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:
Irish Bishops Call For Prayer And Fasting For Gaza on 6 June 2025
At their Standing Committee meeting in Maynooth on 26th May, Irish Bishops stated “We in Ireland must pray for a change of heart. Throughout the month of June – the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – we call on everyone to pray for an outpouring of the compassion of God on a heartless world.”
“We call on all Catholics to make 6 June, a day of prayer and fasting for Gaza”
Their letter can be read in full by clicking on this link >>
Visit of the Pilgrim Statue to the Loughshore Parishes
On January 8th, 2025, Pope Francis blessed the 4 pilgrim statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which would be sent to Ireland – each one being sent to one of the four provinces – where they will travel throughout parishes to revitalise the faith in Ireland.
We are overjoyed to be welcoming the Pilgrim Statue of the Sacred Heart to St James’ Church on Tuesday 10th June & Wednesday 11th June.
Join us for the arrival of the statue at 6.30pm on 10th June, followed by Mass and Benediction. The church will remain open for prayer throughout the evening and the next day until 4pm.
Down & Connor Diocesan Novena to the Sacred Heart
June 19th to June 27th, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
It is with great joy as a diocese we celebrate the Novena to The Sacred Heart. This year we celebrate the 350th Anniversary of the apparitions of the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. The Sacred Heart Novena invites you to nine days of prayer, cumulating in the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart. These days offer a special opportunity to deepen your relationship with Jesus, to entrust your needs and intentions to His loving heart, a prayerful expression of our hope in this Jubilee Year.
The prayers will be available in a booklet you can pick up at Mass or read online; it will also include a piece of scripture and a reflection for each day for those who wish to go a little deeper. The images used in this year’s Novena book are by students from our schools from across the diocese. Bishop Alan’s hope is that this novena will be prayed either individually or together by parishes, groups, schools or families. Even young children can join in with the short prayers!
Clonard Solemn Novena
18th – 26th June 2025
Clonard Solemn Novena
In honour of our Mother of Perpetual Help.
WEEKDAYS
6:45am; 9:30am, 11:30am,
4:00pm, 6:00pm, 8:00pm.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
6:45am; 9:30am, 11:30am,
1:30pm, 4:00pm, 6:00pm, 8:00pm.
Sacrament of the Sick
Friday 20th June at 9:30am, 11:30am and 6:00pm
Procession in Thanksgiving to our Mother of Perpetual Help
After the final 8:00pm Mass on Thursday 26th June.
Cemetery Sunday
Cemetery Sunday will be held on Sunday 22nd June
at 2pm in Our Lady’s Acre
& 3.30pm in Greencastle Cemetery
As many of you will be aware, the graveyards are maintained by parishioners who so generously give of their time on a voluntary basis. A collection will be taken up on Cemetery Sunday to purchase the necessary equipment and gardening supplies to enable them to continue to maintain the graveyards.
8 May 2025 Bishop Alan McGuckian welcomes Election of Pope Leo XIV
Statement by Bishop Alan McGuckian on the Election of Pope Leo XIV
With joy and gratitude, I welcome the news of the election of Pope Leo XIV as the Bishop of Rome and successor to Saint Peter. On behalf of the Diocese of Down and Connor, I pledge our prayer and heartfelt support for this ‘Son of St. Augustine’ entrusted with the apostolic mission to shepherd and serve the Church.
Addressing the crowds gathered in Rome earlier this evening, Pope Leo XIV reminded everyone of the universality of the Church and that “God loves us, all of us”. In a world torn apart by conflict, war and confusion, he encourages us to be heralds of peace and unity.
I invite all the clergy, religious and laity across the Diocese of Down and Connor to offer prayers of thanksgiving. May God’s blessing be upon Pope Leo XIV that he may bring the light of faith to those who are searching and be an instrument of God’s peace in the world.
+Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ
Bishop of Down and Connor
Solemn Requiem Mass for Pope Francis
DIOCESE OF DOWN AND CONNOR
Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, Bishop of Down & Connor,
will celebrate Solemn Requiem Mass
for the happy repose of the soul of Pope Francis
on Wednesday 30 April 2025 at 7.00pm
in St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast.
All are welcome.
Statement from Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ on the Death of Pope Francis 21 April 2025
It was with great sadness that I received news earlier this morning that the Holy Father, Pope Francis has died.
I know that my sorrow will be shared by many people across the Diocese of Down and Connor, and across the world, who were inspired by the humility and humanity of Pope Francis, his personal conviction of faith and his pastoral ministry to the vulnerable.
In recent years, as a delegate on the Church’s Synodal Pathway, I had the privilege of meeting Pope Francis who called everyone to the Gospel-inspired vision of a Church where, guided by the Holy Spirit, we journey together in faith.
Each Easter we celebrate and are reminded that, in Baptism, we share in the Death and Resurrection of Christ. In his Urbi et Orbi address yesterday, Pope Francis spoke these prophetic words:
“The Resurrection of Jesus is indeed the basis of our hope. For in the light of this event, hope is no longer an illusion…All those who put their hope in God place their feeble hands in his strong and mighty hand; they let themselves be raised up and set out on a journey. Together with the risen Jesus, they become pilgrims of hope, witnesses of the victory of love and of the disarmed power of Life.”
Pope Francis exercised this ministry of hope, a hope that was firmly grounded in the assured presence of the risen Christ.
I know that parishioners across the Diocese of Down and Connor will now be praying that, with the Risen Christ of Easter, Pope Francis will be received into the loving arms of God whom he served so well.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen.
Down & Connor Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine
In this Jubilee Year of Hope join us on the Down and Connor Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine on Sunday 8th June. Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ will celebrate the Eucharist at 3.00pm. The price £44 per person includes luxury coach and refreshments. Early booking is advised.
To book contact Claire Tel: 028 90690920 Email: pathwaystothefuture@downandconnor.org
Pilgrims of Hope, Jubilee Year 2025
“Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us”. (Rom 5:1-2)
To read the New Year Message from Bishop Alan McGuckian, SJ, please click on this link >>
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
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