Catechetical Centre

The message of Jesus, proclaimed in a simple, enthusiastic way

The Saint Eugene’s Cathedral Family – Grainne Nugent

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Christ Has No Body Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the...

May-the Month of Mary and the Feast of Pentecost

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May is the month of Mary, a month of special devotion to Our Lady, associated in years gone by with May altars, processions and devotions. During this month of Mary, the Church celebrates three feasts specially dedicated to Our Lady. The 13th May, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, marks the date of the...

Seven Last Words of Jesus

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As Jesus hung on the Cross, he uttered seven last words. Over the years meditating on these words has become a tradition in Christian Churches, particularly in Holy Week and on Good Friday. We asked Fr Paul, Karen, Marie, Jim, Marguerite, Fr Aidan and Yvonne to pray and reflect on these words over Lent and...

The Gift of Iconography -Anne Friel

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We are just entering the third week of Lent and I am reflecting on the first two weeks – where have they gone, what have I done differently, am I honestly creating more space in my life to listen to Jesus? My plan was to spend more time in prayer in the morning. On most...

Grandparents -Love them and Let them talk to your Children – Aine McElholm

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Grandparents are a treasure in the family. Please take care of your grandparents: love them and let them talk to your children!” – Pope Francis, July 2018 No matter where you look, it is easy to see the impact that grandparents have on the community, particularly through ‘Grandparents Day’. This is a fairly new, yet...

Praying the Examen for Lent

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In his message for Lent 2023, Pope Francis calls on us to, ‘listen to Jesus’, reminding us that, “Lent is a time of grace to the extent that we listen to him as he speaks to us.” Praying the Daily Examen is a way of doing just that, of listening to Jesus, becoming less self-focused...

This Christmas May Christ be Born Again in Us – Fr Pat O’Hagan

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It’s amazing how quickly time flies by.  Probably because life in today’s world has become so busy, so full of too many things to do, and not nearly enough time to do them all. Here we are, already at the beginning of the last week of Advent.  For those of us who still have so...

Listen, I bring you News of Great Joy – Celine McKenna

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As we move towards Christmas, many people will make their travelling arrangements in anticipation of being reunited with friends and family. For many this will not be possible for a variety of reasons, on-going conflict and war, financial constraints and homelessness. When we read Luke’s Gospel, we learn of perhaps the most important journey made...

The Season of Hoping for Something Greater- Christopher Burke

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The events that unraveled in the world over the last two years seem to have created a conscious shift in the hearts and minds of so many around the world. Normal things that once were taken for granted, like visiting loved ones, going to school/work, even going outside for a walk were altered and had...

November – A Time to Remember

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As we journey through November, we continue to remember our beloved dead and reflect on the words of Pope Francis. We find different ways to remember and pray for the dead and support those who have been bereaved.                                ...

Unless a grain of wheat falls…….’ Fr Eddie Gallagher

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As October comes to an end and November begins, we are slowly moving from autumn and into winter with the clock having just gone back and the hours of darkness increasing. For many it is a difficult month and maybe even more so this year with the colder nights and worries over the cost of...

Guardian Angels – Michael McCaul

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Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Heb. 1: 14 In our so called ‘modern’ and noisy world today, one of the world’s most respected Catholic philosophers, Charles Taylor, believes “We have moved from a society where belief in God is unchallenged and indeed, unproblematic, to one in...

Season of Creation -Good Shepherd Primary School

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Mrs Mitchell’s Primary 5 class at Good Shepherd Primary & Nursery School, Diocese of Derry, took time this week to reflect upon creation.  The Primary 5 children discussed in particular what creation meant to them, and the variety of ways which their senses allow them to experience creation every day.  Here are some extracts from...

What Doherty are you? Shaun Doherty

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What Doherty are you? I remember the first time someone asked me that question when I came to live in Derry as a young adult over 30 years ago. It seemed like an odd question to be asking a complete stranger. Being born and raised in England, it’s a question that would never arise. We...

A New School Year – Bishop Donal McKeown

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From I was 4 till I was 51, my life was constructed around the academic year. Whether as a pupil or as a teacher, I was tied by a year that began as August petered out and ended as June promised never-ending lazy hazy crazy days of summer. But one of my favourite poems from...

Thank you Mum  – Kay McGinn

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A number of years ago, on an occasion when I was returning to University, my Mum gave me a Padre Pio card – the quotation read: “There are only two things in this world which will never abandon you: God’s eyes, because they will see you wherever you are, and your mother’s hearth, because it...

Memories – Anne Canning

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I am a hoarder-always have been and probably always will be. I have a red coat I purchased when I was expecting my second son – and he hopes to go to university in September. It gets an airing and an outing and the odd compliment every winter. That’s just a wee example of the...

Holiday Prayer Time

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Holidays are a necessary time for everyone, providing a break from the normal, a time to rest and recharge, to reflect and as Pope Francis says, ‘offer a time to restore the spirit.’ This week why not take some quiet time to ‘restore the spirit’ within you, with a quiet time of prayer. Choose a...

The Challenges and Joys of Change – Mary O Boyle

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I don’t quite know why my head at this moment in time is filled with the notion of ‘change.’ Perhaps it is due to the fact that change is all round me – schools have closed, work has finished for another academic year, some of those I know and work with have retired or moved...

Our 2022 Lourdes Experience – Hollie Fyrstal and Derry Youth Ministry Group

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This ‘Thought for this Week’ is simply a few thoughts from the Derry Youth’s experience of the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2022. Our Derry Youth team consisted of six young people from across the parishes of Iskaheen, Moville, Melmount, Maghera Glen and Badoney Upper. Personally, we felt, that this particular pilgrimage provided us with a...

“Go and Do the Same Yourself” – Thérèse Ferry

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One of the most quoted lines from Sean O Casey’s play, Juno and the Paycock is the declaration that, ‘the world is in a state of chassis.’ At this time, in the history of the world, it would be hard not to agree! Pandemic, wars, economic crisis, mistrust, all seem to give credence to this...

Fanning the Flame of the Holy Spirit – Niamh Devlin

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My name is Niamh Devlin and I am in 6th class at St. Mura’s N.S, Tooban. I am in the final few days of my joyous and slightly hectic journey through primary school.  This year has certainly been an exciting one, between preparing for secondary school and Confirmation I feel that I have grown so much as a young person. I celebrated my Confirmation of the 4th of June in St. Mura’s...