Loughshore Parishes
"at the heart of your community"

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:

 

 

 

St Mary’s Greencastle

St Mary, Star of the Sea, Whitehouse 

St James’, Whiteabbey

St Colman’s, Greenisland

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.

Coffee Morning

Join us for a Coffee Morning  in support of Healing Venezuela

When: SUNDAY, 27th April 2025

Time: After 11am  Mass

Where: St James’ Parish Hall

Come and enjoy a warm cup of tea or coffee, home-baked goodies, and a friendly talk about gut health — all for a good cause.

Healing Venezuela is a UK-based charity working to bring hope and health to communities in crisis. Your support helps provide:

– Nutritious meals for malnourished children

– Clean water to hospitals

– Medicines, birth kits, and essential medical supplies

– Training and support for young doctors

– Sustainable food projects for long-term impact

Every cup makes a difference. All are welcome – we’d be delighted to see you there! For more information, call Marisol on 07817725475 or visit: https://healingvenezuela.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

Feast of Divine Mercy – 27th April 2025

St. Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast

Rosary (2:30pm).

Divine Mercy Chaplet and Holy Mass (3:00pm).

 

St. Paul’s Church, Belfast

Exposition of Blessed Sacrament, Rosary and Reflections from St. Faustina’s diary (2pm)

Divine Mercy Chaplet, Benediction, Blessing of Image and Holy Mass (3pm).

 

St. Mary’s Church, Belfast

Exposition of Blessed Sacrament, Blessing of Divine Mercy Image and Divine Mercy talk (2:30pm)

Divine Mercy Chaplet (3pm). Holy Mass (5pm).

 

Sacred Heart Church, North Belfast

Rosary (2:15pm)

Divine Mercy Chaplet, Holy Mass and Blessing with relic of St. Faustina.

 

You are most welcome to join us in St Peter’s Cathedral, St Paul’s, St Mary’s or the Sacred Heart Church for the celebration of this wonderful Feast. We would remind everyone coming to the celebration that there is no obligation to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation on the Feast Day itself, as long as you avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation within the octave of the Feast (eight days).  St. Faustina went to the sacrament on the day before the Feast day.

For those who are unable to join in person, you may wish to join through the webcam. Webcam Links:

St Peter’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Church

St Mary’s Church

Sacred Heart Church

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 >>

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 2024, 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.

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

Our Mission...To unite all of the community.

We are a faith community gathered in this place called to create a sense of belonging and family with a shared identity and shared faith, We proclaim this faith in our coming together to worship and in our sharing love with others in service.

Schools

There are 3 schools in Loughshore Parishes.

  • St. Mary’s (Star of the Sea) Primary School
  • St. Mary’s Nursery School
  • St. James’ Primary School

Parish Groups

There are a number parish groups in Loughshore Parishes.