THE NET | JULY /AUGUST 2021 1 ISSUE 67. JULY / AUGUST 2021 PRICE - £1.50 The NET /€2.00 Sharing fruits of faith in Derry Diocese See inside... “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. Fr Clerkin’s Golden Jubilee – Culmore They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they will run and not grow weary, walk and Fan the Flame – Buncrana not grow weak”. (Isaiah 40:31) Youth Scholarship - Derry The late Fr Neal Carlin, founder of The Columba Community. Remembering Fr Michael Collins Mass Rock celebration - Granaghan Derry Search pilgrimage – Knock Fr Stephen Kearney Award – Newtownstewart – Ballinascreen in focus in People Emma Devine - Three Patrons Fr Kevin Mullan PP - Drumquin Fr Michael Canny - Waterside Fr Mike Spain ocd - Termonbacca Mgr Andy Dolan - Bellaghy Also featuring: Termonbacca venue for Youth 2000 Summer Festival, Youth writers section; Celebrating grandparents & the elderly; Great vision for future ministry of Carmelites in Derry; Stations of the Cross find; Celebrating faith of ancestors at Mass Rocks; Preparing for the Season of Creation; Blessed Is She Retreat; Children’s Catechism Club; Quiz and much more. 2 THE NET | JULY /AUGUST 2021 Bishop Donal reflects on the prayer intentions of Pope Francis for July and August... Contents Be courageous and passionate architects of dialogue and friendship “We pray that, in social, economic and political situations of conflict, we may be courageous and CopiesParish of ‘The Net’ will deliveries be available in parishes again after restrictions, as a result of Covid-19, are lifted. passionate architects of dialogue and friendship.” (July: Universal intention - Social friendship) Reflections on Pope’s prayer intentions for July & August by Bishop Donal .........................................p2 ONE of the great symbols as the one who, in his own wrong, someone has to be gracious ways of dealing with Celebrating St Maria Goretti and the power of forgiveness of Derry City is the Peace body, has broken down the condemned for it, and pay for divisions. He has asked us to by Mary McMenamin ...................................................................p2 Bridge, opened on June 25, walls that divided Jews and it. Public discourse and social be architects of dialogue and Search family bond still strong 2011. It has been described Gentiles (Cf Ephesians 2:14). media comments can be friendship. He knows that despite Covid enforced separation........................................p3 as two arms reaching out In his body he bridged the gulf. brutal and vicious. Sometimes bridge-builders will often Newtownstewart P7 Award in memory of Fr Stephen Kearney ...............................................................p3 from the banks of the Foyle God in Christ was reconciling conversations in church can be laughed at as traitors. He and meeting in the middle. the world to Himself and be bitter and angry. is aware that the path to the First Diocesan Youth Ministry Scholarship These two straining arms have has entrusted to us the news It is remarkably easy to see other side will not be straight. ends with day of celebration................................................p4-5 enabled people to cross over. that they are reconciled (2 ‘-isms’ rather than people. But But he asks us to be experts Fan the Flame celebration.....................................................p6-7 It is not straight, for the path Cor 5:19). It is not surprising Jesus saw individuals before in building bridges, and thus to peace has never been easy. that Jesus would say that the him, not labels. Those who to bear witness to what Jesus Southern sacramental situation – Bishop Donal .............p7 But its construction is a thing peacemakers are blessed (Mt love to label rarely have Jesus- has done. That is how the face Young writers share thoughts on... of beauty and it has changed 5:9). eyes. of the earth will be renewed, the landscape of the city for Social, economic and Pontiff comes from the word and how the Kingdom of God *Benefits of prayer in facing life’s challenges the better. The city can now political situations around Pontifex; a builder of bridges. will spread. *Impact of social media Pope Francis has consistently *The faith of ‘Doubting’ Thomas breathe with both of its lungs. the world can be very angry Bishop Donal *Pope’s call to “be like Peter and Paul, free but humble” Jesus is described by St Paul and tense. Whatever goes asked that we model graceful, *Is Catholic Education worth keeping in Northern Ireland? *The gift of older people in our lives ..............................p8-11 Celebration of Grandparents & the Elderly .................p11-15 Only a church that lives repentance can preach repentance Termonbacca to host Youth 2000 summer festival .......p15 “Let us pray for the Church, that She may receive from the Holy Spirit the grace and strength Cast your burdens at ‘Blessed Is She’ retreat by Aoife O’Neill.............................................................................p15 Preparing for Season of Creation to reform herself in the light of the Gospel.” (August: Intention for evangelization - The Church) by Patricia McCormack ..............................................................p15 THE document of the We are seeking renewal, not that the message about Christ ‘Evangeli Gaudium’: “God’s Irish Church in 2021?” Mass rocks powerful reminder of ancestors’ sacrifices Second Vatican Council on for our glory but so that we can changes. But it does mean that word is unpredictable in its If we are to be effective in to preserve the faith – Glenshane, Leckpatrick & Granaghan .................................................................................p16 the Church (Lumen Gentium) better be used as instruments we have to be ready to adapt to power...The Church has to making Jesus known and Prayer for Priests .........................................................................p16 says that the Church is “at the to evangelise the world. Thus, make us fit for mission. Only accept this unruly freedom of loved, we have to examine Pope’s monthly prayer intention ..........................................p16 same time both holy and in the prophet Jeremiah could a church that lives repentance the word...in ways that surpass how hard we have been trying. Réalt na Mara - Irish Section by Fr Oliver Crilly .............. p17 need of purification”. (LG 8) It be content that God could can preach repentance. our calculations and ways of Sometimes we can end up would be heresy to think that remake his people as a potter And the standard against thinking”. (EG22) trying to make ourselves Bellaghy celebrates Mgr Andy Dolan’s the Church is perfect. We are remakes a vessel that has which we measure ourselves And the Mass points clearly known and loved, and then we Golden Jubilee ..............................................................................p18 saved by the grace of God and turned out wrong (Jeremiah is to be found in the scriptures. to the fact that we are called to miss the whole point of being Ballinascreen mark 100th anniversary not by our own efforts. That 18:4). The Word of God can open discern God’s call to renewal, Christ’s Church. of late Fr Michael Collins’ ordination ..................................p19 is why St Paul could say that The Church is constantly in our hearts if we listen to it not merely individually, but Pope Francis asks us to pray Sacristan shares childhood memory of Fr Collins .........p19 we are earthenware vessels need of renewal because we carefully. That is why the together. in August that we will let the Thornhill celebrates Golden Jubilee of Fr Colum Clerkin p19 bearing a great treasure (2 Cor are all tempted to sin, just as scriptures are proclaimed each The synodal path in the Holy Spirit blow through the Fr Neal Carlin, founder of Columba Community, 4:7). Jesus was at the beginning of day and each weekend at Mass. Irish Church is merely an Church so make us fit for laid to rest..................................................................................... p20 Thus, constant prayer for his public ministry. And the We are invited to be disciples, opportunity for renewal. It purpose in our time. Our Tribute to Fr Neal ....................................................................... p20 renewal lies at the heart of all world in which we preach is learning from the Master. simply asks the question, sanctity lies in recognising our Drumquin celebrates Fr Kevin Mullan’s Golden Jubilee p21 of our prayer. changing. That does not mean As Pope Francis wrote in “What is God asking of the need of God’s purifying grace. Last 40 years have been a blessing - Fr Michael Canny p21 We are born to live in The Divine Will – Emma Devine p22 Life’s tapestry by Fr Malachy Gallagher .............................p22 Celebrating St Maria Goretti...and the power of forgiveness Fr Mike Spain ocd reflects on 40-year ministry that led him back to Derry ......................................................p23 by Mary McMenamin Fr Stephen Quinn shares vision for future ministry of Carmelites in Derry........................ p24 where he tried to force himself Peter’s crowd, to celebrate her of Lords and conqueror of sin dedication and consecration upon her. She told him that canonisation. He later became and death. The Assumption to Our Lady. This can be done Bearing witness to Jesus – the Way, the Truth and the Life .........................................p25 she would rather die than a lay brother of the Order of of the Blessed Virgin