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Monday 17th November – St Elizabeth of Hungary, religious
Tuesday 18th November – Dedication of the Basilicas of Ss Peter & Paul
Friday 21st November – Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

As the Church prepares to mark the Ninth World Day of the Poor on Sunday, 16 November 2025, Pope Leo XIV issues
a message centred on the theme: “ You are my hope” and expresses his hope that this Jubilee Year may encourage
the development of policies aimed at combatting forms of poverty both old and new.

Extract from Pope Leo’s message for today: “Drawing from the Psalms and the lived experience of those suffering
poverty, Pope Leo XIV urges Christians to recognise the poor not as objects of charity but as protagonists of hope.
He also expresses his hope that the Jubilee Year may be an occasion to implement “new initiatives to support and
assist the poorest of the poor,” and notes that “labour, education, housing and health are the foundations of a
security that will never be attained by the use of arms.”

“Poverty has structural causes that must be addressed and eliminated,” he writes, calling for policies that reflect the
Church’s commitment to labour, education, housing and healthcare as universal rights. And decrying a culture of
indifference, he points to the many “quiet signs of hope” – care homes, soup kitchens, and low-income schools – that, he says, are too often overlooked ”.

CHRIST OUR ANCHOR: WRITINGS BY JAMES O’KANE, PRIEST AND THEOLOGIAN, ed. Fiona Lynch, with a Foreword by Bishop Alan McGuckian (Shanway Press, 2025).

To order please go to: www.shanway.com Tel: 028 9022 2070
Email: info@shanway.com. RRP: £12.99.

Three of the items in this collection are of particular interest. There is a highly lucid and comprehensive exposition of the Church’s teaching on the Eucharist embedded in a series of six previously unpublished homilies delivered in St Patrick’s Church, Culfeightrin. Then, in an article which appeared in L’Osservatore Romano, Fr O’Kane considers the nature of priesthood itself. Finally, in a conference paper, he discusses pastoral opportunities in relation to Baptism, Matrimony and Church funerals.

“The Lord is a Lamp for my steps and a Light for my path.” Psalm 119

9 days Novena before Christmas with Fr Vincent Cushnahan,16-24 December 2025, 6.00am

St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 169 Ligoniel Rd. Belfast’ BT14 8DX.

FAITH & FILM: ROMERO – FINAL SCREENING IN THE JUBILEE SERIES
“All it takes is one good person to restore hope.” Pope Francis.

To close our Jubilee Year of Hope, the Belfast Jesuit Centre invites you to a screening of Romero (1989), a powerful
film about courage, conscience, and compassion. The screening will be followed by discussion and reflection.

Thursday 27th November. Time: 7:00-9:30pm. Location: Belfast Jesuit Centre, 193-195 Donegall Street
Tea, coffee and biscuits provided. Small donation welcome. No registration – just come along and bring a friend!
Visit https://belfastjesuitcentre.co.uk/ for information on all our programs

WAITING IN WONDER: LECTIO AND VISIO DIVINA FOR ADVENT

Join us at the Belfast Jesuit Centre for a gentle, reflective journey through Advent. Each Tuesday evening, we’ll pray with the Gospel for the following Sunday, alongside poetry and art, using the contemplative practices of Lectio and Visio Divina followed by small group sharing on the prayer.

Tuesdays – Nov 25, Dec 2, 9, 16. Time: 7:00 – 9:00pm. Belfast Jesuit Centre 193/195 Donegall St. Tea and coffee provided.

Small donation welcome. All are welcome to this sacred space of quiet, prayer, and shared reflection.
Visit our website to register: https://belfastjesuitcentre.co.uk
https://belfastjesuitcentre.co.uk/waiting-in-wonder-lectio-and-visio-divina-for-advent/

Thank you to all who expressed an interest in forming a Children’s Liturgy Group within the Parish.

A meeting will be held in St. Patrick’s Pastoral Centre on Wednesday 19th November at 7.00pm to discuss formation of the group.

ANNUAL MASS FOR DECEASED DIOCESAN CLERGY AND RELIGIOUS
will take place on Tuesday 25th November 2025 in St. Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast at 7.30pm.

We are delighted to invite all prospective Primary 1 children and their families to visit St Aloysius Primary School
on Saturday, 6th December at 10.00am.

Come and explore our vibrant school community, meet our dedicated staff, and discover all the wonderful
things we do to support learning and growth.

Principal’s Address at 10.15am – a great opportunity to hear more about our vision and values.
Mrs Catherine Milne, Principal, 7 Ballinderry Road, Lisburn BT28 1TB. 028 9266 2293