Welcome
Welcome to the website for the Loughshore Parishes.
This is a group of three parishes that came together in 2009:
St Mary’s Greencastle, Star of The Sea Whitehouse & St James’ Whiteabbey.
There are four churches in this group:
St Mary’s Greencastle, Star of The Sea Whitehouse, St James’ Whiteabbey & St Colman’s Greenisland
The links to the webcam for each of the churches is below:
Christmas Arrangements 2024
Penitential Services in Preparation for Christmas
Mon 16th December at 7pm – St Nicholas’ Carrickfergus
Tuesday 17th December at 7pm – St Bernard’s
Wednesday 18th December at 7pm – St Gerard’s
Tuesday 24th December – Christmas Eve Vigil Mass
Star of the Sea, Whitehouse at 5pm
St Mary’s, Greencastle at 7pm
Wednesday 25th December – Christmas Morning Mass
St Colman’s, Greenisland 9.30am
St James’, Whiteabbey 11am
What is Jubilee 2025
What Is a Jubilee?
A Jubilee – or a Jubilee Year – is traditionally proclaimed by the Catholic Church every 25 years. It is a year set aside to encourage the faithful to embark on pilgrimages, to repent of their sins and forgive the sins of others, and to renew a focus on the spiritual life.
More information can be found by clicking on this link >>
Jubilee 2025
The Jubilee 2025 will be centred on the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” Pope Francis put it beautifully: “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.” The Jubilee 2025 begins on December 24th 2024, with the official Opening of the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica Rome. Bishop Alan McGuckian will launch the Jubilee in the Diocese at a mass in St Peter’s Cathedral on Sunday 29th December at 3pm – all are welcome.
Also 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the first Council of Nicea where the Nicene Creed, which we profess at Sunday Mass, was offered to the Church as an anchor of true belief.
Whether or not you will travel to Rome this year to enter through Holy Door, all can focus on opening the ‘Doors of our Hearts’ this Jubilee year to the transformative love and mercy of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes is seeking Doctors, Nurses and Adult Volunteer helpers for the 40th Diocesan Pilgrimage in 2025. The pilgrimage is from 10-15 July and volunteers receive a subsidised fare.
For more information or to register your interest, please visit www.downandconnor.org/lourdes or email lourdes@downandconnor.org
Open Days - St Mary's Nursery School
ST MARY’S NURSERY SCHOOL (at the bottom or Gray’s Lane) invite you to an Open Afternoon on Tuesday 10th December between 2.15pm and 3.15pm or an Open Evening on Tuesday 14th January between 7.30pm and 8.30pm. If your child is in their preschool year, please come along, meet the staff and visit our purpose built Nursery School. All applications must be submitted by 12.00 noon on Friday 24th January 2025.
Do This in Memory Masses
The parish-based programme, Do This In Memory, helps parents to be more actively involved in the sacramental preparation for First Penance and First Eucharist. The programme will require children and their parents/guardians to attend parish Mass once each month throughout the school year – 9 masses in total.
The Programme commenced on the weekend of 28th/29th September 2024 when the children were officially enrolled for the sacraments and parents and the parish community were invited to commit themselves to supporting the children in their sacramental preparation.
Please click on this link to see the full list of dates for Do This in Memory Masses for the year ahead >>
Pastoral Letter - "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful"
Bishop Alan has written a pastoral letter which addresses the crucial matter of end-of-life care in light of the proposed Terminally Ill Adults bill to be discussed in Parliament on November 29th.
Bishop Alan urges our parish communities to pray for those who are terminally ill and their families, that they may find comfort, support, and the unwavering conviction that their lives have profound meaning and purpose.
Bishop Alan’s letter can be read by clicking on this link >>
NI Cancer Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Letter Welcoming Migrants to Ireland
CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ PASTORAL LETTER WELCOMING MIGRANTS TO IRELAND
On Sunday 13th October 2024, the Bishops of Ireland published a pastoral letter to welcome migrants to Ireland. As Christians, we have a responsibility to respond to the key question of immigration across our island, and the world. This fundamental question asks, “Who is my neighbour?”, and to answer this we are informed by the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). In the light of the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching, our bishops offer this reflection on what hospitality for migrant people means in contemporary Ireland.
Mindful that migration has been a central part of our history, the Pastoral Letter provides a space to us as ‘migrant pilgrim people’ to contemplate the causes of migration, the gifts that migrants bring to our Church and our country, the economic and social issues we all face in Ireland, and the importance of encounter in building a true sense of belonging in every parish and community.
The Pastoral letter can be read by clicking on this link >>
Ukrainian Divine Liturgy in Belfast
13:00 – Divine Liturgy
(second Sunday of the month)
Celebrant: Fr Taras Khomych
Address: St Patrick’s Church, 199 Donegall Street, Belfast
Since Easter this year, a monthly Liturgy in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Rite has started in Belfast. This is in response to a request from Ukrainian refugees living throughout Northern Ireland for pastoral support in their own language and Rite.
Fr Taras Khomych, the Ukrainian Chaplain in Liverpool, travels to celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St Patrick’s Church, Donegall Street, Belfast on the second Sunday of the month at 1pm.
World Mission Sunday 20th October 2024
October and World Mission Sunday is a time for the faithful of the world to show their appreciation towards the work of overseas missionaries. Please donate €4.00 by texting the word ‘Mission’ to 50300.
Alternatively donate at www.missio.ie or call Missio Ireland on 01 497 2035.
To learn more go to www.missio.ie >>
Annual Parish Census
Thank you for participating in the parish census which was carried out on the weekend of 27th & 28th April 2024.
The data captured can be viewed by clicking on this link >>
AGE NI's Shared Lives Service
Our service is brand new and is for older people aged 65+ who would benefit from spending time outside their own home. Our aim is to reduce isolation and loneliness and maintain independence and social connection. Our carers are self-employed, use their own home as a base for the care and are paid an hourly rate for their role.
For more information, please click on this link >>
If interested in becoming a Shared Lives carer, please contact deborah.mcilwaine@ageni.org
Have you, or someone you know been bereaved by suicide?
The Northern Trust have designed a guide dedicated to those grieving the death of someone they love >>
Local support groups and individual support sessions are available throughout the Northern Trust area to help you deal with a bereavement through suicide.
If you would like more information about a support group in your area, or to be referred to the individual support service, please
contact:
Danielle Gallagher
Bereaved by Suicide Service Officer
Holywell Hospital Site
60 Steeple Road
Antrim
BT41 2RJ
028 9441 3544
danielle.gallagher@northerntrust.hscni.net
David Olphert
Family Liason Officer
Holywell Hospital Site
60 Steeple Road
Antrim
BT41 2RJ
028 9441 3544
david.olphert@northerntrust.hscni.net