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:
Pilgrims of Hope - 24 Hours for the Lord
A key moment in this Jubilee Year 2025 is the celebration of “24 hours for the Lord”. This is an initiative of Pope Francis who writes, “special care should be taken to prepare priests and faithful to celebrate the sacrament of Confession and to make it readily available in its individual form” (SNC 5).
In Down and Connor “24 Hours for the Lord” will be celebrated on Saturday, 29th March, in three centres:
St Mary’s Church, Belfast, from 11.00am until 5.30pm;
All Saints Church, Ballymena, from 12 noon until 5.30pm;
St Patrick’s, Church Downpatrick. 10.30am until 4.00pm.
Bishop Alan believes that this will be welcomed by the faithful – particularly by those for whom the habit of Confession has been broken by the recent pandemic. Those who journey to one or other of the churches mentioned, are participating in the Holy year as “pilgrims of hope” seeking a “genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the “door” of our salvation” (SNC 1).
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:
Worldwide Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Sexual Abuse
This year’s Worldwide Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Sexual Abuse will take place on 7 March, the first Friday of Lent.
The Day of Prayer is an initiative of Pope Francis and was first marked in Irish dioceses in 2017.
Blessed candles will be lit in parishes across the country as a reminder to the faithful of the need for atonement and to symbolise repentance; light in the darkness and hope.
These ‘Candles of Atonement’ will be lit in diocesan cathedrals and churches on the Day of Prayer, and thereafter during the celebration of Mass and other liturgies.
The lighting of the ‘Candle of Atonement’, and the following prayer, are based on the very moving Penitential Rite composed and prayed by Pope Francis at the final Mass of the 9th World Meeting of Families on 26 August 2018 at Phoenix Park, Dublin, when the Holy Father implored the Lord’s mercy for the crimes of abuse and asked for forgiveness.
Towards Peace Spiritual Support Service
Towards Peace is an independent organization that provides a spiritual support and professional service for survivors of physical, emotional, sexual and spiritual abuse who suffered in an institutional, clerical or religious setting in Ireland.
Funded by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland, the vision of Towards Peace is to provide a safe supportive space for people and their families, whose spiritual life has been damaged by abuse.
Through spiritual accompaniment with a qualified spiritual director, Towards Peace endeavours to accompany people as they seek their own experience of spiritual peace, one step at a time.
Towards Peace is also a response to the continually growing understanding of the spiritual impact of the trauma of abuse and seeks to raise awareness about this within the Church.
The Towards Peace Spiritual Support Service is free of charge and for more please see https://towardspeace.ie/
Jubilee Lenten Reflections
Fr Darren Brennan is recording a series of Lenten talks for this Jubilee year, which will be available on the Down & Connor Facebook page each Sunday during Lent at 7pm.
Fr Darren has a wealth of experience in giving retreats and addressing adult faith formation.
Maybe you could encourage others you know, who may have ‘fallen away’, to join on FB or YouTube.
The reflection for the second Sunday of Lent can be seen by clicking on this link >>
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