Download This Months Net Magazine
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE NET | MARCH 2021 1 ISSUE 63. MARCH 2021 PRICE - £1.50 The NET /€2.00 Sharing fruits of faith in Derry Diocese See inside... “Joseph’s rest revealed God’s will to him. In this moment of rest in the Lord, as we pause from our daily obligations and activities, God is also speaking to us...But like St Joseph, once we have heard God’s voice, we must rise from Sacramental Preparation – McGill Family our slumber; we must get up and act.” (Pope Francis to families in the Philippines, 2015) Chastity Book – Derry Teen Writer Exodus 90 – Derry prayer friends Prayer Vigil – St Eugene’s St Patrick’s Way – Bernie Doody, Omagh Leaving Lagos – Fr Peter McCawille, Dregish Vocations Prayer – Fr Declan McGeehan, Cappagh in focus in People Owen Doherty – Derry Maria Doherty – Buncrana Tanya McHugh – Donegal Roisin Doherty – Derry Frs Donal & late Terry Bennett – Omagh Also featuring: Derry Youth online, Youth 2000, Young writers feature, New online sisterhood, Sr Clare week of prayer, Lenten comments feature from around the Diocese, Irish Page, Children’s Catechism Club, Quiz...and much more... 2 THE NET | MARCH 2021 Contents Pope Francis encourages us all to make use of the CopiesParish of ‘The Net’ will deliveries be available in parishes again Sacrament of God’s rich and abundant mercy after restrictions, as a result of Covid-19, are lifted. Reflection on the Sacrament of Reconciliation by Bishop Donal by Bishop Donal ............................................................................p2 Preparing for Divine Mercy Sunday by Mary McMenamin ....................................................................p2 Crazy atmosphere, staying up late and singing together... A reflection on the Pope’s prayer intention for March...‘Sacrament of Reconciliation. - Owen Doherty reflects on his faithand Youth 2000 ......p3 Lockdown with Youth 2000 .......................................................p3 Lenten focus for Derry Youth online .....................................p3 Let us pray that we may experience the sacrament of reconciliation with renewed Forever grateful for unique way depth to taste the infinite mercy of God’. God’s Grace brought into our homes by Jennifer McGill ..........................................................................p4 DURING the lockdowns, January 6, 2001, Pope John distress occurs when people it comes with strings attached! Great response to virtual sacramental preparation people of faith have missed so Paul II wrote that it was cannot find that peace – and In the ‘Our Father’, we pray by Therese Ferry.............................................................................p5 much of our rich sacramental necessary that “Pastors Jesus offers it as a free gift. that God will forgive us our A real sense of strong prayer life. That was felt most acutely should arm themselves We should not underestimate trespasses – as we forgive during virtual Lough Derg pilgrimage in the inability to attend with more confidence,the power of those words, “I those who trespass against by Hollie Frystal .............................................................................p5 Victims and survivors of abuse Mass and to receive Holy creativity and perseverance absolve you from all your sins”. us. St Paul wrote that “God, remembered in prayer ................................................................p5 Communion. in presenting (the Sacrament As recourse to the Sacrament who reconciled us to himself But the ‘keep your distance’ of Penance) and leading of Reconciliation has fallen, through Christ has given us Young writers share thoughts on... - Confession message has made it more people to appreciate it.” (Novo the use of counselling the ministry of reconciliation.” - St Patrick difficult for churches to MIllennio Ineunte, para 37). services has soared. People (2 Cor 5:11-21). - Way of the Cross celebrate the Sacrament of This year, we will need a lot have not stopped needing We live in a very - Trocaire Reconciliation. of creativity and perseverance reconciliation. They have confrontational world. There - Lourdes - Catholic Education In many churches, the in order to respond to the simply turned to other sources is a temptation, even in some - Parish JPII youth in action ................................................. p6-9 Confessional facilities are hunger of many Catholics – – and are willing to pay church circles, to criticise and too small. Distance between and the need of many who feel substantial sums of money. burn bridges – and to take ‘Deirfiúr’ – online Catholic sisterhood launched by Derry-Donegal trio ........................................................ p10-11 Confessor and penitent burdened by their past! Pope Francis encourages pride in that. both for personal healing and meant that a low voice was The Sacrament ofus all to make use of the God has reconciled the for reconciliation between Exodus 90 feature... no longer effective – and that Reconciliation is focussed Sacrament of God’s rich world to Himself in Jesus. We people, there is a crying need – Empowering men to reach their full potential .....p12-14 has had a limiting effect on on facilitating reconciliation and abundant mercy. The are called to be ambassadors for forgiveness. That is what Vocations Holy Hour from Cappagh ....................................p14 where the Sacrament could be between me and God, me and forgiveness is free - and the for Christ, bearers of Pope Francis asks us to pray Diocesan Vocations Prayer ......................................................p14 celebrated. myself, and me and others. service is free! reconciliation. for in the final weeks of Lent Over 20 years ago, on So much mental stress and The mercy may be free – but In our current context, 2021. Set the embers ablaze by Fr Joseph Varghese ...............................................................p15 Derry teen penning book on chastity. ................................p15 Week of prayer to celebrate Sr Clare’s anniversary ......p15 Journeying with the Holy Spirit In preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday, Mary McMenamin writes... by Fr John McLaughlin SSC ......................................................p16 ‘Be kind to your mind’ Lenten talks .....................................p16 Jesus, in His great Mercy, is offering us Heaven in spite of Cuimhní Cóivide 2 Irish Page by Fr Oliver Crilly..................................................... p17 Lenten feature our sinfulness with comments from around the Diocese ................. p18-24 and water. she wrote that she heard am giving you three ways of Jesus told St Faustina, “by these words in her soul, “say exercising mercy towards Celebrating the priesthood of Fr Donal Bennett and his late brother, Fr Terry ................................................. p24 means of this image, I shall unceasingly the chaplet that your neighbour. The first - by grant many graces to souls”. I have taught you. Whoever deed, the second - by word, The Leaving of Lagos He wanted the world to know will recite it will receive great the third - by prayer. In these by Fr Peter McCawille .................................................................p25 Online Lenten workshops with Trocaire ............................p25 about His inconceivable mercy at the hour of death. three degrees is contained the Prayer for Priests. ........................................................................p25 mercy. Priests will recommend it to fullness of mercy and it is an Pope’s prayer intention ............................................................p25 In her Diary, St Faustina sinners as their last hope of unquestionable proof of love salvation even if there were for me. The first Sunday after St Teresa of Avila teaches Devotion to St Joseph wrote that she heard Jesus by Fr Stephen Quinn OCD ...................................................p26-27 speak to her. He said, “My a sinner most hardened, if Easter is the feast of Mercy daughter speak to the whole he were to recite this chaplet but there must also be acts of Every generation is a time of hurt world about my mercy. Let only once he would receive mercy”. by Bishop Donal ..........................................................................p27 Novena to Sleeping St Joseph ................................................p27 all mankind recognise my grace from my infinite mercy. Jesus, in His great mercy Grandparents’ March Faith Cafe ............................................p27 unfathomable mercy. It is a I desire that the whole world is offering us heaven in spite Mary McMenamin sign for the end times. After know my infinite mercy. I of our sinfulness. What a The ‘Patrick’ on the hill by Vera McFadden ...................................................................... p28 I feel it is appropriate at it will come the day of justice, desire to grant unimaginable wonderful gift; the gift of Jesus Christ, in atonement this time to remember the while there is still time let graces to those souls who trust complete forgiveness for all for our sins and those of the St Patrick’s Way – Come and be amazed messages Our Lord gave to them have recourse to the in my mercy”. our sins and of punishment. whole world. by Martina Purdy ........................................................................ p29 fount of my mercy. Let them In another part of the Diary, Hopefully, we will get the • On the Hail Mary bead say A pilgrim’s perspective St Faustina, which are taken by Berni Doody. ..........................................................................