Fr Peter’s Message

Pathways to the Future

When we read about Pentecost and the birth of the Church in the Acts of the Apostles, we find inspiration for where we are as a Church here in Ireland today.  

We know that we have come to a fork in the road.  

We can’t keep going the way we were, we have to head out on a new pathway.

In Down & Connor the Pathways to the Future project is charting the next steps on this journey.  

We have to be realistic – change is inevitable.  

There will be new ways of working in our parishes and communities.

 But this isn’t something to be afraid of.  

God still has a dream for our Church.  He wants us to be filled with the Spirit and willing to go out and share the Gospel with others.  

He wants us to be generous, loving and inclusive, welcoming everyone into his family.  

And he wants us to be confident that each of us – lay women and men, clergy and religious – has a part to play in renewing our parishes, the diocese and building up the Kingdom of God.

Pastoral Letter from Most Rev Donal McKeown D.D.

 

Pathways to the Future Prayer

 

God of Love,
You are with us in every transition and change. 
As we enter into this new era with excitement and even some anxiety, 

we recall your deep compassion, presence, and abounding love. 
We thank you for the gifts, talents and skills with which you have blessed us. 
We thank you for the work of others that gives breadth and depth to our own work. 
Be with us as we move forward, rejoicing with you and supporting one another. 

We ask this in your Holy Name.       AMEN

 

Thought for the Day

          • The four speeds of prayer are slow, slower, pause and reverse.

          • God promises believers a safe landing but not a smooth passage.

          • Jesus does not just call believers. He calls disciples who will follow him through suffering love to the cross.

          • Prayer is more about trust and hope than about arranging the world to suit me.

          • I cannot work miracles, but by active loving I can work healing all the time.

          • It is always a mistake to do nothing because I can do just a little. 

          • Before you sleep, name one thing for which you are grateful that day.

 

Click below to listen to Fr. Peter in conversation…………

Click below to listen to Fr. Peter in conversation with Prof Sir Michael McBride

 

 

Click below to listen to Fr. Peter in conversation with Rev Corrina Heron

 

Click below to listen to Fr. Peter in conversation with Fr. Martin O’Hagan

 

Click below to listen to Fr. Peter in conversation with Gerry Kelly

 

Click below to listen to: Fr. Peter in conversation with Paul Clark 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synod 2021/2023 – SYNODAL LISTENING IN OUR PASTORAL COMMUNITY. 

In order to journey together, Pope Francis wants every person to take their place at the heart of the Church and to hear every voice and the voice of the Holy Spirit.   Our local parishes are encouraged to come together, pray together, and enter into a Spiritual Conversation about our Church at this time. 

Bishop Treanor has encouraged each area of the Diocese to have a time of coming together as part of the Synod.  Coming together to listen and share helps us build flourishing and resilient communities for the mission of the Church today.   We invite you to come along and to take part in the synod by listening and talking to one another in an authentic, meaningful, and welcoming way.

If you would like to take part in this synodal moment then please feel welcome to join us on Thursday 28th April in Nativity Church, Poleglass from 7-9pm.    The session will be facilitated by Paula McKeown and Jim Deeds from the Living Church office. 

 

Trócaire is part of the worldwide Caritas Network, and has been supporting the Caritas Ukraine response since the outbreak of war. With the help of people across Ireland, and the “Ireland for Ukraine” campaign, Trócaire will continue to support Caritas Ukraine, Caritas Poland and Caritas Romania and are currently finalising plans with Caritas Czech to support their work with Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic.

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Check this out:   Synod on Synodality- All You Need to Know

 

 

The Synod Prayer

Every session of the Second Vatican Council began with the prayer ‘Adsumus Sancte Spiritus’, the first word of the original Latin, meaning, ‘We stand before You, Holy Spirit’, which has been historically used at Councils, Synods, and other Church gatherings for hundreds of years, and is attributed to St. Isidore of Seville (c. 560 – 4 April 636). As we embrace this Synodal Process, this prayer invites the Holy Spirit to be at work in us so that we may be a community and a people of grace.

 

We stand before You, Holy Spirit,
as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us,
make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go
and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful;
do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path
nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity
so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth
and what is right.
All this we ask of You,
who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and the Son,
forever and ever.
Amen.