Life

Sermon notes

BOYS OF '69: Seven altar boys who served at Holy Cross in Ardoyne, and whose lives were changed by the events of August 1969 which signalled the start of the Troubles, will be reunited and share their stories in a BBC One NI documentary on Monday November 30 at 10.35pm.

They include: Gerry Murray, a former RUC officer and the longest serving Catholic police officer; Gerard McGuigan, a former Sinn Féin councillor; Sean Goan, a teacher and scripture scholar; Cathal Goan, who became director-general of RTÉ; former Leeds United footballer Sean O'Neill; New York-based oral surgeon Brendan O'Connor; and Brian McKee, who today works with the Passionists - and contributes to Faith matters...

YOUTH: A hope and healing service aimed at young people will be held at St Anne's Cathedral on Monday November 30 at 8pm under the auspices of Interdenominational Divine Healing Ministries.

It will be led by a Youth With a Mission team and the speaker will be Jonny Clarke, leader of YWAM Ireland.

Personal prayer for healing and anointing with oil will be offered.

For more information, contact Interdenominational Divine Healing Ministries on 028 9031 1532.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Ahead of next week's United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin hosted a meeting with church leaders and environment ministers Alan Kelly and Mark H Durkan.

"Pope Francis has appealed for a strong international commitment to the care of the earth - our common home - in solidarity with the poorest and most vulnerable populations throughout the world," said Archbishop Martin.

"For too many people in developed societies like ours, this is still not a priority issue, but climate change affects everyone and will have a critical impact on the life chances of future generations."

Mr Durkan said that when he is at the summit, he will "make it clear that we should be striving to secure an ambitious international agreement, and that the north of Ireland will play its full part in contributing to the agreed emission reduction targets"

Mr Kelly said he hoped a legally-binding global agreement would emerge "towards a global transformation to a low-carbon climate resilient society while reassuring poor and vulnerable countries that they will be supported in their transition".

ADVENT: Tobar Mhuire Retreat Centre will host an Advent day of reflection led by Sean Goan on Saturday December 12.

In his own reflective and scholarly way, he will link two themes - the Year of Mercy, as declared by Pope Francis, and the lectionary's Year of Luke - as he looks at the biblical themes of mercy through the lens of Luke's gospel.

For further information contact Tobar Mhuire by telephoning 028 4483 0242 or email secretary@tobarmhuirecrossgar.com.

CAROLS: Carol singing with the message 'Come celebrate the joy of Christmas with us' firmly at its heart will take place in the Park Centre on Donegall Road in Belfast next month.

The singing, organised by the Down and Connor Commission for Religious, will take place between 5pm and 6.30pm on December 17 and 18.