THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 1

ISSUE 57. SEPTEMBER 2020 PRICE - £1.50 The NET /€2.00 Sharing fruits of faith in Diocese

See inside... “It is important to accompany and encourage Sr Clare Prayer – Brandywell Grotto people” (Fr John McLaughlin SSC)

Syro Malabar Video – Waterside

Memorial Walk – Greencastle

Fr Crilly’s 80th – Castlefin Covid Cross Blessing – Grotto Blessing – Creggan JPII Reflection – Ballinascreen in focus in People

Marie Lindsay – Iskaheen Fr John McLaughlin SSC – Moville Stella McGinley – Bishop Francis Lagan RIP RIP

Also featuring: Youth News & Features, JPII Reflections, Loreto reviews strangest academic year, Excellence award for St Finlough’s teaching assistant, 125 years of St Joseph’s Young Priests’ Society, Parish Feature Part II, Children’s Catechism Club, Irish Page and Quiz. 2 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 Sr Nellie McLaughlin RSM reflects on Pope Francis’ prayer intention for... Contents Parish deliveries Copies of ‘The Net’ will be available in parishes again Respect for the planet’s resources after restrictions, as a result of Covid-19, are lifted. Respect for the planet’s resources – A reflection by Sr NellieMcLaughlin RSM...... p2 “I have come that you may have life, life in abundance.” (John 10:10) Ballinascreen children enjoy celebrating Season of Creation...... p2 IN outlining the universal Day marks the date when we create a dilemma. We cannot joined in a splendid universal Pandemic reflection...... p2 prayer intention for September (humanity) have used more live without fresh air, clean communion’ (LS 220). This Rosary on the Coast...... p2 2020, Pope Francis challenges from nature than our planet water, fertile soil, sunshine disconnection, the systemic Derry mural of smiling nun, Sr Clare, us to pray that ‘the planet’s can renew in the entire year. or the companionship of cause of so much devastation warming hearts near and far...... p3 resources will not be In 1969 that crucial date was others in the community of and suffering in our world, Youth reflect on Pope John Paul II Award...... p4-5 plundered, but shared in a just December 27. life. Yet many are prepared continues to have serious Grandparents - our first teachers and respectful manner’. Since then, especially in to cut down the rainforests, consequences for planet and by Hollie Frystal...... p6 Our Common Home is the last 30 years, through the very lungs of the earth, to people: ‘What kind of world do Virtual Knock pilgrimage for grandparents...... p6 Great response to Youth Ministry Scholarship...... p6 richly endowed for the good overfishing, overharvesting of deplete the soil through the we want to leave to those who Check out DYC for faith-based gap year...... p6 of the whole community of forests and the alarming rise overuse of harmful chemicals, come after us, to children who Youth team back with more online fun...... p6 creation. These resources,of CO2 in the atmosphere, to pollute the water beyond are now growing up’. (LS 160) Remembering John Hume – a good friend while abundant, are finite, and our ecological budget 2019 safe consumption and consign Let this be a wake up moment by Peter Grant...... p7 therefore require responsible was spent by July 29. We are millions of people and species for us worldwide as Covid-19 Sr Nellie McLaughlin RSM. Pope Francis entrusts young to Our Lady’s intercession.p8 stewardship in co-operation currently using 1.7 earths as to poverty and homelessness re-enforces what we already Nagasaki, let us commit anew The Virgin Mary with Earth’s processes. ‘Soil, we dig ever deeper into our for monetary gain. suspect, namely, we must by Oisin Mulhern...... p8 to respect for our common water, mountains: everything planet’s reserves built over Our Common Home is protect the more vulnerable home and more equitable Youth 2000 Festival online success is, as it were, a caress of God’ millennia. We urgently need struggling while ‘being among us: planet, people, by Hollie Frystal...... p9 sharing of its resources. I Engaging young people in their faith (LS. 84). to move from fossil fuels to squeezed dry beyond every species and all vital resources. suggest that we make this by Tony Brennan...... p9 Planet Earth’s living systems: sustainable energy sources. limit’ (LS 106). Current The prayer intention is timely practical by choosing a Loreto Coleraine reviews strangest academic year the air we breathe; the water The Covid-19 pandemicestimates indicate that less in reminding us of what many specific key resource, for by Brenda Sweeney...... p10 we drink; the food we eat; offers a brief breathing space than 20% of people own and of us simply take for granted. example, sun, water, air, soil, Back to school! and the sunlight that nurtures for Earth to regenerate, with control over 80% of the Earth’s Key advice in these pandemic microorganisms, earthworms, by Mary O’Boyle...... p11 and sustains us, and all Overshoot Day 2020 estimated resources and generate over times is the insistence on hand insects, bees, birds, animals, Excellence award for St Finlough’s teaching assistant.p11 beings, ultimately relies on as August 22. 80% of the planet’s waste. washing and staying apart as Warm welcome at Queen’s within oceans, coral reefs, forests, Columbanus community by Michael Ward...... p11 biodiversity. I like to think Fundamental to responsible Earth has enough for the needs core preventative measures. wetlands, web of life. of biodiversity as the sacred stewardship and equitable of all but not for the greed of The alarming reality is that St Mary’s College tribute to outstanding leader – Looking to the future with Marie Lindsay...... p12 leaven in God’s creative sharing of resources is the the few, whether individuals or over two billion people do not hope, may our chosen vital realisation that the cry of the multi-national corporations. have water to drink or for food Greencastle walk raises £21,000 for Trocaire extravagance – that stunning resource inspire us and others by Maria Bradley...... p13 variety of life on earth in all its earth and the cry of the poor As in Laudato Si’, Pope preparation, not to mention to make the necessary life- Lockdown surprise for Fr Crilly...... p13 forms, species and ecosystems are one and the same cry. Francis is calling us to hand washing, neither do style changes to enable its Remembering Bishop Francis Lagan...... p14 in the oceans, on land, in the Indigenous wisdom reminds conversion, to re-connect countless millions have homes preservation and dynamism in Creggan grotto and prayer stone blessed skies and sub-surface bacteria. us that what we do to the with our deepest roots in the in which to remain safe and the dance of life for the abiding in memory of Bishop Lagan It is sobering to realise that we earth we do to ourselves. community of creation: the well! health and wellbeing of the by Fr Joe Gormley...... p15 humans comprise 0.01% of the When we humans put short- renewal and re-connection we During this Season of entire community of creation. God’s Friends – lost in translation totality of life on Earth, yet our term profits ahead of long- seek ‘entails a loving awareness Creation and mindful of the by Fr Oliver Crilly...... p16 collective ecological footprint term needs and priorities that we are not disconnected 75th anniversary of the nuclear Ministering in times of tragedy...... p16 ‘All it takes is one good person is enormous. Earth Overshoot of flourishing life for all, we from the rest of creatures, but bombing of Hiroshima and Focloir Nua to restore hope’. (LS.71). Irish Section by Fr Oliver Crilly...... p17 A man of peace and strong faith – John Hume RIP...... p18 Pandemic by Lynn Ungar (11-03-2020) Credit Union tribute to John Hume by Delma Boggs...... p19 What if you thought of it become still, of compassion that move, Pray for courage to be and share Good News as the Jews consider the Sabbath reach out with your heart. invisibly, - Bishop Donal...... p20 — Know that we are connected where we cannot touch. Cranagh Covid Cross blessed...... p20 the most sacred of times? in ways that are terrifying and The real challenge for parishes...... p21 Cease from travel. beautiful. Promise this world your love — Parish Feature – Part II...... p22-25 Cease from buying and selling. (You could hardly deny it now.) for better or for worse, The Life of St Teresa of Jesus of Los Andes – Give up, just for now, Know that our lives in sickness and in health, The Lay Life – by Fr Stephen Quinn OCD...... p26 on trying to make the world are in one another’s hands. so long as we all shall live. Pictures from Heaven different than it is. (Surely, that has come clear.) by Vera McFadden...... p27 Sing. Pray. Touch only those (This Pandemic reflection was A few thoughts on the Eucharist to whom you commit your life. Do not reach out your hands. read at the first public Masses in by Vera McFadden...... p27 Center down. Reach out your heart. Castlefinn, Co Donegal, on the My faith journey Reach out your words. weekend of July 4th and 5th). by Fr John McLaughlin SSC...... p28 And when your body has Reach out all the tendrils 125 years of St Joseph’s Young Priests by Christine McLaren...... p29 Derry Diocesan Vocations Prayer...... p29 Prayer for Priests...... p29 Pope’s prayer intention...... p29 Coastal Rosary for Life & Faith Diocesan clerical appointments...... p29 THE Rosary on the Coast day since August 15, the Feast regarding the Coastal Rosary A Word of God for Your Family Life for Life & Faith will take place of Our Lady’s Assumption the next day, October 11, Love – by Fr Johnny Doherty CSsR...... p30 this year on Sunday, October into Heaven, as part of the 54 and to register a Rosary Church cleaning a labour of love for Sion Mills great grandmother...... p30 11, at 2.30 pm, when people Day Rosary Novena for Life & location, visit www. around the globe will be Faith, which comes to an end coastalrosaryireland.ie. Children’s Catechism Club – C3 by Veronica Harley...... p31 united in this prayer. on October 7, the Feast of Our Quiz Time with Lawrence...... p31 October 11 is the traditional Lady of the Rosary. feast of the Maternity of Mary, Another upcoming Marian The ministry of and the faithful are invited event is ‘The Hail Holy Ballinascreen children to join in the praying of the Queen Conference’, which The NET Rosary from wherever is will be broadcast on Radio was dedicated to Our Sharing the fruits of the faith in the Derry Diocese enjoy celebrating Season convenient, such as grottos, Maria Live on Saturday, Lady, through the churches, homes etc, while October 10 and will feature intercession of observing social distancing Fr Ruairi O’Domhnaill, Dana, Contacting us: of Creation St Maximilian Kolbe, in a If you have a story that you would like to share or an event you and regulations regarding Fr Damien Polly, Marino would like covered by The Net, just drop an email to The P3 pupils at St Columba’s PS, Straw, in the parish of Ballinascreen, gatherings. Restrepo and Fr Marius ceremony celebrated by [email protected] enjoying learning about God’s creation during the Season of Creation, Many have been praying 15 O’Reilly. Bishop Donal McKeown or ring/text 07809292852 which runs from September 1 until October 4. See the Diocesan website on August 14, 2019. for resources for home and parish for celebrating the joy of creation decades of the Rosary every For more information THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 3 Derry mural of smiling nun, Sr Clare, warming hearts near and far who they believe is interceding for them, and to join in the prayers led by Fr Stephen Quinn, OCD. Speaking before the blessing, Fr Stephen told those gathered: “We celebrate history with murals in , and with this mural of Sr Clare Crockett, we celebrate the f utu re .” Afterwards, they walked in a candle-light procession to the nearby Grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, praying the Rosary and holding the special Sr Clare candles that have been selling in their thousands from the Rosary and Mass, for which shops across the City, to raise Fr Stephen was joined on the altar money to pay for the mural and by Fr Joseph, a fellow Carmelite much sought after Sr Clare Prayer from Nigeria who has just Cards. recently arrived at Termonbacca, Fr Stephen has been celebrating and Fr Francis Ferry, from Mount a monthly Mass in Termonbacca Charles, Co Donegal. Retreat Centre in honour During his homily, Fr Stephen of Sr Clare, which has been spoke about Sr Clare’s bright broadcast via YouTube and the smile as depicted on the mural, Termonbacca Facebook page saying: “She is wearing the habit during the Covid-19 pandemic, of a nun and yet upon her face is and he followed the blessing of the brightest of smiles. What has

Sr Clare Crockett’s sisters, Shauna and Megan, at the unveiling of her mural in the mural with the celebration she got to be happy about being a the Brandywell. of Mass at the Grotto, which nun, some might wonder. Many THERE is an ‘energy’ in the said the 29-year-old, “and I was has been beautifully developed young and not so young people air around the Brandywell area struck by how much she gave. and maintained by the local see the Catholic Church as an of Derry these days, other than She had a great work ethic and community. organisation that is harsh and that generated on the hallowed certainly lived up to her motto, old fashioned, out to extinguish turf of the City of Derry football ‘All or Nothing’. Grotto their joy...and yet, there is Sr Clare Unable to attend the blessing of Sr Clare’s mural, Bishop Donal enjoyed hearing Kathleen McCallion, who lives a smiling on us. all about it from three generations of a local family, Ann, Oonagh, Katie and club’s home ground. It all seemed “I also noted that she had done Miley. to kick off when the idea was the same work as we do as youth few doors down from the Grotto, “Had she entered into some mooted about having a mural of workers, and it was good to see explained that it had been built other kind of Catholicism, the late Sr Clare Crockett painted how much the young people in 1945 after the community something completely different? on a gable wall in the Brandywell appreciated Sr Clare. There is had gathered, on what was then She had thrown off the primary neighbourhood she had grown always the hope that we help the a green area, to pray the Rosary school religion long ago, the one up in. young people who come through after a bomb had gone off in that we pay lip service to all too Only 33 years old when she our doors as best we can. If I Pennyburn. A plaque, unveiled often. If you want to know the was killed in 2016 during an was to die tomorrow and young during the centenary of the Long meaning of that smile, you have earthquake in Ecuador, where people were to say the same thing Tower, notes that the grotto was to go to that moment in 2000, she was living and ministering about me as was said about Sr erected near to a World War II when she went on a pilgrimage to young people as one of the Clare, I would be very happy”. air-raid shelter. for the first time. This girl, who community of Sisters with the Devotion has been growing “The people continued to gather didn’t want to be on pilgrimage Home of the Mother Order, Sr to the young Derry-born nun, there to pray,” said Kathleen, “and but sunbathing, smoking and Clare was in the prime of her life whose amazing conversion this led to the building of a grotto, partying, and who only desired and full of the joy that is associated story has touched many, with for which a statue of Our Lady of to be famous, experienced with the Servant Sisters. her sisters, Shauna and Meghan Lourdes was brought down from something pass between her and Such was the joy overflowing hearing more and more stories , and that is the same statue Christ when she bent down and willed and loved by God.” the younger generation is not to from the heart of Sr Clare in life about prayers answered through there today. kissed the feet of His figure on the Unable to attend the blessing of follow her - but to follow God’s that it seems fitting the finished her intercession. Many of these are “We have developed the grotto Cross. Sr Clare’s mural, Bishop Donal, call and to allow God’s grace to mural has her image smiling so told to them by people they meet over the years and built an altar “The force of that woke her up who spoke of the young Derry form them for sanctity”. brightly upon the many people while visiting the neighbouring in 2008 because we had two from her stupor to realise the nun in his Sunday homily, told The 10th anniversary of Sr who come from near and far to graves of their sister and mother Masses celebrated there every truth; that what she thought was ‘The Net’ that it was “wonderful Clare’s final profession was view it, as if to warm their hearts in the City Cemetery. year – on May 31, the Feast of the so significant had turned to dust to see the local energy and on Tuesday, September 8, the and brighten their day. Indeed, so many people were Visitation of the Blessed Virgin when she met this Christ. She pride that has been generated Nativity of the Blessed Virgin The mural was painted by Derry having difficulty finding Sr Clare’s Mary, and August 15, the Feast of went on to speak of the power, by the amazing story of Sr Clare Mary, and this will be marked at artists, Ray Bonner and Karl grave in the large cemetery that the Assumption of Our Lady into wisdom and beauty of God, who Crockett”. the monthly Mass to be celebrated Porter, of UV Arts, which was overlooks the Brandywell, that H e a v e n”. made her feel like she was the only He added: “She is a model of for her in Termonbacca on established to encourage people to signs have now been erected to She added: “The Rosary has one in the entire universe. The someone who did not want to Sunday, September 13. The 7 pm use graffiti in a constructive way. guide visitors, and since news of been prayed at the Grotto every Good News that put that smile leave heroism and sanctity till Mass will be streamed live on the A youth worker in the City, Ray the beautiful mural spread further night since, but with the virus we on Sr Clare’s face was that He later in live - and who found great Termonbacca Facebook page and told ‘The Net’ that while he had afield, even more people are have had to shield and so we are had willed her into existence and joy in channelling all her energies YouTube channel. heard of Sr Clare before he had making a point of coming to pray saying it in our own homes now. loved her to the point of dying for in the service of Christ. Love of A dedicated Facebook page, been asked to paint her mural, at her grave. A lot of people go into the Grotto her on the Cross, and that is why God and acceptance of the divine SisterClare Crockett, has just he hadn’t known much about her A special unveiling and blessing to pray when they are passing she left her kith and kin for Spain calling did not limit her life but recently been set up for people story until those he encountered ceremony was held at the site by, and many ask for the Rosary and went through the rigors of channelled her talents to journey to learn more about Sr Clare while working on the mural told of the Deanery Street mural, on to be offered up for their special becoming a nun. And it is why she with others. and share stories of how they him that the film on her life was Sunday, August 16, when many intentions.” went to Ecuador and could face “She became an original Clare have been helped through her a must see. gathered to show their love and Kathleen was delighted to see that earthquake with tremendous Crockett - not a photocopy of intercession, and it already has “I went home and watched it,” appreciation for the Derry girl so many gather at the Grotto for courage. She knew that she was someone else. So the challenge to over 3,000 friends. 4 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 I feel a lot closer to God having helped out more in my parish been a practising Catholic, I those who were watching on the enjoyed this experience as I found thought it would be beneficial to parish webcam in their homes. it rewarding that I could have been take the time this year to take my I also took part in the Youth helping a child who may not have faith journey to the next level. Alpha programme on Zoom, had breakfast at home. Due to the To take part in the award, you which went on for eight weeks. school closures, I could not finish The beauty of the JPII Award have to complete 20 hours of I thoroughly enjoyed this these hours in school. volunteering in your parish, and experience. We watched a faith- For my final two hours, I is giving back to people and 20 hours in your community. For based video each week and then shopped for an elderly neighbour my parish hours, I read at Mass answered questions based on the who was cocooned. I had to leave thinking of others and counted the collection money video in smaller groups. the shopping at her doorstep and really enjoyed this time as I got to frequently. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, talk to her through the window. take time out of my day to relax Due to the current pandemic, I attended a youth day in Knock I also made sure I was washing and fully embrace the special time I had to then continue my hours and also took part in the Sleep-Out my hands often and obeying the with God. by partaking in the ‘Derry Youth’ in solidarity with the homeless. guidelines. For my social involvement I online programme. This involved I was due to go to Medjugorje in I am now finished all of my hours got involved with the local St a lot of different faith based the summer for the youth festival for the Award, and I will hopefully MY name is Aimee Mc Auliffe Vincent de Paul Charity Shop, activities, like watching videos, there as a part of my award, but be receiving the Gold Award at the in . Every Friday after and I live in Moville. I am 16 years answering questions and sending this was cancelled. beginning of next year. old and am completing my Pope school, I went to the shop to help in different tasks. I actively For my community hours, I feel as though I am a lot closer my local community. I met so John Paul II Award this year. participated in this when the I volunteered in my school’s to God now that I have helped out I had heard about the Award many people from the local area lockdown measures were strict. breakfast club. I helped by setting more in my parish. I am definitely and I learned so much about throughout my years at secondary When the churches were allowed up the room, making sandwiches, going to continue to read at Mass MY name is Ciara Barnett and school and was given the them. I was very interested in to reopen, I had the opportunity and cleaning up, as well as helping now that I am finished. I am just finished Transition Year my job and I really admire the opportunity in Transition Year to read at Mass, once again, for with general supervision. I really at Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana. The to undertake it. As I have always staff that work there every day. main aim of the Pope John Paul The work that the SVP do is II Award is to enable participants incredible. to take an active part in the life of In doing all this, I feel the Pope My parish involvement has truly made their Church – in the life of their John Paul II Award has helped me community and society. It enables to step out of my comfort zone and young people to become more become more of a selfless person me appreciate my Catholic upbringing aware of the teaching and role of to the people around me. This the Catholic Church in the world Award has taught me so much Sacrament of Confirmationher. On this day, I showed people place, such as the HOPE summer and to engage at a deep level with about myself and my religion. here, in the & how to make the crosses and we camp. However, I have helped to Christ. Through the Award, I was able to Learmount Parish, I felt it was organized refreshments to be allow Mass to continue during the I decided to sign up for the go to Knock Shrine, which was an important to give something back. available, and Irish traditional pandemic by helping rearrange Award this year because I felt experience that I will never forget. By completing this Award, I music was played. the chapel and ensure everyone that this would be the perfect I could not recommend this have taken part in a multitude I have also taken up the job of sanitizes their hands before opportunity for me to learn more Award highly enough to anyone of activities within the parish. reading at Mass. This is important entering the chapel, in order to about the church and bring me who is thinking about taking part. Firstly, I helped out with the as it is relative to God’s instruction stop the spread. closer to God. I am doing the To conclude, one bit of advice GIFT (growing in faith together) “to spread the good news.” This I have thoroughly enjoyed all my Gold Award. In order for me to that I would give is to get involved project, during which Year 8 has been extremely beneficial as it parish involvement as it has truly achieve this Award, I was required in all the opportunities that come pupils practised their faith by has increased my confidence and made me appreciate my Catholic to get involved in my parish and your way, keep yourself busy and playing games and learning new has brought me closer to God, and upbringing and has shaped my socially involve myself for one just enjoy every minute of this prayers. This was very beneficial it has also brought me closer to the moral character. I have developed hour per week for 20 weeks. Award. It will be so worth it in to me as it allowed me to gain a local parishioners. a variety of skills throughout my For my parish involvement, I the end. You feel great because deeper understanding of my faith, I have become a member of involvement, for example it has attended a meeting once a month the beauty of the Pope John Paul while helping out with the Year 8 the Altar Society too and clean improved my communication for faith development, arts and II Award is you are giving back to MY name is Aisling Mortimer pupils. the chapel on two Saturdays in a skills, given me a higher sense crafts and, most importantly, and I decided to do the Pope the people and thinking of others, I also was involved in a St Brigid’s month. This involved a couple of of both independence and pizza, along with all the other and this Award brought out a side John Paul II Award as I knew cross making event, after weekend hours cleaning to ensure that the responsibility, enabled me to students doing the Award in it would allow me to become in me which I am remarkably Mass to celebrate St Brigid’s Day. chapel was prepared for Mass the take initiative and improve my my local parish.This was led proud of. much more involved in my local This event lasted a few hours and next day. leadership skills, and has allowed by Maire Gormley, our Parish parish and community. Having “But sometimes it is necessary to was to help people to learn about Due to the current crisis, some me to be a positive role model to Catechist. Each week, I went to do that which is too much” (Pope been baptized, made my Holy St Brigid and the history behind planned activities didn’t take others. the Adoration Chapel to pray. I Communion and received the John Paul II) Completing my Award during lockdown involved my family and kept me busy Completing the Pope John Paul Due to the lockdown, I have had stories and take part in activities. I were lifted, I helped with other during lockdown. It gave me the II Award has been very rewarding to complete my hours at home helped in the arts and crafts section volunteers in cleaning and setting opportunity to involve my family and has given me the opportunity on a weekly basis, for example, with the children. I had to make up the chapel so there was safe and kept me busy. to give something back to the by making a May altar, watching sure everything was organised and social distancing. This took a lot The Pope John Paul Award has parish and my local community. Lenten services with my family and had to show them what to do. of organising and working with helped me develop the skills of I completed many activities in my baking for relatives. In my own community, I took others to get weekly services up Christian leadership, and it also parish for the Award, for example I participated in a range of social part in flagship events to collect and running again. I also took part has helped me to develop in other cleaning my local church twice activities for the Award, both in money for Columba House, in sanitising people’s hands when areas too, for example, working a month. Myself and the other school and in my own community. which is a peace and reconciliation they came to Mass on Sunday with others, independence, volunteers from my parish met up In school, I helped with a bun centre in Derry. I helped out at an mornings. communicating with others and we cleaned for an hour. sale for ‘Trips Abroad’, to raise annual Christmas bazzar. I also Completing the Pope John Paul through talking to new people We also had the opportunity money for students to go out and volunteered at my local youth club Award during the coronavirus from other schools in my parish, in my school, Thornhill College, help make a lasting impact by once a week and found it very pandemic has been different,and being a positive role model to to complete a ‘Faith friends’ building schools in Tanzania. I also rewarding. I helped with children as I had planned to complete others in the parish. Hopefully, this MY name is Niamh Donaghy. programme, which involved giving volunteered in the ‘Follow the Star’ of all age groups by organising some of my hours through the will encourage other people to step I am 17 years old and am from St guidance to Primary 4 pupils scheme. This is a Christmas event different games and activities, and HOPE camp and collecting for St up and be involved in the parish Joseph’s Craigbane, in the to prepare them for their First for families, where they are guided just getting to know them. Vincent de Paul. However, it has also. parish. Communion. We met once a week. around a trail, listen to Christmas When the lockdown restrictions still been enjoyable to do tasks THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 5 My JPII Award experience added something special to my Sixth Form journey

my sixth form journey. I learnt I assisted at my local music reading in front of a large crowd. a lot through my experience by group. I helped young children, I wouldn’t have learnt this without I met new friends and volunteering for my community, who were perhaps struggling or completing the Pope John Paul II school and parish. behind the class, to get to the same Award. For my parish volunteering, standard as the others. Through As part of my Award, I was helped some of most I sang in my local parish choir this experience, I got to bond with planning to join a pilgrimage to and, through this, developed the children and learn how to gain Lourdes in the summer, which was new friendships and bonds with their trust. It was very rewarding sadly cancelled due to Covid-19. vulnerable in our people I probably wouldn’t have to see them satisfied when they We had started organising a interacted with, if I hadn’t been in could play their instrument along fundraiser, which involved a lot the choir. with the other children. of planning regarding tickets, Diocese I also read a few times in my In school, I contributed to a lot raffle prizes etc. It also required Group, which held various events chapel; one significant time was of the music for services there and teamwork within our group. It and courses, for example, the the Carol Service at Christmas in I also played a role in our musical was very rewarding knowing annual Sleep Out in February 2019. It seemed very daunting at ‘Oliver’. I thoroughly enjoyed this that we were giving back to the at St Eugene’s Cathedral, in aid MY name is Eleanoir Gray, and the time but, when I look back on experience as I made so many new community. of homelessness. At this event, I I am a student at St Colm’s High it, I found it very rewarding that I friends and got closer to a lot more Overall, my Award experience welcomed people on arrival and School, , in the was able to stand up in front of my pupils in the school. was very rewarding as I got to showed them where to go and Ballinascreen Parish. parish and read a small prayer. It Also in school, I read at experience many different things where to sign in. My Pope John Paul II Award was something I never thought I’d assemblies. This was a very scary and meet so many new people, To complete hours for Social experience was very enjoyable be able to do. experience at first, but I proved which is the most important thing involvement, I volunteered and added something special to For my community volunteering to myself that I am capable of to me. at the Cornstore Youth Club in Draperstown, where I completed a variety of tasks. I also volunteered frequently with JPII Award has given me special memories MY name is Caoimhe Connolly the Sixtowns Community Centre and I am a student at St Colm’s at fundraising events. At these High School, Draperstown. For events, I helped set up before and and experiences I will never forget my Pope John Paul II award, clear up when it had finished. I volunteered at a range of Within school, I completed developing vital skills and qualities games and workshops. clean my local chapel and organisations to complete my some of my social hours by helping for the future. However, my most fond also volunteered to collect St parish and social hours. at the homework club, where For social hours, I enjoyed memory is, undoubtedly, the Vincent de Paul money. Through One of the activities I did some younger children needed volunteering at my local Youth sleep out. This was an event completing these activities, I to complete hours for parish extra help with homework. The Club every Tuesday night. I centred around solidarity with truly gained a sense of pride and involvement was helping to annual coffee morning in aid of organised games and activities, the homeless, where young achievement as I felt I was giving clean Holy Rosary Chapel and St STEPS and Macmillan Cancer while engaging with the young people from across Derry came something back to my parish. Eugene’s Chapel within the parish Support was another event that people, which greatly developed together to sleep out and stay In addition, I helped the primary of Ballinascreen. Additionally, I volunteered at. Leading up to my communication skills. I also awake all night long in St Eugene’s four children of my parish prepare every month in my parish there the coffee morning, I distributed thoroughly enjoyed watching the Cathedral, Derry, in order to raise for Holy Communion through was a ‘Do This in Memory of Me’ leaflets advertising it and, on the young people grow and develop money and awareness for charities lending a helping hand for their Mass for the children preparing day of the fundraiser, I helped out enthusiasm for teamwork and like the Simon Community. This ‘Do This in Memory’ Mass, and for their first Holy Communion, at the raffle. helping one another out. event truly opened my eyes to organising the candle ceremonies. and I volunteered at a number of I really enjoyed my experience In addition, I organised a movie those less fortunate in our society Furthermore, I gained these Masses, helping the children of the Pope John Paul II Award. night for the primary school and the life they lead, making me confidence through practicing light their candles and showing I made new friendships and got children in order to raise money extremely grateful for the smaller public speaking at my school MY name is Rose McGuigan them to their seat. to know more people within the for the Lourdes pilgrimage, things in life that often are taken assemblies, which left me with a and I am a student at St Colm’s Another activity I completed Diocese through courses and which greatly enhanced my for granted. sense of achievement. High School, Draperstown, where was carrying up the gifts at the events I attended to complete my organisational skills. I also completed many social By taking part in the JPII Award, I decided to the Pope John Paul II Lenten Masses in my school hours. I had the opportunity, too, of hours within school, for example, I have undoubtedly grown in Award. on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Another reason why my taking part in a youth ministry/ helping teachers out with displays faith. Through truly becoming an While completing this Award, Thursday morning. I also carried experience with the Pope John leadership course, through and photocopying, and also active member of my parish and I took part in a range of social the Offertory gifts up at the Padre Paul Award was beneficial to me which I met other JPII Award within the community, by giving community, I have made special and parish activities which I Pio Masses which took place once was being able to give back to my participants. We shared our a helping hand at big breakfasts, memories, developed skills and thoroughly enjoyed. Amazing a month, on a Monday night. community and help some of the experiences while also developing primary school discos and coffee qualities, and had experiences that memories were made and I I also collected hours for my most vulnerable within the Derry communication and leadership mornings. I will never forget. also grew in confidence, while Award through the Derry Youth Diocese. skills, through completion of As for parish hours, I helped I really enjoyed giving back to my community through the JPII Award MY name is Sara Louise Lagan my confidence improved, opening the upkeep of my chapel and essential and unique skills and organising a fundraiser event and I attend St Colm’s High School, doors for future opportunities volunteered at the Parish office. I qualities that will definitely be for a trip to Lourdes with a in Draperstown. Throughout my to help out within the GAA took part in setting up and helping useful in the future. number of other students. I was experience as a Pope John Paul II community again. out at numerous school Masses I was able to spend a lot of time able to develop team-work and student, I took part in a variety of I also worked with my local throughout the year also. This within school helping out teachers communication skills throughout volunteering opportunities within Youth Club, taking responsibility included Christmas and Lenten and staff through various activities. this experience. my community and school. I spent to provide younger children services. For example, once a week, I helped I really enjoyed being able to give hours coaching underage players with fun games and activities to I was able to take part in a three- out at the Homework Club, where back to my community, especially in my local club, Ballinascreen improve their social skills and day OCN leadership course as Key Stage 3 & 4 pupils were able when it involved school and my GAA. other key qualities. well, where I met and worked to stay afterschool for any extra GAA club, because they are the Throughout this experience, I Within my Parish community, with other Pope John Paul Award support with their learning. people who shaped me into the developed leadership skills and I helped out in maintaining students to learn and develop A big event I took part in was person I am today. 6 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 THIS month, Hollie, Peter and Oisin, ‘The Net’youth contributors from the Co Tyrone, Inishowen and Co – by Hollie Frystal Derry Deaneries, bring the fruits of their work over Our first teachers the summer. As well as reporting on what she heard “Each elderly person is your grandparent” (Pope Francis) while tuned in to Youth 2000’s summer festival, which ON Sunday, July 26, the Church the older generation to some build my Church…”. In other things for granted and focus on went virtual this year with the Covid-19 restrictions, celebrated the feast of St Joachim degree, because we owe a lot words, faith depends on the the things that really matter. Hollie, from , also shares her thoughts on and St Anne – Jesus’ grandparents. to them in terms of a surviving sharing of one generation to the Sophie, who is 23 years old They are the Patron Saints of all planet, social justice/equal next and so we must listen to the and also from Strabane, said, in grandparents being amongst our first teachers of the grandparents and the elderly. rights accomplishments, health, older generation and learn from regard to the older generation: “I faith and what Pope Francis said to young people – We first heard of St Anne in education and simply the fact that them. have learnt that you don’t need “each elderly person is your grandparent”. Impressed the account of the Immaculate they brought us up to be who we In my own personal experience, materialistic items and social Conception of the Blessed Virgin are today. I feel that both ‘grandparents’ and media to live a happy life, and their by all the tributes regarding the late John Hume, Mary, who was to later conceive Faith, particularly, is one of the the ‘elderly’ are the rock in the old stories show how they have Peter, from Muff, reports on that and interviews he and give birth to Jesus. most precious gifts I have received family and the backbone to society, great memories of spending time had with various people within his parish of Iskaheen Like St Joachim and St Anne, we, from the older generation, and I where they are so experienced with their family and friends.” too, have our own grandparents could not be more grateful for the and usually well equipped to give In other words, we look back & Upper Moville about their memories of John. And, who have also played a massive care and guidance I have received advice. with the older generation to a time Oisin shares his love for Our Lady, in response to a part in our lives. Furthermore, our in relation to that. Unfortunately, some people were natural things were more message from Pope Francis over the summer to young grandparents and other elderly As St Francis of Assisi said: never met their grandparents, but appreciated, and they demonstrate people to use Mary as an example in their daily lives. friends/relations have helped to “Preach always, sometimes use like Pope Francis said, “each elderly a stronger love for life through the shape our personalities, characters words”. This means that we must person is your grandparent”, memories they cherish and tell. and opinions. We learn from their put our faith into action to let therefore, we all can relate to the We, too, hope to grow old and wisdom. others see. Faith is not meant to older generation. make this world the best possible In St Peter’s Square, Rome, on be kept but shared, and this to me Rebekah, who is 16 years old place for generations to come. We July 26, after praying the Angelus, is very well presented by the older from Strabane, commented on pray for the old so that they will Pope Francis commemorated generation, for example, going to what she has learnt from the older continue to share their wisdom the Feast of St Joachim and St Mass, works of charity, supporting generation: “I think things like with us, and we also pray for the Anne. In relation to the present their children and grandchildren, faith were more appreciated back young, so that we will receive the pandemic, we have had to etc. We learn to not be shy and then and that is something we grace to open our ears and listen communicate in different ways embarrassed when it comes to have to work on now.” to them. with our grandparents and our faith, but instead to be confident, In other words, do not take elderly neighbours, for example, guided and welcomed. Therefore, ‘phone calls, video calls and social this responsibility had been taught Hollie Frystal, Oisin Mulhern, Peter Grant, distancing in the gardens or and given to us, so we can keep the Co Tyrone Deanery. Co Derry Deanery. Inishowen Deanery. through a window. It was time for Church alive in today’s world and us, young people, to teach what we pass it on to the next generations. know best – technology! In ways Pope Francis continued to say, Virtual Knock pilgrimage for this new, however, temporary “an uprooted tree does not grow form of communication became or bear flowers or fruit.” Pope grandparents this year very useful and special, because we Francis was saying that we must THE annual National the numbers of those ill rising”, were able to share our knowledge stay connected to our elders, for Grandparents Pilgrimage to said Catherine, “and to know that with the older generation in return the young need the old and the Knock Shrine, on Sunday, we have lost many wonderful for their inspiring wisdom that old need the young. When we stay September 13, will be an online family members and friends to the they provide for us all the time. connected to our elders, then we event this year, due to the v i r u s”. Pope Francis then told young stay connected to our roots of who Covid-19 restrictions. She added: “As we gather virtually people that “each elderly person we are and where we came from. Catholic Grandparents’ for this year’s pilgrimage, we will is your grandparent.” We are all Remember when Jesus said to Association founder, Catherine be praying for all grandparents – responsible for the wellbeing of St Peter, “…upon this rock I will Hollie with her grandmother, Gwendoline Curran, from Strabane. Wiley recalled the thousands that God will keep them safe and who had gathered at the Co Mayo well. We will also be remembering Shrine last year for the celebration all those who have passed away of grandparents, and the difficult since last year’s pilgrimage”. Check out DYC for faith- months people, particularly the The link to access the elderly, have experienced with the pilgrimage is: knockshrine.ie/ based gap year pandemic. watch. Further information can “It has been physically be obtained by emailing info@ YOUNG adults interested in a parishes around the Diocese. challenging and mentally and catholicgrandparentsassociation. faith-based Gap Year opportunity If you are interested in a Gap emotionally distressing to watch com. are invited to get in touch with Year where accompaniment, the Diocesan Youth Team to find community and encounter are out more about the Derry Youth central, and are aged between 18 Community (DYC). and 25 years, then be sure to check The DYC offers the experience out the DYC. of living in community and For further information and developing in faith while being application just email dyc@ involved in youth ministry in derrydiocese.org

Great response to Youth Ministry Scholarship by Lizzie Rea THE youth department of the taking part in the scholarship. Diocese is delighted with the The Youth Team are currently response to the new Derry Youth gathering lots of content for the Youth team back with Ministry Scholarship. online programme, which will We had 12 applicants apply to start up again at the beginning of more online fun be part of the scholarship from all October. The online programme RELAXED after their summer Now, the team is back full of round the Diocese. The interviews will also include more Youth break, the Derry Diocesan Youth more great ideas and the various have been a great success and we Alpha programmes delivered team has been busy putting programmes can be accessed hope to have our scholarship start online. together more fun activities for its via the Derry Diocesan Youth in early September. If you would like to know more online youth programmes. Facebook page or Instagram. It is a very exciting time for the about getting involved with youth The many young people who Facebook: https:// team to be able to work closely ministry in the Derry Diocese, took part in the Youth Team’s www.facebook.com/ with this group of young people please follow our social media @ lockdown initiatives thoroughly DerryDiocesanYouth/ for a whole year. We have lots of derrydioceseanyouth, or email enjoyed the online interaction Instagram: https://www. exciting projects for the students [email protected]. and carrying out the activities. instagram.com/derryyouth/ THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 7 Remembering John Hume – a good friend – by Peter Grant the same year for his work. But the each other in the Borderland Bill Clinton. This led to a massive people of Derry and Donegal saw dance hall in Muff, Co Donegal, boost in the economy of Northern John as a close friend, a man who and they raised five children. Even Ireland. After many years leading backed the community, and a man though John was a predominate the Social Democratic and Labour who showed that he was proud of figure in the Party that he had founded, John where he came from. Civil Rights Movement, achieving announced his retirement from John Hume was born in Derry peace in Northern Ireland, he politics and resigned his place as on January 18, 1937. He attended always put his family and religion SDLP leader on February 4, 2004. St Columb’s College in his teenage first. He was a regular attender at But he kept supporting his home years, during the same time period St Eugene’s Cathedral, where he city and community in need, and as some well known people from socialised with the good people of represented Derry whenever he today, such as Seamus Heaney Derry. went across the globe to America across the country lighting a candle for Northern Ireland, Brandon and Phil Coulter. He then went John also spent time in and also across Europe. at nine o’clock in their homes Lewis and the President of BELOVED Derry man, John to Maynooth College to study for Greencastle, in Donegal, where he Most Derry City football fans for John, during the uncertain Ireland, Michael D Higgins, due to Hume died at the start of August the priesthood. He didn’t complete would take time off from politics will remember John Hume for times we are facing. John’s funeral government guidelines. But there at the age of 83. He would be his clerical studies but obtained and clear his head. He always bringing the famous Barcelona took place the next day and was was a huge gathering of people more known for bringing peace an MA degree. John returned to supported the community of team to the Brandywell in 2003 broadcast on RTE. outside the Cathedral grounds to Northern Ireland after almost Derry, where he became a teacher Greencastle and the neighbouring and, in 2005, he became the Club Fr John Farren led the ceremony and, as John’s remains were leaving 40 years of destruction and and later a founding member of town of Moville. He would often president. During his final years and described John as “a good the cathedral, there was massive fighting between Unionists and the Credit Union that still exists to go for a walk down to the shore, John suffered from dementia. friend” in relation to the parable of applause for him, for all the work Nationalists. He also played a this day. He became its youngest where he would relax and have His remains were brought the Good Samaritan. The funeral he had done to achieve peace in massive role in signing the Good president at the age of 27. time to himself. to the family holiday home was kept private for family, close Northern Ireland. His burial was Friday Agreement in 1998, John and his wife, Pat got married He also had a great friendship in Greencastle, and then to St friends, and political party leaders, private to his family in the City winning the Noble Peace Prize in in December 1961 after meeting with former president of the USA, Eugene’s Cathedral, with everyone as well as the Secretary of State Cemetery. Peter interviewed some people about John Hume’s life story as a peacemaker and beloved friend of Derry. Kayleigh Sweeny, who is 17 years old and is currently doing her Pope What was the reaction towards John Paul II Award in Drung, John during the Civil Rights within the parish of Iskaheen and Movement at the time? Upper Moville. “Every working class person, not just Catholics but people from Where did you first come across other denominations, were all in of the name John Hume? support of him. The Civil Rights “I heard John Hume’s name Movement in Northern Ireland first from my parents when they mirrored civil rights campaigns recalled their childhood memories in the US and across the world, of him. He was very active so this was the voice of the people whenever they were younger, so John was backing up and that was they were always hearing about dishes or playing games, and did a huge support for John too”. him on the news”. not make a sound because my mother and father wanted to hear What was your reaction to the What do you think Northern him talk. 1998 Good Friday Agreement? Ireland was like in the past I suppose really the only people “There was hope, belief and a whenever you were younger, that would’ve been on the television deep sense of gratitude across before you even heard about the at the time were politicians who the island of Ireland. At the time, sides of the divide was wrong and teacher at Notre Dame High Troubles? were overly powered, but to me, I was rearing my family and all Have you any memories of John it could be done in a peaceful and School, in Greenock, Scotland, and “I just thought Northern Ireland John Hume was like one of us, as I wanted was for them to have a at St Columb’s? constitutional way.” currently Provost of Inverclyde, was a normal place, like any other in a normal down-to-earth person. better life than what I, and my “He was in the same class as shared these few words on the life place today, but as soon as I got He spoke like us, looked like us, generation, had to live through. my brother, Vincent. John was What was your reaction to the of John Hume, whom he had held older I heard the stories of my and I suppose he had a message Our generation experienced some one of the first students of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement? in great esteem... parents. They experienced things that was very important and had of the horrors of , old ‘Eleven Plus’ that had been “This was a tremendous “Earth received an honoured that would’ve scared us a lot, but a sense of importance in what he so, the idea that there could be a introduced in 1944. He came to achievement and it was John guest; the great John Hume is laid that was just everyday life for was saying. peaceful settlement though not St Columb’s College around 1950. Hume’s suggestion there should to rest. For 30 years he lived his t h e m”. Whenever he spoke, you could perfect, but a way forward in the After leaving the College, he went be a referendum North and life in the shadow of a gunman see that he had the teacher in him right direction, was just such a to the seminary in Maynooth to South. Unfortunately, today’s yet never once did he waver. His What kind of role model today and you were always learning from relief and so welcome. I had a deep, study for the priesthood and he political parties don’t have John’s goal was for to live in would be similar to John Hume, him. Whenever I saw the pictures deep sense of gratitude towards undertook a degree in French. determination.” harmony and peace – to live for with all that he achieved? of the protest on Strand everybody who had been involved Among his teachers was the future Ireland not to die for it”. ‘I honestly think no one would and at Craigavon Bridge, I recalled in the Good Friday Agreement, Tomás Cardinal Ó Fiaich, a future Martin Brennan, a past history be able to top John Hume. He was that John was always there at the which included John Hume”. Primate of All Ireland.” just a one of a kind; there’s nobody scene acting as a leader. I saw John else like him. But there are young as a leader and a peacemaker. He When did you next hear of John people, who are not necessarily always kept saying that there is Hume after he left the College? advocates for peace, but, like Greta another way. “He left Maynooth with a degree Thunberg, who are young and try From my work in St Marys as a in French and, in those days, to make the world a better place. principal, I have a fond memory that qualified you to teach. He It’s really inspiring to see that from of John and his wife, Pat, often then took up a teaching post in someone like her”. coming to support the school at St Columb’s for about five years. prizegiving. They came along for During this time he started the Maire Lindsay, former principal the 50th celebration of the school Credit Union and also got into St Mary’s College, Derry, who in the Creggan and also attended politics. We met every day at lunch lives in the parish of Iskaheen and the opening of the new school at time outside the book shop and, Upper Moville. Northland Road. of course, John would quite often Even though John’s health was speak about politics. Where did you come across the deteriorating, he was humorous I remember John had a theory name John Hume? and great company, and he always about the way politics should “I first heard of John Hume came to the special occasions. It proceed. I used to get him talking whenever he spoke on television, was really fascinating to see how about his philosophy and he would and once he was on, everybody strong John was in fighting against Fr Michael Keaveny, a past teacher say everything can be done in a in my family stopped whatever dementia, just like he did for in St Columb’s College, Derry, and constitutional manner. He believed they were doing, like washing the peace”. priest of the Derry Diocese. the way of violent actions by both 8 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 Pointing to Mary as “the Church’s great model of a youthful heart ready to follow Christ with freshness and docility”... Pope Francis entrusts young people to the intercession of Our Lady

“Dear young friends! you staying?”. And Jesus says: to encounter him; stay with him fascinate you and guide you! The annual youth meeting “Come and see” (cf. Jn 1:35- in prayer; entrust yourselves to Mary is the Mother who in Medjugorje is a time rich 39). And they go, see, and stay. him who is the expert on the “watches over us, her children, in prayer, catechesis and In those disciples’ memory the human heart. on our journey through life, fraternity. It offers all of you the experience of the encounter This most beautiful invitation often weary and in need, opportunity to encounter the with Jesus was so ingrained that from the Lord: “Come and anxious that the light of hope living Jesus Christ, especially one of them even recorded the see”, made by Christ’s young not fail. For that is our desire: in the Eucharist where he is time: “It was about the tenth and beloved disciple, is also that the light of hope never praised and adored, and in the hour” (v. 39). addressed to future disciples. Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Gospel tells us that after Jesus invites you to encounter fail. Mary our Mother looks to And in this way he helps you to staying at the Lord’s house, him and this Festival becomes this pilgrim people: a youthful discover another way of living, the two disciples became an opportunity to be able “to people whom she loves, and different from the one offered “mediators” who allowed others come and to see”. The word who seek her in the silence of by our ephemeral culture, to encounter him, to know him “come”, in addition to indicating their hearts amid all the noise, according to which nothing can and to follow him. Andrew went a physical movement, has a the chatter and the distractions be definitive and the only thing immediately to tell his brother deeper, spiritual meaning. It of the journey” (Christus Vivit, IN a message to young people apparitions, and a final decision that matters is enjoying the Simon about him, and led him points to an itinerary of faith 48). gathered in Medjugorje for the is expected by the Pope when present moment. In this climate to Jesus. When he saw Simon, whose aim is “to see”, that is, Dear young people, “keep annual International Youth the Commission’s findings are of relativism, in which it is the Teacher immediately gave to experience the Lord and, running, attracted by the face of Festival in August, Pope Francis, submitted to him. difficult to find true and certain him a nickname: “Cephas”, thanks to him, to see the full Christ, whom we love so much, told them that the church needed The annual Medjugorje Youth answers, the guiding words of which means “rock” [in and definitive meaning of our whom we adore in the Holy their momentum, intuitions and Festival of prayer, Eucharistic the Festival, “Come and see” (Jn Aramaic], and will become the existence. faith, and highlighted Our Lady as Adoration, testimonies and 1:39), addressed by Jesus to the name Peter (cf. Jn 1:40-42). This The Church’s great model, Eucharist and acknowledge an example of what happens when music, usually attracts over 50,000 disciples, are a blessing. To you shows that in encountering of a youthful heart, ready to in the flesh of our suffering one abandons themselves into young people and around 500 brothers and sisters. May the God’s hands. priests. While thousands made too, Jesus directs his gaze and Jesus we become a new person, follow Christ with freshness While the Holy Father approved the journey this year despite the invites you to go and be with and we receive the mission and docility, is always the Virgin Holy Spirit urge you on as pilgrimages to Medjugorje in world-wide pandemic, many him. to transmit this experience to Mary. The power of her ‘yes’ you run this race. The Church May 2019, he has not made were unable to attend due to the Do not be afraid! Christ is others, while always keeping and of that “let it be to me” that needs your momentum, your a deliberation regarding the Covid-19 restrictions. However, alive and desires that each of our eyes fixed on him, the Lord. she said to the angel always intuitions, your faith” (ibid., authenticity of reports about Our the Festival was live-streamed and you live. He is the true beauty Beloved young people, have strikes us. Her ‘yes’ means being 299). On your route through the Lady allegedly appearing there most of the programme was sent and youth of this world. you encountered this gaze of involved and taking risks, with Gospel, also enlivened by this since June 1981, when six children out via electronic media to enable Everything he touches becomes Jesus who asks you: “What do no other guarantee but the claimed she appeared to them with people to tune in from afar. Video Festival, I entrust all of you to young, becomes new, full of you seek”? Have you heard certainty of being the bearer a message of peace and a call to recordings of the 2020 Festival are the intercession of the Blessed life and meaning (cf. Apost. his voice which tells you: of a promise. Her “Behold, I prayer, fasting and conversion. available on the mladifest.com Virgin Mary, invoking light and Exhort. Christus Vivit, 1). We “Come and see”? Have you am the handmaid of the Lord” A document was submitted website. strength from the Spirit so that for analysis to the Congregation The Papal Nuncio in Bosnia and see it precisely in that Gospel felt that impulse to set out on (Lk 1:38) is the most beautiful you may be true witnesses to for the Doctrine of the Faith in Herzegovina, Archbishop Luigi scene when the Lord asks the a journey? Take time to be example that tells us what 2014, following almost four years Pezzuto delivered the Holy Father’s two disciples who are following with Jesus, to be filled with his happens when a person, in her Christ. I pray for this and I bless of investigation by a Vatican message to the young people, him “What do you seek?”. And Spirit and to be ready for the freedom, abandons herself into you, and I ask that you, too, pray commission into the doctrinal which read... they answer: “Rabbi, where are fascinating adventure of life. Go God’s hands. May this example f o r m e”. and disciplinary aspects of the

The Virgin Mary by Oisin Mulhern THE Pope, not very long ago, grandparents taught me about prayed the Rosary every evening and home, but school has also cares deeply for each and every goal for the modern world. requested people my age to use Mary in numerous ways, such as along with Bishop McKeown. We taught me a great deal about Mary one of us today. Today, I believe all people should Mary as an example in our daily praying the Rosary, taking me to had an altar set up, with Mary’s through the many lessons about She has many names, one of my follow Mary’s virtuous example lives, and this made me question visit Knock and by creating an statue, flowers and our Rosary her and about the Gospels. favorites being ‘Mary the Queen and, if they did, the world would myself about not only how Mary altar dedicated to Mary annually, beads. This helped me deal with Through the Gospel, we learn of Peace’, as this is her ultimate be a much more peaceful place. inspires me but also about my during the month of May. the anxiety caused by the global that Mary is kind, caring and relationship with her in my daily They have encouraged me to pandemic in the early days. trusting. She trusted God and life. pray to Mary if I was worried or I also became more familiar followed His plans without When I delve into my in need of help, as Mary would with other great prayers to Mary, question. She bore His son ‘Jesus’, relationship with Mary, the first intercede for me and help in the such as ‘Hail Holy Queen’ and loved Him dearly and watched thing which always comes to way she felt was best. This has the ‘Memorare’. I took particular Him die on the cross. mind is the many times I have helped in many situations where solace from the line ‘that never All this time, she remained prayed to her. From an early age, I I have gotten annoyed about was it known that anyone who faithful and did not question why was taught the ‘Hail Mary’; it was many things and worried about fled to your protection, implored she or her son had to suffer in such and still is the prayer of choice the next steps in my life, such as your help, or sought your a way. She suffered great trials and during my night-time prayer during major tests in school, like intercession was left unaided.’ This grief, therefore, she knows first- routine. my GCSEs. Sometimes, a simple line further highlighted what my hand how people suffer daily and Throughout my life, myprayer to Mary has helped calm grandparents had taught me, that wants us to rely on her for help. grandparents, who have a great me and put me at ease. Mary will always help. Mary was a humble person, devotion to Mary, have instilled During lockdown, I tuned Not only did I learn about and filled with humility. She cared this appreciation in me. My into St Eugene’s Cathedral and become inspired by Mary at Mass deeply for those around her and THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 9 Engaging young people in their faith… …School and Parish Partnerships – by Tony Brennan A question I am always asked is: has created a young community Due to the Covid-19 lockdown, How does a parish reach out and that is part of and involved in this model of course was not engage with young people? the bigger parish story, where possible. However, Covid has To engage young people in their birthdays are celebrated, faith is forced into play what those in faith, there is no silver bullet. It explored and experienced, and Youth Ministry in Ireland have takes a lot of commitment and where friendships are developed been trying to do to for many investment in work, planning and within the parish. It is safe to say years – have fruitful engagement forming partnerships. Fortunately, these memories and experiences with our young people online. In we have some great examples from are going to stay with these young March, when schools closed, our dioceses and parishes around people forever. When they are Diocesan Youth Ministry Team Ireland where this investment pays older and there are opportunities stepped up to do just that. dividend; where school and parish for them to help in a parish, there At the start of lockdown, the partnerships are meeting their is every chance they will be the team created a seven-day online young parishioners where they are first to step forward, as they’ve programme of prayer, projects of at in their faith today. done it before and they will know faith discovery, readings, music, Over the last number of years in what to do. discussion and creativity. It ran for the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin, Another great example of this 12 weeks, engaging approximately they have focused on building model of engagement has been 30-50 young people, aged 16 to parish and school partnerships by in the parish of Ardmore here, 18 years, from across the Diocese. developing relationships with each in the Diocese of Derry. During These young people used the parish leader, parish priest, school the Covid lockdown and church time engaged in the programme RE and TY teacher. They use this closure, young people in the parish towards their Pope John Paul II relationship to connect the parish were engaged in daily readings, Award social and parish activities. and its young people at the start of the Rosary and other liturgical As part of this weekly each academic year. services in the church, which was programme, ‘Scripture Saturday The parish of Staplestown, in broadcast online. This engagement with Bishop Donal’ was created; that Diocese (Facebook search: was coordinated by the parish a weekly online broadcast of Staplestown Cooleragh JP2) is one priest and the parish pastoral lessons in scripture by Bishop Tony Brennan, Pastoral Development, Derry Diocese. such example where this model of council. Donal McKeown (derrydiocese. partnership has enabled the parish Other dioceses that I am aware org/scripture-saturday). In each Following on from this and programme. For the eight weeks, examples inspire your parish leader to mobilise the young of, who have successfully seen the lesson, Bishop Donal explained the experience gained, the Youth 32 young people engaged each to have a look at what you can people in the parish. This has been benefits of this partnership model, the Gospel that was coming up Ministry Team created an online week. offer to your parish youth. If you really visible since reopening after are ‘The Spirit’ programme in the next day and the relevance Youth Alpha programme, which Both these online programmes need guidance and are up for the lockdown. The young people in the Diocese of Ferns, the Living of that Gospel reading in today’s they ran on Sunday evenings created by the Derry Youth challenge, please get in touch with the parish have been involved in Church in the Diocese of Down society. As Bishop Donal’s lessons at 7 pm for one hour, through Ministry Team have been assessed our youth ministy team at: ddcc@ the parish upkeep of the church and Connor, the Diocese of were broadcast online, a wider Zoom. The programme was a and approved by the National derrydiocese.org or myself at: tony. grounds, including painting, Dromore Youth programme, and audience soon discovered it and mix of prayer, lessons, music and Board for Safeguarding Children [email protected] gardening, litter picks and May the VAKS programme at Knock began to tune in each week. This discussion following the Alpha in Maynooth, and are now being (Tony is the Pastoral Development Altars. Shrine. Here, too, in the Diocese of just shows the benefits of online template. Participants had the used as best practice models Coordinator for the Diocese of By engaging this way, the parish Derry, this model is being adopted. faith development. opportunity to lead part of the throughout Ireland.I hope these Derry)

Youth 2000 Summer E-Festival – Ireland 2020... Youth leading youth to the heart of the Church by Hollie Frystal

1993 and now has spread to 25 Youth 2000 festivals and has been simplicity that made it so engaging opportunities to make friends The Youth 2000 summer other countries across the world. involved for the past 20 years. and understandable. Fr Harris was and have interesting conversations e-festival concluded with Mass Uniquely, this year’s Youth 2000 He began the first talk by telling one of many guests who came and about faith, however, due to the celebrated by the local bishop, was virtual and broadcasted online us everywhere he has been with spoke at the festival. present pandemic this could not with a virtual congregation of due to the present pandemic. The Youth 2000, and he said that being There are two aspects to the happen. thousands of people from around Youth 2000 Summer E-festival in front of the camera was “the Youth Summer E-festival, which This year, time was taken to the globe, spreading from Ireland was launched on August 14 at strangest” place out of them all. is the prayerful part and the reflect and be creative in ways such to India, Malaysia, Pakistan, 6:30 pm, when Laura O’Keefe and He went on to say, “the Christian practical part. The prayerful part as crafting, painting, building, Australia, etc. This reflects the Conor McNamee went LIVE as religion is not virtual, it is real”. consists of Mass, Confessions, etc, or instead doing something huge popularity of the annual the hosts. Even though we are very engaged Eucharistic Adoration, the we enjoy and finding God in our festival and the participants always Laura reminded us of Youth with the virtual world, we must Rosary, reflections/testimonies,talents and skills. For example, St speak of it with great joy and craic. ON August14-16, Ireland had 2000’s motto, which is: “Youth understand that it is a tool of and music. Eucharistic Adoration James said: “Faith without good I encourage you to research the its annual Youth 2000 Summer leading youth to the heart of communication when real life is involved keeping vigil. works is dead” (James 2:17). In recordings of this event, as there E-Festival, with young people the Church.” This motto rests at put on hold or cannot be had, for This course of prayer has a other words, prayer and action go are many inspiring testimonies by from all over the country having the core of the organization and example, the pandemic, during real connection at this present hand-in-hand. Therefore, we must different people. It is available on signed up to be part of a ‘virtual’ what it is all about. The sense of which we needed the media to time, where in some areas Holy learn how to live out our faith playback via Facebook, YouTube, retreat. Youth 2000 is a Catholic a youth community is expressed stay in touch with each other. Fr Communion can still not be and we discover this through our and the Youth 2000 Ireland Youth organization which hosts wholeheartedly through John invited us “to get real” with received due to the pandemic interests, talents, and skills. The website. It is worth a watch and festivals, retreats, prayer groups the activities and reflections our faith and to take courage and and instead an act of Spiritual practical side is just as important I am positive that you will learn and other events throughout undertaken at the youth festivals. pray, even when we cannot be Communion is made. Also, the as the prayerful side. something from them. Ireland for young people. It was There were inspirational talks together. power of prayer has united a founded in the UK by Ernest given by influential people that I watched Fr Harris’ first talk dispersed congregation as a whole Williams in response to Pope add to the whole atmosphere of about Jesus truly present in the – together. Saint John Paul II’s call for a “new the youth festival. One of these Eucharist and I found it inspiring, The practical aspect involves evangelization”. is Fr John Harris (OP), who is eye-opening, and simply brilliant. music, workshops, sports, etc. Youth 2000 began in Ireland in a well-known participant in the He spoke with such passion and In previous years, these were 10 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 Looking back on 2019-2020 academic year as strangest in living memory, Head of RE, Brenda Sweeney celebrates how... Loreto Coleraine kept school ethos alive during lockdown with the idea of a Mass celebrated Mass in the Convent Chapel. Fr in isolation and streamed live Raymond has been a tremendous online to the students and their support to the College, with families, including some farewell his words (often quoting the speeches and tributes to wish the Liverpool anthem ‘You’ll Never students well. Walk Alone’), and presence Following much hard work bringing continued support by senior teacher, Mrs Siobhan during these difficult times. McCarry and her colleagues in the The theme of the final Mass was RE Department, the idea became ‘New Horizons’. The Religious reality on Thursday, May 14. Education Department worked Loreto College collaborated with together to ensure that Loreto popular Facebook page, ‘Catholic could still have its traditional close Minute’, and Fr Raymond to the year, even in lockdown. McCullagh was kind enough to The RE Department paid tribute agree to be the celebrant. The to all the students and staff who theme for the Mass was ‘Over the contributed from their homes, Rainbow’. either by reading or through the Staff and pupils alike beautiful instrumental music and contributed remotely to the singing arranged by Mr Brendan many prayers, reflections and McCann, Head of Music. music provided on the day. The The academic year 2019-2020 Loreto ethos was truly brought may have been the strangest to the students at home, when a in living memory, but Loreto video was played in which each College has done everything member of staff helped to recite possible to keep its school our beautiful Loreto Prayer. It community together. Whether was wonderful to see so many this took the form of daily posts NOBODY could ever have McColgan, in year 10, who raised students sign on live as the Mass on the school’s Facebook page, predicted that we would have to money for the Cottage Care was streamed. College principal, tireless interactions on Google close our school indefinitely a few Home, Coleraine, by shaving his Mr Michael James concluded Classroom or rapidly populating weeks before the Easter holidays. head, to a number of staff and the Mass with a speech centred email inboxes, members of the We were looking forward to the pupils creating much needed PPE around the ‘Over The Rainbow’ school community have kept Easter break; our senior students for members of the NHS. theme, in which he paid tribute to together, though apart. The online were busy preparing for their * Many pupils wrote and shared everyone involved with the event Mass was a very fitting way to modules, GCSEs, AS levels and their pandemic journals, detailing and wished the students every bring the school year to a close. A levels; our Year 14s and some how they were coping and what success and happiness. As we begin our new school year, Year 12s were getting ready to say they missed most. After the Mass, the College’s we will endeavour to live by the goodbye to Loreto and we were * Every Thursday, our Facebook ‘Friends of Loreto’ Facebook key values of our founder, Mary looking forward to celebrating page was flooded with thanks and page remained buzzing with Ward; truth, sincerity, justice, joy with them. rainbows as we clapped for our activity, at previously recorded and freedom. These values are Then Coronavirus happened. wonderful NHS. messages from staff members and the foundation of all that we do at Teachers were replaced with The RE Department ensured memorable, heartfelt speeches Loreto College, Coleraine. computer screens. The titles Sir/ that Holy Week and Easter by the Heads of Year 12 and 14, Miss were replaced with the title remained the most important and the Head Boy and Head Girl. GC (Google Classroom), and the liturgical service in the school’s To conclude the celebrations, a traditional school hours of 9 am - calendar. Many pupils created video created by the staff in an 3.15 pm were slightly altered for posters and reflections depicting affectionate tribute to the ‘fun some! the events during Jesus’ final days. and games’ usually enjoyed by Through all of this, the Reflections and videos on the the Loreto Leavers went live: ‘Pass emotional, mental and spiritual ‘Stations of the Cross’ were shared, on the Rainbows’. The traditional well-being of the pupils at Loreto and pupils were encouraged to prayer card given to leavers was College was paramount. And light a candle in their homes on the Serenity Prayer, which was although GC was an excellent Holy Saturday night to remember very appropriate for the year that form of communication for both that, during the darkness, we it had been. teachers and pupils, it was the must look for the light and hope Finally, the academic year 2019- school’s Facebook page (Friends promised in the resurrection. 2020 drew to a close at Loreto of Loreto), under the direction of As May approached, students College with the celebration of an Mrs Little (SLT/Head of English), and staff were encouraged to online ‘End of Year’ Mass via the that kept our school ‘virtually create May Altars in their homes school’s social media platforms. open’ and, more importantly, kept and share their photos. The The College was once again our school ethos alive. response was so great that they very grateful to Fr Raymond Just as we would have done in were collated as a video and shared McCullagh, who celebrated the school, we started each day with a with the school community. virtual prayer at 9 am. The Facebook page allowed Rite of passage all subject teachers, pupils and The annual Leavers’ Mass for parents to communicate and live Year 14 students, with parents and the school’s ethos with the scroll family members present, is a rite of of a finger! passage which is always one of the We have had: high points of the year at Loreto * Acts of kindness: From pupils College; a Mass is also always giving out Easter packages to their held for Year 12 students, some neighbours or cooking for local of whom may not return to take charities, to students creating up sixth form studies in the new entertainment evenings for their school year. The Loreto Senior families. Leadership Team and Religious *Acts of charity – From Conor Education department came up THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 11 Back to school...where faith, hope and St Finlough’s teaching love remains despite all the logistics! assistant awarded by Mary O’Boyle certificate of excellence

BACK to school! There was time – gone. Everything, it would when these three words would seem, has changed. have caused some students and Yet, nothing has changed. staff to shudder at the thought Catholic schools remain of the long year ahead with the communities of faith, hope, love relentless timetable of homework, and profound joy, concerned coursework, teaching schedules with being attentive to the and meetings in the dark of the whole person – spiritual, moral, winter evenings. Memories of intellectual, physical and practical. the long, carefree summer days They are family communities receded with just these three concerned that each student feels words. But not this year! The welcomed, nurtured, and safe in Coronavirus pandemic has school. Yes, nothing has changed. changed all that. Schools will continue to This September, the words ‘Back educate, to nourish the minds and to School’ have been greeted with the souls of the young. They will excitement and gratitude, usually continue to do what they have selfish type of love presented by just the needs of their students, reserved for the appearance of a always done – help their students some media outlets, but a love but to the needs of their local celebrity. In an unprecedented to grow in love of Jesus and of one which recognises the dignity of communities and to the needs of development, staff returned to another. Nothing has changed! every human being; a love which the international communities. school in mid-August. In 38 years’ When a school celebrates is selfless. Schools will continue Nothing has changed! teaching I had never experienced together, albeit in small isolated to reach out and respond to not the like! The early start to the ‘bubbles’ or on Zoom, it will school year gave staff time to be with a joy that is rooted in prepare their premises for the Jesus. Students and staff will influx of young people – with the remember in their prayers those appearance of sanitising stations, who are suffering, those who feel temperature checking areas, overwhelmed by this pandemic, and re-structured classrooms and those who are grieving. becoming very quickly the ‘new Nothing has changed! normal’ school environment. Schools will continue to be Staff chat, at this time of year, places where faith lives, where would have centred on stories Jesus walks alongside all therein, and anecdotes about summer for he says, “I am with you always; adventures with family and yes, to the end of time”. (Matthew friends, but not this year. Light- 28:20) Nothing has changed! Sadie Duffy, St Finlough’s PS hearted memories have been Schools will continue to be THE principal of St Finlough’s excellence for the 2020 Teaching replaced by talk of ‘bubbles’ and places where hope lives, not a PS, Ballykelly, Mrs Suzann Assistant of the Year, and a hand- whether ‘to mask or not to mask.’ hope that is ‘wishful thinking’ McCafferty, has paid tribute to written note from author, Michael Everything has changed. School but a hope stemming from a deep learning support assistant, Sadie Morpurgo. life as we once experienced it, is faith in God’s love for each one of Duffy, on being recognised by She added: “Under normal no more. The hustle and bustle of us, for he says, “I have plans in the Pearson National Teaching circumstances, we would have students and staff moving around mind for you, plans for peace, not Awards. celebrated this achievement with the school building is for many a for disaster, to give you a future Extending a “massive an assembly. relic of past times. The sound of and a hope”. (Jeremiah 28:11) congratulations to our wonderful “Thank you Sadie for all that choirs, the joy of school shows, Nothing has changed! The new school year got off to a special start for St John’s PS, Creggan, learning support assistant”, Mrs you do, this is a wonderful large assembly gatherings of Schools will continue to be when Fr Daniel McFaul, CC Creggan, celebrated a beautiful Mass and a McCafferty explained that Sadie achievement”. young people are, for the moment places where love lives, not the renewal of vocation for school staff and governors, in St Mary’s Church. had been awarded a certificate of Warm welcome at Queen’s within St Columbanus community by Michael Ward the Order was initiated, becoming for setting an agenda and chairing city centre, and annually support Chaplaincy building. Brothers up discussion on the evangelical a full council of Knights. Council the meeting, Secretary, and Mary’s Meals’ backpack scheme from the council also assist the dimension of our apostolate as 19 is significant in that we are the Chancellor. by sending packed backpacks to Chaplaincy by lectoring at Mass committed Catholic students on only university council of knights Meetings take place fortnightly children who do not have school and fulfilling the role of sacristan. campus. throughout Ireland. at the Chaplaincy, where equipment. We also organise Traditionally, the Council Throughout the COVID-19 Council 19 has from the outset each meeting starts with a talks by key Christian speakers organises an annual retreat and pandemic, brothers from CK19 been affiliated with, and operates faith development session or for the University community. In held one at Ards Friary in 2019. In assisted local parishes, for example, from, the Catholic Chaplaincy at catechesis led by our Chaplain, February 2019, we had a panel spite of Covid-19, we forged links lectoring at Holy Mass, assisting Queen’s University, long renowned Fr Dominic McGrattan, followed discussion on the future of the with the Knights of St Columba in the sacristy, and helping local for its support to Catholic students by a discussion. Informed by pro-life movement in Northern at Glasgow University to deliver a parishes to find new ways to from across Northern Ireland. this discussion, we then discuss Ireland. Panellists included Dawn virtual retreat on Zoom, led by Frs stream online via webcam. Some Therefore, our membership is potential apostolic projects/ McAvoy, Andrew Cupples, Patrick Brendan O’Connor and Donncha of the Knights have also helped THE Order of the Knights of diverse and is truly a student- initiatives. Through meetings,Gallagher, Kate Meenagh and O’hAodha, priests of Opus Dei. with ushering and cleaning pews. St Columbanus was founded by led council, in contrast to other the Knights continue to provide Sarah Haire. We raised over £700 The retreat, delivered over three With term time fast approaching, Canon James K O’Neill in Belfast, councils. a safe space for men to talk about for pro-life charities, with those in days, consisted of Holy Mass and a we are keen to expand our reach in 1915. Initially set up as a mutual Currently, we have a membership their faith on an increasingly attendance encouraged to intensify series of meditations and doctrinal and gain new members. We want benefit society for working class of between 12-15 ‘knights’, with secular campus. We can, therefore, their efforts to contribute to a life talks. We concluded each evening to help produce articulate young Catholics, it has developed into a members from Derry, Armagh, support each other by offering enriching culture. with Adoration, Benediction and men. If faith plays a part in your life fraternal benefit society providing Dromore, Down & Connor and friendship and an opportunity to We have also raised funds for Compline. The doctrinal talks as a young Catholic male and you charitable services to all areas of dioceses. The age profile discuss matters with like-minded the homeless with a ‘sleepout’ in and meditations encouraged are coming to university in Belfast, the Irish church and community. It of our council ranges from first individuals. aid of Shelter NI. Other apostolic reflection on our daily lives and the then contact Michael at council19. is fitting that the vision of Canon year students at 18 to postgraduate Buoyed by our aims of charity, initiatives organised included extent to which we identify with [email protected] and check out our O’Neill continues in Belfast to students at 25. Leadership is unity and fraternity, we support street evangelisation, Holyland Christ in our studies, work and social media at facebook - https:// this day, at Queen’s University. In divided into offices including others by feeding the homeless clean-up post St Patrick’s Day, and recreation. The retreat concluded www.facebook.com/KSCQueens November 2019, the Council 19 of Grand Knight, who is responsible with stew throughout Belfast maintenance and additions to the with a doctrinal talk and follow- & Instagram- @kscqueens 12 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 A tribute to an outstanding leader - Marie Lindsay by St Mary’s Derry School Community

THE word guardian in the the ethos of the Sisters of Mercy concerned with wider society and context of an angel is thought to has been fostered naturally and its impact on young people, Marie protect and guide a person, group evidently within the school and embraced the Shared Education or nation. How many times have Marie’s legacy is that this ethos programme aimed at overcoming we asked our guardian angel to is left in safe hands. Protecting religious and cultural divisions look after such and such or stay and guiding our pupils, staff and in Northern Ireland. This was close to so and so? It was and parents remain at the heart of St an extension to Marie’s caring, remains a source of great comfort Mary’s College and the guardian pastoral ethos. for many to have that presence of this ethos in recent years has Marie values every single around them, especially in times been Mrs Lindsay. She, of course, child, recognising that everyone of real need. will be the last to recognise this. has unique skills and talents. At St Mary’s College, it is Marie began her teaching She worked endlessly to ensure arguably the most commonly career in 1985, joining the staff that they received the best said word daily at our assemblies, of St Mary’s College as a Science quality education. This did as it is found in the Angel of teacher. She was appointed not go unnoticed by the wider God prayer and our beautiful principal in 2006, having secured educational community. Bishop school prayer. But why begin Specialist School status for of Derry, Donal McKeown with this theme in the context of Science, one of two schools in acknowledges that Marie has our recently announced retired Northern Ireland. This led to a been “a superb role model for principal, Mrs Marie Lindsay? dramatic increase in the number young women earning the school The school community has of girls following STEM pathways the reputation for outstanding struggled, certainly in terms of and accessing a range of courses pastoral and academic words, to capture the impact she allied to the medical profession. achievements.” Former colleague, Mrs Lindsay surrounded by her pupils and staff after winning ‘Principal of the Year, Foyle Blackboard Awards’. had on our school. In 2010, Marie oversaw the friend and current principal of Much has been written about relocation of St Mary’s to a St Cecilia’s College Derry, Mrs school does.” This influence giving them a chance to make a education and, in the words Mrs Lindsay’s outstanding ‘State of the Art - High Tech’ Martine Mulhern recognises that extends across the Atlantic real difference to themselves, their of one parent: “Marie Lindsay pastoral care for each and every campus. In 2014, St Mary’s was Marie has a special gift, “The gift Ocean, as Victoria Graff, Loyola families and their communities. provided many opportunities for one of us; her determined effort honoured to be recognised as to nurture talent, whether it is that Marymount University, LA As a visionary educator, my daughter, Lauren during her to ensure every child got the same a Microsoft Showcase School of a child or an adult, to enable recognised that “Marie was at Marie has inspired generations time at St Mary’s College. Lauren chance; and her focus on academic and, in 2018, became a Digital them to reach their full potential”. the forefront of cross community of young women in the City availed of St Mary’s unique ‘Music excellence for everyone. All this Schoolhouse in recognition of relations and shared Education of Derry and beyond. She Promise’, a program that provides and much more is unequivocally the school’s engagement in digital Strong faith programmes in the North.” dedicated her teaching career to free musical tuition for students true. However, when you distil all transformation. Over the past 14 There is no doubt that Marie’s Marie’s indisputable track record raising standards and removing who show talent in that area. This of this; when you reflect on what years, Marie’s leadership is evident strong faith, guided by Christian of success in both turning strategy the barriers that girls faced in access to a musical instrument she has brought to the school in the excellent examination principles, inspired her to involve into action and bringing about education and employment. enabled Lauren to join the over in so many ways; when you see performance that her students the young people of our city in continuous improvement, won When the news broke of Marie’s 100 strong school orchestra that for yourself the impact she has have achieved. St Mary’s is widely Shared Education programmes her the title of Principal of the retirement, the people closest to is unique compared to other Marie’s heart, the people she was a secondary schools in the City. guardian to, her precious students “Marie led a staff that had high shared their tributes and words of expectations for Lauren and gratitude to their principal Mrs she thrived at St Mary’s. She is Lindsay. currently studying Biomedical Catriona Walsh, Deputy Engineering at the University Head Girl 2019-2020, shares of Ulster. Mrs Lindsay is a kind her educational experience: “I and compassionate leader, who could never have imagined the nurtures each one of her students. opportunities that would come She and her staff empowered my way as I entered St Mary’s as Lauren to believe in herself and a shy Year 8 pupil. I have featured follow her dreams.” on BBC Newsnight and had an It is with great sadness that we article published in the Guardian say farewell to Mrs Lindsay as our about Brexit. I wrote a blog about principal, but we are confident in challenging the divide and poverty the knowledge that she will always affecting girls, and from this I was be supporting and praying for our invited to an interview on BBC school community. Marie and her Newsline and Radio 4. In January husband, Collie, were overjoyed 2018, I was appointed by INTO when they became first time Film London as a young reporter. grandparents during lockdown I was fortunate to give a TED X to four adorable babies, two sets Women talk. My talk was about of twins, born to their daughters, ‘Learning to be a ‘Girl’ and also a Sarah and Kate. Talk like TED talk on the topic of As a school community, we Dyslexia. All of this is down to the wish Marie and her family many Mrs Lindsay photographed after her induction. Mrs Lindsay presenting wards to pupils at St Mary’s Senior Prize giving. support and encouragement from blessings in the years ahead. Our Mrs Lindsay and all my teachers.” Lady, Guardian of St Mary’s, had on the school community, recognised as one of the most that were designed to narrow the Year 2016 at the Foyle Blackboard The parent community trusted pray and keep safe our amazing only one word remains and it is, successful all ability schools in the cultural divide and reach mutual Awards. Her application of Marie with their daughters’ principal and her family”. indeed, guardian. region. understanding of respect and applying business models to Mrs Lindsay has been the The school has been the focus of tolerance. In this work Marie education has led to many Quality personification of a guardian as numerous best practice studies by collaborated very closely with Assurance Awards, culminating leader of our school. While we the UK Department of Education Tony Gallagher, Professor of in Marie’s enrolment into the prayed daily for our guardian to and also by cross-border ‘all Education, Queen’s University, EFQM Business Excellence Hall look after us, she was our guardian island’ studies, most notable Belfast, who paid tribute to this of Fame in 2018. living amongst us. As part of the the 2015 study of St Mary’s inspiring guardian by noting Over the years, she has gained Mercy Tradition, the sisters were approach to improving Literacy. that “In the most challenging of the trust and respect of her rightly regarded as guardians, This outstanding journey of circumstances, Marie has built colleagues, peers, pupils and their serving and protecting the most success is underpinned by the an enormous strong and resilient parents. But, more importantly, vulnerable. They were mother- innovative ways in which Marie school community. With a clear she has made an outstanding like figures, unselfishly devoting engaged pupils, involved parents sense of purpose and direction, contribution to the community, unlocking the potential in their time to assist anyone in need. and empowered staff in driving and an ethos which sets a moral Mrs Marie Lindsay with former St Mary’s College principal’s, Sister Assumpta thousands of young women and Through the work of Mrs Lindsay, continuous improvement. Always compass at the heart of all the and Dame Geraldine Keegan. THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 13 Greencastle’s Mickey Bradley Memorial Walk raises £21,000 for Trocaire by Maria Bradley his family. He was the love of my Mickey’s wonderful life and the Instrumental Group, and Sinead life and we had just celebrated amazing legacy he had left behind. Donnelly and Ciara Fox, who our 40th wedding anniversary. As he was always quietly very braved the inclement weather to We had many plans to mark this generous to those in need and, provide some beautiful singing milestone in our lives with family, as we had been planning to visit and music at various stages of the neighbours and friends but, sadly, an underdeveloped country, we walk. this was not to be as God had eventually decided to organise a We would also like to express other plans. fundraising walk in his memory our sincere thanks to Fr Eddie Mickey was a very well known and in aid of Trocaire. for undertaking the challenge and respected farmer and sheep We were very honoured that of the walk and for making it shearer, who was renowned our parish priest and Diocesan possible, with everyone’s support, for his great humour and art of Trocaire representative, Fr Eddie to honour Mickey’s life during storytelling. His presence could Gallagher agreed to undertake this very difficult time. We have always bring a smile to people’s the 12-mile sponsored Memorial been overwhelmed by people’s The late Mickey Bradley, Greencastle, faces and his positive attitude to Walk which was held on Sunday, generosity and wish to thank Co Tyrone. life often gave encouragement to June 28, and which raised each and every one of you for others. almost £21,000. Fr Eddie was your contributions in memory of LIKE many families affected His sudden passing devastated accompanied by family members Mickey and in aid of Trocaire. by cancer, our lives were turned not only us, his family, but on the route, starting off at St All the money raised will help upside down when Mickey was Photograph courtesy of The Ulster Herald. everyone who knew him. While Patrick’s Church, Greencastle, Trocaire to continue its life saving diagnosed as being terminally ill. we struggled to come to terms and going via our home to Our work of providing basic necessities Unfortunately, his time was very with his loss, we realised that he Lady Of The Wayside Church, for those in developing countries. limited and as we look back on would want the memories of him Broughderg, and then back to So many people have said that those few short weeks between to be happy ones, filled with the Greencastle. Trocaire has taken on an extra his diagnosis and his death on love and laughter of the many Despite the stormy conditions special meaning for them because, September 14, 2018, we never good times which we were blessed on the day of the walk, the spirits as well as what it stands for, it also cease to be amazed at his faith to be able to share with so many of those taking part, and all who brings to mind the many fond and the courage and dignity with people. came out to support them, were and happy memories they have which he bore his illness and Because of the restrictions not dampened. We are very of Mickey and, of course, the resigned himself to God’s Will. imposed by the Covid-19 grateful to you all and extend our Memorial Walk. Your kindness A devoted husband, father and regulations, we were very limited thanks to the Greencastle Scor and generosity will never be grandfather, Mickey’s life first in what we could do to celebrate Ballad Group, Greencastle Scor forgotten. and foremost centred around

Photograph courtesy of The Ulster Herald. Lovely lockdown surprise for Fr Crilly as parishioners mark his 80th birthday THE parishioners of Castlefinn, priesthood on June 20. Commenting on the cessation Colette went on to note that, for in Co Donegal, had a lovely “He has guided, directed of the celebration of public Mass the six weeks prior, Fr Oliver, with surprise for their much-loved and instructed us in all things on Friday, March 13, due to the the help of a few parishioners, had and appreciated priest, Fr Oliver spiritual, but we quickly realised pandemic, Colette said: “Fr Crilly, been able to celebrate his daily Crilly on the occasion of his 80th his expertise in other areas as an with his many health issues, was in Mass at 11am on the St Mary’s birthday. author and proof reader, an Irish the vulnerable category and hasn’t Castlefinn Youtube channel from After celebrating the Sunday Scholar, his computer skills and celebrated a public Mass until last the Parochial House. morning Mass in St Mary’s how ‘Google’ was a great friend of night. Now I must say, I was quite “This expanded his online Church, Fr Oliver emerged his!” surprised at how well he cocooned presence to a whole new from the sacristy to find family Commenting on how Fr Oliver during this time, but I know some congregation that he hadn’t members and friends waiting for carries out his duties as a priest parishioners kept in contact with foreseen when he began working him outside, and parishioners, “with such humility, kindness him on a daily basis and, of course, in the publishing world in Veritas Matt McGranagh and Liam and generosity”, Colette added: Larry and Margaret were a great many years ago,” remarked Colette, Harkin playing ‘Happy Birthday’. “He always preaches a wee, and support to him during this time concluding with a prayer for the During the Mass, Colette Carlin, sometimes not so wee, sermon even though they could not enter birthday boy, “May happiness and of the Parish Pastoral Council, (the honours course!) and he his house. love encircle this day, and every took the opportunity when she usually relates his own experience “Unfortunately, he was unable blessing from heaven come your was on the altar reading a post of places he has visited, books he to apply himself to his and way. May the warmth of your Communion reflection about the has read and translations that David’s favourite pastime of stone loved ones lift your heart, and your pandemic, to also read a reflection have not been edited correctly in carving during this time, but we cup overflows with the love they she had penned about Fr Oliver’s his opinion, as he interprets the are delighted that just before the impart. May fond memories bring time in Castlefinn. readings of the day. lockdown he presented one of his you great joy and peace, and hope Recalling the news, back in “His huge interest in ancient stone carvings to the Church here fill your sails with the promise you September 2015, that a retired Irish Crosses and especially the and it is placed on left hand side, seek. But most of all, may you truly priest was coming to St Mary’s, Crucifixion get a wee just inside St Anthony’s Chapel”. know how you’re treasured and Castlefinn, Colette remarked:mention regularly. His sermons She added: “We are all well loved wherever you go” “Fr Oliver Crilly arrived and make us more aware of our acquainted with Fr Crilly’s skills Young parishioner, Adam he was everything but retired. responsibility for our actions and in the publishing world, with his Doherty had the honour of He immersed himself in the life decisions to follow God’s teachings numerous books and, indeed, his presenting Fr Oliver with a card of our parish, all but the office in our everyday living and we monthly contribution to the Irish wishing him a special time on his work and the administration. He always go away refreshed after page in ‘The Net’, the Diocesan 80th birthday, on behalf of the recently celebrated 55 years in the each Mass that he celebrates”. newspaper.” parish. 14 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 Remembering Bishop Francis Lagan and his warm, gentle spirit the qualities he had demonstrated Described by his family as “very in the school to his role as bishop. much a people-person”, who “He remembered his days loved young people and always in Carndonagh warmly and kept up-to-date regarding his was always welcomed back to nephews and nieces, as well as Inishowen when he returned for great nephews and nieces, Bishop Confirmation in the parishes,” Francis knew the youngest as well added Mr Fiorentini, expressing as the eldest and he was equally appreciation for his service to the appreciated by them. This was school and his pastoral work in reflected in their staying with him the Diocese. 24/7 during his last days, when his The principal of Holy Cross health deteriorated further as a College, in Melmount, Strabane, result of throat cancer diagnosed Mrs Clare Bradley, highlighted his three years ago. His warm, friendly nature The Late Bishop Francis Lagan great interest and involvement in the development of the new Holy endeared him to many over the Cross building: “Before a stone years, and while restrictions due WHEN word spread around was laid in the ground of the to Covid-19 prevented large about the death of Bishop Francis new Holy Cross building, Bishop gatherings of people from turning Lagan, retired Auxiliary Bishop of Francis was actively involved as out to pay their last respects at the Derry, in the early hours of June Chair of the Board of Governors removal of his remains from his 9, the main memory that people in driving the project forward. He Strabane home to the Church of recalled of the Maghera native met with architects, contractors, the Immaculate Conception, and was his warm, gentle spirit, and ministers etc, all in an effort to his Requiem Mass the following this has been especially reflected ensure that the building stayed on day, many turned out to stand in tributes paid to him by his track.” in tribute to him as the funeral family and schools he had been She added that he had been “a cortege made its way from involved with over the years. fervent supporter of equality for Strabane to his final resting place passed on their strong Catholic Nurturing in Strabane in 1977. In 1982, he While he loved talking to people all and was delighted when the back home in Glen, Maghera. faith to their children. Reflecting on his brother’s became the Administrator of St of all ages, he had a particular new building opened as an all- As they travelled behind the Sharing their memories with decision to enter the seminary Mary’s, Creggan, and six years interest in young people and ability school in 2010”. hearse for his last journey over ‘The Net’, Bishop Francis’ brother, at Maynooth as an 18-year-old, later he was appointed Auxiliary greatly enjoyed his time teaching, Mrs Bradley went on to point the Glenshane, Bishop Francis’ Brian and sister, Mary, recalled Brian said that as well as the Bishop in the Derry Diocese; a firstly in St Columb’s College, out that even after he retired as surviving siblings, Brian, Mary that the Rosary was always nurturing of his faith in their post he held until his retirement Derry, where he taught French Chair, Bishop Francis was a loyal, (Cassidy) and Tillie (McVey) said in their home when they prayerful home, Bishop Francis in May 2010. and Religious Education for pastoral supporter of Holy Cross recalled the days he had helped were growing up, with Brian had often spoke of the wonderful While Bishop Francis loved the three years after his ordination and, before his illness, regularly to work the turf on this scenic particularly recalling his father’s example of Mgr Lawrence areas and the people he served to the priesthood in June 1960, visited and took an interest in how mountain, as well as gather great devotion to prayer: “After Hegarty, who had been their over the years, there was nowhere and then at Carndonagh College, the College was progressing. potatoes and do other chores on a day working on the farm, he parish priest. quite like home and he returned which later became known as “He attended prize-givings and the family farm. would go out the back and sit and He started at St Patrick’s College, regularly to visit family and Carndonagh Community School. was genuinely pleased to see the The family were touched by pray the Rosary”. Maynooth in September 1953, neighbours. Paying tribute to his first French children doing well. He liked to the large turnout of friends and The Lagan children went to the along with Fr Seamus O’Connell, “He was a home bird and loved teacher, the current principal mix with staff and students, and neighbours who awaited their local Lisnamuck Primary School, Fr John Doherty and Fr Michael visiting people,” said his sister, of Carndonagh Community was always good humoured and arrival on the other side of the with John, Brian and Francis Collins. He had a love of languages Mary, who recalled that it was College, Paul Fiorentini said: kind,” she said, adding that he Glenshane, where the cortege going on to board at St Columb’s and studied French while in their Aunt Josephine who bought “I remember him very fondly will be remembered as “a deeply turned off to follow the route to College, where they shared the seminary, and enjoyed a him his first car. as he was always friendly and spiritual friend of Holy Cross, and St Patrick’s Church via Fivemile the one room, returning home wonderful summer practising She added: “He loved taking considerate, and I must have been a warm and gentle man”. Straight and stopped for a short for Easter, Christmas and the speaking the language amongst people out for drives in his wee inspired by him as I did end up as And, when he travelled to time at the top of the lane leading summer months. the Basque people. red car, especially our mother. He a French teacher.” Maynooth for meetings of the to the Lagan homestead, where Brian recalled Francis Following his ordination on June was very close to her. He never He went on to recall that Bishop Bishops’ Conference, he was Bishop Francis had grown up. being very active and a good 19, 1960, he went on to share his lost touch with home and made a Lagan had always kept in touch known to enjoy sitting with the Born in 1934, he was the second footballer, winning a medal in love for the French language with point of visiting people who had with the school and maintained seminarians to eat and have a youngest in a family of four boys an intermediate championship the students he taught in Derry experienced deaths or tragedies in contact with those he had worked chat, such was his interest in the and three girls born to Frank game. and Carndonagh, before being their family.” with, noting that he brought all younger generation. and Roisin (nee McKaigue), who appointed to minister as curate He also enjoyed travels further

Bishop Francis with his nephew, Francis Lagan and great-nephew, Frank Lagan, the fourth, on his christening day. THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 15 afield, especially visiting family in years, he had to cope with many America and going to Rome. changes and challenges. “On one of the occasions he met “Maynooth could not know in Pope John Paul II in Rome, he advance about the effects of the received a pair of Rosary beads Second Vatican Council or the which were very dear to him,” terrible reality of the Troubles recalled Mary. or the many sad stories that Family was also very dear to would emerge about the Church, Bishop Lagan. He was delighted locally and internationally. to be the celebrant at special We have all had to cope with Masses within the family, such as the reality that we stumbled weddings and anniversaries, and through the difficulties, often loved bringing gifts to celebrate making mistakes, misreading the birth of new arrivals. The situations, acting or failing to act last baptism he celebrated within appropriately. Though he did not Creggan grotto and prayer the family was that of baby talk to me about that, I do know Frank Lagan the fourth, who that he was a conscientious man was born to his nephew, Francis who would have acknowledged and wife, Louise on October 31, his mistakes and humbly asked stone blessed in memory of 2018...which happened to be his for forgiveness”. birthday as well! Bishop Donal went on to recall Sorry that they didn’t get to turning to Bishop Francis for celebrate the 60th anniversary guidance and advice when he Bishop Francis of his priesthood with him, on first came to the Derry Diocese June 19, Bishop Lagan’s family in 2014: “Suffice to say that he was by Fr Joe Gormley, PP Creggan comfort themselves in knowing wise and insightful. He was always BISHOP Francis Lagan served this parish. In addition, he had Daniel, who returned here for The parishioners who gathered that having his Requiem Mass kindly and appreciative, never in the parish of St Mary’s Creggan a grotto built in honour of Our a longer term appointment in were particularly delighted to celebrated during the Covid-19 intrusive”. as administrator from 1982- Lady of Lourdes, which, since September 2019, together with welcome members of the Lagan lockdown restrictions, would He added: “He was a pastoral 1988. It was from here that he was 1988, has been a place where a group of incredible volunteers, family, who had travelled from have “suited him to a tee”, as he man who wore his office lightly. called to be Auxiliary Bishop of parishioners would come to pray. began to refresh the grotto anew. South Derry and beyond. was a “no-fuss person”. He was aware that all he could do this Diocese. The then Fr Francis It was important, he believed, to This was achieved with new Fr Daniel blessed the grotto This was confirmed by Bishop was his best – and leave the rest served in the Creggan during create a prayer space in Creggan flowers, lighting, cleaning and and a prayer stone, which bears a Donal McKeown, during his to God. It is no surprise that the difficult times, as ‘The Troubles’ where people could encounter repairing the fountain. request to pray for Bishop Francis. homily at the Requiem Mass, Episcopal motto which he chose were at their height. God’s love by hope in Jesus, When the first renewal work That would have been Bishop when he shared that Bishop in 1988 was ‘Jesus Christus Spes He had a simple but deep vision through the intercession of Mary, was completed six years ago, Fr Francis’ own request of us. It also Francis’ wish was to “Keep the Nostra’ (Jesus Christ our Hope)”. for the church and grounds, Our Lady and Mother. Daniel had asked Bishop Francis contains his Episcopal Coat of Mass simple”. Highlighting that Bishop which was to make it a place Fr Daniel McFaul, who is to rededicate and bless the grotto Arms and motto “Christus Jesus “For Bishop Francis, the Francis had died in the early hours where people could come and currently serving in the parish, on August 15, 2014, which he was Spes Nostra” (Jesus Christ Our restrictions imposed by Covid of the Feast of St Columba and pray. The church was to be an served here briefly in the summer delighted to do. So, it was felt that Hope). have been ideal in enabling him was being buried on the Feast of oasis where people could find of 2014, and set about the renewal it would surely be appropriate to May Fr Francis, who strove to to be buried with little fuss,” said St Barnabas, whose name means Jesus, our hope, in midst of pain of the grotto and its surrounds rededicate the grotto on August bring hope in Jesus to the people Bishop Donal, adding: “In life and ‘son of encouragement’, Bishop and trial. through cleaning, landscaping 15, 2020, remembering Bishop of Creggan, now experience the in death, he was a simple man”. Donal remarked: “Bishop Francis The beautiful stain glass and gardening. Francis. fullness of that hope through Noting that Bishop Francis was a man who could claim to be window in the church of ‘The During the Covid-19 lockdown, This rededication took place the grace and mercy of Jesus in had been approaching his 60th a descendant of both”. Mother and Child’ was installed the grotto began to look like it after the Sunday Vigil Mass on Heaven. anniversary of priesthood, He added: “He wished to have in Fr Lagan’s time serving in needed another renewal. So, Fr Saturday evening, August 15. Bishop Donal remarked: “That this funeral Mass in Strabane, generation had entered Maynooth where he had lived for over 35 when the Church was shaped in a years. But he wanted to be buried particular mould. He was part of a in his native soil of Maghera. world where entering seminaries, He was deeply rooted in the life monasteries and convents was of that community and of its widely accepted and encouraged. strong cultural traditions. Those We see in his classmates just how who know their roots are well many of the best young people equipped to spread their wings”. heard Christ’s call to minister in his name. And in the intervening

Lagan family 1955 - back l-r, Brian, James, Tillie, Francis and John, and front l-r, Roisin (mother), Sr Maria Goretti, Frank (father) and Mary 16 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 God’s Friends — lost in translation — by Fr Oliver Crilly tenth century, a great movement less off-putting than ‘Culdees’. The themes of the Céilí Dé of spiritual renewal — the Céilí ‘Companions of God’ is close were not peripheral devotions, Dé movement — surged through in meaning though without the but represented a renewed the Irish Church, accompanied by sense of total commitment. I commitment to the core elements an energy and a creativity which thought of the words of St Thomas of the Church’s life, particularly left its mark in liturgy, in poetry, More at his execution: ‘I die the as exemplified in the early Irish in great manuscript illumination, king’s good servant, but God’s Church: in scholarship and in amazing first’. ‘God’s First’ might have had a sculptured scripture crosses. The resonance before Donald Trump, 1. The Eucharist name of that renewal movement but I’m afraid ‘America First’ has The Mass is central to the life is the Céilí Dé movement. Yet stolen a march. I wondered about of the Church. It is interesting the majority of Irish people, even ‘God’s Own’, but it sounded more that in the Stowe Missal, from Paddy McElroy’s Monstrance. A page from the Book of Kells. the most dedicated and devout like the name of a football club St Maelruain’s monastery in Irish people, are not really aware than of a spiritual fraternity. Tallaght, we find an essay, in the Díseart Diarmada (Castledermot, Blackbird over Belfast Lough, and of that movement. Why is it that So, I’m open to suggestions for vernacular — in Old Irish — on Co Kildare), and also in other Me and Pangur Bán my Cat, are Icon of St Safan, by Donegal artist, the name Céilí Dé does not bring a short punchy translation for the Mass and the Eucharist. One monasteries which came under internationally known. Rosemary McCarron. to mind resonances of spiritual ‘Céilí Dé’ which might combine striking phrase describes the Mass their influence, including Clonmacnois and the Columban 5. Community FR Ciarán Devlin, author of insight or of creative energy? meaning with rhythm and as ‘coinne na hEaglaise neamhaí monasteries of Moone and Iona. The Céilí Dé liked to live in a The Making of Medieval Derry, I think part of the fault lies with character. In the meantime, I’m agus talúnda’ — the meeting small, closely knit community: researched the saints associated translation. As with many of our using ‘God’s Friends’, as a kind of place of the heavenly and earthly 4. Díseart ‘oentú Maelruain’ for example (the with each parish in the Diocese. place names and even family standby. Church. The term Díseart appears in Unity or Fraternity of Maelruain) In Urney and Castlefinn, he drew names, the reality of what was place names all over Ireland, like referred to St Maelruain and his attention to St Safan of Urney, expressed in the Finding our roots 2. Scripture Díseart Diarmada, and Díseart original 12 disciples. The sense a saint of national significance, didn’t travel well into English. The Céilí Dé sought to renew The love of the Scriptures stands Mhártain (, South of the Church as community is whose name Fr Willie Rafferty The early translators of ‘Céilí Dé’ the spirituality of the early Irish out as one of the marks of the did grievous bodily harm to that Church, to reach back and re- early Irish Church, and of the Derry). It comes from the Latin evident in the works of art. then gave to a new school, St ‘desertum’ and refers to a deserted Safan’s, just a bit up the road great spiritual tradition by coining connect with the central themes Céilí Dé renewal. It was expressed place, rather than a sandy desert. 6. The Saints from the Doneyloop church. St an Anglicization: they referred to of that spirituality. That could be in scholarship, in the liturgy, and It means a remote place, by a river, The Céilí Dé had a great sense of Safan was one of the inspirational the Céilí Dé as ‘Culdees’, which of a description of our search this uniquely in the great illuminated in the forest, on the mountain the Communion of Saints — the leaders of a movement of spiritual course had no meaning and gave coming year, as we reach back manuscripts, like the Book of or on a deserted shore, where unity of the heavenly and earthly renewal in the Irish Church. the impression that they were over 1500 years to connect with Durrow and the Book of Kells, a person can withdraw to be in Church. People were aware of Strangely, in recent centuries, this referring to some weird sect. the legacy of St Columba. and in the great Scripture Crosses. communion with God in the gathering among the angels and extraordinary movement, the It is not easy to find an The Céilí Dé didn’t invent this setting of nature. saints when they came to celebrate Céilí Dé, like St Safan herself, had English translation which will spirituality. They inherited it. It 3. Prayer The awareness of nature, and Mass. They would have a litany fallen below the radar as if it had convey the meaning of Céilí was the spirituality of the early Prayer has always been central God’s presence in creation, of the saints, or of the apostles, never existed. Dé and retain some of the Irish Church, going back to to every movement of spiritual rhythm and succinctness of the Patrick, Brigid and Columba. renewal in the Church, and it was overflowed for the Céilí Dé into early on in the Mass. There are extraordinary poetry. Poems The Céilí Dé original. ‘Spouses’ captures the The achievement of the Céilí Dé central to the life of the Céilí Dé. litanies like this e.g. in the Stowe like The Scribe in the Woods Missal and in the Martyrology of For nearly two centuries, from commitment suggested by the was to reclaim that heritage of There was a renewal of prayer in (translated into an English Oengus, which include the name halfway through the eighth Irish, but in terms of familiar spirituality, to renew it, and to put the monasteries, both in the Céilí poem by Seamus Heaney), The of St Safan of Urney. century into the first quarter of the usage it is only marginally words on it. Dé monasteries like Tallaght, Ministering in times of tragedy IN the aftermath of the terrible knows that he must “avoid glib and Resurrection says that life is and parcel of the family life of the tragedy that unfolded for Moville words or phrases”, Bishop Donal not without meaning or value. Mullans. wife and mother, Geraldine said: “The first thing that the And that Jesus hangs on our Cross “He wants us to ask ourselves: Mullan, as the summer of 2020 bereaved need is a sense that with us – even when we feel like are we the people St Paul had in drew to a close with the heart- their pain is being taken seriously. saying, ‘My God, my God, why mind – people who are certain, breaking loss of her husband And an outsider can never know have you forsaken me’?” unlike those ‘who have no hope’- and children, Bishop Donal what mixture of feelings and In his homily at the Requiem people who believe in Jesus as our reflects on ministering to such an thoughts are running through a Mass for John, Tomás and Amelia, risen Lord and Saviour, and who unspeakable anguish as that felt person’s mind. When the pain is Moville parish priest, Fr Pat believe in our own resurrection by the families and friends of John acknowledged, it is then possible O’Hagan, drew attention to the from the dead into everlasting life and young Tomás and Amelia. to help the family to pick scripture readings that had been “carefully in Heaven? “The terrible loss of John, Tomás readings that speak to them and chosen, to reflect at least some “He wants us to reflect on the and Amelia Mullan, and the to their situation. And the Gospels of the things that are uppermost value and importance of faith – anguish of Geraldine touched are rich in words that address pain in our minds and hearts today how valuable and important it everybody,” he said, recalling and loss. – family life and love; faith, is to us each and every day, and how “the hush over Moville on “Secondly, the Liturgy has an particularly in the face of tragedy, particularly at a time like this. the day of the funeral reflected integrity of its own. There is a and some of the questions we all How faith shapes and influences the fact that most people are lost wide selection of prayers and a have in the aftermath of ...events everything we say and do, for words in the face of such an set of familiar gestures that have that have overwhelmed us and especially our interactions with The Mullan Family unimaginable tragedy. In a matter their own power. The Liturgy is left us reeling with a sense of one another, at work and at play, of a few seconds, someone’s life the fruit of distilled wisdom over shock and unbelief, and with a in the home and outside of it. He is, that God is cruel, heartless simply, as He said on so many can be changed forever. And the course of centuries. Our use of sadness and grief that’s palpable wants us to be certain, and to use and unfeeling”, Fr Pat remarked: occasions, ‘Do not be afraid. Only everyone can feel the fragility of words can be very powerful – but, here in this parish community, our faith to ‘comfort one another’.” “That’s not the God I believe in”. have faith.’ their own lives”. in the depths of a tragedy, there and nowhere more so than in the “The Connaughtons and the He added: “I believe in the “I believe in the Holy Spirit...I He added: “As we have seen are some things that words alone heart of Geraldine Mullan”. Mullans are families of faith, God of love and mercy. I believe believe that the Holy Spirit comes so often, communities come cannot express. And in the face Confident of Jesus’ presence coming from places of faith, in a God who cares for each and to help us in our weakness; together to provide support and of terrible loss, silence can speak amongst them, Fr Pat said: “He homes of faith and prayer,” noted every one of us. I believe that, as prays in and through us when love to a bereaved family. And powerfully. wants us to reflect for a moment Fr Pat, mentioning how John, St Paul tells us, nothing can come we cannot pray for ourselves, or that loyalty, that ‘social capital’ is “Thirdly, Jesus does not explain on the importance of family life – Tomás, Amelia and Geraldine had between us and the love of God cannot find the words to express an invaluable treasure. But there is away any tragedy. But the Cross the joys and sorrows, the ups and worshipped regularly together for us. I believe that God loves how we’re feeling”. huge pressure on the priest to say speaks into the loss. The message downs, the times when we need to at Mass in Moville’s St Pius X the poor and the needy, the sick “St Paul tells us in the first Letter something, to speak some Gospel at the foot of the Cross on Good forgive or ask for forgiveness. Church. and the sorrowful, the bereaved to the Corinthians that there message into the mass of pain. It Friday was not that the death of “But, above all, today, He wants Commenting that many have and the broken hearted. I believe are three things that last – faith, is not the job of the doctor or the Jesus was not real and horrible. us to think about the love we find drifted away from faith nowadays, in God! hope and love,” concluded Fr Pat, paramedic to play that role. It is The message was that, behind only within the circle of our own Fr Pat referred to those who “I believe in Jesus Christ as my saying: “We need all three today. the priest who will be the official every awful loss, there is One who family – the love of a husband “come to God only when they risen Lord and Saviour. I believe Geraldine and her family will speaker at the funeral service and can make sense of the very real and wife, the love of parents and need His presence or help in their that He loves me. And He loves need them all as times goes on. his words can play an important pain. children, and the love of siblings lives”, to those who would “want you too...I believe that, when And so, we ask Almighty God to r o l e”. “For the secular world, death for one another – the things we’ve to use an occasion like this to tell He would wipe away His tears, mend the hearts that are broken...” Going on to note that a priest mocks our plans. But Jesus’ Cross seen and know to have been part us that there is no God; or, if there and our tears too, He might say, THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 17 Eangach Ár nDúchas Cóineartú Foclóir Nua

Leagan na lámh ar chloigeann na n-óg, Príomh-eagarthóir. chéad eagrán den fhoclóir cáiliúil urnaí an Easpaig os a gcionn. Béarla, ‘The Oxford English Greim ag an Eaglais dúinn ar a mbuanna, Rugadh agus tógadh Pádraig i Dictionary’, a chríochnú, agus bhí is dóchas as an am atá romhainn. nDoire. Chaith an teaghlach cuid slua ag obair air, idir eagarthóirí mhór ama fá Ghaeltacht Thír agus na céadta cúntóirí. Rinne Baisteadh na páistí in aineolas orthu. Chonaill. Tá Pádraig, a bhean Pádraig Ó Duinnín éacht nach Comhneartaítear iad ina mbaill stuama Susan, agus a gclann ina gcónaí bhfuil tuigbheáil air nuair a chuir den Eaglais a mbeidh siad freagrach aisti anois i gceantar Shliocht Néill i sé a fhoclóir mór le chéile. Nuair sna blianta níos faide anonn. nDeisceart Dhoire. Tá baint acu leis a foilsíodh é in 1927 ag an Irish an fhoireann cáiliúil camógaíochta, Texts Society, b’iad Douglas Hyde, Bradán feasa na hEaglaise thú feasta, le Féile Charn Tóchair, agus leis Robin Flower, Eleanor Hull agus agus tú ag snámh in aghaidh an easa, na scoileanna Gaeilge: Tír Chiana T.D. Fitzgerald a shínigh an focal ag filleadh ar fhoinse do eagna agus Gaelcholáiste Dhoire. buíochais i dtús an leabhair. is an Spiorad mar eala ar do linn ag snámh. Rud amháin fá mhuintir Uí Cé go bhfuil áiseanna ag foireann (Brúitíní Creidimh. Mhianáin: tá fuinneamh iontu! an Fhoclóra anois, ó thaobh na Buíochas le Foilseacháin Ábhair Bhí sin a dhíth ar Phádraig nuair a teicneolaíochta de go háirithe, Spioradálta.) chuaigh sé i mbun na foclóireachta. nach raibh ar fáil ag na glúnta a Luaigh Seosamh Mac Grianna chuaigh rompu, mar sin féin tá Is Binn lem Chuimhne ‘briseadh sléibhe’ mar íomha comhghairdeas ó chroí tuillte ag Foilsíodh foclóir nua Béarla– léitheoirí na Gaeilge. Beidh spéis ar ag tagairt dá shaothar litríochta Pádraig agus ag a chomhoibrithe as Gaeilge an mhí seo: ‘Concise leith ag muintir na Deoise seo san agus é ag cruthú teanga liteartha an éacht atá déanta acu agus iad ag Is binn le m’ chuimhne d’ainm án, English–Irish Dictionary’, an foclóir fhoclóir nua atá díreach i ndiaidh as canúint líofa Thír Chonaill. cur an Fhoclóra le chéile — Foclóir Is ait le m’ chroí do dhíograis ghrá, oifigiúil is déanaí atá foilsithe i a theacht amach, nó is sloinneadh Briseadh sléibhe atá i saothar an Uí Mhianáin. ach mil liom foilsiú d’éadain bhreá, bhfoirm leabhair — seachas ar líne. de chuid na Deoise seo atá ar an Fhoclóra. Ghlac sé 70 bliain an a Thiarna ghrámhair Íosa. Foilsíodh Foclóir De Bhaldraithe chlúdach. Pádraig Ó Mianáin an sa bhliain 1959, os cionn 60 bliain Thar binneas glóir is binne ceol, ó shin. Tá éacht oibre déanta le thar áilleacht róis is áille snó, blianta beaga anuas, agus is iontach thar uaisleacht seoid is uaisle lógh, go bhfuil a thoradh le feiceáil anois is áil liom d’ainm, a Íosa. againn. Dála an scéil, is iomaí téarma nua-aoiseach a tháinig Is tú ár mian, is tú ár só, chun cinn i rith na mblianta sin! ár gcuid den saol thar acmhainn óir. Is tú ár n-aoibhneas thall go deo, Tá an nós ann foclóir nua a a Phéarla ghléigil, ’Íosa. ainmniú as an phríomh-eagarthóir. Le blianta bhí ‘Dinneen’ in aice (Ár bPaidreacha Dúchais 420. láimhe againn: ‘Foclóir Gaedhilge– Buíochas le Foilseacháin Ábhair Béarla’ leis an Athair Pádraig Ó Spioradálta.) Duinnín (An Duinníneach’). Tá ‘Ó Dónaill’ in aice linn anois: ‘Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla’ in eagar ag Niall Ó Dónaill — áis riachtanach ag Dinneen Ó Dónaill De Bhaldraithe Baisteadh Easpaig Dáiríre, tá na sacraimintí uile bheith páirteach leo, agus iarrtar Tríonóide, beatha na hEaglaise arb bunaithe ar phobal a dhéanamh. orthu siúd a dhul i bpáirtíocht í Corp Chríost í, ach a bheadh ina Fógraíonn na daoine óga go Tá siad ag brath ar mhuintearas leis ionas go neartóidh siad a marbhán gan beatha an Spioraid bhfuil buanna acu, agus go bhfuil a chur ag fás i measc daoine san chéile. Comh-neartú. Tá neart Naoimh agus Críost aiséirithe mar siad sásta úsáid a bhaint astu i saol Eaglais. Ní féidir sacraimint úr de dhíth ar an duine óg anois cheann uirthi. na hEaglaise ar mhaithe leis an a cheiliúradh i d’aonar, de réir go bhfuil sé ag glacadh iomláine phobal. Ar bhealach is í dúshraith theagasc na hEaglaise. Ní féidir le an Bhaiste air féin. Sin é an fáth Fáiltímid roimh na daoine óga na gairme diaga atá againn anseo duine a rá nach de ghnó duine ar go dtugtar Baisteadh Easpaig agus fáiltímid roimh a mbuanna nuair a chluineann an t-ógánach bith eile é. Rud ar bith a bhaineann uaireanta ar an Chóineartú. Sin é agus a gcuid tabhartas, agus glór an Spioraid Naoimh á le sacraimint, is de ghnó an an fáth go n-iarrann an tEaspag ar bronntar orthu beatha agus tharraingt níos doimhne isteach phobail é san Eaglais. Sin é an na daoine óga gealltanais a mBaiste tabhartais an Spioraid Naoimh. san Eaglais agus ag cur i gcuimhne fáth go bhfuil oiread sin ag brath a athnuachan agus an creideamh Aithníonn an pobal, i bpearsa an dó go mbeidh freagracht air dá ar an Easpag mar chomhartha ar a fhógairt mar a rinneadh ar a Easpaig agus pobal an pharóiste, go bhrí sin. aontacht an phobail sa deoise agus son lá a mBaiste. An tEaspag a bhfuil buanna agus cáilíochtaí ag mar cheangal leis an Eaglais uile. bhronnann iomláine an Bhaiste na daoine óga seo, agus fógraíonn (Buíochas le Foilseacháin Ábhair orthu agus tugann sé dóibh, in siad go bhfuil buannaíocht agus Spioradálta.) Sa Chóineartú, ag tús na ndéag, ainm na hEaglaise uile, beatha glaoch ag an phobal orthu mar iarrann an duine óg ar a phobal a an Spioraid Naoimh, Spiorad na Eaglais. 18 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 A man of peace and strong faith who preferred the simple things in life – John Hume RIP

“A country in revolt throws up many leaders: with one person wise and experienced, you have stability” (Proverbs 28:2) awarded ‘Freedom of the City of Martin, Bishop Donal welcomed Derry’, in 2000”. all present, including local and With restrictions still in place national dignitaries, and those due to Covid-19, the family asked tuned in from around the world. people to protect each other by He said: “We gather, as the not gathering to pay their respects family has underlined, in a spirit as the cortege made its way of prayer that God’s grace, which through Moville to St Eugene’s blessed us through John’s life, will the evening before the Requiem continue to flow abundantly on Mass, but instead to simply the people of this island. He did light a candle for peace in their not just dream of peace. His life’s homes. The response was shared vocation was to be peacemaker over social media, with many for the good of others. Because of posting photographs of their lit his past we can face the future”. candles placed on window sills; Bishop Donal also shared a comforting sight for the Hume messages of sympathy from family as they passed by. the Vatican’s Secretary of State, After receiving John’s remains Cardinal Pietro Parolin on behalf at the Cathedral, where he of Pope Francis, the Dalai Lama had attended many religious and Bono of U2. ceremonies down the years, The Mass was concelebrated Bishop Donal McKeown led the by Fr Paul Farren and Fr Dinny WHEN the simple, wicker Order of St Gregory the Great, prayers, which included a special McGettigan, a cousin of John’s coffin of the late John Hume one of five orders of knighthood celebration of light for peace. He wife, Pat. Preaching the homily, was placed before the altar of of the Holy See, by Pope asked those present in St Eugene’s, Fr Paul spoke about how John St Eugene’s Cathedral, in his Benedict XV1 in 2012, two years as well as the many watching the had “never lost faith in peace” beloved city of Derry, the Bible after he had been nominated ceremony on-line via the webcam, and “never lost faith in his ability containing the Word of God was ‘Ireland’s Greatest’ in a public to pray for peace in hearts, homes to convince others that peace was left open on top of it. For those poll conducted by RTE to find and society, not just in Derry but the only way”. who cast an eye over the verses on the greatest person in Ireland’s in other parts of the world too. Acknowledging John’s the two open pages of the Book history. “John knew that peace was not “incredible achievements”, Fr of Proverbs, it was verse two of Great though he was in the something done for us, but by Paul went on to share that his Chapter 28 that stood out like a eyes of many in Ireland and us,” noted Bishop Donal, adding: fondest memory of this great son Divine confirmation of all the beyond, John preferred the simple “We are called, wherever we are, of Derry was, after attending Mass tributes that have been paid to this things in life, as confirmed by his to work and pray for peace. John in the Cathedral every day that Nobel Peace prize winner, who daughter, Mo, who remarked that spent his life with that call that we his health enabled him to during had helped to bring stability back the family had wanted to keep his each do what we can.” retirement, he returned in the to his troubled homeland as the funeral simple to reflect that. Taking a light from the Paschal evening to sit at the back praying leader of the Social Democratic Paying tribute to her 83-year-old Candle that had been blessed quietly. and Labour Party (SDLP) he co- father, who died in the early hours at Easter, John’s wife, Pat lit a “In all the houses he was in, founded 50 years ago. of August 3, the youngest of the candle for peace in his memory, White houses and houses of Indeed, as was noted during his five Hume siblings told ‘The Net’: before everyone was invited to parliaments and many others, Requiem Mass by Fr Paul Farren, “He wasn’t into airs and graces, so join in saying the Prayer of St it was in this house, the house administrator of St Eugene’s, John for us the funeral was more about Francis...“Lord, make me an of God, that he found greatest is the only person to have received dad than John Hume, the public instrument of your peace, Where peace,” noted Fr Paul, adding: three major peace awards; as figure. While sustainability was there is hatred, let me sow love, “It was in this house that John well as the Nobel Peace Prize in important to us in choosing dad’s Where there is injury, pardon, recognised the presence of God 1998, along with the then Ulster coffin, wicker was the right choice Where there is doubt, faith, and his need for God, for His Unionist Party leader, David for him too, because he didn’t like Where there is despair, hope, mercy, for His love. Here, before Trimble, he was awarded the fancy stuff much”. Where there is darkness, light, his God, the humility of John was Martin Luther King Peace Award “Dad was a Derry man and And where there is sadness, joy...”. plain to be seen”. in 1999, and the International he was proud of that,” said Mo, Presiding at the funeral Mass Gandhi Peace Prize in 2001. adding: “Being from Derry was a the next morning, along with Good Samaritan In addition, he was made a badge of honour for him, and he All Ireland Primate and Derry He continued: “John lived his Knight Commander of the Papal was hugely proud when he was native, Archbishop Eamon faith in the most practical way.

John receiving the Freedom of the City of Derry. THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 19

His favourite gospel was the Good that they face. In our home, we to value education, and to place rest of our lives”. Samaritan. It was the Gospel of grew up with an interest in that. nonviolence at the absolute centre. “During the long weeks of Jesus Christ and Catholic Social We met lots of people who came He might also stress the right to a lockdown,” he said, “when we as a teaching that shaped his work for through the house and, no matter living wage and a roof over your family were unable to be with him, peace”. who they were, we were taught at a head, to decent healthcare and we knew that, despite the major And it also shaped his parenting, young age to respect everyone. education.” difficulties, the care and nursing with Pat, of their five children, “It was a privilege to grow up in He continued: “At this time of staff in unit one were doing Thérèse, Áine, Aidan, John and Derry and to have lots of different planetary fragility, more than ever, their absolute best to care deeply Mo, with Mo telling ‘The Net’: local people come through the he would be urging that we move for him, and for all his fellow “Dad was a big figure in our lives, house, as well as some people beyond our flag-based identities residents.” and really protected and looked from other parts of the world. and recognise the need to protect He added: “If he were here, he after us. He had a very strong faith, Dad encouraged us to come and our common home. would urge us to look at those but he allowed us to question and speak to everyone. It wasn’t a case “Central to dad’s work was young carers and the incredible find our own way, guiding us by of them being in one room and us his deep appreciation of human and heroic daily work they do as a his actions rather than by reciting in another. We were encouraged interdependency. We all need model for future leadership – their dogma. It was a quiet faith, which to come in and say ‘hello’ and that one another; we all have a role to ethos of deep respect, a respect for he practised more in later life in was a real gift to us as children; play, and all our roles are of equal everyone regardless of where they terms of going to Mass regularly to see mum and dad’s respect for importance.” come from or stage of life. and just popping into the church different people.” He went on to remark that “These are the foundation stones to say a prayer. I suppose that was During the Prayer of the Faithful, while, in the last years of his life, that are critical to all communities. because he had more time on his Mo had read a poem written for his father’s physical and mental The Reverend ML King might hands.” their father by her brother, Aidan, health had become more visibly describe it as the politics of love. Recalling her parents who lives in America with his vulnerable, they as a family had Dad would urge us to listen, so encouraging her and her siblings wife and five children, and had witnessed in those recent years, that in spite of it all, we shall unconditionally, Mo said: “For been unable to travel home due to more than ever, “the absolute overcome.” them, it was really important that coronavirus restrictions. importance” of his core ethos, “of With the leadership of this man we were true to what we wanted A lovely tribute to his father, building community based on of peace for a period of over 20 to do, and they encouraged us to Aidan wrote in the last verse of respect and love”. years, the people of Derry have find our own path. We’ve ended the poem: “I don’t think I ever said He noted that just as his father already overcome much hardship, up doing such different things; aloud how you have made us all had loved his home town and its and as fellow Derry man, Phil Therese is a lecturer in Sligo, Aine so incredibly proud. All you ever people, the people of Derry and Coulter played the tune of John’s is a GP in Derry, Aidan lives in wanted was to make the world a of his adopted Donegal home, favourite song, ‘The Town I Loved Boston and works in a bank, John better place and in that goal you had shown great kindness to him So Well’ at the end of the Mass, they owns a communications company found your ace”. over the years, stopping to talk to lined the route from St Eugene’s to in Dublin, and I live in Glasgow Her brother, John, read an him in the street, guiding him to the City Cemetery, applauding in and teach and research conflict appreciation of his father before protect his independence, and respect and thanksgiving for the and violence in Latin America”. the start of Mass, in which he receiving him with gentleness if he hope that he had given them to Very like her father, Mo spoke of reflected on what his father would was agitated. carry on, set their hearts on peace, her great interest in how conflict have said, in the fullness of his John also paid tribute to the and “pray for a bright, brand new works and how peace is a hard health, about the current tensions love shown to his father by carers, d a y ”. journey, saying: “I work very in the world. residents and their families, in closely with a Catholic diocese “He’d talk about our common Owen Mor Nursing Home, where Funeral photographs by in Colombia and see the great humanity,” said John Jnr, “the need he had resided during the past two [email protected] challenges that they have to foster to respect diversity and difference, years, saying that the experience peace and the multiple injustices to protect and deepen democracy, “will remain a lesson to us for the

Candle-light tribute to John Hume at entrance Taken by [email protected] to Moville. Peace candle John’s compassion for social justice and peace was aligned with his dedication to Credit Union principles by Delma Boggs JOHN Hume was one of the was, at the time, a new concept in position as youngest President of peace so evident in his manner six founder members of Derry Ireland. They could not possibly the Irish League of Credit Unions. and speeches, were aligned with Credit Union, the community- have predicted or appreciated the One could argue that these his dedication to the Credit based credit union recognised life-enhancing impact that Derry experiences further honed his Union movement’s 10 Operating nationally and internationally as Credit Union would have on skills, expanded his awareness of Principles, particularly the a model of what can be achieved generations over the subsequent the needs of ordinary people, and principle of Social Responsibility when people work together for decades. paved the way for his latter career and On-Going Education, which the betterment of one another Without doubt, John Hume as a politician and internationally commits credit unions to seek to and their community. was the most recognised recognised statesman. bring about human and social On October 16, 1960, these six ambassador of Derry Credit But, despite all of the development. young individuals, all of whom Union. His natural public international accolades he For all of his achievements, were in their twenties, held the speaking skills and experience received, John was at heart a John was most proud of his role initial meeting of Derry Credit as a teacher dovetailed into his Derry man and treated as one. in the formation of the Credit Union, thereby staking their role as an advocate for our local The warmth, compassion and Union in Derry. names and reputations on what credit union and, eventually, his commitment to social justice and May he rest in peace. 20 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 We pray for the courage to be and to share Good News! AS September gets underway, during which the Church believing that He is leading us. We celebrates the Feast Days of the Archangels, including St do our best and leave the rest to God’s grace. Michael the Protector, and of St Pio, who is known for his It is becoming clearer and clearer encouragement to “pray, hope and don’t worry”, Bishop that modern culture has left many Donal reflects on his visits to parishes around the Diocese people with little idea of what faith to pray with people in celebrating Mass, and pays tribute is. That makes it very difficult to the great efforts of parishes to try and keep people safe for faith to be transmitted, even Banagher. with the best of parents and good while gathered in our churches. Commenting on the way teaching in many schools. So, we forward for the Diocesan Pastoral Plan in the current have to do many things to change situation, with Covid-19 restrictions continuing, he that culture – develop groups of highlights the continued need for community, formation people of all ages who support Bishop Donal prayed for the inter- and mission, and the importance of youth ministry. one another in faith, form people cession of the Archangel Michael who can engage on media with and St Pio during a visit to St Parish visits a chance to be to move to a new appointment. Catholic ideas, and build on what Columba’s Church, Long Tower. present with priests and people... Under current regulations, it our Catholic schools do. “During lockdown, I had would be challenging for a new Our idea of marriage and programme a way of engaging encouraged priests to be ‘visible’ parish priest to get to know his sexuality, our sense of a world with young people on their Claudy in their parishes, either on-line or parishioners”. outside this earth, our belief in personal faith journeys... in person. But I stayed in Derry good and evil outside my feelings “The purpose of the Youth for the entire period, though I had Hearing Christ’s call for new – all of these seem strange to Ambassadors structure was to meetings with priests from each heroes to witness to the Gospel... many of our contemporaries. But, engage selected senior students Deanery, either on Zoom or face- “We currently have six we know that the modern ‘culture in each post-primary school, so to-face. As travel restrictions were seminarians, with a number of of death’ is its own worst enemy, that they could contribute to our eased, I wanted to be out visiting men hoping to enter over the and we pray for the courage to be Diocesan Youth Ministry strategy parishes to see how priests were, next years. I hope and pray that and share Good News to our often and learn from one another as to to experience the many good ideas more young people will recognise mixed-up contemporaries. The what they could offer in their own that parishes have undertaken and the lack of inspiring role models Church of Jesus has to engage, not school communities. Of course, it to be seen all around the Diocese. in popular culture – and hear hide behind high walls of fear or has been reviewed, but I believe It is clear that these have been very Christ’s call for new heroes to angry condemnation!” difficult times for everybody, and witness to the Gospel. I am clearer that it is important to engage with young people during their that the future is very uncertain. than ever that it is young people Youth ministering to youth in school days, and not just to work But, we walk in faith and believe who can best evangelise their 2020-2021... Carnhill, Three Patrons with teachers. There are so many that God is teaching us many peers. The Cathedral’s lockdown “It is unclear if we will have a wonderful young people and things about Church...if only we audience on-line has been heavily Derry Youth Community with this is one more way to engage have ears to hear!” dominated by women in the 40- the current situation. On the one Cranagh Covid Cross with them on their personal faith 55 age bracket, from all over the hand, there may be young people journeys”. Mask wearing encouraged so Diocese and far beyond. I hope who are taking a gap year before people feel safe while gathering that we can also support them going to university or into work. blessed by Bishop Donal Back to school message... in church... in sharing the Gospel with their But many are finding it difficult “Fear and uncertainty have by A Parishioner “The leaders from the four main children. The attention paid to Sr to make any plans, like those who affected many people during Churches together encouraged all Clare Crocket, who is also a local were waiting for A’level results. It BISHOP Donal celebrated people of the parish, God’s love lockdown. Young people have congregations to wear masks in ‘hero’, lets people see that holiness seems unlikely that anyone will Wednesday evening Mass for for us. Jesus took upon Himself been accustomed to spending lots churches, as long as they did not is a call to all of us”. come from abroad. Furthermore, the parish of Upper Badoney in our human nature. He shares our of time with their peers. Many have a particular medical or other the DYC work may have to change. Cranagh on August 6, as part of suffering and draws near to those have had little access to education reason. I know that the parishes of Strange times, but core themes School retreats and gatherings his unofficial visits to parishes in anguish, with the reassuring for over five months. And, it has this Diocese have found ways to of Diocesan Pastoral Plan still of young people may well not be around the Diocese. words, “I am with you even to the been stressful for many parents. maximise the numbers of people valid... possible for some time. On the Afterwards, he kindly blessed end of time”. In these challenging It is important that our schools who can gather, depending on the “We have had a couple of Zoom other hand, there will be a need the cross which was erected in the times, God desires for us to draw focus on the needs of the most size of the buildings. But numbers meetings of the Diocesan Pastoral for those who have excellent social grounds of the church during the near to him and to use this time disadvantaged and not merely on are also limited by the reluctance Council, mainly with the purpose media ideas and experience”. lockdown period, for the outside as an opportunity for our faith to of many people to come to church. of asking for their insights on how the wishes of the stronger families. ceremony of the Veneration of be strengthened and renewed. But, so many of our saints faced Mask wearing is part of that we were coping as a Diocese. We Great response to new Diocesan the Cross last Good Friday. The sun shone as Bishop difficult times – and kept believing strategy of encouraging people were agreed that the three core Youth Ministry Scholarship... It stands now as a permanent Donal blessed the Covid cross; that God was in the middle of to believe that they will be safe themes of the Diocesan Pastoral “We have to be seeking ways to reminder of these current times reminding us of the hope we hold even persecution, war or illness. while gathering in church. We Plan are still valid, but that we have equip young people to engage with and the call to greater faith and in our hearts that God is ever A young Italian schoolboy who want to maximise numbers and to find ways of focusing on them their peers. Formation in faith and trust in God’s protection amid the present with us. May we venerate died of cancer aged 15, in 2006, is maximise the sense of safety. in strange circumstances. We still in ministry skills does not take fear and worry of this pandemic. always the cross of Christ as a due to be beatified on October 10. This is an evolving situation and need community, formation and place unless it is planned. So, this We know that our faith can be sure sign of God’s love and mercy, Carlo Acutis was deeply devoted we have had to keep an eye on mission. There has been a new Youth Ministry Scholarship is shaken by deeply challenging and that whether in sickness, to the Eucharist and to using the constant changes in government emphasis on finding ways to reach part of a medium to longer term moments in our lives; times of loneliness, fear, pestilence or computer to reach his peers. He regulations”. and gather people on-line and via strategy to create youth ministers, difficulty, sickness, suffering and death, nothing can ever separate may be a new saint for our day. social media. just like the MA in Catholic School loss. us from the love of God made So, God’s grace works at its best Covid impact on clerical The centenary of St Columba’s Leadership is aimed at developing The cross symbolises, for the visible in Christ Jesus in times of difficulty. Carlo is a changes... birth will still be celebrated in knowledge and skills for the next sign that we can thrive in the face “Thankfully, there are no 2021, but it is unclear whether we generation of school principals”. pressures this summer to make will be able to have a Diocesan of problems and not be crushed by them. That is the message of substantial changes. Furthermore, Assembly. But, as ever, we walk Diocesan Youth Ambassadors it is not an easy time for a priest with trust in God’s guiding hand; Calvary!”

Bishop Donal with parish priest, Fr Brian Donnelly, and parishioners during , Errigal. Cappagh his visit to Cranagh, Co Tyrone. THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 21 Bishop Donal encourages consideration of... The real challenge for parishes in this critical time for Church IN his homily for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, back on by how many families have taken the ‘domestic church’ is a real faithful to the teaching of the Sunday, July 26, Bishop Donal spoke about how we are now “at time to pray together. possibility in this current situation. Apostles, to the community, to a critical time for our church” and about the “real challenge for “For some people, this has all “But there have also been the breaking of bread and to the parishes” with regards to it going to be quite some time before people created a new focus on parents as challenges. prayers.’ (Acts of the Apostles 2:42) can gather safely in large numbers in churches because of the ongoing ‘the first teachers of their children “Catholics emphasise the Faithfulness to Jesus means being coronavirus situation. in the ways of faith’. (Rite of presence of Christ in many faithful to all of these elements. He posed the question, “How do we celebrate our sacramental unity Baptism). The Second Vatican forms – in the Word and in “Furthermore, Catholicism has in the Body of Christ without coming together as much?” He went Council talked about the family the Sacraments (especially the a rich treasury of sacramentals – on to remark that “limitation in church attendance means that the as ‘the domestic church’ (Lumen Eucharist), in the Minister and Holy Water, Stations of the Cross, domestic church has to take on a greater part of handing on the rich Gentium 11). Praying with their where ‘two or three are gathered’ pilgrimages, Rosary etc. Jesus treasure of faith”. children offers formation in faith in his name. (Catechism of the touched the whole person in the Following up on this, a number of people have reflected on Bishop and a chance for parents to lead Catholic Church, para 1088). The Gospel. We know how important Donal’s comments and shared their thoughts, which will feature here by example. Whatever else is done lockdown prevented so many symbols and gestures are in every in ‘The Net’ as a way of encouraging conversation about where we are outside the family home, the family people from accessing Christ relationship. Jesus did not just at and the way forward. Firstly, Bishop Donal revisits his comments is where its members first learn to in the Blessed Sacrament – for feed people’s heads with ideas to consider them further... pray and to make little sacrifices Adoration and for the reception of and prayers. He spoke to mind, Bishop Donal McKeown “For 2,000 years, Christians have other church services on radio, TV out of love for God. It is at home Holy Communion. body and spirit. He really took turned to the scriptures to find and on-line. At a time of crisis, we that faith can best be caught, long “Some have come back for on physical form. He still engages “Thus, we face a real challenge out what it means to be a disciple have had a wonderful opportunity before it is taught. private prayer and for Mass, while with us in physical forms. of how we can be true to the key of Jesus and how we are to be to reach out with Christ’s hope to “In those circumstances, the others are still afraid or cautious. “A form of Christianity without themes of our Diocesan Pastoral Church. And the Covid19 realities so many homes. My guess is that parish that gathers on Sunday can My concern is for those who have engagements with the sacraments Plan, while we do not have have been asking us to seek Jesus’ many have had their first real be seen as a family of families. become accustomed to prayer is not Catholicism. Sitting at home opportunities to gather people in guidance as we try to be a Jesus- opportunity to see the wealth of Where there has been little faith in their ‘domestic church’ in the and praying are a vitally important substantial numbers. But we have faithful Church in our current Catholic spiritual traditions. And, formation or prayer at home there comfort of their own home – and part of our faith tradition – but learned much over the last months circumstances. at the heart of so many of them – is a very limited amount that can be who risk playing down the Body not all of it. It is missing a key part about using social media – and I “There have been many positive Mysteries of the Rosary, Stations of undertaken by the Sunday homily of Christ in the Eucharist and in of the incarnate nature of Jesus’ have every confidence that, with sides to the recent months. We the Cross, Angelus, Divine Mercy or schools. For too many young the community of believers which ministry in the Church today. We missionary hearts, we will be led have all been amazed at the message – lies the Gospel that we people, faith is just something St Paul also describes as the Body are not Church without gathering into new ways to proclaim that numbers of people who are share with all Christians. that you refer to at special times of Christ (1 Cor 12:27). The early and sharing the sacraments ‘God is Love’ into a society that following multiple Masses and “And I have been encouraged in school. A rediscovery of Church in Jerusalem ‘remained together. needs good news”.

in our parish community. there comes the family, in which nourishment, reflecting the Christ “Work to make Jesus known new citizens of human society who comes to us in Word and A debate for us as a church and loved. Through the Gospel we are born, who by the grace of the Sacrament as we rub shoulders experience the love of the Father, Holy Spirit received in baptism with each other. ‘Parents are the forgiveness in the Son and the are made children of God, thus first teachers of their child in the which must involve not alone power of the Spirit. As Christians, perpetuating the people of God ways of faith; may they also be we are all called to be part of the through the centuries’ (Lumen the best of teachers in the things work of making this relevant Gentium, 11). they say and do.’ (Rite of Baptism). clergy but laity too in our own lives within today’s “You may have heard it said How well are we helping parents by Mgr Andy Dolan, VG & PP society. that families are the fundamental to fulfil that instruction? “A simple response to these important other people were to The Domestic Church was being “In the present circumstances, ‘building block’ of society; “Our faith is a precious gift, a comments in Bishop Donal’s me while at Mass’, ‘I’m realising given new experiences and I will the Diocesan Plan, as well as similarly, families provide a treasure not to be hidden but to homily says, ‘I couldn’t agree more’. now just how much Mass means return to that a little further on. developments in parishes, is not foundation for the continuation be shared. I’ll close with some of However, there is a challenge there to me, especially being able to “Covid 19 and what future where we had hoped. Despite all and strength of the Church among the final words of Bishop Donal’s in those words and an opening receive the Eucharist again’. affect it will have on our ministry that is or rather is not happening, the lay faithful. homily, ‘Pray that we as Church up of a debate for us as a church “We, as priests, might also have remains to be seen. Our prayer is hopefully we can return to our “Lumen Gentium goes on can discern how we will best which must involve not alone learned just how important our that what we now experience will roadmap soon. There will be the to explain that this domestic celebrate and share that treasure clergy but laity too. I would not congregations are to us, we feed off not be a long-term phenomenon. challenge to get priests and people Church has a particular role and we hold in earthenware jars”. care to predict who might have the each other. It demanded an effort “While we wonder about re-energised and enthusiastic. responsibility in leading souls to Foot Note. “It also leaves us more to offer. on our part as priests to reach out Mass attendance, we would be “Apart from focussing on Mass heaven: ‘In it, parents should, by thinking about how we minister “We, as a church, are not living beyond the empty pews to our foolhardy to think only of the attendance, other important their word and example, be the now and how it will be into the in isolation. People’s reluctance invisible congregation and convey Covid factor and ignore that parish activities are on hold. The St first preachers of the faith to their future. Maybe when we are doing about gathering in church reflects the message with conviction and our Mass attendance has been Vincent de Paul Society, probably children; they should encourage this or that, the question might people’s feelings of concern about enthusiasm. steadily decreasing for quite some needed now more than ever, is them in the vocation which is be, whose needs am I serving, entering a supermarket, their place “Last month’s edition of ‘The time. Bishop Donal speaks of the unable to function to any great proper to each of them, fostering my own or those of the people of of work or meeting in any kind Net’ carried pieces from various challenge presented to us – this degree because of circumstances. with special care vocation to a God? of groups. As I write this article, parishioners around the diocese one will continue to demand This is true for various apostolic sacred state’. The Council Fathers “On a lighter note, people would people’s fears are heightened expressing their appreciation action. groups. intended to emphasize that Christ say ‘Fr X down in Cork preaches by the various clusters wherein for the effort made by priests “Our Diocesan Pastoral Plan, Children’s liturgy, In Memory, is the Light of the Nations, and a great sermon’; ‘Your wee man in outbreaks are arising. Many of our to connect with their people at ‘God is Love’, puts a pathway in Confirmation Programme, Pope that, as the Church, we each have Armagh, he’s right and speedy’; people are feeling insecure about home. This applied not only to front of us. Our present situation John Paul Groups are activities a responsibility to bring the Light ‘Those boys in Lurgan could their jobs; will they be there for getting Mass but connecting to highlights the need to get going. which are suspended and leave a of Christ to others. Within the dance’, and ‘the priest in Dublin them after furlough? For others, other services like the Rosary, For some it will be new and vacuum in faith formation. Maybe domestic Church, this means that is a great singer’...I was asking will my business survive? Evening or Night Prayer of the demand a lot of effort to involve people at parish/diocesan level parents are to cultivate a family life myself, ‘am I getting a message “Our first duty is to ensure that Church, Reflections and so. Even our parishioners in making this might come up with ideas which that is centred on Christ. here?’ It revealed how much being our Churches are safe places to people who have not been regular plan a living reality. can be used via webcam and other “Some of the recommendations connected to the Mass meant to enter and thus give people the church goers for some time “Build welcoming and inclusive outlets to help in faith formation. about how this might be done are our people”. confidence to come to Mass. How admit to benefitting from what communities. We must strive to “I alluded earlier to the very much at the devotional level. we conform or do not conform to was available into their homes. build parishes that are places of Domestic Church and it is where During the lockdown, people did regulations will be quickly picked Many people also admitted to welcome and hospitality to all, people normally first receive the appreciate being led in prayer up and, where we fail, people will the realisation of the importance reaching out in particular to the faith as stated in the Document through the Rosary, Prayer of react accordingly. of prayer to them. All of us, if we vulnerable, those in need and Lumen Gentium (“light of the the Church, Virtual Pilgrimages, “The people who are returning are honest, could say that prayer those who feel excluded. Nations); the Constitution of Reflections, along with Mass and to Mass are our best evangelisers. began to get its rightful place in “Be disciples of Jesus Christ, the Church. I question if we can other Services. While they express their our day. growing in faith together. When make the presumptions today that “Maybe we need to look how gratefulness for being able “Hearing all of this makes we allow God’s love into our were around during the era of the we can sustain this on an ongoing to connect with the Mass via me more optimistic about the hearts, we can be inspired to Council. Society’s goal posts may basis. The domestic Church which webcam/Facebook, they are future. Hopefully, we can use the answer Jesus’ call to follow him, to have shifted slightly. Anyhow, is to reflect the life of Christ needs also expressing their delight to resources at our disposal in an deepen our understanding of our here is what the document states: to be a place of love, of care, of be back...‘I didn’t realise how imaginative way into the future. faith and to play a more active role ‘From the wedlock of Christians support, forgiveness, compassion, Mgr Andy Dolan 22 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 THE series of reflections from people in parishes around the Dioceses, on their experience of life in lockdown due to Covid-19 continues, alphabetically, this month, with more to follow in the next edition of ‘The Net’. Creggan... Our priests and bishop have been fantastic OUR priests and bishop have carried around a statue of Our been just fantastic during this Lady. lockdown. Bishop Donal has been People have been greatly so thoughtful and very creative in supported by all the prayers. the prayer times he has come up When the chapels were closed, with to put on-line, such as the it wasn’t the same experience virtual Lough Derg time of prayer watching on the webcam, but it and penance. I really enjoyed this. was great to at least be able to hear I didn’t do it barefoot and I can no and see Mass being celebrated. As longer kneel, but I did the fasting well as joining with Fr Joe saying St Mary’s Church, Bocan, Culdaff. and prayers for all of the Stations. the Rosary earlier in the night, Fr Joe Gormley, our parish I loved tuning into the Bishop’s Culdaff (Bocan)... priest, and Fr Daniel McFaul, our Rosary from the Cathedral. We curate, have both been fantastic. were certainly well catered for We are thankful to our priest as not As well as having Mass on-line, with regards to prayer ministry. we had the Angelus, the Divine For me, it was absolutely easy saying Mass in empty chapel Mercy and Holy Souls Chaplets, brilliant when our priests the Rosary and Adoration, and Fr offered the opportunity again for WE are very fortunate that unfortunately, limit the numbers. Joe led a couple of retreats. Confessions in the Divine Mercy Fr Karl Haan, our curate, and The principals, parents, children It has been a difficult time for Chapel. I really appreciated Caroline Catterson, parish and staff in both schools in the our priests too, but Fr Joe and Fr being able to receive this secretary, have been working parish – St Boden’s NS, Culdaff Daniel were there for everybody. Sacrament again as I had missed endlessly during the lockdown to and Scoil Mhuire, Gleneely - Thank God that they have each that so much. When you go to ensure we are connected online. were delighted when Fr Karl had other for support especially Confession you receive a grace, Fr Karl is very good with a special Mass on the days that during this time, and they were and I missed that. technology and streams live would have been the children’s very supportive of everybody When our chapels re-opened masses daily to his parishioners First Holy Communion, on May in the parish as well. They were for private prayer, quite a few in Bocan and to friends all over 16, and the Graduation, which there at the end of the ‘phone if people called in to pray during the world via his Facebook page. would have been on June 15. anyone wanted to talk to them. the day. We are also blessed to The times are Monday, Tuesday, A beautiful Mass was streamed Fr Daniel is very musical and he have a great team come together Thursday and Friday at 7.30 pm, live on both occasions, with the does a lot of singing, which helps to clean the chapel. We place a Wednesday 10 am, Saturday children’s names being read out. when there is no choir singing in card wherever we have sat and 11 am and, weekend Masses, It was a nice way to let them know the church now. We all thought it someone will clean that area Saturday 8 pm and Sunday 11 that they are not forgotten about was a lovely touch at Easter, when down after we leave. am...all subject to a strong enough in these tough times. he went and got potted plants to God has looked after our church internet signal. The words of our principal, put around the altar. very well. If you want to tune in, you can Nicola Humphries, sum up the Both Fr Daniel and Fr Joe have (Teresa) find him on Facebook Karl Haan thoughts of our parishioners really stepped up to the challenge and there have only been a few nicely: “It was just lovely and so of lockdown; they went above small glitches with coverage to nice for the children to know they and beyond for us as a parish. I date. were being prayed for today. It’s think they have probably worked Mary Doherty, the sacristan, so sad to see the chapel so empty harder during lockdown; it’s been also keeps the church in great and it can’t be easy saying Mass in non-stop for them. We were shape, and preparations for the that way, but we are all here and delighted when they visited each opening of the chapel for Masses thankful to you for delivering street to pray a decade of the in July included a clean with a Mass in this way.” Rosary during May. Fr Joe did vaporising mechanism. Strict Upper Creggan and Fr Daniel did social distancing guidelines (Rosalie) Lower Creggan, while a few men will be adhered to, which will, Carndonagh... We had more time to pray AT first we didn’t have access Fr Con has done a great job for myself praying more during the through social media to the someone who is over 70, and so day, as many people did, and that celebration of Mass in our parish needed to cocoon. It wasn’t easy was probably because we had when public worship was stopped for him. more time to pray. Whenever because of the virus, until the For me, the hardest thing during I heard of anyone who had the Carndonagh Traders set up a lockdown was not being able to virus, I prayed for them. recording on Facebook. Then we physically go to Mass on a Sunday It has been a time when people got a webcam installed, which has morning. There just was no start who wouldn’t have been regularly been great. or end to the week and I found going to Mass, found themselves So, before this happened I was every day the same. watching the Mass on-line, so tuning into St Eugene’s Cathedral I am over 70, so I had to cocoon you never know what could come services during Lent, which were as well, but it didn’t bother me. out of this whole experience, that wonderful. I also enjoyed praying However, I would say that anyone 2020 will long be remembered for. the Rosary at night along with who didn’t have internet and I found it particularly hard when Bishop Donal. access to social media to be able there were funerals not being able When our webcam was to get the Masses, etc, would have to hug the family, especially if it installed, it was lovely to be able found it very difficult. But, at least, was someone I knew very well. I to watch Fr Con celebrating they could get Mass on television missed that terribly. It’s just very morning Mass during the week on a Sunday morning, or on strange not being able to give and at the weekend. Our chapel the radio. It just has been a very somebody a hug but, hopefully, was always open for private prayer difficult time for people. we will come back to those days during the day, which many took I would have prayed the Rosary again. comfort from. every night anyway, but I found (Esther) THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 23 ... I honestly don’t think I would have made it without the Church

The beautiful flower box made by children last year Volunteers preparing St Patrick’s Church, Claudy, for at the parish HOPE Camp was replanted to welcome re-opening for the celebration of public Mass. parishioners returning to public Mass Cumber Upper & Learmount (Claudy)... Hearing our priest’s amazing homilies gave us hope THE Covid-19 virus and lockdown has changed everyone’s lives in one way or the other; the young, the old, the sick and the healthy...no one has escaped its touch. LOCKDOWN for me was this that kept me sane. Eventually, I was able to form In our parish, in Claudy, it has horrendous as everything I Our priests have been absolutely a bubble with my son and his brought out a great kindness in cherished was taken from me. I amazing and I hope that they get family; they were able to come people and a sense of community, was a Eucharistic Minister and the appreciation that they deserve in to my house and I was able to both practically and in our faith, an active member of the Church, for everything. One of our go into theirs. It was wonderful with online prayer groups and but I was unable to continue in parishioners did a wonderful job to be able to hug my son and delivery of food parcels. People lockdown, and I also missed the keeping our community together grandchildren again. have been stepping outside their Fr David O’Kane delighted to see the McCloskey children weeding the physical contact with my family. I through her Rosary time and wee Up to that, my son would have comfort zone for the benefit of flowerbed outside St Patrick’s Church, Claudy, in preparation for the return can’t explain the pain of that. stories on Facebook, which was come and spoke to me from the others. of parishioners to public Mass. I am in our parish Liturgy greatly appreciated. garden, and then one day he came New ways of supporting each Group and, before Covid, I had We also got the opportunity into the conservatory and gave other in our faith and struggles longer be able to receive Jesus in I, personally, hungered for Jesus recorded a programme in our to do Lectio Divina on Zoom, me a hug, saying that it had just have been invented from a great our hearts; the bread of life, the and was counting the days to parish on The Examen and had with Thornhill and Steelstown, been announced that we were sense of how can I give, how can real presence, the Holy Eucharist? when I could receive Him again, sent the video to our parish which was led by Sr Margaret allowed to have a bubble. I cried I help. We were hurting because but I had confidence and hope pastoral worker, Julz, who had McConnelogue every that much out of sheer relief. Our parish priest, Fr David there is one, and only one, Holy in the Risen Christ, who is alive asked me to do it, just before Wednesday. We even had a couple It is not until the carpet is wiped O’Kane has embraced technology Sacrifice of the Eucharist and among us. lockdown. of people from England join us, from under your feet and you are with online Masses and prayers it’s in the Catholic Church. Our Let us follow Mary, our Blessed For the first week, when there and hearing their version of the left with nothing that you realise like the Rosary and Divine Mercy priests, who bring us Jesus, were Mother, if we want to travel, was no streaming of Mass Gospel and spirituality was so that you take things for granted. Chaplet each day; a firstly strange unable to give us the precious without fear, the path of her Son. from our church, I tuned into different. It was great and I learnt I would still be nervous about but then comforting part of life in Body of Christ. There we will meet the God of the services at St Eugene’s for a lot from it. Before Covid and going out, but it is great to be lockdown. Our parish is blessed to have Fr Mercy. (Annie) the morning Mass, the Divine lockdown, we were doing Lectio back at Mass. I couldn’t wait to see Families and communities have O’Kane. He has done everything Mercy Chaplet at 3 pm, and Divina week about, between our priest physically and not just been given a chance to pause and possible to reach out with faith then Mass with our Bishop, the Culmore and Steelstown, so it was through a screen, and to be able to spend time with each other and, to his parishioners, who’ve felt Rosary, Exposition of the Blessed great to be able to continue it on receive Holy Communion. once again, see the beauty in God, so isolated. He had a webcam Sacrament and Night Prayer. Zoom and still have at least some Fr Clerkin, our parish priest, has family and community. (Tony) installed in our church so we When Mass was available from contact that way. been working very hard, trying to could be united with him at our church at Thornhill, I tuned in Julz had also asked different keep the congregation together The months of lockdown were Mass online and receive spiritual for morning Mass there and then people in the parish to come and to keep people’s spirits up. He painful for those who know the communion, and hearing his switched over to the Cathedral up with an idea for a prayer, or and Fr Peter McLaughlin just kept importance of Holy Mass and amazing homilies gave us hope. for the rest of the day. I honestly choose a Gospel reading, and the whole thing going. Confession, and not forgetting We will be eternally grateful don’t think I would have made it record it, and this was put up on Eucharistic Adoration. Who ever to him for his untiring work without the Church; it was all of our parish Facebook page. (Carmel) thought that our Church would and to all who helped prepare be like a desert? That we wouldn’t our churches in Claudy and be present at the holy sacrifice Craigbane for re-opening again. Donagheady (Dunamanagh & Aughabrack)... of the Mass? That we would no One of the things I really missed Fr Eamon McDevitt was the wee chats after Mass

I found that I prayed more of the Cross and had Benediction regarding services provided by during lockdown, as it was a as well. It was great to see him. our churches. particularly worrying time. I Our parish First Holy It was lovely to be able to listen am praying Novenas now, some Communion was to be on the first to Mass in the comfort of my of which I didn’t know existed Sunday in June, so Fr McDevitt own home. I found I was able to before this. got someone to record Mass that focus better on what the priest We didn’t have a webcam in our Sunday to mark the occasion in was saying, but it is also great to Church so I tuned into the Claudy some way. be back in our church again to services. It wasn’t an easy time for I never missed any of the Easter receive Holy Communion and to our priests saying Mass without a ceremonies because I was able meet other people again. One of congregation. to get them online, and was the things I really missed was the When we got a Facebook page always able to tune in for Sunday wee chats after Mass, and I think for the parish, our Mass was on Mass. It is just wonderful that that would be especially so for that, and our priest, Fr Eamon technology enables us to do that older people. McDevitt also prayed the Stations and there were plenty of options (Marie) 24 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 ... We are so grateful to Fr Kevin for all his kindness call of duty. For me, personally, sometimes we said some prayers Fr Frank Lynch OP CC celebrating Mass in St Patrick’s Church, the fact that I knew Fr Kevin was together. For some, there would Crossroads. at end of the ‘phone if I needed to have been a great deal of anxiety speak to him, and that I could go about how they were going to Donaghmore (Killygordon & Sessiaghoneill)... down to talk to him, from a social cope and was this lockdown and distance, really helped me as I was virus ever going to end. But, by A sense of peace and closeness to going through a cancer diagnosis. the end of our conversation we He said Mass in the Parochial would be laughing at something. House and, for a few weeks, It’s not all doom and gloom. If we God felt by many celebrated Sunday morning can look outside ourselves and see WHEN we were informed There were also some People were praying more in Mass in the garden for a few what we can do for others around that Masses from St Patrick’s other wonderful examples of their homes. During May, people parishioners, who kept socially us that helps distract you from distanced on their fold-up chairs. your own concerns. Day on were to be cancelled community spirit that emerged, living in the housing estate in Fr Kevin Mullan. until further notice, there was a such as the ‘Meals on Wheels’ Killygordon came out on to the Some people who lived on their I think this experience has collective sense of anxiety and service that was extended to the green every Tuesday evening, at 8 I went from working a lot before own were anxious and felt that created a great deal of strong feeling of uncertainty about how most vulnerable in our parish, pm, and said the Rosary together, lockdown to nothing and found they should go to Mass, so he did friendships that weren’t there we would be able to deal with who were forced to ‘cocoon’. though socially distanced. The that very difficult. When the this for them. before. People may have been the unprecedented situation. Not Dozens of volunteers offered intention was for protection from churches closed I realised that We don’t have a webcam or acquaintances before but now being able to attend Mass, and their services to deliver not only a the virus. we were in real problems; they Facebook page but parish notices have strong friendships because not having the important contact hot meal, but a caring word and The whole experience really never closed during wars etc. I were included on the ‘Drumquin of the extra time on our hands with our fellow parishioners, may listening ear also. seemed to strengthen people’s have always found going to the Through The Years’ Facebook to make time for other people. I have proved to be overwhelming Of course, some of the most faith. We are so busy ordinarily, chapel very comforting, so, for page. I watched Mass on RTE, or believe that there is a very strong if not for the variety of social difficult moments came from but we now had more time on my own sanity, I started walking whatever Sunday Service was on bond in our community now. media tools at our fingertips; the local bereavements, when we our hands and many filled it with every morning and evening. I say at 11 am. I thought RTE provided People have been very good only problem was learning how were unable to express our prayer. People talked about how my Rosary while I walk and find a great service; it was inclusive in looking out for each other, to use it! condolences in a way that we they were praying more than this very comforting. I feel God is of all. I definitely prayed more especially those living on their However, where there is a will, would have liked. The parish they ever did in their lives, and watching over me. during lockdown. own. Neighbours have become there is a way and we soon had it priest, Fr Patsy Arkinson was now that our churches are open I really felt for our parish priest, I am a very social person and more important, whereas before worked out. The often maligned very much appreciated during again, people are so appreciative Fr Kevin Mullan; for such a before Covid would have visited you may not have seen some from social media soon became a these difficult times. The power of to be back receiving the Eucharist, holy man and a powerful parish quite a few elderly people and one end of a year to another. It’s blessing for us. Where previously a heartfelt handshake or a gentle although it is a strange experience priest to not be able to publicly people who live on their own, like what the countryside was like a sense of impending loneliness embrace cannot be measured and with all the restrictions. celebrate Mass, or any other so, during lockdown, I chatted to about 50 years ago, when I was a was feared, the new sense of it was difficult to know how best to Finally, a word of thanks must sacrament during this period, them over the ‘phone instead, and child running about. (Deirdre) camaraderie we gained from our express ourselves. Yet, here again, be reserved for the glorious must have been very difficult. He online contact actually served to people found a way of making the springtime weather that we were puts everyone else first. We are bring us closer together. best of a difficult situation, be that blessed with over those difficult so grateful to Fr Kevin for all the A group of us set up a WhatsApp standing ‘socially distanced’ along first couple of months. A sense of kindness he has shown to our sick video group which we named a roadside as a cortege passed peace and closeness to God was relatives. The whole parish would ‘Divine Mercy’, where we would by, or offering sympathies to felt by so many as we were forced be a lot worse off without him. all be online for 9 am for the bereaved friends and neighbours to slow down the pace of our lives. (Patrick) Rosary, Divine Mercy and prayers from pathways outside a house. Less traffic on the roads meant for those who requested them. Fr Frank Lynch, in the that bird songs could be better Fr Mullan has been wonderful These online gatherings were a Crossroads end of the parish, heard. Each evening seemed to through it all; always there at the great source of support and were celebrated Mass every morning deliver a sky more beautiful than other end of the ‘phone when you a powerful start to our day. which people could watch on the last. Gardens were tended, ring. He went over and above the Other online formats included Facebook and, after Mass on paint was freshened and minds streaming of Masses from Thursday mornings, he prayed were focussed more on the simple, Facebook and YouTube, which the Rosary and had an hour and most important, things in life. introduced us to parishes and of Exposition of the Blessed As St Paul tells us, ‘God is priests from all parts of the globe! Sacrament. People found this strongest when we are weakest’. RTE must be commended for the very comforting, and people from (Mary & Margaret) services it has provided also. abroad, who tuned in, loved it too. Drumragh ()... Great lockdown weather and beautiful sunsets were God’s gift to us all Marie Campbell, who provided the Patrick McCance music during lockdown. Ciara McCaul REFLECTING on my time a little chat with at the end of the surprised that they had come communion. anniversary of priesthood during in lockdown, I believe the great day. This made me think about from his own garden! I hope that this time will help lockdown and the parishioners weather and beautiful evening anyone who was alone during While arranging the flowers, me slow down and take time for surprised him with a guard of sunsets were God’s gift to us all lockdown and I always ensured I this provided me with the what is important in life and, of honour when he came out after during this time. Generally for remembered them in my evening opportunity for quiet times in the course, to be thankful for the saying morning Mass, which me, if the sun’s out, I’m in a good prayers. church alone, as well as partaking simple things and God’s forever he really appreciated as one of mood and if it’s pouring with rain, I felt very privileged to be asked in Sunday Mass as a reader. presence. the most difficult things for him well, I’m down in the dumps! to do the flower arrangements at When speaking to the priests From conversations with during lockdown was celebrating I was also very blessed to have the Sacred Heart Church during of the parish, I realised how others, I have found that many Mass without a congregation. had my daughter, who usually lockdown. I was able to put frustrating it was for them not to appreciated the time to think All of our priests have been works in Dublin, return home to together lovely arrangements all be able to engage in their ministry and pray more that lockdown great in keeping us all going and work online. It was nice to have from the grounds of the parochial as they would like. I was able to tell brought, while they found being parishioners have been wonderful a homemade ‘smoothie’ waiting house. Our parish priest, Fr them how important the online socially isolated and not being in helping out in whatever way for me in the morning and to Eugene Hassan was admiring Mass was to any parishioners I able to go to the church for Mass they can. sample some new vegan food them one day and when he asked had met, and how they found so most difficult. and, of course, someone to have me where I got them, he was quite much strength in the spiritual Fr Hasson celebrated his 40th (Berni) Fr Eugene Hasson, PP Drumragh. THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 25 ... Many have returned to a prayerful life and the Stations of the Cross. funerals with great sensitivity As the pandemic continued, and respect. Mourners cannot and churches closed, our parish assemble in the normal way, but priest, Fr Kelly offered additional thanks to our webcam, they can spiritual devotion in the form be involved in the service to pay of holy hours during Lent, and their respects. Life in the Spirit seminars. I Covid-19 may have altered our have spoken to many people day-to-day lifestyles in many who had engaged with this latter ways but, as stated earlier, many devotion and their comments have returned to a prayerful life. on the content of the weekly Fr Kelly mentioned in one of Desertmartin... seminars, and the respectful the seminars that before Covid, delivery of each, has encouraged four per cent of people prayed, Light came when churches installed Fr Joseph Varghese, CC Dungiven. them during these unprecedented but since Covid, 40% are now times. I know many of them are praying! The Lord works in IT’S an ill wind that blows looking forward to a future repeat wonderful ways! webcams and brought Mass into our homes nobody any good, as they say; of this devotion. To conclude, I would like to Covid-19, being that ‘ill wind’ with daily Rosaries that this most reminded us that, although we I’m sure I speak for everyone mention the young people of the but, indirectly, the lockdown gave terrible virus would pass quickly. were separated from our families in the parish in saying we are all parish who are currently engaged much welcome time for us to Light came when our churches and friends, we were never alone. very grateful to Martina O’Neill, in the Pope John Paul II group. reflect, and the good that came installed webcams and brought While we were being Fr Kelly’s housekeeper, who Thanks to the coordinators in the from it has strengthened many the Mass into our homes. We were continually reminded of the news has supported our priests daily Derry Catechetical Centre’s Youth people of all ages on their spiritual able to access Holy Week and about the changes to our daily at Mass with responses, and Ministry etc, the young people journey. Easter ceremonies, which was a lives, we were reassured during added to the service with her have been able to participate on- We, like many parishes, have great lift to both our spiritual and Mass about the one thing that beautiful singing. Many others line with the various activities been very fortunate to have had mental well-being. would never change and that is have contributed their time by and move towards completing daily Mass and other devotional I missed the actual receiving God’s love for us. helping with choir and prayerful their Gold Award. They have practises beamed into our homes, of Holy Communion, but the My thanks to Fr McGirr, Fr devotion. been very grateful for this facility. via the church webcam thanks spiritual prayer recited at Mass Madden and key workers of God. The loss of a loved one is a Life can’t stop just because there’s to our priests, Fr Kelly and Fr was of some consolation. (Nicola) sad experience at any time for a a lockdown, it just takes an Fr Dermot McGirr. Varghese. With all the restrictions family, but during the pandemic, alternative route! St Patrick’s Day had been the COVID-19 came to us like a imposed on us, it certainly rocked The world took a deep breath the priests have celebrated all (Marian) last time people assembled in shot in the dark. It was a very my Catholic faith, but I have now and slowed down and I joined our local church for Mass but, worrying time for all of us, moved on in the new normal, in. With the quieter pace of life, thankfully, the Northern Ireland especially the older and more and pass on my thanks to those came a realisation of what was Executive announced that public vulnerable people in society and all over the Diocese who worked important in my life and a deep worship would resume on June our Health Service workers. so hard to keep the practice gratitude to God for the essentials. 29 for limited numbers, while Then there was worse to come; of our faith alive with the new The new pace allowed more respecting safety guidelines. This lockdown, which robbed us all technology. time for organised prayer and throws up even more challenges of our social life and our family And, a special thanks to Fr the availability of so many online for priests but I’m sure they will connections. The biggest blow McGirr and Fr Madden, who masses meant that there was be able to overcome them, as in came when we could no longer helped keep our faith alive in almost always a suitable time for previous situations. take comfort in visiting our the Desertmartin Parish. As daily Mass. Like many people in the parish chapels or the graves of our loved we emerge from lockdown, Although no substitute for and throughout the Diocese, ones. recognition has to be given to all Holy Communion, the spiritual we are all very grateful to our For me, it was the most dreadful the volunteers who are helping to communion prayer was very priests and Bishop, who have time of my life. The news on reopen our churches as, without meaningful. The absence of continued to bring all the usual the TV was so depressing, with them, we would not have the Communion increased my services to our homes; daily Mass, Fr Seamus Kelly leading the Life in the Spirit seminars in St Patrick’s multiple deaths every day. There opportunity to attend Mass in longing to receive the sacrament Rosaries, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Church, Dungiven. seemed to be no escape from person. (Olive) and increased my awareness this terrible virus. Our only of how much I had taken for consolation was our faith in God, The Masses in our parish granted. (Catherine) over the past few months have Errigal – Ballerin... Challenging times but we gelled as a community SURREAL. That is probably as we came together to support The sense of community was the best word to describe it. Of each other and to put networks strong. All played a part – chapel course, it had been trailed but we in place to support the vulnerable. cleaners, readers, sacristan, the didn’t think it would happen to For the first few days, the GAA in both parts of the parish, us. There we were sitting at Mass chapel remained open and many the SVP; so many did so much. for St Patrick’s Day Vigil and then gravitated towards it in the We had a wonderful weekend lockdown. Of course, we did not evenings after work, not knowing as ‘wombles’, as people lifted the really know what was in store. whether we could talk to each litter in their immediate streets. Nobody did. other! The candelabrum was And we lost Mark, who did so The Ballerin half of the Errigal glowing with lit candles; offerings much to support parish activity. Parish was hit immediately by to get us through. May he rest in peace. the death of a much-loved young Fr Crowley, our parish priest, Challenging times, but we gelled parishioner and the first funeral moved quickly and, with the as a community, and Fr Crowley where we could not gather in the help of Robert McIntyre, had our has been wonderful in helping us chapel to support the grieving Masses live on Facebook for the to do that! (Eamon) family. Easter Ceremonies, and soon a It was tough and we had a few webcam followed. is the other half more deaths, young and not so Proud that my son, John, did of the Errigal Parish and young, come in the following the readings on Holy Saturday, a wonderful report, and weeks. It was hard not to be another parishioner, Carol Ann photographs, on life in able to offer condolences in the and I did Easter Sunday. The lockdown there will feature in normal way. But, as a community, Masses got so many views, both next month’s edition. we did what we could and, in from the community and from many ways, became stronger former parishioners! 26 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 The Life of St Teresa of Jesus of Los Andes: The Lay Lifeby Fr Stephen Quinn OCD THE Holy Rule of St Albert, Given her parents’ devotion, it with every first communion, there expression of God’s overwhelming the rule of life for all Carmelites, is not surprising that Juanita’s own were all the external trappings – the desire to communicate directly has at regular intervals produced religious commitment sparked ornate dresses, the pews covered in with His children. Christ was extraordinary individuals who at an early age. She tells us in her white cloth, and the processions of doing the difficult aspect of this have been utterly transformed in spiritual diary that, from the age children. phenomenon; He was jumping Christ. Some of those individuals of six, “Jesus took my heart to be The fact that Juanita wrote over the vast difference between have become household names, His own.” It is, indeed, an extra down in her spiritual diary what the divine and human, and it such as Teresa of Avila, John of large claim for one so small but the celebrating priest had said only took on her part a certain the Cross, and Therese of Lisieux. there was a simple explanation for during his homily, showed the innocence and openness in order There are others who, as yet, it. Like so many others, Juanita’s true object of her attention. Juanita to listen. The Lord speaking to her remain largely unrecognised and mother began to take her to Mass recorded the priest as saying, “look in His human voice is simply an unknown but who, in their own with her every morning from the at the angels of the altar, dear little intensification of what occurs at Juanita Fernandez Solar way, are every bit as extraordinary age of six. It is, indeed, amazing girls. Look at them, they envy every single Communion that a it draws out of God what is best, Juanita implored her friend not as these others. how almost insignificant stepsyou. All Heaven is present in you.” person receives in a state of grace. namely Himself. God will show to give up but to change the model In the next few editions of lead to outsized events. We must The words of the priest were in Each Communion is, as the priest Himself to the soul in response to of prayer out of which she worked. ‘The Net’, I desire to share with remember that at this stage in the sympathy with the experience that who preached at Juanita’s First the expression of our genuine love. Prayer is not ever something that the readership one of these most early 20th century, Pius X had still unfolded as the Liturgy continued. Communion wisely observed, an Juanita believes that God, in comes out of us, rather it originates majestic of people. Teresa of not dropped the age of those who Juanita describes for us her action of the most “intimate union response to this prayer ,will lift in another, in Christ, and comes the Andes is the first Discalced could attend communion to the experience of the Eucharistic Lord of our souls with Jesus Christ.” up the veil that separates the soul into the person filling them with Carmelite Saint from the New age of reason. in her soul: “It is impossible to The Lord comes into His true from God. God will show His the presence of this Other. If World. She was baptised as Juanita Every day, Juanita would beg describe what took place between temple, the throne at the centre of beauty, His sweetness, His infinite we make room for this Other, Fernandez Solar. She was a native her mother to let her approach my soul and Jesus. I asked Him a every human soul, and He takes goodness, and His love. something dramatic will occur as of the city of Santiago, in the South the altar to receive the Sacrament. thousand times that He would take up His reign. From that throne not In another letter, this time to this Other reigns in us. American country of Chile. She Her constant entreaties were me, and I heard His dear voice for made by human hands, the Lord her spiritual director, she shares a Juanita advises, “God deigns was born on July 13, 1900; the very met with a persistent negative, the first time. Oh, Jesus I love you! starts to transform the person from little of her own experience of the to take possession of my being, dawn of the 20th century, a child of “you are too young.” She was, I adore you! I prayed to Him for inside out. As good as Juanita had interior room. She tells him that giving himself entirely to me. I, modernity. of course, disappointed, but she everybody. And I felt the Virgin been in preparation for the Blessed an “intimate conversation” strikes this moment, am lost in his infinite Juanita’s parents were named did not become despondent. She near to me. Oh, how my heart Sacrament, it was as nothing as to up between herself and her Lord. being. He Loves me with an infinite Miguel Fernandez Jarequemada determined to prepare herself for expanded! For the first time, I what she was like with Christ in As this conversation begins, she love! What a sweet thing it is for the and Lucia Solar Armstrong. that red-letter day when she would experienced a delicious peace.” her, so much so, even her brothers follows exactly the model that soul to live this way with the divine Juanita was the pair’s fourth child; finally be able to receive. When Juanita is speaking of (and brothers are never too quick St Teresa of Avila, her mother being compenetrated, united with one sister and two brothers older, Even though Christ had taken hearing the Lord’s voice here, she is on the uptake but especially on in the religious life, teaches her. him in love.” and one sister and one brother her heart, she was not some plaster not talking in metaphor and simile, spiritual matters) noticed the She would look to the intimate This is what her brother Luis younger. Juanita said of her family caste statue of a person. She had she is speaking in spiritual truth, difference. moments in the Gospel, when was so deeply impressed by, that that “Jesus did not desire me to be the same heart, soul, and spirit as the actual voice of the Lord spoke Juanita was emphatic as to privileged individuals got to share his sister was a person totally born poor like Himself. I was born everyone else. In her was the same to her soul’s ears. The very human the significance of her Firsta moment with Jesus. In Juanita’s penetrated by the presence of in the midst of riches, spoilt by all.” potential strength, at the same time voice that was joined to The Divine Communion. She measured case, she loved that moment in God. What is so significant to this Juanita’s maternal grandfather the same profound brokenness Word spoke with her. Juanita her life by her Communion; she Bethany when Mary sat at the witness of Juanita is that she is not was an unbelievably successful burnt away in her heart; the became so familiar with that voice measured her existence as being Lord’s feet and was so intensely an enclosed nun at this stage, but man of business. By means of permanent crisis that every human that she was able to distinguish it in Before Communion and After preoccupied with Him that not rather is a teenage lay person living agriculture and commerce, he being endures. a crowd of swirling voices. Communion. She said of it, “from even her sister’s disapproval could out the fullest relationship of prayer had created an almost aristocratic In Juanita’s case, she had the Spiritual authorities such as St the first embrace Jesus did not let side-track her. All she did was to with Christ. And so, if she can do it affluence for his entire family. An proverbial fiery temper of a Latin Teresa of Avila and St Ignatius me go but took me to Himself.” look well, to listen intently and not at an early age and in lay life, who affluence that they took for granted and was very subject to outbursts Loyola describe this phenomenon Juanita’s brother, Luis reported let any distraction come between cannot follow her example? and had become accustomed to. of temper. Other children, as locution. The voice of the Lord his sister was first and foremost in herself and Jesus. This has been a short Juanita’s parents created with that particularly her own family, could made such a distinct impression his memory a woman of prayer. In the same letter, Juanita comes introduction into the young life of wealth a stable and affectionate see that there was more to this girl upon Juanita, that, in childlike One of his enduring memories to the same conclusion as St Teresa Juanita Fernandez Solar, and what home for both Juanita and her than met the eye, and they made it innocence, she assumed that this was of him knocking at her room in her book the Way of Perfection; is outstanding about those years siblings. their business to put this child to kind of thing happened to everyone door and, on getting no answer, prayer simply was looking at Jesus. is her complete openness to God. It was a house in which the the test. They would deliberately who received Communion. opening it and invariably finding Another friend, Elisa Valdes It is an outstanding openness that Catholic faith was held with intense go out of their way to provoke her She only realised that there was his sister on her knees, motionless Ossa, had obviously written is almost astonishing to us who reverence. Both parents possessed and to get her to react. They knew anything exceptional about it when in prayerful adoration, and of her complaining to Juanita about how live in the opening decades of the a genuine spirit of faith and they exactly the buttons to press and she she saw her mother’s arched brow being so absorbed in what she was difficult she was finding prayer and 21st Century. Somehow, over the encouraged each of the children to would turn into a towering inferno and then alarmed look, and from doing that she did not even realise did not know what to do. Juanita century separating us from Juanita imbibe of this faith. As in so many of rage. She would lash out with that moment grew sheepish and that he was calling her. Although encouraged her not to become we have managed to damage cases, as good a job as the parents sharp words and flying fists. silent about a phenomenon that she had turned into an athletic and disheartened. She told Elisa that that openness to God that comes did, it was not a picture-perfect In order to have a heart worthy continued with every Communion vital young woman, whenever she she, herself, had many times run naturally to every human being. family. They had their difficulties. to receive the Eucharistic Lord, she received there-after. closed the door of her room, she out of things to say in prayer. She If this openness was not a divinely When Juanita was a child, her she came up with her own scheme In deep silence and honour, could slip into that aspect of herself challenges her friend to recognise inscribed feature of human life, grandfather, who had created all to counteract this aggression. she held these words as only ever that held a deep silence and an the reality of prayer, “who would then the Lord would not have said the wealth, died. Juanita’s father Though so young, she came to the meant to pass from the Lord to her intense serenity. In some letters to know what to say to the Word, “let the little children come to me.” took over management of the same conclusion as St Ignatius of and back again. A lesson that all her friends, we have the privilege the eternal Word, the divine and At some profound level, we have family’s finances. Miguel was not Loyola, self-awareness is the true who receive religious experience to discover what went on behind uncreated Wisdom?” spoiled ourselves. We have given a competent man of business and friend of real change in Christ. She must learn! Only in letters to her the closed door of her room and, Juanita confided in her friend into every trend and fashion. We the family began to haemorrhage obtained a notebook and into that spiritual director, Fr Falgueras, even deeper still, within the room that running out of words was no have filled our hearts with every money, which called for constant notebook she recorded every act of does Juanita expand at all on her of her soul. bad thing. She reminded Elisa that kind of material good and stuffed retrenching of the funds and a virtue by which she counteracted experience of the Lord speaking Prayer the goal of prayer was not what set it into the sanctuary of God, and gradual sell-off of the assets of her fierce temper. She worked so directly to her. To Fr Falgueras, She shared with Ines Salas of words to say, but that the soul be we have anesthetised ourselves the family. This failure initiated hard at it and achieved so much she writes, “from the time of my Pereira that prayer was not a “kindled” in the love of God. When to the consequences with various a great deal of tension between self-control that it even impressed First Communion, our Lord spoke matter of thinking nice thoughts loving is involved, then the simple substances. husband and wife; the wife her own mother, who said of her, to me after Communion and told about God. It is rather a matter look is enough! Let us use this saint of Carmel, resented the new austerities that “She outdid herself in everything. me things I’d never suspected, and of simply loving God a great “When we are there in his a sister on the journey to the the mismanagement forced on her. It brought tears to our eyes, she ever when I asked him, He would deal. Love is the key ingredient in presence, just gazing at him is Heavenly Jerusalem, to rediscover The tension led to Miguel spending seemed like an angel.” tell me things that were going to praying; it transforms what could enough to make us love him, and if what lies within each and every more and more time away from Communion happen, and then they really did appear as just the empty recitation we are so captivated by his beauty human heart. There is a room there the family trying to stave off In response to Juanita’s occur.” of words and formulas into a that we can’t say anything but that only Christ can fill. bankruptcy and escaping the ire of wholehearted efforts, her mother In the same letter, Juanita speaks genuine expression of intimacy that we love him, why, little sister Juanita Fernandez Solar, help his wife. The tension between her finally gave permission to receive of the experience of the Lord’s between the soul and the Son of should we be upset? Gaze at him us to open wide the doors of our parents deeply wounded Juanita’s her first Communion and the date voice; she wisely observes that God. When we are using love as tirelessly -gaze at him in your little hearts to Christ! consciousness. was set for September 11, 1910. As the phenomenon is simply an a means of communication then heaven.” THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 27 Pictures from Heaven by Vera McFadden cloths when they came into the tomb on the first Easter Sunday. The shroud was lying on the ground, and the veil was folded up neatly. The Bible does not tell us that there were images left on them, but that was probably kept a secret for their safekeeping. Ian Wilson tells how it had once been saved from fire, and some scorch marks remain on it. His book mentions all scientific exploration and states that the best explanation they could give was “a short burst of gentle power.” Grains on the cloth were carbon dated to Palestine at the DURING lockdown, now and time of our Lord. which was, “I will bless the house again we thought of ways to pass The words, “a short burst”, where the image of my Sacred the time. One of the ideas was suggest that this image came Heart is exposed and honoured.” to write about Easter and the instantly – perhaps, just at the At the church in the Rue de members of our families became moment before Jesus opened his Bac, in Paris, Our Lady appeared very interested in exchanging eyes? several times to Catherine their efforts on social media. At my baptism, I was given the Laboure. On one of these Two of my haiku read: name ‘Helen Veronica’ after my occasions, she showed her the 1. Sighted eyes open, mother and my godmother, Vera design of a medal and asked A short burst of gentle power, Given, who lived next door. Of that copies would be made and Resurrection hour. course, they did not know that distributed, promising great there were huge statues of each graces. When this was done, 2. Science can’t explain of my patron saints on each side because the spiritual director was the clear image on the shroud, of the main altar at St Peter’s, in unsure of the authenticity of the the face on the veil. Rome. apparitions, Our Lady repeated St Helena found the relic of the her request. When the Bishop was true cross. St Veronica is shown shown the pattern for the medal, with a cloth. Traditionally, she he was impressed and decided met Jesus as He carried His Cross to have copies made anyway. and offered him a towel, on which Miracles followed and, eventually, the image of his face appeared. millions of these medals were The story is not mentioned in being sent all over the world. Scripture. Veronica’s name means, Jesus came to Sr Faustina and ‘true image’. It comes from the chose her to promote devotion Veil of Manoppello. imprint on the cloth. Was the to His Divine Mercy. He gave her story an effort to explain such an the design for the picture. When image? Were there several? Faustina remarked that no artist I learned of one in a book called would be able to do the painting ‘The True Icon’, which was written properly, Jesus replied, “it will not by Paul Badde. This is believed to be by the artist’s skill, but by my be the veil that covered Jesus’ face. power...” The features are the same as those The miracles and blessings on the Holy Shroud. Like the that followed the response to shroud, it was moved from place these three requests from Heaven The line, “a short burst of gentle to place for protection. It is now indicated their authenticity. power” was in a book which I in a Monastery in a remote area Scientists continue to research read many years ago. It was “The about 60 miles from Rome. Again, and discover, sometimes for Shroud of Turin” by Ian Wilson. scientists cannot explain how the our benefit and often to the It was full of information and I image was put on the cloth. detriment of our universe. Surely found it fascinating. It made me They also cannot explain the the shroud, the veil and the tilma want to go to see it, though I do picture of Mary on the cactus tilma from Guadalupe will never be not think that was possible at the at Guadalupe. When investigation forgotten in this progressive and time. Turin was also the location showed the figures in our Lady’s technological age. of Don Bosco’s shrine. I looked pupil, surely that would indicate Many years ago I wrote a longingly at maps, but I did not that the picture appeared instantly poem. It began, “Science robes know of any pilgrimages with that at the moment the roses were the universe, and yet unexplained destination. on earth, a piece of cloth, image falling out of the tilma, and it tells Shroud of Turin. Thirty years later I got my that she was looking at the Bishop laden”. opportunity. The Holy Shroud and the two other people. It also In these strange times, when would be displayed every fifth marks the date, as the number of people all over the world are year and Marian Pilgrimages were stars on her cloak was the number trying to cope with this virus, and A few thoughts on the Eucharist organising visits. Because of my of main stars in the sky that night. science researches for cures and by Vera McFadden slight handicap, I was brought in The fact that the cactus fibre has methods of retainment, it is good a wheelchair, and so were several lasted for hundreds of years is also to remember that the Man who AT the Last Supper, Jesus took time before that. wounds, but managed to prevent other elderly people. We got the remarkable. rose from the dead is still with us, the bread, gave thanks, broke it St Tarcisius is a Patron Saint of any desecration of the Holy best viewing place of all – at the Some pictures were and in Him we move and walk and gave it to His disciples, saying, Eucharistic Ministers. He lived in Eucharist. front, just beside the Shroud. We commissioned by Heaven. At and have our being. “Take and eat you all of this, for the third century AD. When he An ancient piece of writing sat there, gazing at the details Paray le Monial, Jesus appeared “I live, no, not I, but Christ this is My Body which will be was 12 years old, he was bringing explains how to receive Holy in those moments that we will to St Margaret Mary and told liveth in me.” It was good to given up for you.” Holy Communion to some Communion, it begins “Make never forget. Heaven has left this her that He wished the spread of wonder at the miraculous instant There were no Eucharistic Christians when he was attacked a throne for the Lord’s Body by miraculous image. devotion to His Sacred Heart. He pictures that Heaven gave to us. ministers when I was a child. by youths and a man because he placing your left hand on your Peter and John found the two gave her 12 promises. The first of However, there was a very long was Christian. He died from his right hand...”. 28 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 What is the reason for the hope that you have? (1 Peter 3:15) My faith journey by Fr John McLaughlin SSC IVING in Moville now after spending Brazil, probably, in later hindsight, After my first period in Chile, I because of an enthusiastic article got the opportunity to do a Clinical almost 60 years of my priesthood I had written in the Diocesan and Pastoral Education course between the Dublin Diocese and bulletin about my experience in a hospital outside Boston. there. He asked me to come back That was a great experience and Chile,L I feel I have come full circle, because it to him in a month. He was going a good way of getting yourself to send me to Chile, not Brazil, in order and finding out what is here that I was born and bred, received my as a Diocesan volunteer priest. Fr kind of person you are. It was a childhood sacraments, served as an altar boy Jim Tormey was coming back to God-send...a moment of grace... the Diocese and I was to go out as within a couple of years, in and was nurtured in my faith by my family and replace him the following 1988, my sister was struck down and community. year. That was 1978. I would have with Meningitis, which left her been 41 years old. partially blind, more than slightly My father was Charlie June 1963, right on the Pentecost Thanksgiving brain damaged and bed-ridden McLaughlin, from Brockagh, weekend when Pope John XXIII I went to Santiago, in Chile for about 14 years before she died. Glenfin, Co Donegal. He arrived died. It was for the Dublin then in August to work with I came back home for a couple in Moville in the 30s and became Diocese and about 14 others the Columbans. After language of years and spent time with her the local pharmacist. My mother were ordained along with me. school in Bolivia, I was back in and the families, going to hospital was Maureen McFeeley, from Those were the days of numbers. Chile in 1979 and raring to go. appointments etc. So, the course Ballybofey and also a pharmacist. We had a big class, so five of us But after a short couple of months I did on hospital ministry helped For a while she had a pharmacy were sent to Maynooth for four during Lent in the San Louis me during this. in Carn. We were a very Catholic years of Theology. Maynooth parish, I became sick with typhoid My parents, who were in their family, I suppose. My younger had about 600 students in the and it took about a year-and-a- 90s, were still alive at that time sister, Anne and brother, Tony, seminary from all over Ireland. half to recover fully from it. I got and residing in a home. Sisters are and I joined in praying the Rosary Fr Jim McGonagle, who also lives so much care and support from a great support for a priest. After every night, and I was involved in in Moville now, was in my class the Columbans at that time, it their mother dies, a priest relies our church as an altar boy. in Maynooth, and I met other made me want to stay with them often on his sister or sisters, if he I received my primary schooling seminarians from the Derry in appreciation. has any. in Moville and then moved to Diocese, such as Fr Joe O’Connor It was tough at the beginning. During these two years, I Dublin, as a 13-year-old, to attend and Fr Liam Donnelly, who was in I had no great problem with the worked in St Mark’s Parish, in the Holy Ghost Fathers’ College in the year below me. Spanish language as I had been Tallaght, before I returned to Blackrock. It was common then In all, I spent about 14 years well prepared in Bolivia and Chile. I continued with this for boys to go to college in Dublin, ministering in Dublin, in parishes continued with interesting local spirit of missionary and joined and there were many from such as Arklow, Rialto with classes in Santiago. I also spent the Columbans as a permanent Fr John McLaughlin SSC. Donegal in Blackrock during my Fatima Mansions and Dolphin a lot of time later on living with member in 1992. I took a and paperwork for marriages about the Pope, asking if he was time there. It wasn’t a seminary House, and Booterstown. Quite families during holidays, so I got sabbatical year and went on a 30- and baptisms etc, which freed going to die and what we were but a lot of priests came out of a number of my contemporaries a good instinct for the soul of day retreat in Manresa, as well the priests up to concentrate going to do. We said that we were Blackrock College in those years. went to work for a couple of years the place and the culture of the as a Faith and Mission course in on their pastoral ministry. I did having Mass at 7 pm but they said I returned to Moville often on in Peru or Chile, as volunteers country. It was a whole new way Dalgan. have some administration to do, that they couldn’t wait until then, visits, as my father didn’t sell his with the Columban Associates or of life, especially in those poorer I was in Santiago for a few years but I was blessed to have very so we had a liturgy at 4 pm. This pharmacy business until 10 years St Patrick’s Kiltegan. Archbishop areas, and there was a much wider and then 11 years in Valparaiso good involvement by lay people, was the poorest of the poor and after that. He opened another John Charles McQuaid took an range of pastoral activities than on the hills and starting new who did a lot of formation work they saw the Pope as their father. pharmacy in Glasnevin, in interest in this and Dublin priests, I was used to back home. There communities. I had another and all types of renewal courses. There were many moments when Dublin, from where I went on to as with other Diocesan priests, was also the whole political scene sabbatical year in 2006. I went to We had retreats and seminars you were touched to the core. attend Clonliffe College Seminary were selected to work in England under the dictatorship of the Jerusalem for three months and for parish volunteers and people Quite a lot of people didn’t go when I was 18 years old. I also did at the service of emigrants. I military and General Pinochet. It had a great learning experience at were actively encouraged to go to Mass. We had house-to-house a BA in Philosophy at UCD and wasn’t chosen for this, so I pushed was a time of cautious opposition the Tantur Ecumenical Institute, on retreat. Some of those were collections, the CALI, and at had an interesting time there, as I to get to South America. Others, and strong witness to the Social which was founded by Pope Paul with the Conversion Retreat one point, we had 1,400 people met some of my contemporaries before me, had gone to Chile Doctrine of the Church. Not V1. I learnt about the different Movement, and some with the contributing to that. A group from Moville. and, from the Maynooth Class, dull at all! With seven chapels in religions, visited Biblical sites and Jesuits. Some groups met in each of lay-people looked after these I suppose thoughts of to Brazil. I would have known San Luis, in the northern zone of experienced the liturgies. It was a other’s homes, rotating weekly, collections as parish visitators, priesthood were always there. I some of the Armagh and Elphin Santiago, it was a most interesting wonderful gift. and they found this a great and they kept an eye on what was was surrounded by priests, both priests who were working with place to start off, and I was warmly In all, I spent about 33 years blessing for their home too. It was going on in the area they were in my family and as an altar boy. the Columbans in Peru and Chile received by Fathers Pat Egan and in Chile. I came back to Ireland mightily impressive. collecting in; who was sick and in My mother’s brother was the late as Associate priests. Some of Michael Hoban. about five years ago, after retiring Prayer need of a priest, etc. People grew Bishop Anthony McFeeley of the them were my contemporaries in I was on a contract for six years as parish priest in Santiago Columbans are people of great in their pastoral instincts and they Raphoe Diocese, and she also Maynooth. Fr Tony Conroy from from the Dublin Diocese and after repeating in the San Columbano prayer. I found that the people grew as believers. All the First had uncles and great uncles who Elphin Diocese is still serving in that I had to come back. It came parish where I had been pastor of the parish convert you as you Communion and Confirmation were priests. My father also had Sao Paolo in Brazil. to the stage of the 5th or 6th year twelve years earlier. It was a very convert them. In one parish that I and Marriage programs were run a brother a priest in the Raphoe I was released for a few weeks and there was interesting pastoral strong Columban parish and visited from Ireland last October, from the parishes, so there was a Diocese, Fr James McLaughlin, from my Dublin Diocese, in 1976, stuff happening in the parish that had solidarity programmes, I found that amongst members constant pool of very enthusiastic who was a good commentator to go on a trip to Brazil. This was I was involved in, and so I wanted catechetical groups, senior citizen of the parish council in northern people around the chapels. Youths and writer in his day. I would have organised by the Irish Missionary to stay on. groups, formation of young Chile’s Iquique, a number prayed and adults constantly sought out spent holidays in Glenfin with Fr Union, and it was the Kiltegan Archbishop Ryan had died people for Confirmation, and the Divine Office daily. Their formation programs, whether in James McLaughlin’s brother, Jack, Fathers, St Patrick’s Missionary very suddenly, so I wrote to his AA. This was all done at parish prayer would often help to bring the parish or the deaneries or the and that is where I served my first Society, who were the hosts at successor, Archbishop Kevin level. There was an abundance on your own prayer. We had Summer Schools in the Diocesan Mass, in Glenfin chapel. I was very the time. There were hugely McNamara, requesting an of very gifted people, and a lot of catastrophes too; earthquakes Zones. nervous as a young fella and can interesting trips to places like Rio, extension and gave two or three formation opportunities for lay and tsunamis. Those were tough It is important to accompany remember the embarrassment of Recife, where the famous Bishop reasons. He gave me another people. There was a great group moments for the people, a real and encourage people and, putting the incense in the thurible Helder Camara ministered, year and after that I came back to of Spanish Dominican Sisters physical shake-up, and you had to through encounter opportunities and spilling a good bit of it! Fortaleza and Sao Paolo the Dublin Diocese...and almost who were hugely supportive and react quickly to have something like funerals and baptisms, As an altar boy in Moville I On my return, I wanted to immediately started to think how involved in parish leadership, and for them. For example, following they can become interested in served at the ordinations, in go back there and the Kiltegan I could get back again to Chile! the Columbans also worked with the assassination attempt on Pope formation. Once people start on Ballybrack, of Fr Larry Keaveney Fathers were happy to take me. You had to be home two years married deacons. John Paul II in 1981, there was this journey they look for more; it and Fr Willie McElhinney, by Archbishop Dermot Ryan was before you could reapply, which I There are more priests there an extraordinary level of anguish breeds faith. Bishop Neil Farren. These were big the Bishop of Dublin, so I got did, so I got out again after that. than many parishes now have amongst the people in the parish. When you get young people events: to see priests ordained in an audience with him. He didn’t I suppose I was on my way to here at home, but lay people We had alcoholics who would involved, there is a huge those days in your parish church seem too surprised when I told becoming a permanent member practically ran the parish and the come looking for bread or tea, but energy. However, if you want to and they left an impression. him that I wanted to go back to of the Columbans. church, and did all the interviews on that occasion they came crying encourage the youth, you have to I was ordained in Clonliffe, in THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 29 My Faith Story... cont. catechists too, and there was a stress and strain involved. was told that I could stay as long sense of fulfilment for them in I had a couple of friends who as I wanted to! create the climate. We had young this. Catechesis in the home was were in parish work in Dublin and I am 82 years old now and have people leading the formation encouraged, as was attendance at they suggested that I come to help been living in Moville for the last for young people preparing for Sunday Mass and involvement in out there, but I didn’t want the five years and say the odd Mass in Confirmation, and there was an the liturgy. This brings more life hassle. I was advised to wait to see the parish. I am also involved with adult Catechumenate program to a parish. It’s about widening the what would happen. I mentioned the Legion of Mary and the Men’s for those who had missed out. net, I suppose. that I would really like to have Shed, which has been meeting We tried to help people be more I retired in 2015 and came somewhere to live outside Dalgan, via Zoom because of Covid-19. missionary and more outward back to the Columban Centre at if I could, and that I was interested There are some great musicians looking. Some young people from Dalgan. I was over 75 years old in coming to Donegal. So, I was amongst them and we enjoy our parishes went on to join as and just after celebrating the 50th told that a house in Moville had singing together. It’s good to be Lay Associates with the Society in anniversary of my ordination. I been left to the Columbans and back. With the land and the sea, Fiji, and the Philippines. felt that I was too old to continue they wanted someone to live in it. you are never bored in Moville! We involved senior citizens as working as parish priest, with the I was only too delighted to go and

125 years of St Joseph’s Young Priests’ Society by Christina McLaren ST Joseph’s Young Priests Society. their financial support. Never let people to remember SJYP in Society exists to help students Mrs Taffe had one son, named it be said that a young man could their will. When someone dies, on their journey to priesthood. George Robert. She had hoped not continue his studies due to a donation in lieu of flowers can The Society fosters vocations that one day he would become lack of funds. At present there are be given to the Society via the to the priesthood and religious a priest, however he had poor six young men from the Diocese funeral director. life; assists students for the health and died aged 23 years – who are in formation and another At branch level, the group priesthood both financially and the year after his father. She and student in the USA. meets once a month (except by prayer; promotes the vocation her husband had great devotion In 2018-19, there were 390 January, July and August) for of the laity and fosters a greater to St Joseph and in her local branches of the Society in Ireland. only one hour, where they pray understanding and love for the church, in Ballypousta near In the Derry Diocese there are 24 for vocations and for benefactors Eucharist and Mass. Ardee, Co Louth, she set up a active groups and this is becoming and they plan events to help raise The Society was founded by shrine in honour of St Joseph. For increasingly difficult due to funds, which are sent to HQ, who Olivia Mary Taffe in 1895, with Corpus Christi, with the help of ageing and deaths. Every parish pays the seminary where the the help of Fr Darlington SJ and the priests and other parishioners, would welcome more people to young men are studying. Fr Browne SJ in France, where she organized a public procession join a branch. If you are interested When becoming a member, you Christina McLaren, President of SJYP Society in Derry Diocese, Kathleen she had become a member of of The Blessed Sacrament with please contact your parish priest, recite every day the short prayer Doherty, secretary, and Fr Daniel McFaul, spiritual director at a meeting earlier the confraternity of St Joseph, some children dressed up as who will refer you to the Branch for vocations and you can gain in the year. Protector of the Holy Souls. saints and others enacting scenes President. a Plenary Indulgence under the on Holy Thursday. Please ensure Branches have not been able Olivia had approval from the from the life of Christ. If you wish to set up a new group usual conditions on Pentecost, that future generations are not to meet or fundraise these past Archbishops of Armagh and In the year 2018-19, the Society (there are 26 parishes where there Feast of Christ the King, Feast deprived of what we take for few months. It is anticipated that Tuam, and support from the assisted 65 Irish students and is no branch of SJYP), please let of St Joseph, Feast of St John granted; a priest always available SJYP will be hard hit as a result Jesuits, two of whom helped her 563 overseas students, and has your parish priest know and he the Baptist, and on the National to celebrate Mass. of this; however we look forward found the magazine, St Joseph’s received numerous thank you will refer you to me, Christina Pilgrimage to Knock, usually During the Covid-19 pandemic to the day when normality Sheaf, where she inserted an letters from bishops and priests McLaren, Derry Diocesan the last Sunday in June. All lockdown, we have experienced returns. It is hoped that people, in appeal for funds to support a around the world. Here, in President (christinamclaren44@ benefactors of the Society partake the loss of Holy Mass, especially thanksgiving for remaining safe young altar boy from a family of Ireland, it costs up to £24,000 per gmail.com) and, with the parish in a daily Mass, as do deceased people who have no technology. from the virus, will join a church slender means, who wanted to year for the students’ formation priest’s permission, I will come members. One lady said that she found it so group, including SJYP. become a priest. fees. The Diocese contributes and talk with you and will arrange Pope St John Paul II said that frustrating and was at a loss when One of the means of comforting The appeal was successful and as towards this, as do SJYP, and the training. if we have no priest we have no she was standing outside the the Holy Souls in purgatory is a result, at the end of the second student’s family is expected to give Tribute has to be paid to Mass, with no Mass we have churches at funeral Masses and charity, ‘The harvest is plentiful year the readers were contributing a contribution. members in local branches no church, so you can see how envied the few people who were but the labourers are few; to the support of 10 students for If anyone can subscribe £10 per who collect subscriptions every important your prayers are. There inside the church. She said she therefore ask the Lord of the the priesthood. Thus began the year, or even £6, this will go a long year for the Society. They also is nothing more important than thought how we take Holy Mass harvest to send out labourers into work of St Joseph’s Young Priests’ way in helping SJYP continue welcome donations and for the Mass since the Last Supper for granted. his harvest’. (Matthew 9:37-38).

Bless, in a special way, Pope’s monthly Your servant Diocesan intention Father.... clerical Send your Spirit upon him The Holy Father has asked for So that he may always walk appointments prayer during September for: in the path of faith, hope and love, in the footsteps of Christ, CLERICAL appointments Respect for the Planet’s the eternal priest, who offered in the Derry Diocese, Resources: Himself on the cross for the life of effective September 11, are We pray that the planet’s the world. Amen. as follows: resources will not be plundered, but shared in a just Remember in prayer: • Rev Edward Gallagher, PP and respectful manner. Greencastle, to be, in addition, Fr Pat O’Hagan (Sept 1st) PP Badoney Lower. Fr David O’Kane (2nd) • Rev Ciaran Hegarty, on loan Prayer for Priests Fr Patrick O’Kane (3rd) Fr Patrick Arkinson (17th) from the Diocese of Down & Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless Fr Peter O’Kane (4th) Fr Patrick Baker (18th) Connor, currently CC Urney & our bishops and priests and to All priests (5th) Fr Declan Boland (19th) Castlefin, to be Adm Urney & confirm them in their vocation of Fr Arthur O’Reilly (6th) Fr Eugene Boland (20th) Castlefin. service. All priests (7th) Fr Francis Bradley (21st) • Rev Daniel McFaul, CC As they stand before us as Creggan, to be, in addition, All priests (8th) Fr Manus Bradley (22nd) ministers of Your Sacraments, nominated as Chaplain to the Fr Michael Porter (9th) All priests (23rd) may they be channels of the love Group of Hospitals. All priests (10th) and compassion of the Good Fr Brian Brady (24th) • Rev John P Forbes, Adm Shepherd, who came not be served Fr Ignacy Saniuta (11th) All priests (25th) Badoney Lower, to be Priest-in- but to serve. Fr John Ryder (12th) Fr Thomas Canning (26th) Residence Badoney Lower. Give them the grace they need to Fr Gerard Sweeney (13th) Fr Michael Canny (27th) • Rev Art O’Reilly, CC respond generously to you, and Fr Joseph Varghese (14th) Fr John Cargan (28th) Banagher, to retire. the courage to proclaim your Fr John Walsh (15th) Fr Neal Carlin (29th) • Rev Patrick McGoldrick, CC Word of justice, love and truth. Fr Alex Anderson(16th) All priests (30th) Moville, to retire. 30 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020

A Word of God for your Family Life Love by Fr Johnny Doherty, CSsR SEPTEMBER is usually the from being let down. It is film ‘Love Story’ had the famous acceptance of one’s own body/ pervading love of God that needs our love. month when everything begins expressed in a kind of hard, cold statement in it: “Love means never sexuality and freedom with each us to open ourselves to receive it Week 3: Jesus said: (Forgive to get back to normal – back to approach to life and especially having to say sorry”. The truth other’s sexuality. It is a love that and to return that love in all that each other) “Not seven times but work, back to school, back to to people who are close to us. A is just the opposite. Love means needs to be enjoyed. we do. This love is developed seventy-seven times.” Forgiveness the humdrum of daily living. person can be very hard-working constantly having to say sorry. 2. Secondly, there is the especially through prayer in which is about living fully in the present However, there is nothing usual and dutiful, but sour. This is most There is so much to forgive each affectionate love of parents with we listen for all the wonderful by letting go of the past hurts and about this September! Covid-19 often found in men but can also be other for when people are living their children. We are becoming things God has done for us disappointments. The past means has made so many things present in women. close to each other. When that more aware of the terrible evil of and through which we commit anytime other than this present uncertain including school and • The most common enemy forgiveness is not being given child sex abuse, where children are ourselves to loving God with moment. work and the months, maybe even of love is taking each other for freely it eats away at the ability and used as objects of sexual pleasure, our whole heart, our whole soul, Week 4: Jesus said: “Why be years ahead. granted. People get used to each even the desire to love. even at times by their parents. our whole mind and our whole envious because I am generous.” The love of God and of one other and then fail to see and Children do need a lot of affection strength. This is a month for counting our another as our core way of life to acknowledge the beauty, the Developing love from their parents, to grow up in Most of the prayers proper to the blessings and being aware of the needs to inspire us no matter goodness, and the generosity of an atmosphere where they can be Sundays of this month are asking wonderful gifts that are in our what is taking place. This section one another. Love gets covered There are many different love relaxed, a relationship where they for a greater openness to God’s marriage and family life, and the of the Church’s year draws us into over with a cloud of despondency. relationships to be worked at and can be held and reassured, where love and a real commitment to our faith that bonds us to one another the very heart of everything that There is very little place for joy and developed in life. This month of they can laugh and cry. Parents love for one another. Let that be and to the Community of faith. is happening in our lives – love. gladness. Gentleness and peace go September is a good time to work need to take the initiative in this. the centre of your prayer through Like everything else, love can missing. And each one becomes on these. 3. Thirdly, there is friendship this month. also become humdrum, even a unsettled in their own home. 1. Firstly, there is the sexual love, where we bring joy and We can get great inspiration burden. It can lose its sparkle. • And then, there is indifference. love of husbands and wives. This happiness to those who are part for our lives from the Word of This month is a time to especially Very often people are soobviously is about much more of our lives as friends and family. God for each of the Sundays for renew that sparkle and to bring preoccupied with their own lives, than having sexual intercourse. It This is built up through being in September: your love alive. their own concerns, that they are is about gaining and developing a touch, being hospitable, being Week 1: Jesus said: “What will indifferent to what is happening to good freedom with one another sensitive of the needs of each other you gain if you win the whole Enemies of love their spouse or children. If asked, physically, emotionally, and and affirming of the goodness of world and ruin your life?” This is they will help. But they don’t personally. The great opportunity those we love. a time to put our priorities into • The most obvious and extreme notice the needs of those they of marriage is for a man to really 4. Fourthly, there is the respectful proper order, with God and each enemy of love is hatred – a deep love. Most often those needs are know what it is like to be a woman love that is shown to the stranger, other in marriage and/or family loathing of someone else. That is as simple as giving time to listen to and yet to be even more a man; the casual acquaintance, the life at the centre of our concerns one that most of us don’t have to one another; to have fun together; for a woman to know what it neighbour who is not necessarily Week 2: Jesus said: “Where two do battle with. But there are many to be able to relax in each other’s is like to be a man and so grow a friend. This is developed by not or three of you meet in my name, others that we do have to confront. company. How all of that affects in her femininity. But not just interfering but always having a I shall be there with you”. The • Cynicism is probably the the quality of life together! any woman, any man – to know word of greeting, a smile, a helping deepest truth about our family greatest of these. This can come • Unforgiveness is like a cancer what it is like to be this woman, hand ready for them. home is that it is the Church of the from hurt, from disappointment, in any relationship of love. The old this man. This leads into great 5. Fifthly, there is the all- home. We make Christ present by Church cleaning during Covid-19 a labour of love for Sion Mills great grandmother WHEN Sion Mills parish different coloured cloths to dress devotion to Our Lady and the that you are near to God when volunteer, Stella McGinley got the altar at special times in the Sacred Heart for a long time. I you are in your garden, as you are the opportunity to clean her church calendar. always take my Rosary beads surrounded by all the nature He parish church of St Theresa “When Fr Thomas came he with me no matter where I am has created. I don’t understand during the Covid-19 pandemic, wanted to carry on what Fr going. If I am travelling by bus how people cannot believe in she felt truly blessed. Peter had started,” said Stella, anywhere, I love to pray the God...man didn’t create nature!” “During lockdown, you were “so I made a red altar cloth Rosary, and do the same if I wake Family time is also very special allowed to go a certain distance for Pentecost, a purple one for up during the night. to Stella, who has five children, in the car, so I always went over Advent, and green one for St “I try to go to Mass and pray the eight grandchildren and 10 great to the Church,” recalled Stella, Patrick’s Day, etc. Rosary every day, and like to have grandchildren. “and when I was asked if I would “I think it is good to have the my morning prayers said long “I missed being with them like to clean it, I went over every altar look special for the various before I leave the house. I just during lockdown,” she said, “but day to do so. feasts we celebrate and I am so think it is so important to pray, they live nearby and came to visit “I was so happy to be able to happy to do it. I love it and now and as well as the Rosary, I pray me and stood outside”. do that. My family were worried find myself looking out for things for the protection of St Michael While Covid-19 continues to that I would get Covid, but I told that I think would look lovely on the Archangel, and say prayers to be a risk to health, Stella is happy them that God would protect the altar. I love arranging flowers Our Lady from my St Anthony’s to be able to continue to play her m e”. for the Tabernacle as well, but Treasures prayer book.” part in trying to keep people safe It was just the distraction not big floral displays, I leave that The 78-year-old’s venture into during their visits to St Theresa’s that she needed during such a to someone else. I had a stroke volunteering more in her local Church, and having close contact worrying time, but it was more about 10 years ago, so I don’t parish began a year after Fr restored with her family and the than that, being so close to Jesus want to overdo it!” Thomas’ arrival there. spiritual nourishment she needs in the Tabernacle filled her with Reflecting while cleaning the “Our sacristan had been through her prayer-life, she finds a reassuring peace as well as with chapel over the summer months, unwell,” recalled Stella, “and Fr her energy and desire renewed more ideas on how to use her Stella felt drawn to do a special Thomas asked me to help out... each day to do so. creative talents to enhance the display to mark the Feast of Our that was almost three years ago. It celebration of special feast days Lady’s Assumption into Heaven, keeps me busy looking after the in the chapel. which is celebrated on August 15. vestments and purifiers”. Formerly McHugh from “Every year on this date”, she Her cleaning duties during , Stella left there said, “our sacristan puts out lockdown continued when the over 60 years ago when she got a statue of Our Lady to mark churches were opened again for married at 18, and over the years the occasion. I was thinking public worship, and she now she has loved making clothes for of the great displays we have, cleans the chapel after morning her children, as well as wedding for example, at Christmas and Mass with the help of another and bridesmaid dresses. wanted to do something special lady, and again before the chapel Then one Easter herfor Mary on the Feast of her closes at 5 pm. former parish priest, Fr Peter Assumption. So, I took out the “We clean the church at least McLaughlin asked if she would blue cloth I had made for the twice a day,” she said, “as we like to make a gold cloth for the altar and borrowed the Legion would hate for anyone to get altar. She found it to be a labour of Mary’s lovely, big statue of C ov i d .” of love which, when Fr Thomas Our Lady, and we put together a As well as spending time in the Canning moved into the parish special display for that weekend”. chapel, Stella loves being in her as curate, led to her making She added: “I have had a great garden and remarked: “They say THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020 31 to Mary for Her consent to become four times a year. Ember days are Children’s Catechism Club - C3 the Mother of God. Tradition has it not related to Ash Wednesday, nor that Gabriel will sound the trumpet do they mean embers or ashes. The by Veronica Harley on the day of Judgement, calling all word ‘ember’ comes from the Latin Hello children. Welcome to the month of September. The summer and cause us great hurt. We should people. His name means ‘God is my phrase ‘Quatuor Tempora’, meaning holidays are over and we are all ready to begin the new school offer up the pain we experience with strength’. four times. the sufferings that Jesus endured on The Archangel Raphael: Raphael The specific themes for each Ember year. This month is dedicated to the Seven Sorrows (or Dolours) the Cross for the sins of the world appears in one book only, in the Old Week of the year: of Mary. The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, which is celebrated and remember that in God we place Testament – the Book of Tobit. This is 1. In spring, during the first week of on September 15, recognises the sadness experienced by Mary, our trust. a beautiful story of guidance, healing Lent, to give thanks for the rebirth of the Mother of Jesus. and love. Tradition claims that in the nature and for the gift of light (usually of the Virgin Mary’s Son was the dawn Gospel of John, where Jesus healed flowers are offered at this time). of our salvation. the man at the pool, it was Raphael 2. In summer, within the octave who stirred the healing waters. of Pentecost, to give thanks for the May this celebration of her birthday The Archangel Michael: In the Old wheat crop. bring us closer to lasting peace. Testament, Michael is described as 3. In autumn, after the third Sunday Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your standing guard with God’s people. of September, near the Feast of Son, who lives and reigns with you in In the New Testament, the Book of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God Revelation tells how Michael cast the (September 14), to give thanks for forever and ever. Amen. fallen angels out of heaven. These are the grape harvest. the angels who thought they were 4. In winter, within the week like God. Michael’s name means following the Feast of St Lucy Saints of the Month – ‘who is like God’. He is thought of (December 13), during the third September The Transfiguration September 29 – Feast of the as the great protector. Michael is week of Advent, to give thanks for Saint Mother Theresa – September 5 Archangels or Michaelmas often shown dressed in armour and the olive crop. Saint Matthew – September 21 The days between the feast day of fighting Satan, who is the head of the Although Ember days are no Saint Pio – September 23 the Archangels and October 2nd ‘fallen’ angels. longer universally marked on the Saint Jerome – September 30 (Feast of the Guardian Angels) are General Roman Calendar as a known by children as ‘the angel days’. Ember Days whole community worship, personal The Seven Sorrows are: Angels are servants and messengers The month of September is part of observance at home or in small communities are not discouraged. 1) The Prophecy of Simeon of God (CCC 329). Angels are signs of the harvest season and, as Christians, We can still observe Ember Days by 2) The Flight into Egypt God’s care and love and they remind we recall God’s protection and we thanking God for His creation and 3) Jesus Lost in the Temple us of how God knows each one of us. give thanks for the year’s harvest. constant protection. These days gives 4) Meeting Jesus on His way to the Cross God loves us so much that He gave The Church’s liturgy and feasts reflect us the opportunity to bring our focus 5) Standing at the foot of the Cross each one of us our own Guardian the four seasons of the year and back to God through prayer and 6) Jesus being taken down from the Cross angel as ‘a protector and shepherd’ so, among many Catholics, it is a penance and they help us to set aside 7) The Burial of Jesus (CCC 336) to watch over us. custom to observe Ember Days. Four The Archangels: There are nine times a year, approximately three time to pray for our precious priests choirs (classes) of angels and the months apart, near the beginning of and vocations. archangels are one of them. The each season, the Church sets aside Bible names three of them, which we three days (Wednesday, Friday and celebrate on September 29 – Michael, Saturday), a total of twelve days Gabriel and Raphael. a year in order to invoke God’s The Archangel Gabriel: The word Blessing on His people and to pray angel means ‘messenger’ and Gabriel in thanksgiving for the blessings of is the archangel who brought very nature. The Church prays for the Feast of the Holy Cross important news from God. We gifts of nature which are used in her The Feast of the Holy Cross is first hear about Gabriel in the Old liturgy, such as olives, grapes and celebrated on September 15. This Testament in the Book of Daniel, wheat. This is also a special time set feast recalls three historical events: but it is in the New Testament that apart to thank God for the sacraments (1) the finding of the True Cross by we learn most about him. Gabriel and pray for priests, particularly for Saint Helena who was the mother came to Zechariah to tell him about those who are being ordained. These of the Emperor Constantine; (2) the arrival of John the Baptist and days are like little spiritual checkups Mary’s Birthday the dedication of the churches built We celebrate Our Lady’s Birthday on by the Emperor Constantine on the site of the Holy Sepulchre and 13. Which city is set to become UK City of Culture from 1 the 8th day of September. Mary was Quiz Time with Lawrence January 2021? born without Original Sin and full of Mount Calvary; (3) the restoration 14. Who played the role of Stan Laurel in the 2018 film 1. Jeff Bezos, believed to be the world’s richest man, grace (CCC 491). She was chosen to of the True Cross to Jerusalem by the ‘Stan & Ollie’? is the founder and CEO of which global sales and Emperor Heraclius II. Although this 15. US ‘supergroup’ The American Outlaws featured be the Mother of our Saviour Jesus technology company? feast recalls these historical events, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Christ, the spiritual Mother for all 2. What is the capital city of Finland? we also celebrate the True Cross as which other iconic singer/songwriter? of us. She is the holiest of all God’s 3. Who won last year’s BBC Sports Personality of the 16. In what year did the BBC change the time of their creatures. We rejoice and celebrate the means of our salvation. Year? main evening news programme from 9 pm to 10 pm? Jesus suffered death on a cross to 4. What was the name of Ronnie Barker’s character in this wonderful feast, for on this day Was it a) 2000, b) 2004, c) 2008 or d) 2012? save us from our sins. Crucifixion was the TV series ‘Open All Hours’? the dawning of redemption for the 17. In which European country is the city of Vilnius? the Roman death penalty, given as a 5. In which US state would you find Yosemite National world came about through Mary’s 18. How many numbers are there to choose from in the Park? birth. punishment to the most dangerous UK national lottery main draw? 6. Who has Joe Biden named as his running mate for criminals. The Cross is important 19. Which two seas are connected by the Suez Canal? the forthcoming US Presidential Election? for us because, on the Cross, Jesus 20. Who was the last of Henry VIII’s six wives? 7. Name the talking snowman in the film ‘Frozen’? silently suffered a horrific death for 21. According to the well-known song by the Dubliners, 8. What colour is Grenadine syrup? our sins in order to win our salvation. who was ‘the heart of the rowl’? 9. Who were the last team to win the old English First 22. Who currently holds the record for most World Jesus tells us in scripture that Division before it became the Premier League? Snooker Championship wins? anyone who wants to follow Him 10. In which Irish county is the town of Ennis? 23. What type of fish is an elver? must take up his cross daily and 11. Which Hollywood actor came out of retirement to 24. According to the advertising slogan, what make of follow Him (Luke 9:23, CCC 1435). play a 90-year old drug runner in the 2018 film ‘The car is the car in front? Mule’? This means more than simply giving 25. In what musical did Doris Day sing ‘The Black Hills of 12. Which Scottish singer, now living in Ireland, had a something up. It means uniting Dakota’?

ourselves to the sacrifice of Christ on 1967 hit with ‘Catch the wind’?

Reilly. 22, Stephen Hendry (7). 23, A young eel. 24, A Toyota. 25, Calamity Jane. Calamity 25, Toyota. A 24, eel. young A 23, (7). Hendry Stephen 22, Reilly.

Father of mercy, give your people help the Cross. Sometimes things happen Dicey 21, Parr. Catherine 20, Sea. Red and Mediterranean 19, 59. 18, Lithuania. 17, 2000. a) 16, Kristofferson. Kris 15, Coogan. Steve 14, Coventry. 13, Donovan. 12, Quiz Answers: Quiz

and strength from Heaven. The birth in our lives which make us feel sad Eastwood. Clint 11, Clare. 10, United. Leeds 9, Red. 8, Olaf. 7, Harris. Kamala 6, California. 5, Arkwright. 4, (cricket). Stokes Ben 3, Helsinki. 2, Amazon. 1, 32 THE NET | SEPTEMBER 2020

Aghyaran, Ardmore, West &Castlederg, Ballinascreen, Ballymagroarty, Banagher, Bellaghy, Buncrana, Carndonagh, Claudy, Clonmany, Coleraine,Creggan, Culdaff, Culmore,Desertmartin, Donnyloop, Drumquin, Dunamanagh, Dungiven, Fahan, Faughanvale,, , Greencastle,

“PRAY, HOPE and DON’T WORRY” (St. Pio) Moville, , Omagh, , Sion Mills, Steelestown, Strabane, , Templemore - Long Tower and St Eugene’s, Three Patrons, Waterside Waterside Patrons, Three Eugene’s, St and Tower - Long Templemore Swatragh, Strabane, Steelestown, Mills, Sion Plumbridge, Omagh, Newtownstewart, Moville,

Greenlough, Iskaheen, , Killygordon, , Lavey, Leckpatrick, Lifford, , Maghera, Magilligan, Malin, Melmount,