mary. word Christmas comes from the celebrated on the first Sunday of Amen Our Catholic faith teaches us that Traditions - O Antiphons combination of Christ and Mass; it is Christmas. This feast day is dedicated God kept Mary free from original During the season of Advent and the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ sin. She was conceived immaculately, Christmas, there are many traditions (CCC 525). This was the day Jesus which means that from the moment which we carry out in our homes; was brought into our world to reveal of her conception she was free from lighting the Advent wreath, putting God to us. Christmas is a very special original sin and in a state of grace, up the Christmas Tree and decorating pure enough to be the Mother of our home with holly or tinsel. The Jesus (CCC 490-493). She was a most important tradition is giving fitting tabernacle to hold within her our family crib a special place in our the body, the flesh and blood of Jesus home, so we can welcome the baby our Saviour. When we receive Holy Jesus on Christmas Day. Since Advent Communion, we also hold within us is a time of preparation for Christmas the Body and Blood of Jesus, so we Day, it is also important to pray, read should try not to sin and to be pure the Word of God from our bibles and and holy like Mary. praise God by singing. Our faith has a beautiful tradition which begins on The Season of Advent December 17 every year and ends ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make on December 24. This tradition is straight his paths’ (Matthew 3:3) known as the O Antiphons. This special time in Advent is known as 13. The tradition of kissing under mistletoe is traced The beginning of our Church year is the ‘second part of Advent’, or the Quiz Time with Lawrence back to which ancient Greek festival? 14. Which former ‘Friends’ star is currently appearing in marked with the season of Advent. ‘Golden nights’. 1. Which political figure has a residency called the TV sitcom ‘Man with a Plan’? The word ‘Advent’ comes from the Every night, eight days before Steward’s Lodge? 15. The names of which two of Santa’s reindeer translate Latin word adventus which means 2. In which European country are modern Christmas Christmas, we ask Christ to come in German into ‘Thunder’ and ‘Lightning’? lights said to have originated? ‘arrival’ or ‘coming’. It begins four and we call him by a different 16. What was the name of Don Quixote’s fictional horse? 3. Which US state is nicknamed the Peach State? Sundays before Christmas and ends 17. Excluding the Pacific Islands, which country is the 4. What two books of the New Testament detail the on Christmas Eve. Advent is a season first to ring in the New Year? account of the birth of Jesus? of preparation for Christmas. It is 18. Which television programme, still broadcasting 5. Name the Everton and England goalkeeper who was a time of reflection and hope as we today, was the very first show to air on Channel 4? in the news last month for a tackle on Liverpool’s 19. Who played Kris Kringle in the 1994 remake of keep in mind both ‘advents’ of Christ, Virgil van Dijk? ‘Miracle on 34th Street’? the first in Bethlehem and the second 6. To which UK city was Chris Rea travelling when he 20. The 1999 book, ‘Tis a Memoir’ is a sequel to which at the end of time. came up with the song ‘driving home for Christmas’? bestselling novel? 7. Which country has applied to re-join the British 21. Dave Edmunds topped the music charts 50 years ago Commonwealth, having left it in 2003? The Advent Wreath this Christmas with what song? 8. What is the French name for Santa Claus? The use of the Advent wreath, with 22. In which Canadian province is the city of Montreal? 9. What type of building is the Spanish ‘Biblioteca’? 23. In which 1996 Christmas film did Arnold the five candles, has been a tradition 10. In what year was the UK’s most recent widespread Schwarzenegger star? for hundreds of years. The wreath is white Christmas? 24. Which Christian holy day is celebrated 40 days after a symbol of the four weeks in which 11. Who played the lead role in the 2003 movie, ‘Bad Christmas? we prepare for the birth of Jesus, with Santa’? 25. From what Christmas Carol does the lyrics, ‘Sacred a candle being lit each week; three 12. The Cotswolds, in Gloucestershire, provide the infant all divine, what a tender love was thine’ come? purple candles and one rose candle. backdrop to which UK horseracing course? The green branches remind us of the Quiz Answers: 1, The Irish Taoiseach. 2, Germany. 3, Georgia. 4, Matthew and Luke. 5, Jordan Pickford. 6, Middlesborough. 7, Zimbabwe. 8, Pere Noel. 9, A library. new life we have in Jesus, the circle 10, 2010. 11, Billybob Thornton. 12, Cheltenham. 13, Saturnalia. 14, Matt Le Blanc. 15, Donner and Blitzen. 16, Rocinante. 17, New Zealand. 18, Countdown. 19, Richard Attenborough. 20, Angela’s Ashes. 21, I Hear You Knocking. 22, Quebec. 23, Jingle All The Way. 24, Candlemas. 25, See Amid the Winter Snow. 32 THE NET | DECEMBER 2020

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