THE NET | MAY 2020 1

ISSUE 54. MAY 2020 PRICE - £1.50 The NET /€2.00 Sharing fruits of faith in Diocese

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Building ‘New Normal’ – Cappagh “Do whatever He tells you.”

(John 2:5)

Drawing God – Creggan

Remembering Sr Clare – Derry

Lockdown Ministry – Greencastle Reflection Time – Music Ministry – Marriage Encounter – Derry in focus in People

Siuin Lafferty – Iskaheen Thomas McConway – Clonmany Michelle D’Arcy Burns – Culmore Helen Grant – Iskaheen Delma Boggs – Ballymagroarty

Also featuring: Youth ministry, Schools maintaining family links, Surviving lockdown, Tribute to late Fr John McNamara OCD, Marriage Encounter feature, Fatima reflection, Divine Mercy, Parish ministry, Irish Page, Children’s Catechism, Quiz. 2 THE NET | MAY 2020 Reflecting on the Pope’s prayer intention for the month of May regarding deacons, Bishop Donal Contents suggests this may be a time to consider... Parish deliveries Copies of ‘The Net’ will be available in parishes again Is God calling the Derry Diocese to introduce after restrictions, as a result of Covid-19, are lifted. Is God calling Derry Diocese to introduce Permanent Diaconate & Order of Virgins by Bishop Donal...... p2 Vocations’ Prayer...... p2 both Permanent Diaconate and Order of Virgins? Parish Post-its...... p2 “We pray that deacons, that Pope Francis recently set Iskaheen JPII student happy to spread Good News...... p3 Clonmany JPII parishioner going for Gold...... p3 faithful in their service to the up a Commission to consider Youth Ministry online...... p3 World Youth and Family gatherings postponed...... p3 Word and the poor, may be whether women might be an invigorating symbol for the ordained deacons. (Cf https:// Building ‘New Normal’ centred on Christ by Davog McCaffrey...... p4 entire Church”. (The Pope’s www.vaticannews.va/en/ Surviving lockdown by Lizzie Rea...... p4 Worldwide Prayer Network) pope/news/2020-04/pope-

St Mary’s family miss being together...... p5 commission-women-deacons. St Colm’s family caring for the Earth and each other... p5 ON May 23, 1976, in the html) Thornhill looking forward with hope...... p6 Pontifical Irish College in I would make three points St Columb’s maintaining spiritual focus...... p6 Rome, I knelt before Bishop about what role the Permanent St Cecilia’s keeps strong family link...... p7 Dominic Conway and was Diaconate might have in the Pupils’ faith development a priority at St Eithne’s PS...p7 ordained a Deacon. Eight years Diocese of Derry. Diocesan catechetical team go all out to keep focus on faith...... p8 after I entered seminary, this Firstly, there is clearly a Holy Family pupils keep linked into faith...... p8 was a big day. It involved taking growing need to find support Parish life – a natural extension of family life various promises, including for priests in the many tasks by Helen Grant...... p9 that of celibacy. But, for me that they have to take on. Drawing God – a catalyst for more God talk and my classmates, it was just Clearly, deacons might well by Karen Kiefer...... p10 What the children discovered...... p10 one more step in preparation be ‘useful’. But Diaconate is a

Children delight in drawing God for priestly ordination one year ministry in its own right, not by Thérèse Ferry...... p11 The gifts, joy and grace children bring to our Church later. That was the real goal. just a part-time help for priests. by Janet Forbes...... p11 But, in the last 50 years, Pope Francis is clearly

Abundance of happiness comes in real friendship with God there has been a renewed indicating that Deacons - Fr Stephen Quinn...... p12 Sr Clare’s family overwhelmed by depth of devotion. p12 discovery in the Church of would have a symbolic and the Permanent Diaconate as sacramental value in the Appreciation of unwavering support of priests by Maria Bradley...... p13 a ministry in itself – and not Church – and not just be extra Ministry in lockdown by Fr Eddie Gallagher...... p13 just as one stage on the way ‘man-power’. Men would be Bishop Donal to priesthood. Thus, many asked to discern a specific call Parish life in lockdown by Julia Fitzgerald...... p14 countries – and some dioceses to Diaconate and not just to fill already. These are not Online prayer important link for parish community by Fr Colum Clerkin...... p14 in Ireland – have ordained men gaps in a particular model of women who feel called to (often married) as Deacons to Church. join a religious congregation. Time of reflection in Maghera...... p15 Parishioners praise their ‘unsung heroes’...... p15 serve in their parishes. Secondly, Pope Francis, in Rather, members of the Ordo Generous hearts needed to witness to power of Good Shepherd’s love – Bishop Donal...... p15 They have gone through a his document following the Virginum live as ‘brides of Christ’ but go about their daily Christ, healer of the world, four-year period of preparation Amazon Synod, underlines make your home in my heart and study, and they are entitled the need to rediscover a range lives. They are specifically by Fr Oliver Crilly...... p16 to proclaim the Gospel and of ministries – ordained and mentioned in the early Church Irish Page – Criost Mhachaire Rátha and in modern Canon Law. (The Christ of Maghera) by Fr Oliver Crilly...... p17 preach, to celebrate Baptism non-ordained – in the Church. and Weddings. Some have also Writing to the Church in As with deacons, aspirants go Bellaghy blessed with amazing music ministry by Mgr Andy Dolan...... p18 been involved as hospital or Corinth, St Paul was clear that through a period of formation Papal call for Rosary prayer in May...... p18 prison chaplains, or they often “there are varieties of gifts, – and their Consecration is Fatima – more relevant than ever say the prayers at gravesides. but the same Spirit; and there normally carried out by the by Fr Noel McDermott...... p19 The Fatima Prayer...... p19 They may well undertake other are varieties of services, but Diocesan Bishop. (cf http://

None of us are safe until all of us are safe faith formation roles in their the same Lord; and there are www.vatican.va/roman_curia/ by Trocaire CEO, Caoimhe de Barra...... p20 community. Many parishes varieties of activities, but it is congregations/ccscrlife/ Online services big hit in Ardstraw East...... p20 – and older priests - have the same God who activates all documents/rc_con_ccscrlife_ Only mercy will drive us to rebuild life-giving communities of faith – Bishop Donal...... p21 benefited from their being of them in everyone. To each is doc_20180608_istruzione- Divine Mercy quotes...... p21 available. given the manifestation of the ecclesiaesponsaeimago_ Derry couple share marriage enrichment joy...... p22-23 It is for these men that Pope Spirit for the common good”. en.html) ACCORD offering free support line...... p23 Francis asks us to pray in May (1 Cor 12:4-7). As Pope Francis asks us to Holy Family teacher shares deep devotion to Our Lady pray for Deacons, their work – Delma Boggs...... p24 2020. And the Holy Father is In the Body of Christ, which specifically seeking prayers for is the Church, no individual and what they symbolise, “Do whatever He tells you” – A reflection by Fr Gerard Mongan...... p25 their ministry in the service of ministry stands alone. We are perhaps this is a time for a conversation about whether My faith story the Word of God and of the blessed in each other. We need by Michelle D’Arcy Burns...... p26 poor. each other. God is calling the Derry with the daily evening Mass celebrated in St Columba’s Derry mourns loss of beloved monk However, some people Thirdly, over this past year, I Diocese to introduce both the celebrated at 7.30 pm, and the Church, Long Tower, has - Fr John McNamara OCD...... p27 Permanent Diaconate and the Rosary will be led by Bishop been getting an amazing Prayer for Priests...... p27 have objected that ordaining have met a few women in the Pope’s Prayer Intention...... p27 deacons is simply ‘clericalising’ Diocese who have expressed Order of Virgins at the same Donal at 8 pm, with the focus response, with people tuning Boats that sailed more men - and sometimes an interest in becoming time. on St Therese reflections. in from not only across the by Vera McFadden...... p28 doing jobs that lay men and Consecrated Virgins. Can we make that another This will be followed by St Diocese, but the world too. Staying prayerful and open to God’s promptings women could equally well do. We have three Consecrated topic for our prayer at this time Therese prayers at 8.20 pm and The healing Mass is celebrated – Bishop Donal...... p29 A Word of God for Family Life However, it should be noted Virgins in the Diocese of challenge and change? Devotions, and then Night on Wednesday nights at 7.30 by Fr Johnny Doherty CSsR...... p29 Prayer at 9 pm. pm and is streamed live on Pope Francis celebrates 50th Earth Day...... p30 Mass for the Dead will Facebook or can be accessed Maytime contemplation in lockdown at 7.30 pm on Saturday, May 9, by Patricia McCormack...... p30 with the St Therese Healing be celebrated at 10 am on via the webcam link – https:// Saturday, May 16, and the www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/st- Children’s Catechism Club – C3 Parish Post-its Mass, with Devotions at 6 pm by Veronica Harley...... p31 Novena will come to a close at columbas-church-longtower. Quiz Time with Lawrence...... p31 on Sunday, May 10. Cappagh Youth Church, Killyclogher, via the From Monday to Friday, May 6 pm on Sunday, May 17. The youth of Cappagh Parish, Cappagh Parish Webcam - 11-15, the itinerary starts with The ministry of on the outskirts of Omagh, Co www.CappaghParish.com. the 6.30 am Novena Mass, Seminars Tyrone, will be leading a Holy followed by daily Mass at 8 Fr Seamus Kelly is currently The NET Hour on Wednesday, May 6, St Therese Novena am, and the second Novena leading Life in the Spirit was dedicated to Our Sharing the fruits of the faith in the Derry Diocese and are hoping many will join The St Therese Novena which Mass at 10 am. The Angelus seminars online from St Lady, through the in the evening of adoration, attracts large crowds annually and Rosary will be prayed Patrick’s Church, via the parish intercession of website on Tuesday evenings, Contacting us: reflective prayer and music. to St Eugene’s Cathedral will at 12 noon, and the Divine St Maximilian Kolbe, in a starting at 7.30 pm. If you have a story that you would like to share or an event you The time of prayer will begin take a different format this Mercy Chaplet at 3 pm, with ceremony celebrated by would like covered by The Net, just drop an email to at 8.15 pm and end with Night year, and will be broadcast via hymn singing on the Monday, Bishop Donal McKeown [email protected] Prayer at 9 pm, and will be webcam. The Novena to the Wednesday and Friday. At 5 Padre Pio Mass or ring/text 07809292852 on August 14, 2019. transmitted live from St Mary’s Little Flower will get underway pm, there is Gospel Encounter, The weekly Padre Pio Mass THE NET | MAY 2020 3 Willing to accept Bishop Donal’s challenge to take up ‘apostle’ role at Pentecost, Iskaheen & Upper Moville JPII participant , Siuin Lafferty, hopes to... Spread the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection to friends I am a Transition Year student these duties. grounds of St Eugene’s Cathedral, journey. at Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana, and I I love the experiences that the in Derry, to take part in a sleep During Holy Week, I particularly belong to the Parish of Iskaheen award has opened up for me. On out to help raise money for the enjoyed taking part in the online and Upper Moville. I started Friday, September 27, I travelled to homeless. While it was very cold, services. While it was strange my Pope John Paul II award in Knock, with my school, as part of a I enjoyed making new friendships not to be present in the chapel, September and am hoping to Diocesan Youth Pilgrimage led by and becoming more aware of the the online Rosary, Stations of the achieve the Gold Award. Bishop Donal McKeown. challenges facing the homeless. Cross and reflections given were At the beginning of the Award, I Over 600 young people travelled Unfortunately, with the arrival all inspiring and uplifting, and volunteered to read at Sunday Mass from across Ireland to participate of Covid-19, all events involving helped me to stay positive in these in Iskaheen and also helped with in the third National Pope John crowds/groups have had to be difficult times. the collections. I was nervous at Paul II Award Pilgrimage to cancelled, which has brought I will try to accept Bishop the thought of reading in public, as Knock Shrine. The theme of the new challenges to completing the Donal’s challenge of taking up this was not something I was used pilgrimage was ‘Life to the Full, Pope John Paul II Award. With my role as an apostle at Pentecost to doing but, with a little practise, Positive Friendships, Your Parish the help of the Derry Diocesan and spread the good news of I overcame my nervousness and Needs You Now!’ Youth group, I have been able to Jesus’ Resurrection to my friends. was delighted when a few of the The pilgrimage involvedcontinue to complete my award. Like everyone, I look forward older parishioners told me I was participation in prayers, readings, Every weekday, the group sends to life returning to some kind of doing a great job. dance performances and me a new task. normality, but for the time being These duties were a great way activities, all with the message I enjoy Monday’s Meetings, I am happy to complete my Pope of engaging with my parish and I of encouragement to become TikTok Tuesdays, Wellbeing John Paul II Award online. thoroughly enjoyed doing them. involved in your parish and grow Wednesdays, Takeover Thursdays Siuin Lafferty, JPII participant from the Iskaheen & Upper Moville Parish,in Co Unfortunately, with the Mass your faith. It was a day I thoroughly and Faith Fridays. These have Donegal having to move online, I can no enjoyed. helped me keep in touch with longer help out but look forward On a cold Friday night, February everyone and keep the boredom to the time when I can return to 28 this year, I travelled to the away, while travelling on my faith Youth ministry online THE Youth Ministry online testimonies and have moments of young people this month. programme continues weekly reflection together. Young people from across the Clonmany JPII and we invite all young people in On ‘Scripture Saturdays’, Bishop Diocese will lead a reflection on parishes across the diocese to get Donal will continue to share some Mary in early May, and we will involved. scripture with us and how we also hear from young people who If you are doing the Pope John might apply that in our own life are completing part of their JPII parishioner going Paul II Award this year you will at this time. ‘Sunday Reflections’ Award in creative and new ways. find a weekly task on Instagram are on the Gospel of the day and Stay tuned to find out more @Derryyouth that you can use as are hosted by various priests and details or to volunteer to get for Gold! part of the hours for your award. religious sisters. involved email lizzie.rea@ MY name is Thomas McConway participating on the Derry Youth Each week, the programme derrydiocese.org. and I’m from Clonmany Parish Online programme during the kicks of with Monday night Upcoming themes Parish leaders and volunteers are in Donegal. I’m a transition lockdown each week to complete ‘Lives’ at 8.30 pm on Instagram @ Our upcoming themes include: invited to join our youth ministry year student at Carndonagh some of my Church hours, while Derryyouth. Please join us to find #Mary’s Meals; #M&M for Mary’s online community via Zoom to Community School and I’m the churches are not open and out the theme for the week and Month; #JPII Award; and #Faith. stay connected, pray together and currently hoping to complete the everyone has to stay inside. the plan of action. Each week we will unpack share ideas and experiences. The Gold John Paul Award. Each week I’ve been watching We invite young people to be the theme and invite young first parish leaders’ zoom took I completed all my social hours the live video on Derry Youth’s creative on ‘TikTok Tuesdays’. people to reflect and engage with place at the end of April. If you in my school, participating in a Instagram page and listening to ‘Wellbeing Wednesdays’ will tasks through the social media would like to join, email yvonne. mentoring program with first and what tasks have to be done for that help young people stay positive platforms of Instagram and [email protected]. second year students in the school week. I then complete the tasks in these difficult and uncertain Facebook. Stay tuned at Instagram @ since September. over the course of the week. I hope days. ‘Take Over Thursday’ will Mary’s Meals is an international Derryyouth, Facebook @ I hadn’t started progress on to finish completing my award Thomas McConway, JPII participant give you a glimpse into ‘a day charity that advocates for ‘a simple DerryYouth and Twitter @ my Church hours before the after the quarantine ends. from the Clonmany Parish, in Co in the life of a special guest’. On solution to world hunger’. They DerryDiocesanYouth for all the Donegal coronavirus lockdown. I have been ‘Faith Fridays’, we will pray, share will be sharing their work with latest ideas and posts. World gatherings of youth and families postponed WORLD Youth Day and the The theme for the 2023 youth World Meeting of Families, which gathering, which the Pope usually were due to be held in the summers attends, is ‘Mary arose and went of 2022 and 2021, respectively, with haste’. have each been postponed for The Holy Father usually attends a year due to the current health the World Meeting of Families situation with Covid-19. as well, which was established in Typically held every three years, 1994 by Pope John Paul II also. the next World Youth Day will Held every three years in a now be held in August 2023 in different country, the last WMOF Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon. was held in Dublin in the summer Started in 1985 by Pope John of 2018. The next one will now be Paul II, some past World Youth held in June 2022 in Rome, and Days have attracted millions of the theme will be‘Family Love: A Bishop Donal with some of the Irish World Youth Day pilgrims in Krakow, in 2016. young people. vocation and a path to holiness’. 4 THE NET | MAY 2020 Building a ‘New Normal’ centred on Christ by Davog McCaffrey – Cappagh Parish

influencers, personal trainers, which I am now leading has or ‘motivational’ life coaches allowed me to appreciate all that - they know everything about is good about my life. As I’ve everything! I’ll be the first to mentioned, very importantly, I’ve admit that with the lure of social definitely grown in my faith but media and the temptations of the I’ve also enjoyed spending time modern world, in the course of at home with my family. With normal life, I often find myself my brother, Ronan and I both at looking for answers in the wrong university, my parents working places. full-time and a busy family St Augustine wrote in his schedule, it’s not often we get to confessions that, “our hearts are spend so much time together as a restless until they rest in you”. family unit. Lizzie Rea Undoubtedly, I have used the I’ve also had more time to past number of weeks to refocus rediscover my love of baking my attention on my Catholic and have enjoyed taking walks faith, and I can wholeheartedly around my local area and Surviving say that I concur completely with appreciating the natural beauty of Augustine’s words. Perhaps the our environment. I’ve been more timing in terms of the Church aware of the birds chirping, the calendar has helped, however, I’ve beautiful flowers of spring and Lockdown come back to realise that in order the smell of freshly-cut grass. I’ve to live life to the fullest, we must also been able to keep in contact HELLO, my name is Don’t get me wrong, we all place our trust in the Risen Lord with friends from all over the Lizzie Rea. I am the youth have down days when we who is always there for us and will place, making use of a range of coordinator for the Derry miss our friends and extended guide and protect us. technology. So, personally, I don’t Diocese. The pandemic that family but, by staying in our As I noted earlier, I have always feel isolated at all! has taken over the world is houses, we are protecting enjoyed a sense of routine and, I do, however, appreciate that one that we are all struggling ourselves and others. therefore, I have attempted to for many, their experience of to adjust to. Lockdown is I feel like my faith has also build a new routine for myself this pandemic may be very very unnatural for us as social benefited from this lockdown. different. Undoubtedly, it has during this period. In an attempt beings; it can be very difficult I have had more opportunity to really focus on my prayer life been a challenging and difficult for the older generation who to participate in Mass every and my relationship with God, time, particularly for the most who provides us with all that vulnerable in our society. are unable to leave their homes day and, during Holy week, we we need, I have been beginning However, I believe also that this at all. were able to have a holy hour my day with Lauds (Morning pandemic has brought out the For me, lockdown has with the young people and that Prayer) at 6:45 am, joining the very best in our community and completely changed the way I really made me feel connected Benedictine Monks from Holy it has been amazing to see people can do work. I usually would with the outside world. Cross Abbey of Rostrevor via getting together to deliver food be in schools and parishes, or I think that this pandemic Davog McCaffrey. their webcam. This uplifting and parcels to elderly neighbours, give involved with diocesan events. happening at the time of peaceful start sets a good tone practical support to our frontline WHO could ever have predicted throughout the province. I enjoy That is unable to happen. Easter has have given me a for the day and allows me to be workers, and develop creative the situation we find ourselves in music and arts, love dining out We, in the youth department new hope for the world. The as productive as possible, as I ways of reaching out to the people at this time? If you had described and spending time with family of the Derry Diocese, have Hope that we feel when Lent still have examinations coming of God. We are together, even it to somebody this time last year, and friends, and being involved created an online programme is over is showing us that there up in June with plenty of work to though we may be physically or even a few months ago, they with my Parish and other faith- keep me busy! I then finish the apart. on social media to engage with is hope for our future after this would have thought you were based organisations. day with Vigils (Night Prayer) at A number of weeks ago, our our young people. It is going pandemic. bonkers! We live in a busy and For now, that life has been put 8:30 pm, before winding down parish priest, Fr Kevin, told us well but, definitely, it is strange As I previously said, I am in demanding world. We are used to on hold. As a medical student, a and relaxing by reading, watching how we would never really go times for all of us. an extremely lucky situation. having what we want, whenever number of weeks ago, I took the some TV or listening to music, or back to “normal”, but rather On a personal level, I do not Lockdown is so much worse we want it and yet, currently, that decision to put my name forward catching up with friends. we will build a “new normal”. couldn’t be further from the truth. to help on the frontline should find lockdown very difficult. in countries that do not have We are so blessed to have a vast Perhaps this period was what we However, for me personally, it’s the opportunity arise. However, I live in the countryside in any health system in place and array of excellent online resources needed to slow down, step back the happiest and most content as things stand, local hospitals Donegal, and it’s a lovely place are struggling for food. I am available to us and I would and take stock of our lives, before I have been in a long time. For are coping reasonably well with to isolate. I feel like lockdown also very fortunate to have my encourage you to make use of setting out on our own diverse those who know me, that may the current situation and I haven’t is a chance to take a look at my faith and be in a job that I get these. Find something that works paths again. come as a bit of a surprise. I’m been called, so I’m relishing life, which has been very hectic to share my faith with young well for you. Personally, I find I hope and pray that our “new undoubtedly a creature of habit the opportunity to take things great peace in the Benedictine normal” will encompass a more in the last few years. I have had people. and I live by the clock and a at a slower pace and to really services, but also make use of the caring, compassionate and loving the chance to take a step back I hope everyone is staying set routine. I lead a relatively appreciate what matters to me. daily services provided by my society that values and appreciates and see how lucky I am. I have safe, and if anyone would busy but enjoyable lifestyle as In today’s society, there are own parish of Cappagh on their the amazing gift of life and the a family that are extremely like to take part in our online a third year medical student so many people who claim to webcam, as well as different social beautiful universe that we have calm and easy to live with. I programme, follow derry at Queen’s University, Belfast, have the answer to all of life’s media accounts. been given. Take care, stay safe often on placements in hospitals problems - whether it be online have food, water, and Netflix, youth ministry on Instagram, The relatively simple lifestyle and may God bless you all! so am luckier than most. Facebook and twitter. THE NET | MAY 2020 5 Acting head of Religious Education at St Mary’s College, Derry, Ms Deirdre McElholm reflects on lockdown for the St Mary’s family and looks forward to, once again, being together to sing... “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20) WE may not be physically Additionally, every day, our their own Palms, creating a cross their homes. Additionally, we will together right now, but the current acting principal, Mr for Good Friday, or setting up an be still completing our ‘Rosary community of St Mary’s College, Brendan McGinn sends daily Easter table in their homes. Relay’, where pupils will pass on in Derry, remains as connected uplifting emails to our pupils and Every year, many of our pupils a ‘Hail Mary’ to someone in their spiritually as ever. The Covid-19 staff, with messages of hope, prayer complete the Pope John Paul II form class. Pupils will compose a pandemic has meant that the intentions, messages from past Award, proudly completing social prayer to Our Lady for help and spiritual development and faith pupils on the front line, recipes, and parish hours. The Derry Youth protection during this time; these formation pupils normally receive fun activities or just some jokes to Community has created exciting, will be sent to local nursing homes through their daily school life, has cheer up our day! innovative ideas for the Pope to offer their best wishes and taken an alternative approach. As this is a highly anxious John Paul II pupils to complete prayers. We miss our normal routines and unsettling time for us all, their hours at home! St Mary’s is Finally, Mrs Marie Lindsay, our of laughing, praying, friendships, consequently, our pupils have been so grateful that the pupils will not principal, reminded us all through reflections, and the busynessencouraged and guided towards be denied this worthwhile award an inspiring video message to of school life! One aspect the fantastic, free apps; ‘Daily Bible that so many of them benefit from! remember the words of St Mary’s pupils miss most is the sense of Inspiration’ or ‘Prayer Guide’, to So far, they have enjoyed ‘Tik Tok school prayer, “Mary our Mother, togetherness and security they provide an invaluable opportunity Tuesday’, ‘Well Being Wednesday’, as patron of our school, we entrust experience in school. This begins for quiet reflection to calm their ‘Faith Friday’- to name just a few! ourselves to your loving care.” at 8.45 am every day in St Mary’s head and hearts. Any pupils still unsure of how to Trust in Mary and Trust in God. with the gathering of the school Moreover, Easter is a significant complete their hours can log on The choir will soon be singing the community to say our school and special time in schools, with to the Derry Youth Instagram, beautiful hymn ‘Where two or prayer. This does not have to many events punctuating the Twitter or Facebook to keep up-to- three are gathered in my name’ and change; pupils are encouraged to Lenten period and Holy Week. date with the latest tasks! all of this will be a distant memory; say their school prayer once a day While we were not in school, As we are now moving into the we really will be gathered in His to remind them of the values and there were ample ways that pupils month of May, pupils will put name! faith which are paramount to St celebrated Easter at home. Pupils their creativity skills to the test Ms Deirdre McElholm, Acting Head of RE at St Mary’s College, Derry. Mary’s College. thoroughly enjoyed designing with creating an altar for Mary in

St Colm’s Ballinascreen family caring for the Earth and each other ST Colm’s in are altars. also maintaining their connection Keeping on the nature theme, the with pupils. pupils were also very creative with Having worked very creatively Mrs Devlin’s project to promote on the Easter story, they will now care of the earth, to mark Earth be encouraged to celebrate Our Day. Lady during the month of May. The pupils are also encouraged With plenty of time to gather to use their extra free time to be some wild flowers during their helpful around the home, and daily walks for exercise, there will this was promoted by Mrs Belaid hopefully be May altars in honour through her Acts of Kindness of Mary adorning many homes initiative. in and around the Ballinascreen The primary schools in the parish. Some have already shared parish are keeping the links with photographs of their beautiful May their pupils too, with the teachers and priests of the parish especially remembering in prayer all the children who had been preparing for their First Holy Communion Day and the Sacrament of Confirmation, and now have to wait another while for that special occasion. 6 THE NET | MAY 2020 Thornhill family looking forward to better times with hearts of hope by Ciara Collins WE said “goodbye” to our currently sending in their has also been engaging daily with many other prayer opportunities classes, unknowingly, for the St contributions for the weekly our 100 JP2 pupils via Google that are posted on Twitter Patrick’s Day break, armed with ‘Mercy Moment’, in which the classroom and enabling them to during the day. In particular, the resources and tasks in preparation RE Department will recognise continue to build up hours for Department encourages pupils to for the very real imminent school one pupil who has been inspired their completion of their award. log in at 3 pm for the Divine Mercy closures. Our pupils had been by our Mercy Ethos and lived They have been contributing at St Eugene’s Cathedral, which is given many tasks, worksheets, out these ideals in their daily life. to ‘April Blessings’ by posting often followed by uplifting and revision books and guidance Currently, the Mercy Moment has prayerful inspirational quotes to nourishing music from Anne to keep them occupied as they been awarded to Eve Gorman for help each other during this time Marie Hickey and Roisin Rice. We entered the new environment of her outstanding pencil drawing of uncertainty. The group will also are reminded by St Augustine that working from home. of Jesus for her , and Lucy be invited to join an online Rosary to sing is to pray twice, and the Home schooling started on O’Donnell for her sterling efforts recitation each Thursday viamusic certainly enables us all to March 23 and, as we began to of shopping for her vulnerable Zoom in May, in which intentions do so! readjust to our new normal, neighbour. from Thornhill Community will Finally, for night prayer, our it became very clear that our Individual teachers within the be offered. Twitter page posts the daily Rosary spiritual life also needed to be department have also enabled Finally, the Department has been Mystery and encourages the girls supported. All around us, we were pupils to participate in their own making use of Twitter to engage to offer the intention whilst saying reminded about the advancement spiritual development. During with pupils and their families. We the Rosary for that night. We are of COVID-19, with news stories Holy Week and Easter, our girls have been posting daily morning guided by Pope Francis and his and official advice given to change made their own Palm Crosses, reflections which give our girls prayer intentions at this time and our behaviours by our Stormont painted Stations of the Cross the opportunity of starting the day we hope that all our families can Assembly. These frightening(inspired by ‘Drawing God’ by in a positive way. The reflections be united in prayer during this reports were beginning to Karen Kiefer), and created Easter are categorised for each day and period of tribulation. dominate our thinking, which Gardens for their families. This we hope that these can inspire “Let us be generous. Faith can in turn could adversely affect will continue into the month of positivity and hope - Monday nourish our hope and it is a hope our health and well-being. The May, as we will be encouraging Motivation, Thankful Tuesday, of a better time to come” - Pope RE Department in Thornhill our pupils to make their own May Wednesday Wisdom, Thursday Francis, April 2020. Although we responded by offering our girls Altar. This beautiful prayer space Thoughts, Friday Feeling, Self-care may be apart from our wonderful many opportunities to tune into can be used as a focal point each Saturday and Sunday Blessings. pupils, we are still very much their spiritual life and to develop day to come together as a family as We have also been regularly spiritually connected. It is a an attitude of hope and faith. suggested by Pope Francis, and to sharing many opportunities period of great uncertainty but Through our use of group hubs in “rediscover the beauty of praying for celebrating Mass within the we look forward to better times, Google classroom, our pupils were the Rosary at home in the month Diocese, albeit digitally, as the with a heart of hope and a union guided by our Key Stage Three of May.” parishes continue to be closed. We of spiritual connectedness coordinator with the sharing of We are also grateful for the keep our pupils updated with the beautiful inspirational messages, support given by the Derry reflections such as the ‘Footprints Diocesan Catechetical Centre and Prayer’ and prayers that the girls the wonderful resources provided could say at the beginning of each during the season of Easter. These day. The girls were also invited quiet, reflective prayers and to participate in Key Stage 3 faith meditations have allowed pupils to initiatives, such as their sharing take time out of a hectic day and Lenten Talents to bring a smile to focus their mind peacefully on all our faces! God. Key Stage 3 pupils are also Our Pope John Paul II cordinator St Columb’s maintaining spiritual focus ST Columb’s College is trying to Finbar Madden, writes a letter maintain a spiritual link with its (via email) to staff, which contains pupils in a number of ways. among other things a particular On Friday, April 3, our school spiritual focus. Chaplain, Fr Chris Ferguson offered In general, all of the school Mass in the school Oratory for the community’s news - happy or sad - is school community. shared, which allows for important This was recorded and then messages of support to be given posted on our Facebook page - (remotely). StColumbsCollegeDerry. Fr Chris will be offering Mass again in the school Oratory on Friday, May 1. In addition, the Art Department ran a very successful Easter Poster Competition, and every morning our Head of RE posts a recorded ‘Thought for the Day’ on our Facebook page. We make extensive use of our Facebook page and our Twitter account (@ColumbCollege) to post daily spiritual thoughts, reflections, poems, images etc. Every week, the principal, Mr THE NET | MAY 2020 7 Through on-line spiritual support during coronavirus lockdown... St Cecilia’s maintains strong link as a family and community by Bernadette O’Mianain Mrs Mulhern, during one of her share with our girls any upcoming to pray the Rosary, with simple recent assemblies, reminded all of religious events which they may steps to follow. us to join in with the celebration participate in. One very special In her first Assembly, she talked of her fourth anniversary in ceremony which I have informed about the parable: ‘The Calming of Termonbacca through the our girls about is the Mass for the Storm’, as a way of explaining webcam. It was the most beautiful Healing in Mind & Body, which to the girls that God will always be celebration of her life and her takes place in the LongTtower with us no matter how scared and undivided commitment to Church every Wednesday at 7.30 helpless we may feel, particularly her religious order, where she pm. Our girls have been asked during our current unsettling selflessly gave her whole life and to participate in this Mass by situation. If we place our trust in love to following Jesus. Two other drawing a candle and placing it in God and open our hearts to him, St. Cecilia’s past pupils, Lauren and the window. Everyone receives a He will never leave us. Bethany Doherty, who are part Spiritual Blessing using a 1st class As a school, we have been blessed of the acclaimed ‘I Am’ singers, relic of Padre Pio. to have had the opportunity provided the music during the In order to celebrate Palm of taking groups of sixth years celebration. Their heavenly voices Sunday this year in a distinct on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje added to the sacred ambience of way, as we were not able to attend over the last two years. This has, Mrs Martina Davidson, Head of RE Mrs Bernadette O’Mianain, head of the event, it was truly very special. Mass, in one of my assemblies, undoubtedly, strengthened the at St Cecilia’s, Derry sixth year at St Cecilia’s, Derry As head of Sixth Year, I I demonstrated to our students faith of all of those students and myself have been uploading my how they could gather their own staff that had the privilege of going DURING these unprecedented Mrs Mulhern, our school weekly assemblies on the school palms from the local shrubbery to Medjugorje. As a result of these times during lockdown, as a principal, delivers her weekly Facebook page. At the beginning and display it on their front door. trips, we have set up Messenger teacher and head of Sixth Year assembly on our school Facebook of each assembly, I also begin I explained that they could simply groups, where we continue to in St Cecilia’s College, Derry, it page, and she begins with our with our school prayer, and we sprinkle Holy Water over the share our stories of faith with each has been a very unfamiliar and school prayer. Mrs Mulhern offer up these prayers for all our palms and say a prayer to ask for other and reach out to each other unusual challenge to maintain continually informs our school personal intentions. I recite the God’s love and help throughout during these difficult times. Celebrating Palm Sunday in links with our pupils online, community about any religious Miracle Prayer at these assemblies Holy Week. St Cecilia’s College is, Lockdown with their classes, homework, events, Masses, services etc, which too. Each girl is given a laminated Mrs Davidson, who is head of RE undoubtedly, a school with a coursework etc. our students and their families prayer at the beginning of the in our school, also does a weekly huge heart. We truly care for to know that we genuinely have Simultaneously, as a member of can avail of. year, which fits perfectly into their Faith Assembly in school. Again, each other, and this has been the girl’s well-being at the core the Pastoral Team, one of my core One of our most recognised St blazer pocket, and again we recite during this current situation, she paramount over these last of all we do in our school. This missions is to ensure that our girls Cecilia’s past pupils is Sr Claire this together for anyone who has also been continuing to do weeks. Form-teachers have been has been an invaluable means of are still managing to practice their Crockett. We are so blessed and undoubtedly needs our prayers at these via the school Facebook contacting girls in their form- continuing to maintain our strong faith, as St. Cecilia’s College has a so honoured to have Sr Claire this time. page. She continues to share with classes just to make sure they are link as a family and community, very strong Catholic ethos, which as a past pupil and ultimately a Like Mrs Mulhern, I also use our girls the importance of prayer, ok. This has been such a comfort and ultimately strengthening our is integrated into our school on a role model for our girls in green. this channel of communication to and has given help and guidance for our girls and their families spiritual connection during this daily basis. very unnatural situation. Principal of St Eithne’s PS, in The Holy Family Parish, Ballymagroarty, Terence McDowell writes... Pupils’ spiritual development continues to be a priority IN these unprecedented times, parents and children have the ability the staff of St Eithne’s has worked to communicate with each other. extremely hard to prepare work and The images shown are of some of resources to ensure that our parents our children as they complete RE can help support their children’s tasks at home, set by their teachers learning at home. online. We want to ensure that, as far as possible, the children continue to grow and develop in all curricular areas. In these times, more than ever, their spiritual development continues to be a priority for us all. In the absence of being allowed to attend Mass, or make plans to receive the sacraments of Confirmation or First Holy Communion, we need to create new ways to meet the needs of our families. With the help of the Diocesan Catechetical Centre, we reach out to our children and parents to help guide their knowledge and understanding in Religious Education, as well as foster the development of their relationship with Jesus. St Eithne’s continues to maintain the holistic development of our children with the use of online technologies. Virtually, teachers, 8 THE NET | MAY 2020 Diocesan Catechetical team go all out to keep focus on faith “Let everything you do be done in love” (1Cor:16:14) THE Diocesan Catechetical ‘closed’ physically, and children, the theme of ‘Walking with Jesus visit an Easter Garden in parish a May Altar, praying the Rosary, Centre is responsible for catechesis young people and families unable through Holy Week’, the Diocesan churches. A liturgy was provided making an outdoor Rosary, in the Diocese of Derry. The to attend Church liturgies and faith Schools Team, Thérèse Ferry, for the Blessing of Water and asking for Mary’s help during the centre provides faith formation events, the Centre is endeavouring advisor for Primary Schools Renewal of Baptismal Promises Coronavirus, exploring the Bible and religious education support to reach out through online and Mary O Boyle, advisor for at home during the Easter Vigil Stories of Mary, baking special to Catholic schools, families and resources and initiatives, and Post Primary, with support and to celebrate the full Easter Mary cakes or singing hymns to parishes. It aims to bring people of increased engagement with the from Centre volunteers, created Season. The ‘Fifty Days, Fifty Acts Mary. every age into a closer relationship social media platforms of Twitter, a variety of resources to help of Love’ initiative was launched Schools throughout the diocese with Jesus in the Body of Christ. Facebook and Instagram. families to do this whilst at home. with children, young people and have been very good at promoting The centre was established in Lent, Holy Week and Easter Resources included, Stations families asked to carry out an ‘Act the resources provided by the 2005, with Fr Paul Farren as provided a great focus for of the Cross, daily prayers for of Love’ each day between Easter centre, as they themselves continue director of the Centre. encouraging children, young Holy Week, colouring booklets Sunday and the Feast of Pentecost. to provide the regular Religious coming months. Like many other organisations people and families at home, for younger children, music, art To mark Divine Mercy Sunday, a Education and Faith Formation Contact Details: Derry Diocesan at this time, the Derry Diocesan to Journey with Jesus, to pray and craft ideas. For Palm Sunday number of activities, suitable for Programmes at Primary and Post Catechetical Centre, The Gate Catechetical Centre has been at home, to live their faith in a families were encouraged to make young people were created. Primary level. A key role for the Lodge, 2 Francis Street, Derry, ‘working from home’ and has had creative way and to attend Mass their own palms and display With May traditionally the Catechetical Centre is supporting BT48 7DS. to find new ways of engaging with through Church webcams, them on their doors, for Good month given over to Mary, the schools as they do this. There are Telephone - +44 (0)28 7126 and supporting schools, families Facebook pages, television and Friday to make and display a Mother of God, the website has already some resources on the 4087. Email - Thérèse Ferry - and parishes in the handing on radio. Cross and, for the Easter season, a special section again to support website available for teachers, and [email protected] and of the faith to children and young Working closely with Bishop to have a home Easter Garden and encourage families to give this is a section which will see Mary O Boyle - mary.oboyle@ people. With schools and parishes Donal McKeown, and taking in the absence of being able to thanks to God through creating considerable development in the derrydiocese.org. Holy Family pupils encouraged to keep linked in with their faith Pope asks us to say a prayer for Sacraments. any intentions, then we retweet “During a parish retreat, all the that and encourage the children homes were visited and we, as a to pray a Hail Mary”. school, were asked to take part A teacher at Holy Family PS for in the Sunday Mass. Since that, 32 years, Jacqueline said that she we ask the children to come to missed the children very much Holy Family Chapel for Mass and kept them in her prayers, and on the second Sunday of each so really appreciated the contact month, during which they do the from them. Readings, Prayer of the Faithful, “I really feel for the children who take up the Offertory Gifts, were preparing for the Sacraments and sing as the choir. We try to of First Confession and Holy encourage all the children to Communion,” she remarked, come along to this Mass and we adding: “We were fortunate to have usually had a good turnout. have had our Confirmation “We have also been taking ceremony before the lockdown, part in the morning Mass on the but some children in other areas second Friday of each month, and didn’t get confirmed because of the people of the parish love to the restrictions. If schools are see the children coming to these not back before the summer, we Masses. That is something I miss; Holy Family PS Religious Education hope to be able to have our First these Masses with the children coordinator, Jacqueline McCarron Holy Communion and First from school and just being able to Confession ceremonies early in go to Mass. I watch it on-line but THE Religious Education September”. I really miss going to it. I never coordinator at Holy Family PS, Appreciating how her Catholic thought that I would see the time in the Ballymagroarty Parish, faith has helped her during this that there would be no Sunday Derry, Jacqueline McCarron told time, Jacqueline said that she has M a s s”. ‘The Net’ that the children from been encouraging the children to the school were doing great work watch Mass and say their prayers. at home and had sent in some “My faith is so important to wonderful photographs of how me and I like to share that with they celebrated Easter and Earth the children in school,” she Day, and of them having loads of remarked, adding: “I find that fun in the sun. they want to know about God and “We are keeping in touch with it’s wonderful to see how happy our children mainly through they are when they receive the Twitter; encouraging them during this time,” said Jacqueline. “The teachers are setting RE work,” she added, “as well as linking them with tweets from the Diocesan Catechetical Centre and sending tweets about the various Masses in our parishes and on Radio Maria. We are linking in with anything that is going on and retweeting it for our children to see. “We follow Karen Kiefer, the author of ‘Drawing God’, on Twitter, and have been encouraging the children to send in their drawings of God to us and then we tweet them. Also, if the THE NET | MAY 2020 9 Iskaheen JPII leader, Helen Grant talks about her love of working with young people and how she believes... Parish life should be a natural extension of family life THE parish of Iskaheen & love of working with youth. The homeland, when she qualified in Upper Moville is blessed to have members of the junior Legion 1984, one she didn’t want to miss. an enthusiastic team of leaders were encouraged to take it in turn “There weren’t great job to guide and encourage young to look after younger children opportunities in Scotland at parishioners participating in the in the parish hall while their the time anyway,” she recalled, Pope John Paul II Award, and parents were at Mass. There was “so when I saw a job in a place amongst them is Scottish-born, no children’s liturgy then; we were called Nenagh, in Co Tipperary, Helen Grant. just minding them. advertised, I applied and got it. Chatting to ‘The Net’ about her “There were four Masses and the I headed off in January 1985 on love for her Catholic faith and her second was the 10 am Children’s my own. My parents bought me a involvement in parish life since Mass. The principal, Sr Mary second-hand car and I left home at she was a child, Helen explained Anthony brought all the school 8 am and was in Nenagh at around that helping out within the parish children up to the front rows of 9 pm. With no mobile phone then, family was just like an extension of the chapel for this, and we took my route was planned out on a her family life in the home. part in the liturgy, carrying up hand map. When I arrived, I was An only child born in Greenock the gifts, etc. Afterwards, those of able to use the ‘phone at reception to Irish parents, Teresa Doherty us in the junior Legion of Mary to ring my parents. I was staying in and James McCallion, both from went to the hall to look after the the nurses’ accommodation at the the Iskaheen Parish and now children of those attending the 11 hospital”. deceased, Helen looked back on am and 12 noon Masses. Helen continued to be a happy and secure childhood, “I also helped with the Religious surrounded by her Catholic faith that included visits to her Donegal Stall that was set up in the hall, while in Nenagh, with the hospital family home two or three times a to sell religious items. It was just run by the Sisters of Mercy, who year, along with her parents. natural for me to be involved in had a small convent attached to “Growing up, faith was central things like this. You were kind of the hospital and a bigger convent to family life,” she said, “and we swept along and your faith just building in the town. were very involved in the life of grew. School was within the parish Family the Church. We prayed the Rosary and all my friends went there, and “Sr Eileen O’Driscoll ran the lab Helen with her husband, Seamus, and son, Peter. every night and my mother went our social life was discos in the and she became one of my best I worked in Sligo,” she said, “I by some of the lay people who had a World Youth Day Mass in to Mass every day. My father church hall. So we really didn’t friends,” she said, adding: “When travelled home to Muff at the gave talks. 2019 and, following on from this, worked on the boats on the Clyde. have to go outside the Church I first arrived, she brought me to a weekends, and then I got a job “We try to say the family Rosary we hope to have an annual Parish In those days, he would have been setting for anything”. meeting of the Nenagh Historical working in Hospital once a week. I would not be as Youth Day Mass like we had this home one day a week. Going on to study Diagnostic Society. I remember thinking, in 1992 and, 28 years later, I good as my parents who said year in January. “I attended Catholic schools, Radiography in Glasgow, Helen ‘What am I doing here!’ She also am still there. It just seems like it every night, but now, during “We involve our youth in the were my faith was further travelled the three-quarters of introduced me to her family and yesterday. lockdown, we do make a point Easter ceremonies, penitential nourished. My primary school an hour train journey, there and they made me feel part of their “That was also the year my of watching the 9 am Mass on services, and events that the other principal was a Franciscan Nun back, every day, which meant that life. This was very reassuring for husband, Seamus and I started Sunday morning, and sometimes groups organise. The boys who of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. she could continue her parish my parents too, especially when I going out. His family lived next a Saturday morning, as a family first helped to carry the Cross on We had Morning Prayer, Grace involvement. This was the same became ill with meningitis in1985. door to my father’s home place unit. Good Friday come back each year before meals, and Evening Prayer. for her friends. I actually had meningitis twice, in Muff, so I would have known “We go to many different events to do this. They see it as their job It was a very structured prayer life She remarked: “I continued the second time in 2009.” him from my visits there when organised in the parish as a family. now, which is amazing. I think it in school and at home. practising my faith as I didn’t have She talked about how she I was growing up. Seamus had Peter was an altar boy and when is important that being involved in “When I moved on to Catholic the distractions that come with continued to practice her faith: been working in America and he came off the altar, he helped parish life like this is seen by our secondary school, I became living away from home while at “I made an effort to go to 7 am happened to be home for his with the collection. The hope is young people as part of normal involved in the liturgical life there. college. This was actually a huge Mass. Through my involvement brother’s wedding when one of that he will find being involved life, so that they feel comfortable My friend and I set up the altar for bonus in the development of my with the nuns, I got to know the our neighbours died. We got in parish life just a natural thing continuing their involvement. The Mass, which was celebrated every faith life. I was blessed because priests, including Fr Sheedy, who talking at the wake and started to do”. challenge with the Pope John Paul Friday during the year and every my group of friends were all very had started the ‘No Name Club’ going out and then got married in Peter is currently doing his Pope II Award is that some of the young day during Lent, at 8.20 am. I grounded and part of the parish in Nenagh. I got involved helping December 1994”. John Paul II Award and Helen is people think their job is done always tried to get someone in the faith community”. with that. It was like a youth club Saying that she went through one of the parish leaders: “I got when the boxes are ticked”. year or two below me to help us, Helen recalled an experience and they ran alcohol-free discos, a very busy time in her life when involved in this through my role Helen has been keeping in so that the Lenten Masses would during her training in a Glasgow which a lot of the young people she wasn’t really involved in parish with the Parish Pastoral Council, touch with the 14 JPIIs during be carried on and they are still hospital, when a teenage came to. I was also involved with life, apart from reading at Mass, which I was asked to join when it lockdown: “We have a Whatsapp celebrated today. It’s amazing how girl, who was undergoing a the Junior Chamber in Nenagh Helen continued: “I was working was set up in 2011. group, which the parents are that has become a legacy”. routine Intravenous Pyelogram and ended up with very few and looking after my parents who “We have four different sub- included in, and I have been One particular memory that procedure, took an allergic nights that I wouldn’t be going out weren’t well. Then our son, Peter groups within this, including sending suggestions of things to stands out for Helen is that of reaction to the contrast agent and somewhere, including going to was born in 2003; we waited a long Building a Community of Faith, do. Now in May, they are asked to her being involved, as a fifth year, died on the table. dances in Thurles”. time for him. The joy we felt at his Marriage and Family Life, and pick some wild flowers and make in organising a Caring Church “That was a real shock, especially The Diocese of Paisley was birth was followed by a tragedy in Children and Young People. I a May altar. They are to send in event within her school: “It was for someone young, like me at the sending students to Thurles to the family. My husband’s eight- took the lead with the Children photographs of their altars and I more like a mission for a week, time. You ask yourself why, but study for the priesthood at the year-old nephew, Brian had done and Young People Group, which will display them on the altar in but we thought if we called it a your faith carries you through,” time, and the brother of a friend of a reading at Peter’s christening took over the running of the Pope St Patrick’s Iskaheen to let the rest mission then young people would she said, adding: “Obviously, it Helen’s was one of them. and the next day he was killed in a John Paul II Award in the parish. of the parishioners know that our disengage. We had missionaries played on my mind but it was my “The students from Paisley terrible accident. It took huge faith I get so much out of organising young people are involved in their from all the different orders faith that pulled me through. You didn’t go home at the weekends”, to get through that”. activities for the young people, faith. that we could get our hands on, couldn’t talk about things like that she recalled, “so when I wasn’t From the same strong faith and have great support from the “Also, every day in the month of as well as representatives of lay to your friends or family because working on Sunday afternoons, background, handing on the faith other members of the Children May, each young person will say a organisations, to come and give of patient confidentiality. I travelled over in my car to visit to Peter has been a natural part of and Young People Group. decade of the Rosary at a time for talks, and they brought their “There were a lot of different them and we would go on tours Catholic parenting for Helen and “We have a Holy Well Healing an intention of their choosing, and banners and stalls. We tried to experiences that I don’t know of the area, such as the Rock of Seamus. Mass, for which the young people the rest of the group will say it in think outside the box and it was a how I would have coped without Cashel. They had Evening Prayer “Last year, when Peter was doing take water from the wells. We say their own homes at that time too”. resounding success. The feedback my faith. You do your job and do at 6 pm and I joined them for that his Junior Cert,” said Helen, “I a prayer or two together as we The Children and Young from the pupils was that they your best for the patient, and then on our return”. noticed the Redemptorist Novena are gathering the water, and we People’s Group also run the new couldn’t believe how approachable fall back on your faith to pull you After four years in Nenagh, in Limerick that I had attended also have great craic. For me, our GIFT programme in the parish, the missionaries were.” through”. Helen moved to Castlebar, where when I was in Nenagh, was online, faith is not doom and gloom. We which Helen explained is a mix Recalling being very involved Helen loved helping out on she worked for about five months, so I printed it out and the three should be happy while practising of fun and prayer: “I think that is in the junior Legion of Mary, the farm in Donegal during the before moving to work in Sligo of us did it together. Seamus and our faith. We also organise a very important. We have to show Helen remarked: “Maybe that summer, and her warm memories because it was closer to Donegal, Peter were a bit sceptical at first, Mass for those doing exams, and our young people that our faith is is where the idea of working in of times spent in Ireland made where her parents had then moved but they got up with me at 7 am we have had our first Mass for not just something for inside our the caring sector came from, as the opportunity of working as back to live. to join in with it. It was something Deceased Young People, which we Church, but for every part of our we visited people, and also my a radiographer in her parents’ “During the three years that different and Peter was impressed hope will be an annual event. We lives”. 10 THE NET | MAY 2020 American author, Karen Kiefer writes about her book that has been stirring the imaginations of all ages in the Diocese… Drawing God - a catalyst for more God talk God at school, because it makes something beyond spectacular Currently the director of the outside of Boston, Massachusetts, people feel uncomfortable,” said happens. I won’t spoil the ending Church in the 21st Century Center, where her faith was nurtured until the young voice to the other. I of the book, but when I finished at Boston College, and mother of she started Boston College, and the stood still, shaking my head, as writing, it was clear that if this four daughters, Karen was raised Jesuits helped her to see her faith in I uttered, “Oh— no,” under my story was ever published it might in a large Irish Catholic family service to others, for others. breath. Needless to say, I felt get more children and adults uncomfortable. talking about and drawing God. For the next several weeks, that Fast-forward a few months, after conversation would not leave some polishing, miraculously the my mind or heart. In a world story found a willing publisher. propelled by wonder, invention Over the course of the past year, and advanced communication, I’ve worked closely with Paraclete could ‘God talk’ eventually Press and Belgian illustrator, become extinct? It seemed to be Kathy De Wit, who took the story an astonishing possibility. All I and brought it to life with her could do was pray about it, asking simple and beautiful illustrations. God to intervene. Then, on a quiet On Tuesday, October 8, 2019, the Sunday morning, I began to write children’s picture book, ‘Drawing a story about a little girl named God’ was released into the world. Emma, who visits an art museum May it be a catalyst for more God and is so inspired by the works of talk and inspire children and Pablo Picasso that she decides that adults of all faiths to connect their she is going to draw something very own faith imagination, to “beyond spectacular.” Emma realize the contagious faith that Front Cover of Drawing God. decides to draw God. I remember lives powerfully within and to tapping on my keyboard, just embrace the truth that we all see waiting to see what might happen God differently. Drawing God author, Karen Kiefer. next. The release of the book was I began typing…Emma escapes followed by the celebration of the OUR Catholic faith makes participated in the launch of the to the comfort of her bedroom first World Drawing God Day, on the world a much smaller place. virtual Drawing God Museum, as and draws a brilliant sun. “It was Thursday, November 7. That day We can connect, strangers and we showcased so many drawings so dazzling and radiant my cheeks offered a chance for our world to friends, over our love for God any from the children of Derry. throbbed. Its rays were so long ‘draw’ God, whatever that might time and any place, even on social The Derry schools embraced they poked at my heart.” Emma look like, using the hashtag: media. Such was the case when ‘Drawing God’ Advent projects, knew she had drawn God. The #drawinggod. St John’s PS, Creggan Therese Ferry, Diocesan Advisor as well as Lenten initiatives, next day, Emma takes her drawing It’s true that books can’t for Primary Schools in Derry, including drawing God through to school to show her best friend necessarily change the world, but reached out about participating a new Stations of the Cross Peter. But Peter looked at Emma the people who read them can. in the new ‘Drawing God’ book project. Teachers and children and said, “Emma, that’s not God, To future readers of ‘Drawing project that launched World also participated in the ‘What that’s the sun.” Emma tries again God’, my hope is that this book Drawing God Day, from Boston, if God Were One of Us’ project, and again to draw God, but her will make you a little more last November. introduced during the pandemic. classmates can’t see God in any of comfortable, knowing that there The message of the children’s During these unsettling times, her drawings. They actually find will be a little more God talk in book, ‘Drawing God’ is that we this project has provided great her attempts laughable. Emma our world because of you. all see God differently. Creatively, comfort and a creative way to finally realizes, through a prayer Over the past several months, this message draws young and old building community and growing answered, that she doesn’t need I have had the opportunity to closer to God by drawing God. our faith imaginations across the their approval. “I knew I had connect with hundreds and The Diocese of Derry was off and ocean and around the world. drawn God. God knew I had hundreds of kids across the St John’s PS, Creggan running, engaging thousands So how did this ‘Drawing God’ drawn God, and maybe Picasso country and around the world of kids in the artistic and faith- project begin, you might ask? knew, too. That finally felt like about how they imagine God. filled pursuit to draw God. Their It was an ordinary run to the enough.” What does God look like? What drawings affirmed that each child grocery store, or so I thought. The story stopped there. But does God feel like? Who is God? does see God differently and their Standing next to a mound of I remember feeling that urge to These are big questions for all masterpieces were abundant and stacked peppers in the produce keep writing because this wasn’t of us, but their words, drawings spectacular. section, I overheard two little kids the end of the story. Emma and imagination were a powerful It was the beginning of a growing talking to each other. “My mother eventually returns to school reminder of how we all see God partnership. The Diocese then said you shouldn’t talk about on the following Monday, and differently. What the children discovered...

“I drew a picture of my house. “This is a heart. We live God lives in there with us”. inside God’s heart, but St Patrick’s Glen PS God also lives inside “I drew a picture of what looks our heart”. like the sun, but it is really the Eucharist. When I eat the “God makes rainbows Eucharist, God’s light goes and flowers to make us inside of me”. smile, so I drew them”.

“I drew a picture of me because God looks “See this heart. This is God. like me and I look like God will always love you back”. God”. Drawing God drawings from the Derry Diocese. St Columba’s Straw PS THE NET | MAY 2020 11 Diocesan advisor for primary schools, Thérèse Ferry, shares how... Drawing God in Lenten Stations project enhanced Easter story for children friendship with Jesus through the task of introducing the through the children’s images Again, the response was movement, singing, drama, idea to the Religious Education from their ‘Drawing God’ tremendous. Children and poetry and art. I read the Coordinators. She decided to experience. The results were just families created their own sets of following introduction to the give the teachers an opportunity amazing. We shared them on our Stations of the Cross and prayed book and was hooked: “Follow draw God themselves and they social media platforms and Karen them during Holy Week. Their young Emma who is inspired to took to it brilliantly! They drew, picked up on them, sharing them sensitivity, their trust in God, draw like Picasso after a field trip in silence, their images of God. on her social media platforms. their belief in the hope of the to the art museum. Emma wanted They drew hearts, sunrises, family One day I got an email to the Resurrection was, and is, a great to draw something beyond members, and nature scenes; office from someone I had started encouragement at this time. One spectacular and decides to draw their reflections on how God is following on Twitter, who was group of children, some of whom GOD. Find out what happens everywhere and in everyone. following Karen and who showed have parents working in frontline Therese Ferry, Diocesan advisor for when her classmates can’t see God The response from schools in great interest in what the children jobs, created a video of the Stations primary schools. in any of her drawings….” (Karen the Diocese was fantastic. The were doing! Janet Forbes is of the Cross in book creator. They SOCIAL Media can be a great Kiefer www.drawing-god.com) coordinators shared the idea currently working in the Armagh illustrated each station and added place to find new ideas and I immediately ordered the back at their schools and, on Diocese, but also studying at a voice note to each Station. resources which help all of us to book and set about thinking November 7, the children drew Boston College, where Karen (https://catecheticalcentre.org/ Kate McGranaghan . draw closer to God. I find the how we might introduce this at God. But they not only drew God. is the director of the Church holy-week-2020/stations-of- exchange of ideas, books, prayers, In-Service, so we could get the They talked about God, how God in the 21st Century Centre. the-cross-book-for-children-by- reflections, artwork etc, enhances children of the Derry Diocese might look, where you might find Subsequently, Janet visited several children/) the work I do on a daily basis. I am Drawing God! Again, scrolling God, who you might find God in. of the schools in the Diocese, gave Pope Francis, in Tbilisi, 2016 always on the look-out for new through Twitter one morning, I They prayed and their drawings a presentation on Drawing God said: “Children, who have no ideas and resources to share at noticed that, due to the response are really a prayer acknowledging and presented the children with problem in understanding God, our Annual Diocesan In-Service the book had already had, there the presence of God in their lives, special certificates. have much to teach us: they tell us Day for Primary School Religious was going to be a National their families, their school, the At a time when many people that He accomplishes great things Education Coordinators. One Drawing God Day on November world. Children have such an are asking the question, where is in those who put up no resistance day, scrolling through Twitter, 7 and that was it. We would ask amazing gift of wonder; they are God in the Coronavirus, Karen’s to Him, who are simple and I saw a post from Karen Kiefer, the teachers to get all of their less inhibited by ‘stereotypical’ ‘Drawing God’, Lenten Stations sincere, without duplicity”. an American author, about her pupils drawing God that day and images of God and the freedom of the Cross Project, was a great The images from the ‘Drawing children’s book ‘Drawing God’ make it an ‘International Drawing of their imagination and hearts is opportunity for the children to God’ projects reveal that the and ‘googled’ the website, as you G o d D ay.’ something I think we can all learn walk with Jesus to Calvary and children from the Diocese “have do! Mary O Boyle, the Diocesan from. express how they were feeling as no problem understanding God”. Children love to express their Post Primary advisor, was one On November 7, 2019, and they were experiencing a very They are “simple and sincere” and Jesus Crucified by Noah Greer understanding of God, their of the facilitators and took on the days following, schools sent different way of life. they have much to teach us. Knocknagin PS .j

Deena and Cara. Zara Mc Cool St Theresa’s PS,Glebe Lily Mae Saint Theresa’s PS Glebe The gifts, joy and grace children bring to our Churchby Janet Forbes

THE Covid-19 Pandemic has with ‘Drawing God’ came about importantly, a deepening of my What impacted me most during nourish their faith. articulation and expression of heralded acute changes to all when Therese Ferry offered the own faith. those visits was the vibrancy Of all the school visits, it is the who God is, look at where God is aspects of life and society. For me, book as a resource to the schools A chance meeting with and joy with which the students visit to St John’s, Creggan, which found in their lives and consider as a lifelong Catholic committed of the Derry Diocese. I visited renowned Religious Educator engaged, along with the hunger resonated most with me. The the question of where God is to be to the task of religious education three schools from the Diocese, and Boston College Professor, and desire they each had to area, its history, and the narratives found in our own. and formation of our young and where the initiative caught the Tom Groome, and a subsequent talk about and articulate their of the people of Derry City are John F Kennedy once said: young adults, the job of nurturing imagination of the teachers and attendance at a seminar in Dublin thoughts on God. The pictures very similar to my own. As we “Children are the living messages those young minds has been children throughout the diocese where I met Karen Kiefer for the they each created have had a currently navigate the difficulties we send to a time we will not see.” interrupted and ruptured in a way and, amazingly, resulted in the first time, led me on the journey marked impact on me and are and challenges that Covid-19 In this time of great upheaval and that is painful and disorientating. prolific sharing of the fruits of the that has resulted in my studies what stands out most. Each was presents to all of us, I urge each uncertainty, a time when change Yet, I see many shoots of hope children’s imagination on social at Boston College’s School of different and many exhibited person to seek out the images is inevitable, we are each called to emerging during these most media. Theology and Ministry, and now deep insight and wisdom into the drawn and painted by the many consider the kind of Church and difficult of times. There has been Born in Lurgan, Co Armagh, in my support of the ‘Drawing families, communities and society children from the Diocese of society we will pass on to future a turning back to an expression I graduated from the University God’ initiative here, in Ireland. within which each child found Derry during the ‘Drawing God’ generations. of faith that many of us thought of in 1999 and worked in Since September 2019, I its inspiration. Most importantly, initiative. Look closely at each was lost. I have witnessed the corporate motor trade until 2012, had been working with the each drawing had that unique creativity, dedication and sterling when, I retrained as a vocational Archdiocese of Armagh as part spark of the Divine that was work that many dioceses, their educator. I subsequently worked of my studies and, just before particular to that child alone. clergy and their pastoral teams with young men and women from Christmas 2019, I was fortunate, I have also been struck by the have been engaged in throughout some of the most marginalised through ‘Drawing God’ in the profound knowledge of God that Ireland. In the Diocese of Derry, communities in Northern Ireland; Derry Diocese, to have the they possess. The expression and I have observed the meaningful a greatly humbling experience that opportunity to visit St Columba’s articulation of who and what engagement of many schools with invoked a period of deep personal PS, Straw, St John’s PS, Creggan, children believe God to be, offer a Boston College’s ‘Drawing God’ reflection around the path I was and St Patrick’s PS, Glen. I met and great vision for the future, should initiative. on. This resulted in the study of prayed with the staff and children we as parents, grandparents, As a Master’s student at Boston Pastoral Theology with Drumalis, from the schools, and presented educatoars and leaders of our College’s School of Theology through St Patrick’s Pontifical them with their ‘Drawing God’ Church take the time to listen to St Patrick’s Glen PS. St Patrick’s Glen PS. and Ministry, my engagement University, Maynooth and, more certificates. them, support them and, indeed, 12 THE NET | MAY 2020 Abundance of happiness comes in real friendship with the Son of God wannabe actors,” he added, “but it up onto a certain point, a point when He formed her in His love. to all who live in this culture and at which a person spoke to her, He thought that it was good for think that happiness can be found in the most unlikely of places. her to exist. in those material things and in This budding actress came on “Yet there was more still to know; that type of lifestyle. A lifestyle, holiday expecting the bright even though she had strayed in which, we are living our lives lights of Ibiza and found that she with her drinking and carousing, in front of screens of various was on pilgrimage at a convent in strayed in her living in boredom kinds, trying as it were, to live life northern Spain. A pilgrimage that and indifference, strayed in living through others. she said herself she spent smoking behind her various masks, strayed “We have fallen into a bad habit and sunbathing. It was only on in her superficiality, strayed in of going from one superficial Good Friday, when she bent down her fear and strayed in her living experience to another; trying to kiss the feet of the figure on the without God. Her weakness and desperately to get answers for cross that the figure spoke to her brokenness were never a block in ourselves outside of ourselves... soul. She tells us what happened, the road of Christ’s love. Rather Always deathly afraid that, at as she looked at that figure on than being a barrier, it simply CELEBRATING Mass in the some inconvenient moment, our the cross, racked by suffering and draws out what is best and greatest torture. She saw not just another in God”. Carmelite Monastery chapel, in mask will slip and people will see Fr Stephen Quinn with sisters, Lauren and Bethany Doherty, who sang at Sr Termonbacca, to mark the fourth us as we fear to be seen, and that defeated man but Divine Mercy Remarking that the Easter Clare’s anniversary Mass. anniversary of Sr Clare Crockett’s they will see us as inauthentic as itself, giving Himself away to the Proclamation “puts its finger on we really think we are and empty last drop. something profound that was death, Fr Stephen Quinn OCD, that price, how could it be that she rock of what had been told to as we feel.” “In addition, she realised that actually happening in the life of Sr talked about how God is speaking thought herself so worthless and her by the figure on the Cross. “Right there, in midst of all that”, her sins, her superficiality, and her Clare”, Fr Stephen continued: “The “directly to a new generation” as being nothing at all? She was From that moment, she became Fr Stephen noted, “we can reach masks had nailed him to that cross. Proclamation declares ‘O happy through “this daughter of Derry”, everything in His sight! His love a person like onto one described for an understanding of why She had heard all this as some fault that gained for us as great a as to where true happiness is to be for her was her true identity. His in the Book of Psalms, who is Sr Clare lived the way she lived kind of internal conversation or Saviour’ as Jesus Christ. found. love was the good news to her”. like a tree that is planted by living up until she made the definitive reflection, but it did not come “In her weakness, Sr Clare “Our young ones”, he said, “are “Incredible is not a strong waters. She put the roots down choice that she did; the reason from herself. He who truly hung saw God for who He truly was; fed on a daily diet of celebrity and enough word for what Sr Clare deep into the goodness and the why so many others follow suit, from the cross was speaking to His beauty, His majesty, His they are oriented in that direction experienced,” he concluded: “The love of God. She grew just like and why in a world that seems her; those words running through goodness, and His truth was to from no age at all. Almost by a words that Christ spoke to her that tree, in nature, in character, in to have everything, there are so her head were, in fact, His words take everything that He was, is, process of osmosis, they are told that Good Friday were so potent goodness, in virtue, in generosity, many undisguised symptoms of a to her. and will be, and give it away to that this is the path you wish to that no one could possibly get in sacrifice, in faith, in hope and in problem. Role us all as individuals. He emptied follow; these are the people you their heads round it all at once. It love. That growth was written all “If it is that we are all frightened “The depths of what He was himself and came into the world want to emulate”. took Sr Clare more than a year to over her face. that, under all the appearances, saying to her started to wake her as if Clare was the only one in However, in a recent film come to terms with those words “The designs of the Lord are, we are nothing at all, we need to up. He had for her, only words of the universe, He went to the cross released by the Servant Sisters on of love. In that year she came to indeed, wonderful to see. In this know that this is the greatest of His love. The crucified hands of freely as if Clare was the only one Sr Clare’s life, Fr Stephen noted see through all those things that, young woman, this daughter of lies, it is the ultimate fake news, the figure on the cross had been in the universe, He rose from the the quandary she faced of having until that point, she held so dear. Derry, the Lord speaks directly to and nothing but the propaganda the very ones that had made her dead as if Clare was the only one to be satisfied with living “behind It all seemed to have turned to a new generation as to where they of the Bad Spirit. Sadly, the and shaped her into His own in the universe, and He offered the mask of untruth” as an actor; saw-dust in comparison to that will find their true happiness... opposite seems to be happening; likeness. Her heart and soul were Clare the life of Heaven as if Clare having come to truth and some experience. abundance of happiness comes we are falling for it hook, line and the throne on which He took was the only one in the universe. happiness, “why would she go “The day she went off to be a in real friendship with the Son of sinker”. up his reign. He had a definite If God had paid such a high price backwards behind a mask?” Servant Sister, she decided to G o d ”. He continued: “Sr Clare believed purpose, role and mission in mind for Clare and thought her worth “Sr Clare is not speaking just to build her whole life on the solid Sr Clare’s family overwhelmed by depth of devotion THE family of the late Sr Clare through her story and prayers of too, as word spreads about people share that with other people, world - from Vietnam to Nigeria, when Bishop Donal went there Crockett have been greatly moved intercession. getting prayers answered after especially as it was coming up to from Denmark to Malta, and on Easter Sunday morning and by the growing devotion in their In the lead-up to the Rosary on saying the novena, asking Sr Clare her anniversary, so I asked my from the Philippines to Argentina. blessed the graves. home city of Derry and beyond her anniversary, and afterwards, to intercede for them. daughter to send a message to Pat “We can only give thanks to Looking forward to being able to to their Clare, the 33-year-old Shauna said that they had been “It is also lovely to see how Ramsey for his Facebook page God! There are many young gather with others for the Rosary Servant Sister who died in an inundated with requests for Sr many people have put a photo of about this, and it just took off from people who have been stirred to Prayer Group on Monday nights, earthquake in Ecuador four years Clare’s novena card: “I had just Sr Clare on their windows, after there. A message was put on the respond to God’s call and to enter like before Covid-19, Shauna ago. got 1,300 copies of the prayer card a post went up on Pat Ramsey’s Termonbacca Facebook page too the seminary or religious life. added: “When the restrictions are Amazed at the large number printed and the day after getting Facebook page about a woman and requests started coming in Many others write how far they lifted, we are going to go ahead of people who joined in online them there were none left. I have who had felt her home fill with a for the novena card and Sr Clare’s were from the Lord, how empty with the Rosary we had planned to pray the Rosary led by now placed an order for 3,000 lovely peace after she had put up a photo, not only from the around they were, and how Sr Clare is to pray at the Brandywell Grotto Bishop Donal, from St Eugene’s cards. sketch of Sr Clare on her window. the world but the Fountain as helping them to rediscover their and the candelight procession to Cathedral, on April 16, the “At first, my sister, Megan and I “It turned out that the sketch had well!” Catholic faith. Termonbacca for her monthly anniversary of her death, and were delivering them to the people been done by an old family friend The Servant Sisters have also “These spiritual graces are the M a s s”. watched Fr Stephen Quinn OCD who asked for the novena, but it of ours, Jimmy Melaugh, who been receiving more and more most important for us, but there celebrate the anniversary Mass in got to the stage that we were out had been our neighbour when emails every day from people are also other types of favours, the little chapel in Termonbacca, six hours one day. So we decided we were growing up. He said that sharing how they have been where people claim Sr Clare has the Sunday after, via YouTube to leave them in shops and put a he was sitting one night and felt helped by Sr Clare’s intercession. responded to their prayers for and Facebook, Sr Clare’s sister, post up on Facebook about where that he wanted to draw Sr Clare. The Sisters from the Home of physical healing or job requests or Shauna said that it eased the pain they were available. We have been That was just a couple of weeks the Mother Order celebrated Sr many other types of petitions. We of her death to know that so many overwhelmed by the response. before her anniversary. Little did Clare’s anniversary with a live give thanks to God for what He is were being helped in some way They are flying out of the shops he know that it would end up on broadcast of a festival of song and doing through her”. someone’s window! It’s just like testimonies about her life. This Fr Stephen Quinn, of the something that would happen to had been watched by over 1,000 Carmelites, is continuing our Clare!” viewers. with the monthly Mass on the The home in which the sketch of Sr Kristen Gardner remarked: second Sunday, at 7 pm, for the Sr Clare was put up on the window “It is truly overwhelming to see intercession of Sr Clare for special is that of Myra McLaughlin, who how Sr Clare continues, after her intentions, and the next will be has a great devotion to Sr Clare death, to touch people of all ages celebrated in Termonbacca on and often asks her to pray and and all lifestyles, but not to bring Sunday, May 10, and broadcast intercede for her and others. them to herself. As she did in her again via Facebook and YouTube. “I just felt such an inner peace lifetime, she continues to bring Relieved that the cemeteries and a peace in my home after souls to Our Lord and Our Lady. have now been re-opened, Sr praying to Sr Clare to intercede for We receive emails and messages Clare’s sisters said that it had me, as I had been anxious about continuously in which people brought great comfort to them, my asthma,” said Myra, adding: share how Sr Clare is helping and many others who have loved “I thought it would be nice to them. They arrive from all over the ones buried in the City Cemetery, THE NET | MAY 2020 13 Echoing sentiments of parishioners for the ministry of their priests in parishes across the Diocese and beyond, Greencastle parishioner, Maria Bradley expresses... Appreciation of unwavering support of Fr Eddie AS we watched the news unfold parishioners and especially for the faith in our parish. express my thanks for everything about the Coronavirus in other those in isolation, this was a great In the absence of a ‘normal’ that Fr Eddie has done since being countries, little did we know blessing. daily routine, Fr Eddie decided appointed to our parish, and about the drastic effects it would As the days went by, it was to do a solitary Parish Rosary commend him for how he has have here, in Ireland, and the heartening to see the numbers of Walk, choosing different routes dealt with the surreal challenges stringent measures which would those joining the online services for each evening and praying for presented by the Coronavirus. have to be adapted to try and stop increasing. It soon became the intentions of everyone as well We will forever remember his it spreading. apparent that in the absence as for an end to this Pandemic. dedication to his parishioners, We are very blessed here in of our ‘normal’ Masses that we This was a huge success and he and we ask God to guide him and Greencastle, Co Tyrone, to have were connected more than ever was greeted by parishioners who give him the grace and strength he the unwavering support of our by our ‘virtual’ online Masses. came to pray and sing at various needs to continue in his ministry. parish priest, Fr Eddie Gallagher, It was evident that Fr Eddie was points en route. There was always who promised his parishioners reaching far and wide as messages the wee surprise to lighten the that he would endeavour to meet began to flood in from abroad on mood such as the ‘Pope Mobile’, the pastoral needs of his parish no social media, thanking him for in Broughderg. Fr Eddie had his matter what happened. the great effort he was making in picture taken in it but assures us It came as a great shock when spreading the Word of God at this that he continued his walk on foot! it was announced that Mass very difficult time. I think that we will remember would no longer be allowed to be One of the highlights for the him, among other things, as our celebrated in our churches; added sick and housebound is Fr Eddie’s very own ‘Rosary Priest’. to that were all the restrictions pastoral visit on the First Friday of He is now on a different walk, ‘A regarding the traditions associated the month. As this was no longer Walk through Scripture’, reflecting with wakes and funerals. possible, he decided to keep in on The Acts of The Apostles. This Fr Eddie Worse news was to follow when touch by chatting and praying over is proving to be enlightening not it was announced that not only the ‘phone with those he would only for our students studying RE our churches, but our graveyards normally visit. His calls are now for examinations, but for all of us. were to close. Visiting the Church as eagerly awaited as his visits, and Hopefully, it will encourage us to to light a candle and/or visiting are a source of great comfort and become more familiar with our the grave of a loved one had been consolation to all involved. Bibles and display them in a more a great source of consolation to Fr Eddie made a special effort to prominent place in our homes. grieving families, but even that engage with all our young people, Fr Eddie has left no stone was to be taken away. I could see especially our Year Four and Year unturned in trying to make life the pain etched in Fr Eddie’s face Seven pupils who should have as normal as possible in these as he relayed this information to been receiving the Sacraments difficult times. We have our daily his parishioners via social media. of Fist Holy Communion and Mass, Rosary and also Eucharistic Life, as we knew it, was going Confirmaton. This was done Adoration on Wednesday to change big time for the through a series of Penitential evenings. All the liturgies are foreseeable future and there was Services at Easter and a beautiful enhanced by his beautiful singing. nothing we could do about it. The Confirmation Service on Sunday. Young and old, the sick and realisation that we were living It was, indeed, very different housebound, are all catered for. From virtual to Hi-Vis, Greencastle parish priest, Fr in unprecedented times really from what had been planned but The re-opening of our hit home! However, Fr Eddie it was a platform for the families graveyards is perhaps a light at Eddie Gallagher writes about... was not to be phased by these involved as well as for the whole the end of a very dark tunnel announcements and immediately community to reflect and pray and, hopefully, a sign that things set in motion his plan of action, for our young people, and to let will return to normal in the not the first of which was to broadcast them know they weren’t forgotten too distant future. On behalf of Ministry in lockdown Mass live from the Oratory of about. They are very important the parishioners of Greencastle “THE new normal”...“We those well known words of John In the weeks before and after the Parochial House. For all our and are the future for carrying on and Broughderg, I would like to live in strange times”...“Virtual Donne, “No man is an island”. We Easter, I embarked on nine Church”...“meeting remotely”. need each other, and that is all the ‘Rosary Walks’ around different Photographs continued from p12 From Pope to president, priest more true in a very rural location districts, which brought people to politician, in fact for everyone, like Greencastle, where isolation of all ages to their windows, these phrases have become can easily happen. doors, laneways and roadsides, our everyday existence. At the Over these past few weeks, to pray the rosary together for the beginning of the Covid-19 we have managed to keep the physical, spiritual and temporal pandemic emergency, Bishop tapestry of parish together with wellbeing of the parish and for Donal encouraged the priests of the help of our digital outreach their family members scattered the diocese to somehow remain of daily Mass, Angelus, Rosary across the world. Nine evenings, visible. Priests across the diocese and other devotions on Facebook 50 miles walking and countless have been innovative in making Live, which are later available on prayers lifted up to God seeking this possible; discovering hidden archive on the parish website. The his help and guidance through gifts and talents, and also by parish newsletter is now available this period of time we will never using tried and tested centuries on Facebook, the website and in forget. old methods of spreading the printed form in the local shop, in What of the future? No one Good News. Greencastle, and Post Office, in knows but surely, at the very Here in the Parish of Broughderg. least, as a church and parish Greencastle, parishioners The postponed Confirmation we can go forward from these have been mourning the and cancelled Penitential Covid-19 days to days where temporary loss of access to Services were marked with Christ comes first, where we their churches and cemeteries, special Facebook Live events. The respect life, our own and others, and the postponements of congregations have still gathered, born and unborn, young and Baptisms, Confirmations, First not in church, but in these times old, man and woman. May we Communions and Weddings, around ‘phones, tablets and continue what we have started, as well as the regular rhythms of smart televisions and, despite ministering to each other and church and parish life. However, our physical absence from each living out our baptismal call in they have been comforted by the other, our praying in this way has the family, parish, diocese and on knowledge that they are not alone brought us all, priest and people, what Pope Francis calls, Mother or forgotten. If we have learned closer together in prayerful Earth. Wouldn’t that make for a anything from this crisis it is, in solidarity. powerful ‘new normal’? 14 THE NET | MAY 2020 Steelstown and Culmore faith formation coordinator, Julia Fitzgerald reflects on... Parish life in lockdown learning curve and technology does the flowers in both chapels, is not always on our side, with created videos to help us make sometimes the webcam having our palms and Easter gardens. a mind of its own! This is ok. I The week before Holy Week, we think one of the things that we had a mystery parish guest lead have let go of in all of this, is the us in an evening reflection daily, need for polished articles. God and during Holy Week we had delights in all our efforts...even night prayer live on Facebook when the sound goes wrong, at 10 pm, from five different the picture is blurry or the feed homes at the same time. On doesn’t quite appear. Good Friday, young people It has been down to some from across the Diocese came fearless parish volunteers, together to lead us in reflection willing to enter the digital world and prayers around the Cross and the dodgy WIFI, and a lot – a truly moving moment of of understanding and good will prayer. from the parish communities In Culmore, many of our Julia Fitzgerald, Faith Formation that we continue to grow and families from the parish and coordinator for Steelstown and learn. beyond gather in their own Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Steelstown, where Fr John McDevitt PP and parishioners look forward to gathering Culmore One of our limitations has homes each night as one of again as a community been that neither Culmore our Culmore families leads we started our Lectio Online as the Domestic Church at the brave technology...even when it HIYA! I’m Julia, and I’m the nor Steelstown had webcams us in the Rosary. It has been programme, which is open to moment and into the future. doesn’t always cooperate; and Faith Formation coordinator installed going into this, but a great source of comfort everyone and is really easy to As we navigate new terrain, share in the gifts being offered for the parishes of Steelstown this has turned into a huge and community. People, in join. the joys are definitely in the from around the diocese and and Culmore, in Derry. blessing. It is a joy to join daily particular, look forward to the One of the things this social interactions and in the times beyond, because God is good Lockdown life means that my Mass on Facebook and be great wee videos - after we pray distancing has created is a we gather together from our and present in so much that is office has been relocated to able to dialogue (through the - from various members of the greater sense of unity with the homes to celebrate God’s story happening in these times and my spare bedroom over the comments box) with the others community, giving messages of wider Church. It’s been a joy to in our lives. We will continue to being Church together is central mountain in South Derry, and who are gathering to take part love and support. pray with people from across explore new ideas...maybe even to who we are and what we are I find myself - like everyone in Eucharist. It has helped many The schools in our community the diocese, country and world. a community quiz night online; called to be. else - daily navigating this new of us to have an enhanced sense are doing amazing work, and The weekly prayer gives time temporary normal and trying of community and it gives you it has been great to see all the for a group call, with reflection to find ways to stay connected a real sense of the gathered brilliant work our children are and conversation on the Sunday with my church family. Church. doing from home. They have scripture and concluding with Social distancing seems to In Culmore and Steelstown, made sacred spaces and sent prayer, lasting just an hour, have really reinforced how we have mainly been using so many pictures of all the from 11.30am-12.30 pm. If much even the most introverted the platforms of Facebook and work they are doing, as well as anyone would like to join the of us desire to be in communion Zoom. We have daily Mass on completing challenges in the weekly prayer group, you can and relationship with others. our Facebook pages - Our Lady run up to Holy week. message me at Julia.fitzgerald@ Certainly, for us over in Culmore of Lourdes, Steelstown and With so much available online derrydiocese.org. We’d love to and Steelstown parishes, our Thornhill Chapel, Culmore.and on the TV to help nourish see you there. focus has been on how we can In the build up to Holy Week, our faith, we are looking We are also gathering (again continue to be in community we prepared our homes and for ways moving forward online) with families - and those with one another: praying and hearts with Palms for our doors, that we can allow people to interested in the conversation celebrating together, and how like many others around the have conversation as well as - on Wednesday evening, to we can support that Domestic diocese. observation. look at what we can put in Church that exists in our homes. One of our parishioners, who On Wednesday, April 29, It has been a constant place to support our families Online prayer an important link with parish community by Fr Colum Clerkin, PP Culmore MAY is the month of Mary, a see it as an important link with from her home, along with Formation coordinator in be the oldest prayer to Mary month traditionally associated the parish community, as well her family, every evening, Culmore and Steelstown the Mother of God, and there with devotion to Our Lady, as a welcome routine in an again through the medium of parishes, are also providing is evidence that it has been and especially with the daily otherwise long day at home. Facebook. What had been for online prayer programmes, recited by Christians as early recitation of the Rosary. In Normally, the Rosary is years the daily Burns family including Lectio Divina, as the year 215, especially in his Letter addressed to the recited in Thornhill Church Rosary has now become a for use under the present times of trial and persecution. whole Church for May 2020, before our weekday Masses community Rosary, which circumstances, with the We can see why it is strongly Pope Francis encourages us by a small, dedicated parish has sometimes attracted over restrictions in place since St recommended by Pope “to rediscover the beauty of group, but now this has 2,000 people in a single day. Patrick’s Day. Francis to end the Rosary each praying the Rosary at home, been replaced with a ‘virtual It certainly meets a genuine In his Letter to mark the day in May 2020... either as individuals or as a Rosary’ each evening, led by spiritual need at this “time of Month of Mary, Pope Francis family”, assuring us that he, Michelle Burns in our parish. trial”. has included a prayer which We fly to thy patronage, O holy himself, will be praying in Michelle has been approved “I commend Michelle for he suggests could be recited Mother of God; spiritual union with all of us as an ‘essential worker’ because this unique parish initiative, by us at the end of the Rosary despise not our petitions in our “in this time of trial”. she is the only parishioner which is surely an unforeseen each day in May. necessities, In Culmore Parish, people are who attends Mass in Thornhill blessing during this present Many of us will have known but deliver us always from all invited to join us on Facebook every single day and records it pandemic. it by heart from our childhood dangers, for Mass each morning, for transmission on our Parish “Our parish Liturgy Group, days, but we may not have O glorious and blessed Virgin. and there has been a very Facebook. in association with Julia appreciated its origins in the Amen. encouraging response. People She also leads the Rosary Fitzgerald, who is the Faith early Church. It is believed to Fr Colum Clerkin, PP Culmore. THE NET | MAY 2020 15 Maghera Pastoral Council reports on Parish Lenten reflection... The importance of faith, hope and love ‘As Catholics – The importance refreshments in the nearby Fairhill of faith, hope, love’ was the title and Youth Club, Fr John’s second talk theme for a Lenten Reflection held led into a Lenten Healing Service in St Mary’s Church, Maghera, on and Benediction. the second Sunday of Lent, which This lovely Lenten Reflection was led by Fr John Walsh OP, Prior is especially memorable for us in of the Dominican Order, and Maghera now, because of what hosted by Fr Paddy Doherty PP we experienced a short time after and Fr Kieran O’Doherty. - the implementation of Covid-19 Fr Walsh had travelled to restrictions on gatherings of Maghera from St Saviour’s Priory, 100 people, which led on to the in Dublin, after celebrating Sunday sudden and unimaginable closure Mass and returned to his parish of churches. following the conclusion of a We now cling to the Gospel via memorable Lenten preparation in the webcam and occasionally our St Mary’s Church. We thank stumble if there is a technical Fr Walsh for undertaking the delay in accessing morning Mass journey and sharing his sermons. in our parish church, which is St We can now reflect on the depth Patrick’s, Glen. of faith conveyed to us by Fr John’s We thank all the priests in the first talk, which was followed by Derry Diocese for the prayers and Confession during a Holy Hour. Mass via webcam. Following an enjoyable break for Parishioners praise their ‘unsung heroes’ PARISHIONERS in the homes,” said the parishioners, parishes of Cappagh, Omagh and adding that the priests also Ardstraw East have asked ‘The needed “our prayers and support”. Net’ to give “a big shout out of This ‘thanks’ has been echoed by thanks” to their priests. parishioners around the Diocese, Hailing them “unsung who have been buoyed up in Generous hearts needed to heroes”, the parishioners have this time of great uncertainty expressed deep appreciation for and concern in the world, by the the ministry of their priests in strength of their faith and the difficult circumstances. abundance of on-line ministry by witness to power of Good “They went all out to bring us their priests. beautiful Easter Masses in our Shepherd’s love CELEBRATING Good great with their lives when they for yourself. The generous Good people to fill our shoes but to Shepherd Sunday in the still see parish communities and Shepherd wants to offer protection walk in the footsteps of the Good empty St Eugene’s Cathedral, clergy that inspire them”. and pasture for the flock. They are Shepherd. Bishop Donal had this message “Despite many bland and frail the reason for his existence”. “As ever, the powerful Word for those who were listening in cultural role models,” he added, Expressing the hope that of God can continue to fire online, as he reflected on the need “many young still yearn for “generous service of many and inspire down through the to want more than just getting inspiration and challenge. Jesus parishes will inspire a new centuries. As Church, we must buildings open again – “We is still calling generous hearts generation of crazy followers be open to the God who strips have to be yearning for the day to seek their deepest joy in of Jesus, whether to work in away much of our self-identity when parishioners can hear the nourishing others and not just in parishes or to live in consecrated and remakes us in his image shepherd’s voice and gather in the self-indulgence. communities”, Bishop Donal and likeness. That may be sheepfold to celebrate Christ’s love “The world will not be renewed noted that “generous families will uncomfortable - but the Good and mercy”. by a philosophy that looks after inspire generous young people” Shepherd can see the big picture”. Remarking that the image of the number one. Sport and music can and “self-sacrificing church “As we prepare to celebrate Good Shepherd was “a powerful numb the pain but not free the personnel will inspire new heroes”. Pentecost in four weeks, can image and inspiring for ministry heart to soar. Retail therapy does “A Church with a Good we use this month of May to be in Jesus’ name”, he went on to more for the economy than it does Shepherd heart will inspire inspired by Mary’s generosity and point out that Good Shepherd for the addicted shopper. people,” he said, “to do the right the grace of her Son, and get ready Sunday, traditionally known also “We can glimpse God’s dream thing even when that involves to be thrown out on Pentecost as ‘Vocation’s Sunday’, was “much in those who want to serve the mockery and incomprehension. to witness to the power of the more than a recruitment drive for common good and who resist The Lamb of God is prepared Good Shepherd’s love?” asked clergy and religious”. a world of self-service for the to sacrifice his life for the flock, Bishop Donal, before concluding: Referring to how “the generosity strong. Jesus has inspired people to heal us through his wounds, “That would be a powerful way of health workers and others has in every generation to look after knowing that Resurrection is to prepare for the unknown new inspired communities”, Bishop the little ones”. guaranteed for those who give all challenges that face us and our Donal said: “Young people will He continued: “Jesus says that in the service of divine love.” society. And we needn’t worry for similarly be encouraged to dream life to the full comes from giving He continued: “We older clergy the Good Shepherd knows what of doing something heroically of yourself and not merely getting are not merely calling young lies ahead”. 16 THE NET | MAY 2020

Ár nDúchas Laoi na mBuaidheann Christ, healer of the world,

(The song, or incantation, of the victories)

Make your home, Christ, in my heart, Make your home in my heart O Lord, Son of Mary. Come every Saturday, my Brother, and settle in my heart.

Don’t head off at will as others are inclined to do. Son of God, come every Sunday and make your home in my heart.

On Monday, in the very same place, guiding star of our souls, make your home, Christ, in my heart, King of heaven and earth.

Every Tuesday until the day I die — meagre and arid all my achievements — fill my heart with your will, Heir of the heavenly Father.

On Wednesday, holy God, when we have been completely redeemed, until Christ pays the dues of war, come and sleep in my heart.

On Thursday, fresh Son of Mary, save us by your own love. Come into my heart, Healer of the World, Judge of Adam’s Clan. The Irish page of The Net, headed text by heart. It was said that if for an overwhelming tidal wave Trócaire’ — the tSunami of mercy. simply Eangach, always has a you succeeded in reciting Laoi na resulting from an underwater Come into my heart on Friday, yellow sidebar on the left, in which mBuaidheann from beginning to volcanic eruption. In the Irish The verses of Laoi na holy Friend, Son of Mary, you can find traditional Irish end without stumbling, you could tradition there is reference to ‘the mBuaidheann follow the days healing herb of every soul, prayers and poems. This month, be sure the men would return three great waves of Ireland’: Tonn of the week, starting, strangely helping hand of the world. May 2020, the yellow sidebar safely. Chlíona, off the coast of Cork; enough, with Saturday. Some of contains an unusual text, called Tonn Tuaithe, at the mouth of the the phrases seem particularly Laoi na mBuann. Those who have It seemed appropriate to include river Bann, off Derry and Antrim; appropriate for our present visited the Donegal Gaeltacht Laoi na mBuaidheann in this and Tonn Ruairí, off Dundrum situation. Jesus is addressed as: A over the years will remember it month’s The Net, as the emergency Bay in County Down. A lovely Lia na Cruinne — O Healer of the The irish folklore in the older spelling as Laoi na of Covid19 seems to echo the positive turnaround of the idea of World, and as: A luibh leighis gach mBuaidheann. It is both a poem threat of the dark stormy waters the threatening waters is found in anama — O healing herb of every commission: and a prayer. The word Laoi means of the Atlantic. A few years ago we the description of Our Lady in one soul. Song, or Incantation, and the all learned a new word: tSunami, manuscript as ‘Tonn Chlíona na The schools project people of the Rosses on the west coast of Donegal reverenced Laoi In the years immediately before the Second na mBuaidheann as a miraculous World War, someone in the Irish Folklore prayer for God’s protection in time Commission in Dublin had an inspiration: of disaster or emergency. they sent thousands of exercise books out to the schools all over Ireland, asking that the children Most emergencies on the rocky collect stories and traditions in their locality, and shores of the Rosses arose from the record them in the exercise books. The schools, Atlantic Ocean. Niall Ó Dónaill, in the children, their parents, and especially their his book, Na Glúnta Rosannacha grandparents, responded enthusiastically: they (The Rosses Generations), has the filled thousands of the exercise books, and lovely statement: ‘Níl scaradh ag these were returned, collated, and catalogued. scéal na Rosann leis an Fharraige Nowadays they are accessible at dúchas.ie. Atlantach’ — The story of the Rosses is inextricably linked to The little school in Rannafast in West Donegal the Atlantic Ocean. The tradition returned a rich crop of stories and traditions — was that when the local fishermen in Irish, of course. The school is catalogued as were at sea and were caught in Rann na Feirsde (with a d), and we’re told the a sudden storm, the wives and Principal was Pádraig Ó Baoighill. mothers would gather on the shore and recite Laoi na mBuaidheann One of the wonderful stories that is recorded to implore God’s mercy and the in the Rannafast notebooks is the story of Laoi safe return of the boatmen. They na mBuaidheann: the Song or the Incantation didn’t need a book to read from, of the Victories. as they would all have known the The Saviour of Svenigorod Our Lady of Tenderness THE NET | MAY 2020 17 Eangach Ár nDúchas Laoi na mBuann Críost Mhachaire

Cónaigh, a Chríost, i mo chroí, a Choimdhe, a Mhic Mhuire. Rátha Gach Satharn tar, a Bhráthair, Íocón atá i gCros Mhachaire a théann ó aingeal amháin, fríd agus áitigh i mo chroí. Rátha: bunaithe ar an Scrioptúr, ghadaí amháin, saighdiúir le sleá, agus ar shoiscéal Eoin go háirithe. saighdiúir le spúinse go dtí aingeal Ná déan siúl na saoire I scéal an Chéasta ag Eoin, agus eile agus ceann Chríost. Ar thaobh i gCros Mhachaire Rátha, ní clé Chríost, taobh amuigh de do nós na ndaoine eile. chuirtear Íosa os ár gcomhair chruth na croise, tá éan ag eitilt A Mhic Dé, tar gach Domhnach, mar fhíor aonaránach, thréigthe. isteach agus rud éigin ina bhéal agus cónaigh i mo chroí. Is cuid thábhachtach de scéal aige: an colmán ag filleadh ar an an Chéasta é sin chomh maith, Áirc le hinsint do Naoi go bhfuil an Dé Luain san áit chéanna, agus cuirtear béim ar leith air i díle thart—comhartha slánaithe a réalt eoil ár n-anmann. soiscéal Mharcais. Ach san íocón ón Sean-Tiomna, scéal de chuid Éireannach seo, a d’fhás as scéal scéalta chabhair Dé. Ar an taobh Cónaigh, ’Chríost, i mo chroí, na Páise i soiscéal Eoin, tá Íosa ina eile in aice na croise tá ainmhí a Rí neimhe agus talmhan. fhíor ríoga, ardaithe i nglóir, agus beag. Tá an tsnoíodóireacht caite beo i measc a phobail. Anseo tá an ina mionbhruar agus is deacair Gach aon Mháirt go m’éaga— bhéim ar an ghaol idir Íosa agus a í a dhéanamh amach , ach Tearc tur-dhéanta a ndearna— dheisceabail. Céasadh eaglaisiúil é ó ghrianghraf a tógadh thart ar líon mo chroí de Do thoil, seo: léirítear breith na hEaglaise ó 1955, sílim gur caora atá ann. nóiméad bhás Chríost—nóiméad Smaoinigh mé ar uan na Cásca, a Oidhre an Athar neamhdha. a shoilsíonn a ghlóir agus ach ansin chuimhnigh mé go bronnadh an Spioraid. raibh íobairt Íosác ar chuid Dé Céadaoin, a Dhia naofa, mhaith de na hardchrosa, agus d’éis ár saortha ar oile, Tá saibhreas i gcúlra Chros shíl mé gur dóiche gurbh é sin a go n-íoca Críost an cogadh, Mhachaire Rátha. Tá ceithre bhí ann—comhartha slánaithe tar a chodladh i mo chroí. aingeal os cionn lámha Chríost, a eile ón Sean-Tiomna. chuireann ósnádúrtha in iúl, saol na bhFlaitheas. Tá Críost ar an Tá smacht agus íogaireacht i Eaglais Naoimh Luraigh Déardaoin, a úrMhic Mhuire, chros suite mar bheadh droichead gCros Mhachaire Rátha; tá neart saor sinne le do ghrása. ann idir an saol fisiciúil agus an agus fuinneamh sna línte agus agus na cruthanna go léir le chéile go léir ionad a aimsiú dúinn féin Tar i mo chroí, a Lia na Cruinne, saol spioradálta, idir an saol thall sna cruthanna, ins an dóigh a le tábhacht íomhá Chríost a chur mar dheisceabail sa chomhluadar a Bhreithimh Chlainne Ádhmha. agus an saol abhus. Aontaítear gcruthaíonn gach fíor ionad do chun tosaigh, agus é ina shuí go chéanna, ag neartú chreideamh a iad ar dhóigh eile leis an chiorcal na fíoracha eile. Oibríonn na línte ríoga i lár a dheisceabal. Thig linn chéile. Tar i mo chroí Dé hAoine, a Naomhchara, ’Mhic Mhuire, a luibh leighis gach anama, a lámh chabhartha na cruinne.

Cros Mhachaire Rátha Leagan amach Chros Mhachaire Rátha Iontas an Aifrinn: Críost Linn Sa Chomaoineach, braithimid taibearnacal, agus ba chóir dúinn réadúil an té a shlánaigh an inár dtreo agus a bheannacht iontas Chríost i láthair ionainn. cuairt a thabhairt air agus a bheith domhan trína pháis, trína bhás a bhronnadh orainn. Thig leis Sin an cúlra atá leis an fhógra ag comhrá leis. Fanann sé linn le agus trína aiséirí. a bheith gairid, nó thig leis a ag deireadh an Aifrinn: tá an go mbeimid in ann a bheith leis. bheith fada, ag brath ar mhéid na tAifreann thart. Imígí faoi Tá dualgas orainn Dia a adhradh Cuirtear béim faoi leith ar an hurnaí a dhéanaimid, ach bíonn shíocháin. Iarrtar orainn dul in Íosa Críost. Caithfimid áit agus láithreacht seo nuair a bhíonn sé i gcónai machnamhach agus amach leis an iontas sin, go bhfuil am a aimsiú le go mbeimid in ann Beannacht na Naomhshacraiminte uasal, agus cuireann sé spiorad Críost beo go fóill. Tabhair leat é sin a dhéanamh mar is ceart. Ní againn. Ní rud sean-fhaiseanta é na humhlaíochta ag borradh inár amach é isteach i do shaol féin fearr áit ná os comhair na haltóra, seo a thig amach as ré atá imithe gcroíthe agus muid ina láthair. Tá agus i saol do phobail. Mar, ar i láthair an té a théann thar am agus caillte faoi dheannach agus ócáidí mar seo de dhíth le muid ndóigh, ní bhíonn an tAifreann isteach i ngach gné dár saol, agus faoi dhusta na n-aoiseanna agus a chur ag smaoineamh ar iontas thart choíche. Maireann sé, agus a thuigeann gach comhthéacs dár i bhfolach faoi dheatach na an Aifrinn agus ar mhaorgacht caithfimid é a thabhairt linn agus ngníomhartha. Bíodh ciúnas thart túise. Is searmanas tábhachtach Chríost a fhanann linn idir na a scaipeadh. orainn corruair, agus cuimhne é a bheir seans dúinn adhradh a hAifrinn uile. an Aifrinn, mar ní fuílleach an thabhairt do Dhia in Íosa Críost, Maireann láithreacht Chríost Aifrinn atá sa taibearnacal ach agus a bheith umhal ina láthair (Buíochas le Foilseacháin Ábhair san abhlann fosta agus é sa toradh an Aifrinn agus láithreacht fad a shíneann Íosa Críost amach Spioradálta.) 18 THE NET | MAY 2020 Bellaghy blessed with amazing music ministry by Mgr Andy Dolan

AT the outset, I must say that we, and sing at Mass on a Sunday in the parish of Bellaghy, are very morning. They immediately blest with a strong Music Ministry. struck me as a very talented group For as long as anyone can of young people, and what they remember, we have had an might have to offer at Mass would adult choir who have faithfully certainly enhance our liturgy, and stayed the course and continue surely did. to enhance our Liturgical Kevin Jordan is a name which celebrations, under the leadership will be ever associated with St of Laurence Diamond. Mary’s Folk Group. Kevin, who In more recent years, a youth came to live in the parish, was a choir has been formed and, under member of the Down and Connor the direction of Sean Scullion Diocesan Folk Group and he and Cathy McErlean, has made led the Bellaghy Folk Group for a tremendous input into Sunday about 12 years. He was so talented Mass and at other times, including and inspirational, and brought the ‘Night of Hope’. everyone to a different level in Bellaghy Folk Group when they presented Charis with the proceeds of the sale of their CD St Joseph’s has their understanding of appropriate its own choir over many years, liturgical music. Mairead asked the members to assimilate new members as connected to a speaker playing recording equipment to adjust too. We are grateful to those who The contribution to Taizé Prayer of St Mary’s Folk Group to join time goes by. I admire their into the chapel mic. timing and volume. The finished have led at different times and, around the Cross on Good Friday with them. That event was to commitment and am so grateful As well as including two recording was then sent back currently, Sean Scullion has taken was special. I had wondered how stir the Group to honour Kevin’s to their contribution to the life of individual keyboard instrumental to Bronagh for inclusion in the on the responsibility. this would go down, when I saw memory and commit to be the faith in our parish. pieces – ‘Stay Here’, played by playlist for the Easter ceremonies, There are others who, from time so many older people along with best they could be. I can say that What brought about the idea of Marie-Claire Mackle, and ‘Behold with the amazing result of their to time, lend a hand especially at the other age groups present. To they have delivered big time. Their this article was a recording done the wood of the Cross’, played by efforts heard by the many who funerals, Month Mind Masses, put it simply, everyone just loved commitment involves serious by the Group for Easter, this year, Bronagh Curry, which were also tuned in for the Holy Thursday weddings and where a gap needs to it; the setting, the atmosphere, practising, attending weekend in the absence of any choir. I am recorded via the recorder app, and Good Friday ceremonies. be filled. They are recognised and the music/song was a whole new workshops and always on the not well up on the technical side Jonny came up with the idea of I introduced this piece referring appreciated as being important spiritual experience and has been lookout for new and inspirational of things but hopefully what I recording the whole choir singing to our various choirs and, if I within our parish Music Ministry. a feature in this parish since 2001. material. say gives you an insight into the remotely, ‘My Soul is Sad’. dare use the word, harmony The choir about which I have However, Kevin’s health was Reflecting on folk groups in variety of talent which exists This involved Jonny recording exists among all involved. Many been asked to write few words failing, some people had moved general, it is something which is within these people. his guitar part before sending it to different events in the parish have is our Folk Group. Having the away through studies, work and hard to sustain; you need good The Folk Choir recorded a CD Bronagh via Whatsapp, who then called on all to work together and various choirs and others available other reasons, hence regular leaders, which is true of any choir. last year, called ‘Faith, Hope and recorded base vocals on another that is a most powerful witness. It takes the pressure off any one contributions were not possible. I It is difficult, too, as a lot of folk Love’, which raised £1,740 from ‘phone using the app and sent this is not about competition or about group and offers a lovely variety cannot readily recall the timeline, group members are quite young sales for Charis, and they used back for Jonny to sync with his performing. To be involved in as well. but I know that by 2012 there was and have studies and careers some of the songs from this for the guitar recording. He then sent this music ministry is about giving Our Folk Group came into being a move to get things moving again which need attending. We saw the Easter ceremonies, by recording recording, via Whatsapp, to the praise and glory to God and we around 1996. Some of the present and Kevin was delighted with same with this group in the early them onto a mobile phone via a rest of the choir members, who are blest in this regard. Those who members were performing at that. However, sadly, he died in days. Thankfully, they came back recorder app. Lead guitarist with recorded their individual vocals/ know me, and are familiar with an event for Seamus Heaney, November 2012. again and were able to regroup. the choir, Jonny Armstrong took instrumentals and returned the my singing, can only be surprised in Bellaghy, shortly after I had The Down and Connor Folk They were back and settled care of the technical process, recording to Jonny, who then that I would be so privileged to come to the parish. I extended Group came to sing at Kevin’s as young adults, which has connecting the mobile to his mixed all the separate vocals/ have such talent around me! an invitation to them to come funeral Mass and his wife, given continuity, and are able sound mixer, which in turn was instrumentals together, using his

Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis to the faithful for the month of May 2020

situations, making the most of Second Prayer so that the families of the sick Mary Most Holy, stir our both opportunities. The key to First Prayer “We fly to your protection, O and the victims be comforted, consciences, so that the enormous doing this is always simplicity, O Mary, You shine continuously Holy Mother of God”. and their hearts be opened to funds invested in developing and and it is easy also on the internet on our journey as a sign of In the present tragic situation, confidence and trust. stockpiling arms will instead be to find good models of prayers to salvation and hope. We entrust when the whole world is prey Protect those doctors, nurses, spent on promoting effective follow. ourselves to you, Health of the to suffering and anxiety, we fly health workers and volunteers research on how to prevent I am also providing two prayers Sick, who, at the foot of the to you, Mother of God and our who are on the frontline of this similar tragedies from occurring to Our Lady that you can recite at cross, were united with Jesus’ Mother, and seek refuge under emergency, and are risking their in the future. the end of the Rosary, and that I suffering, and persevered in your your protection. lives to save others. Support Beloved Mother, help us realise Pope Francis praying the Rosary. myself will pray in the month of faith. “Protectress of the Roman Virgin Mary, turn your merciful their heroic effort and grant that we are all members of one May, in spiritual union with all people”, you know our needs, and eyes towards us amid this them strength, generosity and Dear Brothers and Sisters, great family and to recognise the of you. I include them with this we know that you will provide, coronavirus pandemic. Comfort continued health. The month of May is bond that unites us, so that, in a letter so that they are available to so that, as at Cana in Galilee, joy those who are distraught and Be close to those who assist the approaching, a time when the spirit of fraternity and solidarity, everyone. and celebration may return after mourn their loved ones who have sick night and day, and to priests People of God express with we can help to alleviate countless Dear brothers and sisters, this time of trial. Help us, Mother died, and at times are buried in a who, in their pastoral concern particular intensity their love situations of poverty and contemplating the face of Christ of Divine Love, to conform way that grieves them deeply. Be and fidelity to the Gospel, are and devotion for the Blessed need. Make us strong in faith, with the heart of Mary our ourselves to the will of the Father close to those who are concerned trying to help and support Virgin Mary. It is traditional in persevering in service, constant Mother will make us even more and to do what Jesus tells us. for their loved ones who are sick everyone. this month to pray the Rosary in prayer. united as a spiritual family and For He took upon Himself our and who, in order to prevent the Blessed Virgin, illumine the at home within the family. The Mary, Consolation of the will help us overcome this time suffering, and burdened Himself spread of the disease, cannot minds of men and women restrictions of the pandemic have afflicted, embrace all your of trial. I keep all of you in my with our sorrows to bring us, be close to them. Fill with hope engaged in scientific research, made us come to appreciate all children in distress and pray prayers, especially those suffering through the cross, to the joy of those who are troubled by the that they may find effective the more this “family” aspect, that God will stretch out his all- most greatly, and I ask you, the Resurrection. Amen. uncertainty of the future and the solutions to overcome this virus. also from a spiritual point of view. powerful hand and free us from please, to pray for me. I thank consequences for the economy Support national leaders, that For this reason, I want to this terrible pandemic, so that life you, and with great affection I We fly to your protection, O Holy and employment. with wisdom, solicitude and encourage everyone to rediscover can serenely resume its normal send you my blessing. Mother of God; Mother of God and our Mother, generosity they may come to the beauty of praying the Rosary course. Do not despise our petitions in pray for us to God, the Father of the aid of those lacking the basic at home in the month of May. To you, who shine on our Rome, Saint John Lateran, our necessities, but deliver us mercies, that this great suffering necessities of life and may devise This can be done either as a journey as a sign of salvation and 25 April 2020 always from every danger, O may end and that hope and peace social and economic solutions group or individually; you can hope, do we entrust ourselves, Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist, Glorious and Blessed Virgin. may dawn anew. Plead with your inspired by farsightedness and decide according to your own O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet FRANCIS divine Son, as you did at Cana, solidarity. Virgin Mary. Amen. THE NET | MAY 2020 19 Fatima - more relevant than ever by Fr Noel McDermott, PP Faughanvale THIS month marks the 103rd end of time, but gives us a means contemplation of God, is stronger anniversary of the apparitions to follow Him and an effective than guns and weapons of every of Our Lady at Fatima to the way to put His Gospel into action kind. The fiat of Mary, the word three shepherd children - Jacinta, in the particular circumstances of of her heart, has changed the Francisco and Lucia. Since 1917, our daily lives. history of the world, because millions upon millions have If a pilgrimage to Fatima does it brought the Saviour into the travelled there to hear the message not inspire us to be ever more world - because thanks to her Yes, of Fatima, to be touched by God’s devoted to Jesus Christ and God could become man in our grace in that holy place, and to be committed to practising our faith world and remain so for all time. renewed in their faith or converted in our own home and our own The Evil One has power in this anew to it. Fatima has been rightly parish, then the pilgrimage has world, as we see and experience described as the altar of the world. not been successful. This is simply continually; he has power because Faughanvale Parish Fatima Pilgrimage 2004 Our Lady’s call for prayer, because Our Lady’s mission and our freedom continually lets us especially the daily recitation message is always to point us to be led away from God. But since of the Rosary, penance and Jesus her Son, her Saviour and our God himself took a human heart conversion, remains thoroughly Saviour. and has thus steered human relevant and possibly even more Our Lady’s message has never freedom toward what is good, the relevant today than it was in 1917. changed since the day at Cana freedom to choose evil no longer But above all, it is her assurance when she told the servants to “Do has the last word. From that time that in the end her Immaculate whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). forth, the word that prevails is Heart will triumph that gives Perhaps the words of Pope this: ‘In the world you will have devotees of Fatima encouragement Emeritus Benedict XVI (from tribulation, but take heart; I have and hope in today’s climate of his theological commentary on overcome the world’ (John 16:33) unbelief and despair. the third secret of Fatima, June “The message of Fatima invites The message of Fatima does not 2000) explaining the expression of us to trust in this promise”. add anything to the message and Our Lady, that her “Immaculate ministry of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Heart will triumph”, sums up the Our Lady of Fatima, which is final, complete and Fatima message best of all: “The definitive until Jesus returns at the heart open to God, purified by pray for us.

Faughanvale Parish Fatima Pilgrimage 2019 The Fatima Prayer O Virgin of Fatima, Mother of Mercy, Queen of heaven and earth, refuge of sinners, we consecrate ourselves to your Immaculate Heart. To you we consecrate our hearts, our souls, our families and all that we have.

And in order that this consecration may be truly effective and lasting, we renew today the promises of our Baptism and Confirmation; and we undertake to live as good Christians, faithful to God, the Church and the Holy Father.

We desire to pray the Rosary, partake in the Holy Eucharist and work for the conversion of sinners. Furthermore, we promise, O most Holy Virgin, that we will zealously spread devotion to you, so that through our consecration to your Immaculate Heart and through your own intercession the coming of the Kingdom of Christ in the world may be hastened. Amen. 20 THE NET | MAY 2020 “None of us are safe until all of us are safe” by Caoimhe de Barra, CEO Trócaire of our clergy and parishioners, washing is one of the Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda, why engaging with community This crisis has highlighted as the needs overseas are best protections against DR Congo, Sudan, Uganda elders and Church leaders is how interconnected our greater than ever. COVID-19, but three-quarters and Zimbabwe, where Trócaire so important. They have the world and our lives are. The The three key battlegrounds of sub-Saharan Africa’s 645 has ongoing programmes. trust of the people. Failing to global community is rallying against the Coronavirus – million people don’t have the Trócaire has experience engage them has very serious together. The people who are China, the US and Europe – facilities at home to wash their combating disease outbreaks consequences – if they are not least able to fight the virus are are well-resourced but even hands with soap and water. and we can help to tackle this informed of the facts, they can going to be the hardest hit. In they have been stretched to People have said they are being pandemic. spread the wrong information. the weeks and months ahead, their limits dealing with its advised to wash their hands During the Ebola outbreak Agencies such as we must be prepared to stand devastating consequences. and they ask – “With what?” in West Africa in 2014-15, our Trócaire will respond to the with people who are largely We are now seeing the virus The other key protection is teams in Sierra Leone delivered Coronavirus crisis while also defenceless against the threat rapidly spread to countries social distancing. In conflict- vital services to affectedtrying to maintain other life- they face. that lack even the most basic affected countries, peoplecommunities, helping to save saving programmes. The virus May we, as children of the resources to fight this crisis. are often living together in thousands of lives. Today, we also presents challenges to our light, continue to express COVID-19 is now present very crowded camps where continue to counter the spread work in Ireland. Organisations solidarity with the work Caoimhe de Barra,CEO Trocaire. in all 20 countries where the virus could take hold of Ebola in DR Congo, where around Ireland are trying to Trócaire and others are doing Trócaire works, including very easily. A staggering over 2,200 people have died deal with this risk in a sensible in the developing world at this TODAY, as the world some – Somalia, Democratic 84% of refugees are living in from the disease in the last 18 and appropriate way. Trócaire time of unprecedented crisis. joins together to battle the Republic of Congo – that are developing countries. How do months. We are winning the is no different. Let us show our love for each Coronavirus, we are reminded amongst the poorest places on you stop a virus taking hold in fight against Ebola and we We cancelled all staff travel other and for mothers and how connected we are. We are Earth. The big fear is that the a refugee camp? The reality is can win this new fight against and all face-to-face events families around the world, one human family who share virus is being under-reported. that refugees are often living COVID-19. here in Ireland planned who face conflict, poverty and God’s earth together. We have Some places have a very small in overcrowded camps that are What makes COVID-19 around our annual Lenten disease. As Dr Mike Ryan, of the same hopes. Today, we face number of reported cases, but starved of resources. So, even different to other response campaign. This will impact the World Health Organisation the same fear. that may be because they have accessing enough detergent work is that it is not isolated to our crucial fundraising, but recently said, ‘None of us are But this fear can be no ability to test. and clean water to keep people one region or country. When the most important thing safe until all of us are safe’. overcome by us acting Poor countries are healthy in normal times is a Ebola struck West Africa, today is stopping the spread of You can support together, in solidarity and in vulnerable at multiple levels: huge challenge. the world could mobilise in this virus and protecting each Trócaire’s work at trocaire. love. In the weeks ahead, as there may not be a functioning Trying to contain the spread response. Were Coronavirus to other. org we face the Coronavirus in our state to warn people how to of the virus in the countries spread across the entire African own communities, Trócaire’s protect themselves; many do where Trócaire supports people continent – and at a time when teams will face it in some of not have the systems to detect is going to be a mammoth task Europe and America are the poorest communities in the virus; most do not have a for our teams in the weeks and struggling to contain their own the world. They will face it in functioning health service to months ahead. The number crises – African countries will conflict zones where people respond to a mass outbreak of of cases in Lebanon, Israel have to rely only on their own live together in crowded illness. and the Occupied Palestinian scarce resources. camps. They will face it in Poverty also makes Territories has been growing Elders and Church leaders communities already ravaged individuals more vulnerable. day by day, followed by have an important role to with hunger. These are places If you are living through a further recent cases in Gaza play. Governments and with little healthcare and drought in somewhere like and Syria – areas which are international organisations few resources; places sadly Malawi or Kenya, you may only already suffering from conflict. are not always trusted. When ill-equipped to deal with the be eating once a day. You may Elsewhere, in Central America, Ebola struck, rumours challenges that lie ahead. have HIV or be malnourished. Guatemala and Honduras spread that governments and Trócaire’s Lent activities may Your immune system is going are in lockdown. In Africa, international aid agencies have been cancelled but we still to be compromised. cases have been reported in were to blame. In some cases, Twal Umande (48) and Bahati Imulali (20) accessing Trócaire water points to rely massively on the support prevent the spread of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Photograph We are told how hand countries including Kenya, medics were attacked. That is by Garry Walsh) Internet transmission of services a big hit in Ardstraw East by Pastoral Forum THERE is no history of This internet transmission metre social distance by liturgical broadcasting in proved such a big hit with reading outside the altar the Parish of Ardstraw East. housebound parishioners and rails. The pastoral team was However, the lockdown by the parish diaspora that the delighted to learn that the Vigil the Covid-19 pandemic has streaming has continued. Mass on Holy Saturday night brought a cyber dimension Of course, there were teething had 1,200 views. to every parish. The creative problems, but the impromptu Without a doubt, the viewers thinking of Newtownstewart’s visit of a Catholic broadcaster were also drawn by the fresh Pastoral Forum has resulted in provided some valuable advice. Easter daffodils from Anne live-streaming of the liturgy via The inventive cameraman,McDonnell’s garden in Pubble. the parish Facebook page. Martin Kerrigan, adapted a The celebrant, Fr Roland The government’s prohibition trolley into a mobile tripod Colhoun, is delighted to on congregational attendance in order to film the Stations use this novel method of took hold in this diocese of the Cross for Good Friday. proclaiming the Good News. on Wednesday, March 18. He also invested in a gimbal, To celebrate the re-opening In preparation, the firsta hand-held pivoted support of Glenock Cemetery, he experiment of live-streaming that allows the rotation of the recorded a short audio-visual from St Eugene’s Church camera around a single axis. sprinkling holy water on the at Glenock took place the The lectors, Ashlene Canning graves. At the time of going previous day, for the Mass of St and Shauneen Kilpatrick, to print, the five-minute video Patrick. adhere faithfully to the two had 4,800 views. THE NET | MAY 2020 21 Celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday, Bishop Donal spoke of the need for witness, saying... Only mercy will drive us to rebuild life-giving communities of faith throw at others or with which to gash ourselves”. “Many people,” he added, “find it hard to believe in the creativity of God which makes our lives beautiful, no matter how ugly they may have been. That is the maturing process that Divine Mercy wants to enable in each of us and in our communities”. Stating that new life is possible, the bishop went on to point out Divine Mercy Sunday in St Mary’s Church, Creggan. that we cannot, however, “simply draw a line” under the past and the terrible things that people did to one another: “Only the truth can set us free. But the truth has to be sought by hearts that are open to be touched by grace and not just by a hunger for victory or a fear of embarrassment. Dishonest narratives about the past will have to be sacrificed. That will involve personal ‘Calvaries’. Some people are not prepared for that. Divine Mercy Sunday in St Patrick’s Church, . “And there is a huge need for mercy with our own Church circles. We too have been affected by the shrill tone of political Divine Mercy quotes... discourse. There are discordant voices about what went wrong in From the Diary of St Faustina the recent or distant past. If, like CELEBRATING the Feast of He continued: “People with the early Jerusalem Church, we are “I remind you, My daughter, that as often as you hear the clock strike the Divine Mercy in St Mary’s Church, different beliefs or practices to face the future with Christian third hour, immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying Creggan, which houses a beautiful are easily caricatured as evil communities that inspire our it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor Divine Mercy Chapel, Bishop or blinkered. But in every contemporaries to love Jesus, then Donal told those listening to the generation, there is a real we have to be the first to be open sinners; for at that moment mercy was opened wide for every soul. In this three o’clock ceremony, via the temptation to blindness in that we to healing and divine mercy. If we hour you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking; it church webcam, that the message are tempted and encouraged to have not sought that mercy, then was the hour of grace for the whole world – mercy triumphed over justice.” of Divine Mercy was desperately take as normal and sensible some we cannot talk about it. If all we (Diary, 1572) needed today. attitudes, actions and laws that can do is blame someone else and Noting that it was almost 100 the next generations will mock as burn bridges, then we have not years ago now that Sr Faustina had outrageous”. really encountered the Risen Jesus “At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only spoken of Divine Mercy “into a “Jesus speaks mercy rather and allowed him to say, ‘Peace be for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My sore and hurting Europe after the than condemnation into our with you’. We have to be the first to abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for First World War”, Bishop Donal angry hurt and our confusion,” bear witness to the healing power the whole world. I will allow you to enter into My mortal sorrow. In this hour, said that, while she may have used continued Bishop Donal: “He of God’s mercy. Otherwise, we I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My a language that some people in wants every generation to know cannot blame our society for not Passion...” (Diary, 1320) 2020 find unusual, “we need to the liberating power of mercy and daring to believe that a shared know the abundance of divine forgiveness. His forgiveness is not forgiving future is possible”. mercy, so that we can bear witness about keeping people childish but Speaking of the joy that comes “All those souls who will glorify My mercy and spread its worship, to it in our century”. about enabling us to become adult from knowing Divine Mercy, encouraging others to trust in My mercy, will not experience terror at the “Only mercy,” he stated, “will see disciples”. he said: “Where anger and hour of death. My mercy will shield them in that final battle...” (Diary, 1540) us through this crisis. Only mercy Pointing out that Jesus “does not resentment dominate, we are all will drive us to re-build life-giving ignore or hide the wounds that diminished and isolated in the communities of faith”. were inflicted on him”, he went tomb of the past. Where mercy “My daughter, do not tire of proclaiming My mercy. In this way you will Highlighting that Jesus had died on to note: “But love has ensured and forgiveness dominate, we can refresh this Heart of Mine, which burns with a flame of pity for sinners. Tell and rose “to bring God’s healing that they no longer bleed. Mercy dare to dream God’s dreams for us my priests that hardened sinners will repent on hearing their words when mercy to a hurting and often angry and forgiveness are not about as a human race and specifically they speak about My unfathomable mercy, about the compassion I have world”, Bishop Donal remarked forgetting the past or drawing a as a Church. As Jesus showed for them in My Heart. To the priests who proclaim and extol My mercy, I that it was not surprising Pope line under it. He does not forget with the empty tomb, He seeks to will give wondrous power; I will anoint their words and touch the hearts of John Paul II had established the the awful reality of Good Friday, nourish our hearts on new life in Second Sunday of Easter as Divine but he looks at the past through the breaking of bread in his name, those to whom they will speak.” (Diary, 1521) Mercy Sunday. grace-filled eyes, not hurting or and not on the stale bread of old “Sin is not a popular concept angry ones. That applies in our angers”. “My daughter, tell souls that I am giving them My mercy as a defense. I nowadays,” stated the Bishop, personal lives as well as in our Turning to the words of Thomas Myself am fighting for them and am bearing the just anger of My Father.” adding: “It is portrayed as part local politics. to Jesus, “My Lord and My God”, (Diary 1516) of an old judgemental way of “A wise man wrote recently that Bishop Donal prayed that God looking at life. People, it is said, sin is inexcusable but forgivable. “will use us, too, as channels of should be free to make their own Mercy enables us to forgive and to His peace”. “Souls who spread the honour of My mercy I shield through their entire decisions and not to be judged. remember – not merely to forgive Divine Mercy ceremonies were lives as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be And yet, while I reject anyone and forget. God’s grace enables us celebrated in other areas of the a Judge for them, but the Merciful Saviour. At that last hour, a soul has who questions the rightness of to tell a story about our lives that Diocese as well, including St nothing with which to defend itself except My mercy. Happy is the soul that my decisions, on the other hand, takes the rubble of the past and Columb’s Church, Waterside, St during its lifetime immersed itself in the Fountain of Mercy, because justice there appears to be a strong urge makes it into a foundation for the Mary’s Church, Ardmore, and St to condemn others”. future – not into a pile of rocks to Patrick’s Church, Claudy. will have no hold on it.” (Diary, 1075) 22 THE NET | MAY 2020 Derry couple enjoy golden years after Marriage Encounter enrichment one in 1962. etc, but they don’t often have time Madeline and Tom are now to actually talk at a deep level the national leaders, along with about how they feel about other Fr Sean Coyle, of the Columban things in their lives such as health, Fathers in Dalgan, for Worldwide finances, intimacy, leisure time, Marriage Encounter Ireland. and family. Three times a year, they attend a “One of the things you will find European Conference. that most wives say is that, after a “For the most part the while, the romance becomes less conference is focused on in their marriage when daily life relationship formation, as we can gets busier...and that is the same always learn more and more about the world over”. relationships,” said Madeline, Noting that around 400-500 adding: “We couldn’t hold the last couples have experienced the one because of Covid-19 but the marriage enrichment weekend work that would have been done since Marriage Encounter first at that has been sent to us and we began in the Derry Diocese, have been sharing that via Zoom, Madeline said: “There was a great email and WhatsApp. Normally, surge in the 1980s and mid 90s. It when we come back from the is much more difficult now to get European Conference we have a younger couples to come on the meeting of the National Board, weekend, as husbands and wives and the participants in that, from both work. For most couples, all different areas of Ireland go the weekend is the precious time back to their communities and that they have with their children. s h a r e”. Yet most couples who come on a She went on to explain: “There weekend will say that the first to is a worldwide leadership team benefit from it is the family.” and one leadership team in each In the north of Ireland, the of the continents. We are part of weekends are mostly held in the European Continent, with Dromantine Retreat Centre, but other countries such as France, couples can also choose to attend Belgium, Holland, Portugal, a weekend organised in other Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, parts of Ireland, such as Killarney, Hungary, Croatia and Russia. Cork and Dublin. When we used to pray at Mass for With regards cost, Madeline Madeline and Tom McCully on their wedding day. the conversion of Russia, never said that, while they don’t receive did we think that they would have funding from any outside body, AT a time when more couples School and I was working in There is a presentation and they time to do that. Marriage Encounter there”. they strive to keep within the have been feeling the strain of the university there,” explained have a time to reflect individually There is just a very warm, Madeline and Tom were financial reach of couples: “The the Covid-19 lockdown on their Madeline, adding: “My cousin, on that. They meet in their own relaxed atmosphere, in which amongst the presenting couples cost to Marriage Encounter of a marriage and family life, Derry who was a doctor and doing his room and talk about what they couples can sit and discuss their who brought the marriage weekend is £420 per couple but, couple, Madeline and Tom residency in Los Angeles, rang to reflected on in relation to their hopes and fears in private in their enrichment programme to at the end of the weekend, couples McCully have shared how their tell us that he and his wife had just marriage. From this, couples learn own room.” Nigeria and Scandinavia, while are given a blank envelop and they experience on a Catholic Marriage been on a wonderful weekend, a way of communication that is Madeline and Tom had been another Derry man, Philip Friel put in what they can afford. This Encounter weekend over 40 years and invited us to go on one. It was without blame or judgement. It is so appreciative of their Marriage and his wife, Tricia introduced it means that we can ask any couple ago helps them greatly to keep a Marriage Enrichment Weekend about learning listening skills and Encounter Weekend experience to Cameroon. to go on a weekend regardless of their relationship vibrant after 50 presented by the Marriage being empathetic with each other. that when they mentioned that Commenting on this, Madeline their financial situation. The initial years of marriage. Encounter Movement. “It’s a case of not reacting they were returning to Ireland, said: “Cardinal Arinze of Nigeria booking fee is £80 per couple and, The couple celebrated their “We couldn’t find out any to feelings but responding to they were asked if they would was in Dublin and was invited to a after that, it is whatever they can Golden Jubilee last July with information in our local area until each other. They look at how to be happy to get involved in Marriage Encounter Convention. afford. family and friends. As well as we saw an advertisement in our communicate better and each promoting and presenting the He approached the organisers “We generally hope for about being blessed with two daughters church bulletin about one of the spouse looks at how they are as weekends there, as it was just and said, ‘We must have this’, so 10 couples on a weekend. Some and a foster family, they delight weekends. After finding out more a person and how are they are as getting started in their homeland. Tom and I were one of the couples cannot afford to pay the whole in their three grandchildren, information about it, we decided a couple. Later on the weekend, The first weekend in Ireland invited to go to train couples cost but there are other couples aged nine, seven and three years to go on the weekend and it was they look at their relationship with was held in Dublin a few years and present Marriage Encounter who can, and it always works old. These days they have to be the highlight of our lives. We were God, with the Church, and with beforehand, with the help of Fr there. Other Irish couples went to out. We have never had to cancel content with a wave from them at seven years happily married, keen the community, and, at the close Bill White who had experienced it Kenya and South Africa also. It is a weekend because of a lack of a distance as they walk to the park travellers and didn’t have any of the weekend Mass, they renew in America. now very strong all over Africa.” finances. We always manage to near their Pennyburn home. children. We had a good life, but I their marriage vows. This is very “We said that we would,” She added: “Marriage issues are get by. And if a couple can’t afford Aware of the greater pressures can honestly say that that weekend meaningful to each couple.” recalled Madeline, “and we went pretty much the same the world the initial booking fee, we can for young couples and families was the best investment in our “On a Marriage Encounter/ for a training weekend and when over. Cultures are different but always try to find a way around now, Madeline and Tom also marriage. Enrichment weekend, couples we came back from California, we issues in marriage are the same. that. We don’t want money to be feel blessed to have had their “That was in June 1977 – 43 years experience the full richness presented our first weekend in the Couples do not always talk at a an issue for any couple who would marriage enriched through doing ago, and we are still as enthusiastic that there is in their marriage,” Rosapenna Hotel, in Donegal.” deeper level with each other. They like to be involved in Marriage the Marriage Encounter weekend about Marriage Encounter now continued Madeline, saying: “It will have conversations about Encounter. seven years into their married life. as we were then. You can begin to is a very positive weekend. It May anniversary their home, family, friends, jobs, “We would say to couples that if Madeline recalled still being at take each other for granted a bit is for couples who are in stable May marks the 47th anniversary school when she first met Tom: when you are married for a while, relationships. It is not for couples of Marriage Encounter in Ireland. “He was a student at St Joseph’s and we found it a wonderful way in need of counselling or who The international movement College, in Belfast, at the time, and of awakening all the hopes and have very divisive issues. They was started by Spanish priest, Fr I was at Thornhill College. We met dreams that we had had when we don’t need to have a fantastic Gabriel Calvo, in Barcelona, who at my friend’s 18th birthday party. got married”. relationship, as not many couples saw the opportunity for married I was asked to sing a song and was Highlighting that Marriage have that, but be committed to couples to enrich their marriage nervous, so Tom joined in with Encounter believes that marriage each other. by better communication and me, singing harmony. We still should be a deep source of joy “The weekend is for enriching subsequently enrich family enjoy singing together. He plays and vitality, Madeline explained what they already have. It is an life. A Jesuit priest, Fr Chuck the guitar and I have an autoharp.” that when couples come on a opportunity to enjoy quality time Gallagher had the wider vision Both teachers, early in their weekend, which is presented by away from distractions like work of a worldwide movement. Now married life, they went on three couples and a priest, it is a and children. It gives the couple Worldwide Marriage Encounter a Teacher Exchange year to very private experience. time to sit down together and is in over 90 countries, with more Berkeley, in California. She continued: “They don’t share talk about themselves, as in most than 2.5 million couples having “Tom was teaching in the High with anyone else, just each other. marriages couples do not have attended weekends since the first Madeline and Tom’s 50th wedding anniversary cake. THE NET | MAY 2020 23

they can’t afford to pay the whole in places like Portrush or in the can go on to present weekends,” cost at the time of their weekend, Dominican Convent grounds in explained Madeline, “and while maybe they can contribute at ,” recalled Madeline, there are presenting couples in some time in the future, if they adding: “We would have had the every diocese, we do not run at find that they can. Some couples whole family along and the older a Diocesan level yet but we hope get so much from their weekend members would look after the that that will happen. that they make regular donations. younger ones, while the parents “The weekend isn’t just for If there’s any money left over took some time to share with other couples but for priests too, to after a weekend some will go couples, and that’s something we enrich their relationship with their into a fund in Europe to help would love to do again.” parishioners in their community. finance couples going to present Noting that they were finding Priests need to be good listeners weekends in places like Africa, more and more couples who had maybe more so than other people. South America and Siberia. As come to their original weekend 10 A lot of things that we experience the presenting couples are all or more years ago, are returning to on the weekend, the priest will talk volunteers, they are not asked to make another weekend, Madeline about in terms of his priesthood. pay either, otherwise only well-off said: “Things change in their “We currently don’t have a priest couples could present weekends. families...like a child going to involved in Marriage Encounter “Some couples feel that they school, to university or getting in the Derry Diocese. Fr Stephen have received so much from married, changing jobs, losing Kearney and the late Fr Kieran their weekend that they want to jobs, or the couple have retired Devlin, and many other priests invite other couples to go on the or are facing illness, so their lives and even bishops were involved weekend, like my cousin did with change over time. The experience in the past. Due to the shortage of National Marriage Encounter Team, Madeline and Tom McCully, and Fr Sean Coyle, Columban Father. us, and in some instances they of doing the weekend 10 years ago priests it is much harder now to added: “We have a new website Movement also presents Engaged couples on an Engaged Encounter may even pay for other couples is different from that 10 years later. get a Diocesan priest available to now, www.marriageencounter.ie, Encounter Weekends, which is weekend. This programme for t o g o.” “This was something that come on a weekend, which is a pity and have information on there we marriage preparation to enable engaged couples can also be run Important surprised us at first, but we because the priest on the weekend feel will be of interest to couples. couples to enter into marriage with one night a week, over five weeks. She added: “For us in Marriage welcome couples coming back. benefits from the experience. The “We are trying to build up a very good communication skills, Encounter, the most important They know what the weekend is priests that we have now are from group in each area, so that couples so that they will be good listeners Notices for upcoming people are the couples who about and they are not nervous, as Orders such as the Dominicans, who want to meet with others do and good at affirming each other, Marriage Encounter weekends have not yet made a weekend. some couples coming on their first Columbans and Redemptorists”. not have to travel far, however, and know what marriage is about. are sent to the Diocesan Office There is so much there to offer. weekend might be since they are Pointing out that they could some couples do not want to meet “We give them a dialogue for promotion via Diocesan The modern world shows us not sure what to expect. Couples always do with more presenting locally and want to meet with technique to share their thoughts and parish communications consumerism, materialism, status who have been on the weekend couples, Madeline continued: groups in a different area. We offer and feelings, which will help them platforms. For updates and etc, are the important things, but before have found it to be very “Tom and I still present weekends options and they can make their to communicate in an honest and further information see we try to show that relationship enjoyable time out, and so look as we feel that it is really important own decision regarding that”. open way,” said Madeline. the website - https://www. is more important. I think we forward to the experience.” not to lose touch with where we The Marriage Encounter There are normally 10-15 marriageencounter.ie/ are finding that out during this She added: “We try to run about started. A priest once told us that it pandemic. People are rallying to six original weekends a year and a was important for us to do this; to help each other; friendship and deeper enrichment weekend for be a witness to life-long marriage, neighbourliness is being shown those couples that would like to as it is getting rarer to get couples Couple “The weekend and the who are married more than 30 on all sides. go a bit deeper. There were about dialogue technique prepared The message of our weekend 18 couples on the last one of these years, never mind 50 or 60. is that the couple and family that we had. “We have found, on weekends, comments... us for handling many difficult relationship is most important. “Quite often, we would find that so many of the couples telling moments in our family life, So, the weekend is really ‘couple if it has been three or four years us that we are saying something “After the Weekend, we where we so frequently time’ and afterwards we try to since their original weekend, that is very important for them became even closer and needed to connect and to hear. Once you have written a encourage couples to have couple couples have received so much reconnect with each other.” and family time at the centre, from the first weekend that they presentation, it is not going to be understood each other better and they begin to see that once like to experience a deeper level. the same five years on, as your life instead of second guessing”. the couple relationship is good For this, we would encourage will have changed. So, you have to everything else falls into place.” couples to get into a small group look at how life changes as well. After their weekend, couples are with other couples after their “I would call it one of the greatest “The Weekend taught us “Our marriage was good encouraged to meet up with other weekend and we have different privileges to be able to present to face some issues that enough before the Weekend, couples, and Madeline and Tom enrichment evenings that they a weekend. The couples who we had been avoiding and have been meeting with a group in can experience with each other. present make the same weekend however, after the Weekend allowed us to go deeper into the Derry area for about 15 years, It’s good for them to have an as those who come on it. They it was great, just like it was conversations that we never while other groups they know of opportunity to meet other couples. take time for reflection as well, so when we were married years have been meeting for some 35 It is a way in which couples can each time it is a renewal for them”. had before. It brought us earlier”. years. help each other to have a deeper Saying that they keep in touch closer together”. “Every so often, we used to hold experience”. with couples after their Marriage Family days during the summer, “Couples from these groups Encounter weekends, Madeline “Marriage Encounter gave us the opportunity to experience “We would highly recommend the deepest, most intimate any married couple to take exchange of feelings we had part in this Weekend. It known in 20 years”. will transform your lives, it transformed ours”.

“The Weekend brought romance back into our “We discovered the meaning relationship and now we have of the ‘vocation of love’ and a spring in our step and a the impact we have as a sparkle in our eyes”. couple on our children”.

ACCORD offering free support line ACCORD, the Catholic Marriage Care Service experiencing extra pressure due to social restrictions which offers a professional counselling service caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. throughout Ireland, has a free and confidential ‘Relationships Support Phone Line’ for marriages, Accord NI can be contacted on 028 9568 0151 Madeline and Tom share a love of singing. families and relationships, offering support to those or 00353 1 531 3331 24 THE NET | MAY 2020 Holy Family teacher’s faith deepened following visit to Our Lady’s House Dr Martin Kelly didn’t say it was Governors at St Mary’s College the year my father, Alan died. I’m time I had met him and us both a miraculous recovery, but he and St Columb’s College, and they not in the unit now but it is still from Derry!” said that he couldn’t believe the were praying for me too, as were going from strength to strength. Commenting on her experience, progress I had made. Within a the members of Derry Credit “In September 2015, I went back she added: “I loved it. There was few days of not being able to walk, Union, which I am a director of”. into teaching P1 and then was just something really special I was up, dressed and walking. It Delma progressed slowly, but offered a secondment by CCMS, about the place that I wanted to was a rapid recovery.” surely, after getting out of hospital and became acting principal at return to it someday, and I have, She added: “There were three because she still had pneumonia St Brigid’s PS, in Mountfield, every year from 2011. I would be other patients on the ward with in her system. Walking a little each Omagh. I worked there for six a very contented person but the me and they told me that every day to build up her strength, she months and then came back to peace I feel at Our Lady’s house hour they could see a difference in returned to school on June 25, last Holy Family PS in September is different; it’s like a deep inner me, and ended up asking me for year. 2016, as a P1 teacher”. peace. some of the Holy Water too! One “I still have scarring on my right She had also been given the “It is about a 30-minute drive of them was a Catholic woman in lung and have some pain, but position as the Northern Ireland from where we stay during our her 90s who had a flu, another was nothing too bad. The scarring officer of NASUWT, and from holiday in Turkey every year. Over in her late 40s and the third was will get less as time goes on”, she September 2017 until August 31, the years, I have been asked to do a woman in her late 60s who was remarked, adding that she is back 2018, she was the NI NASUWT readings at Mass at Our Lady’s waiting for an operation. She had walking now after self-isolating president. During that period, she House, and take up the collection, a problem with her chest and was for a few weeks. was the first person from Northern as I am a familiar face there now. supposed to be in hospital long- Photography Ireland to win NASUWT National It’s lovely. term before she got the operation. Having a love of photography, Communication Awards across “Before this, with regards to my “The day I was being discharged she has managed to take some 280,000 members. faith, I would have said my prayers they asked me for some of the great snaps during her walks, Having also won different and went to Mass, but I wouldn’t Holy Water. They wanted to including those of red squirrels SENCO awards with Holy Family have thought too much deeper know what they should do with that she came upon while walking PS, Delma remarked: “We have a about my faith. As a teacher, I it and, because they don’t bless in woodland just across the border big focus on Special Needs in Holy would teach the young people themselves, I just told them to in Muff, and which she has shared Family, and in 2010, 2013, and their prayers and about being the sprinkle it around them. on Twitter. 2017, we were awarded the British best person that they can be. So, DELMA Boggs is a member of “Initially, I was responding to “The doctors then came on “My son is working in E&I, at Dyslexic Association’s ‘Dyslexia when I first went to visit Mary’s the Holy Family PS community the treatment, but five days later their rounds and I left the ward Burnfoot, as an apprentice, and the Friendly School’ Quality Award. It house in Ephesus, I was just going in the Ballymagroarty Parish, I suddenly went into respiratory for a bit. When I came back, the shifts there have changed because is a very hard award to get and we to see it out of interest, but it drew in Derry, and, like many other failure and my husband, Colm was doctors were away and the woman of the virus, and sometimes I leave are going for it again.” me completely in and I just love teachers in schools around the sent for. I was on full life-support in her 60s said that whatever was him at work and then have a wee For her part in the success of going back there. Diocese and beyond, she is doing for a week and was brought off it in the water I had given her was walk and take some photographs,” the Nurture project and the BDA “Now, people give me petitions her bit to keep pupils encouraged on December 29.” miraculous. The doctors had just she said, adding: “I have been to Dyslexic Friendly Schools Project, to take over with me. I usually get and engaged not only in their Putting her recovery down to told her that she could go home Inch Island and Lisnagra Woods, Delma won the Local Woman about 30 petitions each time and I home-schooling, but also in the intercession of Our Lady, and until it was time for her operation in Muff, and just as I was getting Magazine ‘Derry Woman of the put them up on the petition wall regards to their well-being. sipping some of the Holy Water in Belfast. About half an hour out of the car, at the woods, two Year’ in 2014. when I get there. It’s a 40 foot long, The primary one teacher, who she had brought home from one later, I was waiting for my lift to red squirrels appeared. It was She had been hoping to go to eight foot high wall, and there are lives in Woodbrook, loves walking of her many visits to Mary’s House come and another doctor came to amazing. It was like they were Turkey on holiday this year again, thousands of petitions attached and capturing the beauty she in Ephesus, Delma said: “I have a tell her that Belfast was going to playing hide and seek in the tree to spend more time at Our Lady’s to it. People have come back to feels blessed to see and enjoy on great devotion to Mary and every send a surgeon to to in front of me, and one them was House, but she is resigned to living me to say that their petition was camera, to share with others on year I go to Turkey on holiday, do her operation!” hanging upside down.” with the memories of last summer answered”. social media, such as Twitter. and always go to the House of Delma said that she discovered Delma loves sharing the for another while, with Covid-19 “I have embraced my faith more These days, she is grateful to the Virgin Mary and bring home afterwards that as well as her beauty of nature through her having turned the world upside now as a result of my experience be able to go walking and do all some Holy Water from the font husband and children, Aaron, photography with others, down. at Our Lady’s house,” remarked that she is able to do, having been there. I had some with me in the Eimear and Connor, her mother, especially the children she teaches; “I already had our Delma, saying: “I feel blessed to be brought back from the brink of hospital. Before I was put on the Philomena, and sisters, Justine seeing it as an important part of accommodation booked for this able to go there and love talking death after falling seriously ill ventilator, I asked if I could have and Claudine, many others had their nurturing. And she has a summer, but I don’t think I will about it to others. I also take some with pneumonia in the run-up to a drink and was told ‘no’, but I been praying for her, including her great love for teaching too. risk it because of the scarring on of the Holy Water from the well Christmas 2018. had a little sip of the Holy Water friends, the staff of Holy Family Qualifying with a degree in my lung,” she sighed. there back for people who are Sharing her experience with anyway! PS, and Holy Family parish priest, Primary Education from Ulster Recalling her first holiday in sick. I have given it to about eight ‘The Net’, the mother of three “I was taken off life support on Fr Paddy O’Kane, who visited her University, , she began Turkey with her husband and people who had either cancer or recalled how, within the course December 29 and by December as well. her career subbing for three years two youngest children, after a pneumonia, and each time there of a week, she had ended up on a 31, my daughter’s 21st birthday, She added: “Up until August 31, in a number of different schools, friend had recommended the has been a positive outcome. ventilator and her family told that I had made good progress. Every that year, I had been the Northern including Belmont House Special beach resort town of Kusadasi, There is healing power in it. she had 20 minutes to live! day I had a sip of the Holy Water Ireland president of the NASUWT, School, the Model PS and Holy Delma said: “I had never heard of “When I was ill, I didn’t know “I had felt like I had the flu,” and every day I got stronger. So and Justin McCamphill kept Child PS. it and when I did some research, if I would be able to travel again recalled Delma, “but when I went much so that when Garry, our all the members I had worked Securing a permanent teaching I discovered that the house of the because of my lung, so as I to the out-of-hours I was told that principal, came to visit me, on with informed about my health position in Holy Family PS in May Virgin Mary and the ruins of the improved I couldn’t wait to get it was just a heavy cold. However, January 4, he couldn’t believe situation, and asked them to pray. 1990, Delma noted: “This is my ancient city of Ephesus were not back to Our Lady’s House to pray a couple of days later I got worse how well I looked just a few days Chris Keates, the general secretary 30th year in Holy Family, where I far away from it, so I made a note and give thanks. I just know Mary and rang our principal, Garry, to after coming off full ventilation. of the Union in England, had sent am head of Special Needs. I have to visit there. interceded for me, and the Holy say that I was sick. I went to the I was very alert and got home on out word to members across the a passion for working in Special “I couldn’t believe it that, on my Water and all the prayers that were doctor and was sent straight to January 5. UK too, and they were all praying Needs and set up a nurturing unit first visit to Our Lady’s house, I said helped me recover as well and Altnagelvin Hospital. “My respiratory consultant, for me. I am also on the Board of in Holy Family in 2004, which was met Pat Ramsey! It was the first as quickly as I did”. THE NET | MAY 2020 25 Fr Gerard Mongan, St Brigid’s Carnhill, reflects on the last recorded words of Our Lady in Scripture… “Do whatever He tells you” THE last recorded words of the meaning or benefit of what Representing the faithful of Israel, behalf. our Blessed Mother in the New Christ asks.” Mary invites the servants, the If you find yourself in a difficult Testament have quite significance Those servants are inspired to disciples, and all of us to run after moment of your life, turn to her and a profound meaning. Those have tremendous faith through our Bridegroom’s desires, ardently in the rosary. Say it slowly and words are found in the Gospel Mary’s words, “Do whatever seeking to fulfil whatever He intentionally. Listen to the words of John, when she spoke at the he tells you”. In fact, St John, in wants of us. of the prayers and speak them ‘Wedding Feast at Cana’. Mary, his Gospel, highlights how the And so, Mary’s last recorded with reverence and respect. See ever attentive to the needs of servants promptly follow the words in Scripture are packed with this blessed prayer for the power others, notices that the wedding command of Jesus, no matter how meaning and much more! They it brings into our lives, when we couple has run out of wine. She unrealistic they appear to be. They do not only apply to the waiters take the time to speak the words goes to Jesus to let Him know. respond as faithful disciples to at the feast, but to every Christian with care and intention. It has Then she says her final words in Christ’s two orders. First, He tells throughout history. Mary leads been known for its sacredness scripture, to the servants at the them, “Fill the jars with water.” others to Christ and speaks those throughout history, and it will wedding, “Do whatever he tells John’s Gospel immediately points words to us today. Her mission certainly continue to galvanize you.” (John 2:5). Those beautiful out that the servants not only has always been to point others the faithful to reach out to Mary words could serve as a meditation obeyed Christ’s command, but did to Jesus; to urge them to follow in confidence and trust, believing for our prayer for the rest of our so perfectly: “And they filled them His commands with complete she will intercede on our behalf, lives. up to the brim” (Jn. 2:7). Second, trust and without hesitation, as helping us attain greater holiness Mary’s command, “Do whatever Jesus tells them, “Now draw some members of the Church, His in our lives. he tells you”, has a profound out, and take it to the steward spotless bride whom He loves and When the jars run dry, when impact on the servants who have of the feast,” and John’s Gospel for whom He gives Himself totally we need to transform a situation, to really trust Jesus in a completely notes, “they took it” (Jn 2:8). St and freely. We can safely say that we can turn to Mary. With her radical way. Jesus tells them to take John clearly emphasises that the Jesus wanted His first miracle at request, the Lord will transform the six stone jars for the Jewish servants did exactly as they were Cana and His mother’s words the water of bland routine in our rites of purification, fill them up told. They did exactly what Our recorded. lives into the wine of grateful with water, and draw some out to Lady told them, “Do whatever gladness. He can transform us to present to the steward of the feast. he tells you.” In turn, they are make the first move of forgiveness, portrayed as faithful disciples, to say the kind word that needs to obedient to Christ’s words. be spoken, to reach out in little acts However, we can see that there’s When the jars run of love and to live in peace. Jesus dry, when we need alone has the power to fill those Representing the more going on in this passage than the servants’ trustful obedience to transform a empty jars of ours. The sign in the faithful of Israel, to Christ’s commands. Again, situation, we can wine is the story of possibility and Mary invites the commenting on this passage, abundance. turn to Mary. With servants, the Edward Sri asserts that Mary’s During this time of pandemic, words, “Do whatever he tells you”, her request, the Pope Francis wrote two prayers disciples, and all are “also spoken in the context of a Lord will transform to Mary that can be recited at Fr Gerard Mongan, CC Three Patrons, with the beautiful statue of Our Lady of us to run after wine miracle and a wedding feast”. the end of the rosary during this the water of bland of Fatima. our Bridegroom’s He continues: “Jesus is revealed month of May; prayers that he as the messianic Bridegroom routine in our lives said he would be reciting “in Christ, the Church - wedded to know that you will provide, so desires, ardently Christ the Bridegroom as His that, as at Cana in Galilee, joy and coming to renew His marriage into the wine of spiritual union with all of you.” seeking to fulfil covenant with His bride, Israel. Both prayers acknowledge Mary’s bride, we can take to heart once celebration may return after this grateful gladness. again the profound lesson taught time of trial…Plead with your whatever He wants In the first century, Jews were closeness to her son’s followers longing for their Messiah to come and ask for her protection and by our Blessed Mother: to “do divine Son, as you did at Cana, so of us. and for their divine bridegroom for her intercession, just as she whatever” the Lord asks of us. that the families of the sick and the to heal and restore their marriage interceded with Jesus on behalf of In these days, we make the victims be comforted, and their covenant of love, just as Hosea had Through a social embarrassment the newlyweds at Cana. words of Pope Francis our own hearts be opened to confidence foretold (Hos. 2:19-20). That Jesus of wine running out, the power As members of the body of prayer to Our Lady of Cana: “We and trust.” As St John explains in the Gospel, chose to have His first miracle of our Lady’s intercession for the these stone jars would have been provide an abundance of wine mortified couple is revealed. She Fr Michael Porter (3rd) used for ritual washings of hands in the context of a wedding feast asked her Divine Son for things Prayer for Priests All Priests (4th) (and possibly feet). Astonishingly, is intentional. It signals that the that weren’t meant to be in the Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless Fr Ignacy Saniuta (5th) Jesus tells the servants to fill up messianic Bridegroom has finally Divine plan, as Jesus told His our bishops and priests and to Fr John Ryder (6th) these very jars with water and then arrived to usher in the great feast mother “my hour has not yet confirm them in their vocation of Fr Gerard Sweeney (7th) present them to the ‘Head Waiter’ and reunite Himself to His bride, come”. Yet, Our Lady got it done! service. Fr Joseph Varghese (8th) to serve as drink for the guests. the fallen people of Israel” (Ibid). She had asked her son for help As they stand before us as Fr John Walsh (9th) We can just imagine the servants’ And, we see how Mary and she knew He would respond ministers of Your Sacraments, Fr Alex Anderson (10th) reaction! Is this man crazy? How represents Israel in this account, favorably to her. may they be channels of the love Fr Patrick Arkinson (11th) on earth is serving water to the echoing Israel’s loving response to As we pray in the Memorare, and compassion of the Good Fr Patrick Baker (12th) guests going to solve the problem? Yahweh when the covenant was “Never was it known that anyone Shepherd, who came not be served Fr Declan Boland (13th) As Edward Sri states: “From a first established at Mount Sinai: who sought thy intercession was but to serve. Fr Eugene Boland (14th) human perspective, Jesus’ plan “All the words which the Lord has left unaided”…Do we have the Give them the grace they need to Fr Francis Bradley (15th) does not make any sense. Yet first spoken we will do” (Ex. 24:3, 7). confidence of going to her? We respond generously to you, and Fr Manus Bradley (16th) and foremost, Jesus is asking the By saying, “Do whatever he tells can seek her intercession for the courage to proclaim your All Priests (17th) servants not to understand His you,” Mary recalls Israel’s original everything. We will receive graces Word of justice, love and truth. Fr Brian Brady (18th) plan, but to trust Him. We may vows of her marriage covenant and her protection. How often Bless, in a special way, All Priests (19th) not always grasp Jesus’ work in with God – vows that had been will she protect us from hidden Your servant Pope’s monthly Fr Thomas Canning (20th) our lives. We may not see clearly severely broken through centuries dangers, solve problems, because Fr Michael Canny (21st) where the Lord is leading us”, of sin and idolatry, but ones that we are her children? intention Father.... Fr John Cargan (22nd) (Edward P Sri, Knowing Mary are now being restored as the When we pray the Rosary, Send your Spirit upon him Fr Neal Carlin (23rd) through the Bible: Mary’s Last messianic Bridegroom begins we can be assured of the same The Holy Father has asked for So that he may always walk All Priests (24th) Words, catholicedcation.org). His public ministry with His first response. When we find ourselves prayer during MAY for: in the path of faith, hope and love, Fr Colum Clerkin (25th) Yet, as John Paul II reminded miracle. unsure of what to do in a certain in the footsteps of Christ, Deacons Fr Roland Colhoun (26th) us in his general audience on Faithful situation, we can ask her for the eternal priest, who offered We pray that deacons, faithful Fr Michael Collins (27th) February 26, 1997, Mary’s In this light, “Do whatever he wisdom and help, and she will Himself on the cross for the life of in their service to the Word Fr Oliver Crilly (28th) command, “Do whatever he tells tells you” should not be seen as simply put it in our head and on the world. Amen. and the poor, may be an Fr Patrick Crilly (29th) you”, challenges us to trust Him a legalistic call to tediously obey our heart, “Just do whatever he invigorating symbol for the Fr Brendan Crowley (30th) without hesitation not only when an all-powerful master. Rather, tells you.” She will always direct Remember in prayer: entire Church. All Priests (31st) it makes sense to us, but “especially Mary’s words reflect the heart of a us back to Jesus because she has All Priests (1st May) when one does not understand bride in love with her bridegroom. already reached out to him on our All Priests (2nd) 26 THE NET | MAY 2020 What is the reason for the hope that you have? (1 Peter 3:15) My faith journey by Michelle D’Arcy Burns have been steeped in prayer all my life. I am the bad, so she said to me that maybe complete and absolute trust in I should take one. I said that I God, and that helped me cope eldest of eight children born to very religious wasn’t taking any tablets. with daddy dying too. parents, Hughie and Etta D’Arcy, and we lived So we left the doctors and, after Times of death really make me inI the Culmore Parish, where I still live with my I left mammy home, I wanted think about what I am here for. husband, Eugene and six children. to go to a chapel where nobody Thinking about this for these knew me, so I went to the White last couple of months, it’s like Growing up, our lives revolved in constant prayer when he was in Chapel in Galliagh. I had such a a thirst inside me. I have been around God. We weren’t reared to the hospital; not so much begging sore head and was sitting there really thinking that there has to fear God but to know that He was for him to be cured...it was more sobbing. I didn’t know anything be more to life. I felt that I wanted our best friend and the only one that we had our hearts open in about the friars, but the next thing to do something for God. I have in the world that would never let prayer to God’s Will as we stood one of them appeared and asked always wanted to be a mammy us down, and we did experience in a ring around his bed. It was so me if I was alright. I just lunged and I love being a mammy, but I many little miracles within our peaceful. I felt a real presence of myself at him and told him what want to have something in my life family through the years. Our Lady and God. I think they had happened. I told him that I that is faith and God based. This Our faith was like a security were there more for us than for had an awful pain in my head that is something that has been really blanket. We were brought up to daddy. He just slipped away. It was wouldn’t go away. He asked me if strong within me this last while, trust that God knows best. We as if God had him in His arms. We he could put his hand on my head so I said to Him, I don’t know went to Mass every night and just felt sure that he was definitely to pray with me. He must have what this is about, but I know that mammy would march us up to at peace and that consoled us. prayed over me for an hour. He I want to get to know You, I want the front of chapel. Years later, We were brought up to believe told me that it was going to be a to help You. mammy and I met a woman who that God will always be there for painful journey for me but that I had heard that we had a new Michelle and her parents, Etta and the late Hughie D’Arcy. remembered this and told us that us and so many times in my life God loves me. I said that I knew pastoral worker in the parish If it helps somebody get even a with the virus. The media was we were known as the Von Trapp that has been proven to me. I am that God loved me and he told me called Julia Fitzgerald, but I had glimmer of hope, then I will have there too, even though we didn’t Family! so thankful for the gift of faith that that he knew that I did. Then the always missed hearing her talk. done something for God. mention it to any newspaper Going to Mass for me was as I have from watching my mammy pain in my head stopped and I Then, our priest, Fr Clerkin asked I also feel privileged to have etc, and to this day we still don’t natural as eating my dinner and and daddy live their lives. have never had it since. if I would come on to the parish been a channel in helping to get know how the media knew about that never left me as a teenager, Eugene and I lost a baby five People talk about babies being pastoral committee, and through our cemetery open again. When it. They were already there when or when I got older. I just loved years ago and that really rocked in limbo, but I know that my baby being part of that I met Julia. We it was announced by the UK mammy and I arrived. God. And this love grew when I my whole world. I can’t put into is safe with God. On a Tuesday or clicked as soon as we met, and Government that cemeteries were We were also praying within our got my heart broken. I was 18 at words how I felt. I had been eight Thursday, I always went to a chapel when I talked to her about wanting to be re-opened, my mammy family that the cemeteries here the time and mammy said that I weeks’ pregnant. From the minute that had a statue of St Anthony to to do some kind of course within and I presumed that meant ours would be opened again; calling should do a novena to St Anthony I am told that I am pregnant, my light a candle and say a prayer, so the , she told me would be open too. We were upon the Holy Spirit to help with to heal and seal my heart, as I was whole heart is overflowing with that was either the Holy Family that there was a course coming up both so excited about going to this. On the Friday, Fr Clerkin was so heart-broken. She guaranteed love for the baby growing inside chapel in Ballymagroarty or to in Maghera that would suit me. visit daddy’s grave the Sunday celebrating Mass and a Holy Hour that I would meet a good man me. I had been bleeding for four the Cathedral. On this occasion, I So, I was really looking forward to after the announcement, but and I was sitting in the chapel who would love and marry me. or five days in the lead up to my went to Ballymagroarty and when that when the coronavirus came when we got there the gates were recording this for our Facebook, I went on to meet Eugene, and I godchild’s Confirmation. Mammy I went into the chapel it was in and it got cancelled because of locked. A man there told us that while all the time praying for had been doing the novena to St had said that I shouldn’t go to it. I darkness, except for the light from lockdown! the announcement by the UK the Holy Spirit to guide our Anthony for four years when he said that I would go to the Mass candles. I could see women and Rosary government didn’t include our politicians, who were sitting up in proposed to me. Unbeknownst to but not to the meal afterwards, some men about, and some were Julia told me that she had set up cemeteries here in Northern Stormont talking about whether both of us, the date he proposed as I had a great belief in the Holy crying, but I didn’t really think a Facebook page for the parish Ireland, and that that decision had our cemeteries should be opened was the Feast of St Anthony, June Spirit and I was going to ask the anything of it and went to light and was thinking about having to be taken by Stormont. I couldn’t up again. At 4 pm the news 13. It was mammy who pointed Holy Spirit to help me either way a candle. Then Sr Ann came out the Rosary said on it during Lent. believe what I was hearing after came out that the Executive was this out to us when we told her – either to save or take our baby; with the priest and it turned out In the course of the conversation, years of being told we were part leaving it up to each individual that we were engaged. I still say whatever was God’s Will. that a Mass of Baptism for unborn I said that I did the Rosary every of the UK and just felt that I had council area whether to open the that novena. I have a very strong When the Bishop was laying his babies was being celebrated. Lent with my family, so she then to do something. Mammy and I cemeteries. So we kept praying bond with St Anthony now; he hands on my godchild’s head, I During the ceremony, you brought asked me if I would be interested decided to stand outside the gates that we wouldn’t be kept waiting has been with me through the was standing there with my hand up a white rose to represent your in leading the Rosary on our every Monday in protest and I put any longer, and were delighted highs and lots of lows. Whenever on my belly, visualising rays going child and left it on the altar with parish Facebook, and I said ‘yes’. this up on Facebook, so others when our Council announced I go into St Eugene’s Cathedral, I into my belly to save our baby. Our Lady; symbolising that you I told Eugene when he came could join us if they wanted, and that the cemetery gates would am just drawn to his statue there. Afterwards, Eugene was going to were leaving your baby in the home from work that evening stressed that it was to be a silent be reopened at 2.30 pm on the Eugene and I will be married 21 come home with me, but I didn’t care of Our Mother. You told the about it and he, and the children, protest as we would be standing at Saturday. We just put this all down years this July. We got married on want to spoil the occasion for the priest what age your baby was and said that they weren’t doing it. I sacred ground. to prayer. July 12 and, having been brought children so I told him to take them you were asked if you had a name told them that the camera would Mammy didn’t like the sound All these little miracles make up in Culmore, we probably had to the party and I went home. for the baby. I said that my baby’s be facing the Holy pictures and of the word protest and suggested my life happy. It’s not that I don’t as many Protestants as Catholics All the while I was bleeding. I name was Jamie Burns. There was so they wouldn’t be seen. I also that we call it a compassionate have any bothers. I do worry at our wedding. They went out remembered the nurse telling a registration of my baby’s name thought we would only be taking plea. I told her that nobody would at times but deep down I know marching that morning and then me that if I got a sudden pain, I and Sr Ann told me that he was our turn along with other families, know what we were on about and that God is not going to leave came to our wedding Mass at 2 would know that I was passing now a Christian and in the arms but no one else volunteered! we needed to call it a protest... my side. Mammy gives out to me pm in Culmore Chapel. I hadn’t the baby, as it would be like a tiny of God. I don’t feel embarrassed about though a silent protest. When we if she hears me worrying about known that there was such a thing contraction. I was praying that I That was so special. I have found my faith because I love God and, went up on the Monday morning something, asking where my trust as a Protestant until I was a first wouldn’t lose it, but the minute that if things have not gone my because I have grown up here to the cemetery gates, we didn’t in God is. year in Carnhill High School. I that pain came, I knew what was way, God is always there for me. in Culmore, people know that’s know if anyone else would turn Sometimes I feel as if my eyes are came home one day and asked happening. I rang mammy and He puts His arms around me. just my way. I have wanted to do up but there were about 60 there... blindfolded and God is guiding what a protestant was. Mammy told her this, and she came up People asked me if I was angry at something for God and maybe some of them stayed in their cars me. Whatever happens, I try to and daddy just looked at me as if to me. After I had had three or God that I had lost the baby, but I this community Rosary is what because of the social distancing trust that God is in front of me. I had said the worst curse word in four painful contractions, I took wasn’t. What happened was that I He wants me to do. I just see all of Ireland! We were brought up a pregnancy test and it came up realised I had been saying the right myself as a channel and God is to show love to everyone. All that negative. things about my faith up to this, doing all the work. I believe that mammy wanted for us was to be Anxious but it wasn’t until I lost my child everybody is a channel that God good, kind and holy. I had been the most happy-go- that my faith really deepened. It’s can work through. It was great growing up in a lucky wee girl in the world, but not until you suffer that you really I had to go up the town to the loving home. I just loved going after losing the baby I became very grow in love for God. shop one day, and two women I back to see mammy and daddy anxious. I went to the doctor and Jamie was due on September didn’t know recognised me from whenever I got married. Daddy he told me that he could give me 28 and we found out that I was reading out the petitions at the died eight months ago. He was a wee sedative. Mammy was with pregnant with Luca on September start of the nightly Rosary on diagnosed with cancer. We me. She is not a person for taking 27. It was as if God was softening the Culmore Facebook page, and thought he had months to live, but tablets, but she was worried about the blow. I think that was the first they took the time to tell me how he died a few days later. We were me because my nerves were so day that my faith moved to having much this Rosary meant to them. Michelle and her husband, Eugene and family. THE NET | MAY 2020 27 A tribute to the late Fr John McNamara OCD, Termonbacca... Derry mourns death of beloved monk and dear friend

THE many tears shed when Kensington, London, and Lough own question for Martha and, in ointment to soothe the wounded and embraces them precisely in void in our lives and others. We news spread about the death Rea Abbey, Co Galway, before turn, ourselves, ‘Do you believe in and bereaved heart of Martha, then the place of deepest weakness. have not only lost a dear monk but of Fr John McNamara, OCD, arriving at Termonbacca, where he me?’ At such a moment to those to reach and heal the dead body of “John was able to chatter away a very dear friend.” reflected the great love and put down very deep roots. people gathered around the family Lazarus, and then to share eternal in the box, he was able to tell Jim Toner, of the Long Tower, respect the Carmelite Father had Fr John’s Requiem Mass was of Martha and Mary, the words life with Fr John. The medicine has disarming stories, he was able to and his business partner, Ciaran attracted during his 15 years in celebrated in St Columba’s must have sounded tone deaf and been beautifully described by the empathise with people’s distress, Doherty have also been deeply the monastery, at Termonbacca, in Church, Long Tower, with inappropriate. Evangelist, ‘God loved the world he felt their pain, and he was able shocked and saddened by the Derry. the chief celebrant being “The question that Jesus poses so much that He gave His only Son to show them that, as their pastor, death of Fr John. Appreciative of all the ‘phone Carmelite Provincial, Fr Michael contains within it a force all its so that everyone who believes in he loved them and wanted only the “He was a great person; always calls from people expressing their McGoldrick. Bishop Donal was own. The force even stops Martha Him may not be lost but may have best for them. Also, he was capable very clear in his direction and he sympathy and sadness, the Prior, also in attendance. in her tracks as she is driving home eternal life’. of telling a few home truths when had time for people,” said Jim, who Fr John Grennan, was touched The homily was delivered by Fr her own questions. She is forced to Resurrection they were needed to wake the had known Fr John for 10 years. by the great number who were Stephen Quinn OCD, who spoke look up from her grief and distress “Martha steps back and sees person out of their stupor”. He added: “I would have spent a in tears as they talked about their of the “very heavy blow” it had and take a good look at the one it, recognises it for what it is, Thinking of how uncomfortable lot of time in Adoration, as Fr John relationship with the 81-year-old been to hear that Fr John, who had who has just arrived for the funeral and asks for the medicine, the Fr John would be at this talk about said that the highest glory you Carmelite. been in rehabilitation following of Lazarus, and to see not with ointment with the words...’you are him, Fr Stephen concluded: “John can give God is the Mass and the “People regarded Fr John not an emergency back operation in the superficial glance of worldly Resurrection - you are Life!’ We had his own quiet way. A way exercise of Adoration. He knew only as their confessor but as a hospital, had been diagnosed with reasoning, but with the eyes of must find our own words at this in which he followed the advice clearly that God was there in the friend as well. His time in the the coronavirus. Describing that faith, that this strange friend who moment”. of St Benedict to his monks; to host and he had a great devotion confessional brought out his time of not being able to go and has arrived late is not just some Fr Stephen went on to talk about take responsibility for their own to Our Lady as well. goodness and holiness,” remarked be with him as he lay “dying of this holy man or self proclaimed Fr John’s life; his devotion to his weakness and failure and to ascribe “He often spoke, too, about the Prior. terrible illness alone in a strange prophet. parents, William and especially to God their success and strength. the miracles that happen in the He added: “When I think of Fr environment” as “some of the “So much more than that has Mary, his mother, and his pride in “Maybe the best thing, therefore, confessional box, saying that that John, I think of St Joseph, because worst days that I can remember in arrived at Lazarus’ funeral. The Ireland, even though he was born that we could say of him was that is where the real healings begin, he had a great faith in the advocacy Carmel”. Son of God, pondering the grief in Barrhead Scotland. in his ministry Jesus took the and that is something that I found of St Joseph. He liked him because Relating the situation to that of and fear of the world, saw Martha’s He continued: “He saw himself bread of mercy, broke that mercy, myself, personally. Fr John had a he was a low-key person; and John the sisters of Lazarus, Martha and distress at the death of her brother very much as a child of immigrants and gave it to the people of Derry, lot of wisdom and he was happy was that too. He just liked to do Mary, who had been so distressed and was profoundly moved by her from the west of Ireland, so much those whom John loved so much!” to share it and help us in our faith. what he had to do, and for him that that Jesus had not come in time to plight. He jumped to his feet and so, that when he went to the Fr John was laid to rest in I would have spoken to him every was just a way of holiness. save their brother from death, Fr abandoned the glory of Heaven, community in Loughrea it was as the Carmelite plot in the City day. He loved his friends and we “He will be most remembered Stephen said that they had found and stepped into this troubled and if he was returning home. There Cemetery, where fellow Carmelite, loved him”. for his ministry in his little themselves in a similar situation, dubious old world. He came all were many roads that his life went Fr Jerry Fitzpatrick was buried a Derry Diocesan Eucharistic Confessional room; a lot happened asking “why didn’t he come and this way just for Lazarus’ funeral. down, his life as a Redemptorist year ago. Adoration Apostolate chairperson, there. People also have fond why didn’t he do something about He did not arrive on time because, brother, his life as a Diocesan With numbers attending the Gwen Lagan paid tribute to Fr memories of being with him on it?” mystically, he had stopped off priest, and then as our brother in Requiem Mass limited because of John for the outstanding support his annual Carmelite pilgrimage He went on to remark: “Jesus in Jerusalem for three days. In Carmel”. the Covid-19 restrictions, many he had given to the committee to Lourdes, along with one of his comes to the funeral of Lazarus, as these three days, He was busy Recalling Fr John’s great love of of those mourning the passing of over the years: “We appreciate confrères from Dublin, Fr Pat he comes to the funeral of John, as about his Father’s affairs, He had the cinema, which carried him Fr John gathered outside the Long the friendship and welcome we Beecher; they were very good truly a strange friend. He arrives to to celebrate his Last Supper, His back to his childhood, Fr Stephen Tower chapel to pay their respects, received in Termonbacca, and the friends.” this funeral without any flowers, garden of Gethsemane, He being went on to pay tribute to him as with some showering the pathway many words of encouragement he Born in Scotland to Irish parents, without a card, and without the found wanting by human trial, their own “Padre Pio”, saying: “It of the cortege with rose petals. gave. We will be forever indebted Fr John was ordained in 1978, usual accoutrements of mourners. His scourging at the pillar, His became very evident in the time Amongst the mourners were for his humble, gentle and devoted and later joined the Carmelites in And he does not even bother carrying of the Cross, His being that Fr John was absent from his Myra and Jamesy McLaughlin, ministry. May God grant him 1990, serving in their houses at St to answer Martha’s and our nailed to that Cross, His death to normal duties in the Confessional who cater for the Carmelite eternal rest”. Teresa’s, Clarendon Street, Dublin, desperate questions. Instead, of the last drop of water and blood for box, just how Derry regarded the Fathers at Termonbacca, with Our Lady of Mount Carmel, answering he comes up with his us, and then rising from the tomb priesthood of John McNamara. Jamesy working as a chef there for on the third day. “It truly is a special gift to be a 10 years and Myra helping out for “He arrives a day late; the fourth good shepherd in the confessional about six years. day, after all of Martha’s fears, he box. It says many things about Myra described him as a quiet had not tarried. St Augustine asks the person under the stole. To be and thoughtful person who always us to see the one who arrives after able to be a merciful priest takes took time to ask about her family his long journey to Bethany not you to have got a real grip on your and her parents, and had become so much as the good shepherd own humanity, that you are not more of a father-figure over the last but as the good physician, or the running away or that you are not couple of years. good doctor. In his stopover in disguising your own weakness. It “He was always praising the Jerusalem, at the Last Supper, in also tells you that the person has Derry people, saying that there the Garden, on the Cross, in the had some profound experience in was a great warmth about them. tomb and coming out alive, was all their life of the gift of mercy from He loved everything about Derry about generating the medicine, not the Lord, that they have accepted and many people loved him. They just medicine for coronavirus but that mercy wholeheartedly and are came from everywhere to go to for eternal life. living that mercy out. And lastly, Confession to him and he was also “All these events, he poured they have found their own way to very caring towards the sick. When into a jar creating a potent mix of express to the person opposite just people were sick, he really seemed how much the Lord Jesus loves to feel it. His death will leave a big 28 THE NET | MAY 2020

‘Boats that sailed’ by Vera McFadden disciples of all the nations, baptise where there was a constant praise them in the name of the Father, provided by two great choirs. and of the Son, and of the Holy He was a gifted manager, writer Spirit: teach them to observe all and composer. Following God’s the commands that I gave you. Commission, he left Ireland And know that I am with you to go to Europe and founded always, yes, until the end of time”. monasteries there. His tomb is in They remained in Jerusalem Bobbio. as they had been instructed until One of many songs set to a the Holy Spirit descended on Londonderry Air, tells of Columba them. Then they came out and sailing down the river from Derry began to preach the Word of on his missionary work. It was God, telling the gathering crowd written by a Sister of Mercy from about the resurrection of our Lord Thornhill College. One of the lines and many of the other spiritual is ‘Swift sails my barque but oh the happenings, making people aware salt sea spray has dimmed my of His teaching and leading them eyes, pure wet with longing great, to living the good news. how great He knows, who forms Once Jesus had sent them to hearts passionate.’ bring the Gospel to ‘the lost sheep Another little song tells of of Israel’, they had travelled all Columba and his friends out in an over the land. Now they would Iona sound, when a great storm go by land and sea, to places in arose. This song was inspired by the then known world. The Acts a story from Adamnan’s ‘Life of of the Apostles and the Epistles Columba’. The terrified monks tells us something about the initial asked Columba to intercede for evangelisation. Rome, Ephesus, them as their Curragh tossed The Voyage of St Brendan by Edward Reginald Frampton, 1908. Galatia and Thessalonica were about on the stormy waters. DRIVING to Letterkenny some of the places where they Columba replied that Canice which means the field of miracles. the quality of life of young boys from Bridgend, we pass a church converted people to Christianity. could pray, if only he knew. At that Throughout time, this location has by giving them an education, which is shaped like a boat. The Another symbolic reference to moment, Canice, who was away at been a place of important spiritual profession or trade. His dreams architect wanted to show that a boats used for evangelisation is Aghaboe, in Ireland, was inspired significance. In more recent continued throughout his life and, boat is symbolic of the church, as a in the life of Patrick. In the first by the Holy Spirit to pray and history, a butcher, Eddie Stones though he did not journey very ‘lifeboat’ and symbol of hope. century AD, as a young boy, he was intercede for them. and his wife were called to ministry far to evangelise, he was shown a In the Gospel, St Luke tells us of taken prisoner by Irish raiders. He there. They did not understand prophetic dream which showed a time when a crowd of listeners was taken with other captives in Journeys or know where Clonfert was, but all the places in the world to which were pressing around Jesus on the a boat to Ireland, where he was Adamnan’s book has a lot of were told that God was calling the Order he founded would go, shore at Galilee. Jesus asked Simon sold into slavery. His experience stories about sea travel, so we them to an evangelising ministry even after his death. to pull out from the shore, so He of hardship drew him closer to hear of many journeys between of preaching, praying and healing Another dream that John Bosco could give the rest of His teaching God. When the time came for him Iona and the mainland. My there. had, showed a ship on a stormy to them from there. After the to escape, it was an angel named brother, Tony, wrote a song about The period of the Celtic saints sea, and other ships and boats teaching, He told Peter to go out Victorious that showed him the Brendan. St Brendan went on a was the Golden Age in Ireland throwing missiles at it. Then he further and cast a net into the deep whereabouts of the ship on which long voyage. A very old document and the Dark Age in Europe. saw two high pillars in the sea, Our water. Peter replied that, although he would escape. Years later, tells of the journey. For a long Missionaries went from Ireland Lady was on one and the Blessed they had been fishing all night and dreams of the Irish calling him time this story was considered to to Europe and students came Eucharist was on another. When had caught nothing, he would do would bring him back to teach the simply be a legend, however, Tim to great monastic schools such the ship was guided through good news in this country. Severin made a boat according as Clonmacnoise, which was those two pillars, everything went what Jesus had asked him. and spreading the good news. There are also many songs to the instructions given in that founded by St Ciaran. After peaceful, the sea and the attackers. Amazingly, there was a How we do that is by watching His about boats – Connemara Boat document and, with a crew, Ciaran’s time, it became the first I think that this prophetic dream large catch of fish, in so much actions and listening to His words, Song, Bantry Bay, Speed Bonnie recreated the voyage Brendan university in Ireland. has come to pass. There was a bad abundance that the men were living His word and imitating His Boat and Óró Mo Bháidín, took. When he reached the places, Over the centuries, evangelists period when there was a lot wrong afraid that the nets would burst, behaviour, so that it is Him we are Báidín Fheilimí etc. One of they encountered situations travelled from many countries and and it all needed to be sorted. and they needed help from other bringing to each other. our Celtic saints, Columbanus similar to those described in the Orders of monks came to Ireland People like the late Fr Peter Byrne fishermen who brought out their The good news has now been wrote a famous song, ‘The Volga story. This helped to dispel doubts from Europe. New monastic began to call for opportunities for boats and helped to bring their spread to all the ends of the world, Boat Song’. It was about their that Brendan’s journey was merely Orders and Orders of Priests and Adoration and he wrote many massive catch ashore. This is when although there may be some races missionary journey down the river just a story. On that voyage, Sisters developed. They also set little family prayer books. The acts Jesus called his first disciples - that still have to hear of the Lord. Volga. The song was translated by Brendan arrived at the Hebrides, out in all directions to bring the of prayer brought a greater peace Simon, Simon’s brother, Andrew, We must remember the directions the late Tomás Cardinal Ó Fiaich. Faroes, Iceland and the coast of Gospel. They went as far as Japan, and stability to the church. and James and his brother, John - we were given, ‘Go therefore and Each verse has three lines. The Greenland. North America and Africa. We are all in this ‘big boat’ with these words: “Follow me and make disciples of all the nations, final line in the first verse tells of In a previous voyage, Brendan One priest who did not travel together; sometimes we have I will make you a fisher of men”. baptise them in the name of the the physical exertion of rowing also visited the Aran Islands, but was especially called by God to, with guidance, paddle our Later in St Matthew’s Gospel, Father, and of the Son, and of the and the final line, in the final verse, Argyll, Wales and Britanny, on was John Bosco. He experienced own canoe. When we do this, we learn again of the great Holy Spirit: teach them to observe is ‘Think, lads of Christ and echo the Northern coast of France prophetic dreams from God, let us think of the lines from commission through the all the commands that I gave you. him.’ and founded some monasteries. where he was shown the work Columbanus’ song, ‘Think, lads directions that Jesus gave His And know that I am with you Columbanus was the Abbott Brendan returned to Ireland and of God that he would do when of Christ and follow him’. We all apostles before He ascended into always, yes, until the end of time’. Heaven: “Go therefore and make in the Monastery in Bangor, settled at Clonfert (Cluain Fearta), he grew up. He would improve have to work at following Christ THE NET | MAY 2020 29 Staying prayerful and open to God’s promptings GUARDIAN of the See of Derry since his the lockdown will have to come hands will make us better able to A typical day now... installation at St Eugene’s Cathedral on April 6, to an end at some stage, and that discern what the Holy Spirit is this will happen in stages. Our saying to the Churches. “It is important to create some 2014, Bishop Donal shared some thoughts with ‘The job is to plan for some of those The idea of the 24 hours of sort of a routine to give shape to Net’ about ministry amidst the Covid-19 lockdown, stages. As Church, we need to be prayer and sacrifice was born out each day. The diocesan office is during which he reached a landmark birthday with considering what we would do if, of a desire to promote intercessory open for office hours, though and when, the following areas are prayer at this critical time, to some members are working from the rising of the sun on Easter Sunday. being considered by Government: make space in our hearts for home. I aim to be in the office 1. Permission to open Churches God’s grace. I have been very The challenge for clergy and from 8.30 am. Priests have been Celebrating 70th birthday... for private and individual prayer encouraged by the large number parishes is to be ‘visible’ for their great and generous. But we have to (which is not banned in the of responses from all around the support priests and parishes with “It was a very strange day. I would people, who are also disorientated. Republic). Such a move could country and beyond. There are information about government normally have been celebrating We have to be visible for people – facilitate an appropriate access to clearly many people who want to regulations and help them deal it with siblings and my nephews otherwise, I fear that they will be the Sacrament of Reconciliation face this pandemic with a tsunami with ‘furloughing’ staff. Financial and nieces, and then preparing invisible when all this is over!” or pastoral counselling for those of prayer, alongside all the other issues also arise for many parishes, for Lourdes the following day, who desire this. health measures. As the early which so often depend on Sunday but, like Mary Magdalene and How priests are coping... 2. Permission to provide Christian Church discovered, collections to keep them afloat. the Apostles on the first Easter religious and sacramental services God who can do great things “It is difficult for priests who have There are then ongoing weekly Sunday, we are where God calls other than funerals. a. Baptisms. b. through us, if we are open to the What missing most during been very dedicated in walking meetings of the Northern Bishops. us to be. That is where we bear Weddings. c. Masses. promptings of the Holy Spirit.” lockdown... with people, ministering to them Issues we are dealing with are the witness to the Resurrection. So, I We have to be able to encourage and letting them minister to us. proposed abortion regulations, had the cemetery blessing at 6.30 Government to make these A new way of being “After 43 years as a priest, I But, who am I if I am not doing dealing with legacy issues, am, Mass at 12.30 pm, lunch at the changes possible, and to offer church... have become very accustomed the things that normally filled supporting ACCORD etc. Cathedral, and a quiet day on my them a package of measures that to engaging with people in the my day? That is stressful about a I also chair meetings of the own. That is where God wanted we will take to make it safe.” “So often in the Bible, God’s liturgy and in daily life. Covid-19 priest’s identity and I know that Catholic Schools’ Trustee me to be and, for that reason, it people had to make sense in has put up barriers around us it is taking a toll on some priests. Service, and am Chair of CCMS, was a blessed time!” Calling on the Holy Spirit... retrospect. It was only at the end of and between us. My world has in However, some have shown great which entails legal obligations. the Exodus from Egypt that they some sense become very small. creativity in communicating with And then we have the ongoing Thoughts regarding “We have no idea what the new could see it had been tough, but For example, for a month I had their parishioners. Deaths are a programme of spiritual events ministry during this time... normal is going to look like. One also a time of grace. So, we have not crossed over the . difficult time for all. Wakes are from the Cathedral as the ‘parish of the prayer intentions for the much time to pray and think. But church of the diocese’. We have That was remedied only when “It is a very difficult time for not possible and there is no face- Lough Derg style vigils, at the it will be within later conversations to be preparing, as well, for what I celebrated Mass in Trench everybody. Over the decades, to-face contact with grieving beginning and end of this month in the Body of Christ (the Church) will happen when some of the Road! Of course, I miss all those clergy and people have become families until the Church and the of May, is that we can discern how that we will sense where the Spirit lockdown measures are eased Confirmation ceremonies which I accustomed to a way of being graveside. Our chaplains currently to act in the pandemic and how to is leading us. We are not in control and churches are again open in a was scheduled to celebrate around Church. Now, we are tested in our cannot get into the hospitals to chart the way forward afterwards. of the Spirit – and we don’t have limited way. Leadership is difficult the Diocese. They are times of faith. How can we believe that this minister to the sick, and have to This is a time of grace and a time to be. But we believe that God is at times like this. And we all make great energy and hope, seeing is a time when God is forming us, do with video calls from outside.” when we are being opened up to in control. And, in His Will is mistakes and miscalculations. But the young people and praying not abandoning us? And, we are a new Resurrection. As with the our peace! All we have to do is we pray for wisdom and guidance for God’s grace to fire them. But a sacramental Church, so we are Plans regarding easing of Apostles, it can be hard to make stay prayerful and open to God’s that we can discern what the ‘Spirit the Lord has not gone away. He trying to know what that means lockdown... sense of what Resurrection means promptings.” is saying to the Churches’.” has just created a new hunger for when we cannot celebrate any of and implies. But open hearts and grace!” the Sacraments with God’s people. “At this stage, we all know that

A Word of God for your Family Life Confidenceby Fr Johnny Doherty, CSsR OVER the past 3-4 months Francis in his address for the Our faith in Jesus Christ, our couples let their life together drift world the power of God’s great 1. May 3 - “I have come that they the coronavirus, Covid-19, has Extraordinary Moment of Prayer knowledge of Him, our love so that there is nothing to build love for all of humanity and all of may have life and have it to the changed the world! Almost prayed: “You (Lord) are calling for Him can give us confidence on. It doesn’t have to be like that. creation. full.” everything that had become our on us to seize this time of trial as in everything. First of all, in 2. May 10 - “I am the way, the security has been stripped away a time of choosing. It is not the ourselves; there are so many things Family Life The world around us truth, and the life.” from us by this virus. So much time of your judgement but of our that can weaken confidence in us, Next, our faith gives us confidence Finally, our faith in Christ gives 3. May 17 - “I shall ask the Father of our resources of wealth and judgement: a time to choose what especially the poor self-image so in our family life. Parents can us confidence in the world around and He will give you the Spirit of personnel have been dedicated to matters and what passes away, a many people carry around with be easily almost afraid of their us. It is so easy to get depressed by t r ut h .” defeating the virus. Our freedom time to separate what is necessary them. Jesus walks with us enabling children, not knowing how to the state of the world, but there 4. May 24 - “Know that I am has been greatly reduced and from what is not. It is a time to get us to walk tall. Next our faith gives deal with them. Your children are so many good things and so with you always; yes, to the end of now we are forced to live almost our lives back on track with regard us confidence in our vocation are wonderful people, waiting many great people out there all t i m e .” exclusively with those who to you, Lord, and to others.” whether religious, priest, single or for you to take the initiative with around us. If we set our sights on 5. May 31 - “As the Father sent are closest to us in family and Shortly before that, he had prayed: married. them, the initiative of love and them and unite ourselves with me, so I am sending you. Receive community. “We did not stop at your reproach humanity, of sharing the joys and them in the mission of making the Holy Spirit.” There is a parallel thing happening to us; we were not shaken awake Marriage struggles of life. Family life can be the world a better place, we will to us in our life of faith. The by wars or injustice across the Married people especially can be a wonderful experience if you only grow in confidence for the future churches are closed so that no one world, nor did we listen to the cry shaken in their confidence because have confidence in yourselves and of the world. God is at work all the can spend time there in personal of the poor or of our ailing planet. of so much break-up of marriages, in your children. It is time to build time, in many ways, in every place, prayer. People can no longer be We carried on regardless, thinking so much talk about divorce, so each family as the Church of the bringing good out of evil, creating present for the celebration of the we would stay healthy in a world much cynicism about the love of home. salvation out of what seems to be Eucharist. All the sacraments that was sick.” husbands and wives. The great almost lost. have been postponed until further gift that married couples bring The Church notice. And even funerals of our The heart of our faith to us is that they have committed Our faith gives us confidence Special features loved ones take place mostly Jesus Christ has risen from the their lives to each other in love in the Church. Our Church has Over the Sundays of May, we without Mass and with only a dead. Alleluia. That’s the heart for better, for worse etc. That is many faults and always will have. are offered the opportunity of few family members present. It is of our faith, the source of our the main quality that the world We are a Church of sinners. But growing in this kind of confidence heart-breaking for so many of us. hope, the inspiration of our love. and the Church needs now as we the Church is a marvellous people as we walk with the risen Lord, The main participation in public What a great time of the year set out to build society and the to belong to, especially in so far as listen to him, are inspired by him, worship is now through online this is! Nature all around us is Church anew after this pandemic. we get involved in building up the and open ourselves for a fresh services and, thank God, there are coming to new life. The colours Our faith calls on couples to power of love that has been given outpouring of his Holy Spirit. many of those and they are being are reappearing. The smells are take charge of their marriage by Christ. By making the Scriptures the very widely used by people in freshening again. The daylight is relationship, work on it together, This is a time to renew our basis for our thoughts and their own homes and among their lengthening, life is good, and our discover the great beauty and confidence in the Church, and, prayer during this month, we families. faith is renewed. It is a time for strength that is in their love, let with that confidence proclaim the will certainly catch the spirit of confidence and trust. that love shine out to change the love of God far and wide. Issues confidence that God has in us, What does it all mean? world around them. So many can divide us. Let Christ unite shown by giving us Jesus, our risen On Friday, March 27, Pope Confidence in what is important marriages break down because us so that we can hold up to the Lord. 30 THE NET | MAY 2020 ‘Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth’ (Ps 104:30) CELEBRATING the 50th Earth responsibility to be guardians and sight of harmony: harmony is a Apostolic Exhortation ‘Querida Day during his General Audience stewards of the earth...We have work of the Holy Spirit. In our Amazonia’, 56, in saying, “let us in Rome, on Wednesday, April polluted it, we have despoiled it, common home too, on the earth, awaken our God-given aesthetic 22, Pope Francis welcomed it as endangering our very lives. For and in our relationships with and contemplative sense”, he “an occasion for renewing our this reason, various international people, with our neighbour, with said: “The prophetic gift of commitment to love and care for and local movements have sprung the poorest, how can we restore contemplation is something that our common home and for the up in order to appeal to our this harmony? We need a new way we can learn especially from weaker members of our human consciences. I deeply appreciate of looking at our common home. indigenous peoples. They teach family”. these initiatives; still it will be For this is not a storehouse of us that we cannot heal the earth Reflecting on his Encyclical necessary for our children to resources for us to exploit. For us unless we love and respect it. They Letter, Laudato Si’, the Holy take to the streets to teach us the believers, the natural world is the have the wisdom of ‘living well’, Father spoke of the need to “grow obvious: we have no future if we ‘Gospel of Creation’: it expresses not in the sense of having a good in awareness of caring for our destroy the very environment that God’s creative power in fashioning time, no, but of living in harmony common home”. sustains us. human life and bringing the world with the earth. They call this “We are fashioned from the “We have failed to care for the and all it contains into existence, harmony ‘living well’.” earth, and fruit of the earth earth, our garden-home; we have in order to sustain humanity. As “At the same time,” he added, sustains our life,” he said, adding: failed to care for our brothers and the biblical account of creation “we need an ecological conversion “But, as the book of Genesis sisters. We have sinned against the concludes: ‘God saw all that he that can find expression in reminds us, we are not simply earth, against our neighbours, and had made, and it was very good’ concrete actions. As a single and ‘earthly’; we also bear within us the ultimately against the Creator, the (Gen 1:31). interdependent family, we require breath of life that comes from God benevolent Father who provides “When we see these natural a common plan in order to avert (cf. Gen 2:4-7). Thus we live in for everyone, and desires us to tragedies that are the earth’s the threats to our common this common home as one human live in communion and flourish response to our mistreatment, I home. ‘Interdependence obliges family in biodiversity with God’s together. And how does the earth think: ‘If I ask the Lord now what us to think of one world with a importance”. unseen, inevitably tends to spread’ other creatures. react? There is a Spanish saying he thinks about it, I do not believe common plan’ (Laudato Si’, 164). Expressing support for (Laudato Si’, 212).” “As imago Dei, in God’s image, that is very clear about this. It goes: he is saying it is a very good thing’. We are aware of the importance “concerted action also on the He concluded: “In this Easter we are called to have care and ‘God always forgives; we humans It is we who have ruined the Lord’s of cooperation as an international national and local levels”, Pope season of renewal, let us pledge to respect for all creatures, and to sometimes forgive, and sometimes work!” community for the protection Francis noted: “It will help if love and esteem the beautiful gift offer love and compassion to our not; the earth never forgives’. The Commenting on the Earth Day of our common home. I urge people at all levels of society of the earth, our common home, brothers and sisters, especially earth does not forgive: if we have call for a renewed “sense of sacred those in positions of leadership come together to create a popular and to care for all members of the most vulnerable among us, despoiled the earth, its response respect for the earth, for it is not to guide the preparations for movement ‘from below’...We can our human family. As brothers in imitation of God’s love for us, will be very ugly”. just our home but also God’s two important international each contribute in our own small and sisters, which we are, let us manifested in his Son Jesus, who As to how a harmonious home”, the Holy Father remarked: Conferences: COP15 on way. ‘We need not think that together implore our heavenly became man in order to share our relationship with the earth “This should make us all the Biodiversity in Kunming, China, these efforts are going to change Father: ‘Send forth your Spirit, O state with us and save us”. and with the rest of humanity more aware that we stand on holy and COP26 on Climate Change the world. They benefit society, Lord, and renew the face of the “Because of our selfishness”, he can be restored, Pope Francis ground!” in Glasgow, United Kingdom. often unbeknown to us, for they earth’ (cf. Ps 104:30).” continued, “we have failed in our commented: “We so often lose Quoting from the Post-Synodal These two meetings are of great call forth a goodness which, albeit Maytime contemplation in lockdown by Patricia McCormack when birdsong is most plentiful weeks lead to the ecological and gardens and hedgerows burst conversion that Pope Francis forth with new growth and colour. calls for in ‘Laudato Si’? Will we Confinement has heightened“go back to normal”, with all its our appreciation of fresh air craziness and consequences? Or and sunshine. Restricted to our will we have a serious rethink homes, backyards, gardens and of the way we live our lives? brief walks, we are beginning to Become more mindful of what notice the greening of trees and we purchase, consume and enjoy even the modest daisies waste? Will we differentiate and dandelions, primroses and between needs and wants? Will bluebells. Cherry blossom can we continue to appreciate a slower lift our spirits and we can lose pace and simpler life? ourselves in a thrush’s song. As we continue to pray for We are rediscovering treasures those who are ill and dying, those beyond price. anxious, separated and bereaved, Opening ourselves to these all those faithfully serving, freely given gifts leads to a sense heroically caring and tirelessly IN Thornhill College in the 60s, consequences of our rate of of joy, gratitude, praise and hope. pursuing vaccines...we must also there was a large circle of azalea production and consumption, the pray for wisdom for ourselves. bushes that burst into the most coronavirus crisis has stopped us Our God is a just and vibrant colours in early May. The in our tracks and given us the time compassionate God girls named this area ‘Paradise’. to take notice of the world around This time can also increase our It was a shame that this time of us. awareness and compassion for blossom and beauty was always In a recent interview, Pope those who cannot be touched overshadowed by revision and Francis said: “This is the time to by the beauty of nature - those exams! take the decisive step, to move in hospital, prison, overcrowded “Some time, make the time”, from using and misusing nature to cities and slums. Where is the Seamus Heaney urges us in the contemplating it”. life-giving beauty in huge refugee poem, ‘Postscript’, but too often The current lockdown has given camps or towns devastated by we have been on the treadmill of us a precious opportunity to fall bombing in Syria and Yemen? endless activity and missed the in love again with...and to cherish Where is the respite in lands magic of early spring. ‘Our Common Home’. destroyed by deforestation, mining, drought, flooding, Our God is a God of surprises Our God is a generous God industrial smog and mountains of While reliable scientists and This ‘time out of time’ has not rubbish? activists have been trying to draw come in winter but when the days Can the experience of these our attention to the far reaching are lengthening and warming, THE NET | MAY 2020 31 “Holy is His name”, Mary exclaimed. receive the power of the Holy Spirit Children’s Catechism Club - C3 During Her visit, the Blessed and that they were to go and preach Virgin Mary brought many graces the Good News of His Resurrection by Veronica Harley to Her cousin, Elizabeth’s house. St to the whole world. He also asked HELLO children. Welcome to the month of May. This month is “My soul proclaims the greatest of the John the Baptist, while still hidden in them to baptise in the name of the dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. We offer up special prayers Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my his mother’s womb was cleansed of Father and of the Son and of the Saviour, because he has looked upon original sin. His father, Zechariah, Holy Spirit. After Jesus ascended and devotion to Mary who always leads us to Jesus. To show our who had lost his voice, got his speech to Heaven, an angel appeared and love for Our Lady, a traditional custom is the making of a May back after John was born. Saint promised that one day Jesus would Altar. It’s easy! Place a statue of Mary on a table and surround Elizabeth was filled with the gifts of return. it with fresh flowers. Or take part in a Crowning of Mary as the the Holy Spirit. Mary remained at Queen of Heaven by adorning a statue of Our Lady with flowers Elizabeth’s house for three months Pentecost for the month of May. before returning to Nazareth. Pentecost is celebrated fifty days after Easter. This is the seventh It is called The Miracle of the Sun. The Ascension of Jesus Sunday after the Resurrection of Everyone could stare easily at the Jesus and concludes the Easter sun without blinking or hurting (CCC 659) “Then He took them out as far as the season. The word Pentecost means their eyes. The sun rotated in the sky, outskirts of Bethany and raising His fifty and marks the Descent of the became large and small, drew close hands He blessed them. Now as He Holy Spirit on the apostles. For this to the people and then far away from blessed them, He withdrew from them reason, it is often called “the birthday them. Everyone who saw this said and was carried up to Heaven” (Luke of the Church” (CCC 1076). that the sun was dancing. It was an 29:50). On Pentecost morning, Mary and extraordinary event that even made the lowliness of his servant, yes from The Ascension of Jesus is a mystery the disciples, accompanied by a unbelievers fall to their knees and this day forward all generations will of faith. It always falls forty days after couple of other women, were in an beg God for forgiveness. call me blessed” (Luke 1:46-48). upper room in a house in Jerusalem. The Feast of the Visitation of the Easter, which is a Thursday. But most parishes now celebrate this important While they prayed together a strong Blessed Virgin Mary is May 31. wind came up with a loud noise and Visitation means ‘to visit’. The Angel Feast on the following Sunday. The word Ascension means to go up, flames of fire came to rest on the Gabriel told Mary that Her cousin, heads of the apostles. Immediately, During May, we honour Mary on and on this day we remember how Elizabeth was going to have a baby they were inspired and filled with two beautiful feast days. On May 13, the glorified body of Jesus went up boy so Mary set off at once to visit courage and strength to go and we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady into heaven. It took place while Jesus Elizabeth. spread the Word of God. On that first of Fatima. This recalls the apparition was with His disciples on the Mount Mary, too, was expecting a baby, Pentecost Sunday, over 3,000 people of the Blessed Virgin to three young of Olives outside Jerusalem. There Baby Jesus. When She arrived at were converted and baptized. children in Fatima in 1917. She Elizabeth’s house, the Holy Spirit He told them that soon they would called for prayer and conversion in revealed to Elizabeth that Mary was the world. The Feast of the Visitation going to become the mother of God. Using the words in the Word Bank to help you, unscramble each of the clue words. of the Blessed Virgin Mary is on May Elizabeth greeted Mary with the Copy the letters in the numbered cells to other cells with the same number to reveal the message below. 31. On this day we celebrate how words, “Blessed art thou amongst Mary, while carrying her Son, Jesus women and blessed is the fruit of Word in the womb, went to visit her cousin, thy womb” (Luke 1:42; CCC 2676). Bank: Elizabeth to offer her charitable While Mary and Elizabeth greeted assistance and to tell of God’s great each other, the baby boy in Elizabeth’s Crowd, mercy. However, this year, Pentecost womb leapt for joy. He would later Speak, Sunday falls on May 31st so we will be called John the Baptist. Wind, celebrate the coming of the Holy Elizabeth asked Mary, “Why Spirit, Fire Spirit on the last day of May. The message Our Lady brought to should I be honoured with a visit

The entire month of May this year Fatima still applies today. She asked from the Mother of my Lord?” Mary

falls within the liturgical season of that everyone should pray the Rosary responded in humility and spoke of Pentecost

Answers: Easter. Spring blossoms with new every day to overcome evil in the how God had blessed Her so richly. life as we look forward to celebrating world. Centuries earlier, Our Blessed the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. Mother Mary had given us the 13. What is the longest river in Scotland? Then we wait eagerly for the Rosary, a very powerful weapon, to with Lawrence 14. Whose real name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento? marvellous Feast of Pentecost; the keep us safe from harm in this world. Quiz Time 1. Who was the author of the fictional book ‘Fly Fishing’ 15. What is the longest-running British children’s comic Descent of the Holy Spirit and the The Rosary is like the slingshot of which was used in a TV advert in the 90’s to promote still in publication? birthday of the Church. The month King David that killed Goliath, the BT’s Yellow Pages? 16. Which former ‘Friends’ actor is now starring in the of May is bursting with Christian joy. mighty enemy, because the power of 2. In Government, what does COBRA stand for when sitcom ‘Man With A Plan’? God was behind it. When we pray the used to describe a meeting? 17. Which former US President’s middle name is Rosary, we have the power of God in 3. Which country boasts the world’s largest coastline? Hussein? Our Lady of Fatima 18. What nationality is violinist and conductor, André The Blessed Virgin Mary, the our hands. The Rosary protects and 4. Name the Ferry that capsized near the Belgian town of Zeebrugge in 1987? Rieu? Mother of God, appeared six times guards us and leads us to God. 5. By what name is English singer/songwriter from the 19. The popular holiday resort of Sintra is on the to three shepherd children, Lucia, outskirts of which major European city? O my Jesus, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, Declan MacManus better known? Francisco and Jacinta. Between May 6. The flag of which former Soviet Republic has five red 20. In cooking, the term ‘Julienne’ refers to doing what 13 and October 13, 1917, She came to forgive us our sins, to food? save us from the fires of hell, crosses on a white background? the little village of Fatima in Portugal. 7. For the first 12 years of the new English Premier 21. What unit of measurement is the equivalent to 5.8 lead all souls to heaven, Our Lady brought a special message League (1992-2004) only three different teams won trillion miles in distance? from God for everyone to hear. She especially t hose in most need of Thy the title. Can you name them? 22. Which Biblical figure had three sons named Shem, Ham and Japheth? promised that the world would be mercy. 8. Who plays Michael Scott in the U.S version of the TV 23. Of which country is Phnom Penh the capital city? at peace and many souls would go (Our Lady at Fatima, July 13, 1917) ‘mockumentary’, The Office? 9. On the Trading markets, what does FTSE stand for? 24. What Radio station, which ran from 1933 to 1992, to Heaven if people listened to Her became hugely popular with listeners in the UK and requests and obeyed them. Her three Saints of the Month 10. With what song did Andrea Bocelli and Ed Sheeran have a hit in 2017? Ireland despite being based miles from either? requests were penance, prayer and St James and St Philip, Apostles – 25. Which former Army General became the Weapons’ May 3 11. Which planet is often referred to as the Morning devotion to Her Immaculate heart. Star or Evening Star, given that it is second only to Decommissioning Chief for the Good Friday St Matthias – May 14 Our Lady told the three children the moon in brightness? Agreement in Ireland? that a great sign from Heaven would St Philip Neri – May 26 12. Who won his second Oscar for Best Actor in the 1997

happen so that everyone would St Augustine of Canterbury – May 27 movie, ‘As Good As It Gets?’

believe. This miracle took place in Chastelain. de John

Beano. 16, Matt Le Blanc. 17, Barak Obama. 18, Dutch. 19, Lisbon. 20, Cutting it into strips. 21, One Light Year. 22, Noah. 23, Cambodia. 24, Radio Luxembourg. 25, 25, Luxembourg. Radio 24, Cambodia. 23, Noah. 22, Year. Light One 21, strips. into it Cutting 20, Lisbon. 19, Dutch. 18, Obama. Barak 17, Blanc. Le Matt 16, Beano.

Fatima on October 13, 1917, and The Visitation of the The 15, Pele. 14, Tay. River 13, Nicholson. Jack 12, Venus. 11, Perfect. 10, Exchange. Stock Times Financial 9, Carrell. Steve 8, (1). Rovers Blackburn times), (3 Arsenal Quiz Answers: Quiz

was witnessed by 70,000 people. Blessed Virgin Mary times), (8 United Manchester 7, Georgia. 6, Costello. Elvis 5, Enterprise. Free of Herald 4, Canada. 3, A. Room Briefing Office Cabinet 2, Hartley. JR 1, 32 THE NET | MAY 2020

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