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:
Pathways to the Future
This weekend we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles. In an instant a group of frightened disciples were empowered to go out and proclaim God’s amazing dream for the world – the Good News of Jesus Christ!
When we read about Pentecost and the birth of the Church in the Acts of the Apostles, we find inspiration for where we are as a Church here in Ireland today. We know that we have come to a fork in the road. We can’t keep going the way we were, we have to head out on a new pathway.
In Down & Connor the Pathways to the Future project is charting the next steps on this journey. We have to be realistic – change is inevitable. There will be new ways of working in our parishes and communities. But this isn’t something to be afraid of. God still has a dream for our Church. He wants us to be filled with the Spirit and willing to go out and share the Gospel with others. He wants us to be generous, loving and inclusive, welcoming everyone into his family. And he wants us to be confident that each of us – lay women and men, clergy and religious – has a part to play in renewing our parishes, the diocese and building up the Kingdom of God.
To find out more we encourage you to read Bishop Donal McKeown’s Pastoral Letter available on www.downandconnor.org or www.pathwaystothefuture.org
Safeguarding review
SAFEGUARDING: The Diocese of Down and Connor has invited the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland to conduct a review of safeguarding practice across the Diocese. The review will take place 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9TH June. If you have any views about Safeguarding in the Diocese, you are invited to contact Teresa Devlin, Chief Executive Officer, National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, prior to the review dates: Tel 003531 5053124 or email teresa.devlin@safeguarding.ie.
This is part of the process of learning and maintaining best safeguarding practice across the Diocese and ensuring our Church is a safe and nurturing place for young people where they can grow and develop their faith.
Philip O Hara, Interim Director of Safeguarding, Designated Liaison Person, Diocese of Down and Connor.
Events at Belfast Jesuit Centre
The Belfast Jesuit Centre extends a warm welcome to the following events that it will be hosting.
St Ignatius of Loyola – a Saint for troubled times.
Saturday 20th May 2pm – 4pm. José Maria Rodriguez SJ will lead a talk and open forum exploring the failures and disappointments in the life of St Ignatius of Loyola and how we in turn can learn from these transformative experiences.
Encountering the Holy Spirit in our lives – Pentecost Retreat led by Tom Cashman, Ignatian Spiritual Guide. The non-residential retreat takes place on Friday 26th May 7-9pm, Saturday 27th May 9:30am – 5pm and Sunday 28th May 9:30am concluding with Pentecost Mass at noon.
St Patrick's Parish - Job Vacancies
DOWN and CONNOR DIOCESAN TRUST
LIVING CHURCH OFFICE VACANCY
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
3 YEAR FIXED TERM CONTRACT
An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Living Church Office, where we seek to recruit into the role of Assistant Director. The role will attract someone who will work to make the vision and hope for our Diocese an ever-stronger reality, in everything the Living Church does. Supporting the Director of the Living Church and working as part of a team to implement Diocesan Initiatives in youth ministry, peace and reconciliation, evangelisation, and faith development.
The terms are based on a 3 -Year Fixed Term Contract, working 35 hours per week. Flexible working arrangements with an option for hybrid working as meets the needs of the role.
Salary: Will be considered within the range of £34,000 to £39,000 gross per annum – commensurate upon experience.
Closing date for applications will be 12.00 noon on Thursday 8th June 2023
Down and Connor Diocesan Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer
ST PATRICK’S PARISH
SACRISTAN (JOB SHARE)
A vacancy has arisen for a Sacristan, as a Job Share arrangement, within
St Patrick’s Parish, 199 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2FL.
The responsibilities within the Sacristan role will include:
❖ The maintenance of the sacristy, ensuring that, with volunteers and others, the sanctuary is set up for Mass, baptisms, weddings, funerals and other services, ensuring all the requisite books and sacramental vessels etc. are in place.
This role is being advertised as a Job Share position. The terms are based on a permanent appointment of two individuals who will be required to work 12 hours each per week. Work pattern to be agreed with the Parish Priest.
The post holders will be required to provide cover for the Job Share Partner during annual leave or other absences. Having a flexible approach to working hours will be a requirement within the role.
Rate of Pay – £10.42 gross per hour.
Closing date for applications will be 12.00 noon on Thursday 8th June 2023
Down and Connor Diocesan Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer
Cemetery Sunday
CEMETERY SUNDAY
City Cemetery – Sunday 14 May at 3pm
Hannahstown Cemetery – Sunday 28 May at 3pm
Tullyrusk Cemetery – Sunday 4 June at 1.30pm
St Peter’s the Rock Cemetery – Sunday 4 June at 3pm
Our Lady’s Acre – Sunday 4 June at 2pm
Greencastle – Sunday 4 June at 3.30pm
DOWN & CONNOR DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2023:
11/12 – 17th July. 6 nights in hotel from £829, 5 nights in hotel from £769. 5 night in Acceuil Notre-Dame for pilgrims requiring nursing and/or personal care £719.
For more information or to request a booking form, contact the Pilgrimage Office (028) 9077 0162 or email lourdes@downandconnor.org visit: www.downandconnor.org/lourdes
Greencastle Graveyard and Our Lady's Acre
The details of burials in the graveyard at Greencastle and Our Lady’s Acre can now be searched online at:
The online records are limited to the information that is recorded on the headstones and, in some cases, there may be gaps in the information. We are keen for the records to be as accurate as possible and would be grateful if you could take some time to look at the website and make the parish office aware of any additional information that ought to be recorded on the website.
There are links to alteration sheets below to be completed and returned to the parish office at loughshore@downandconnor.org
Greencastle alteration sheet >>
Our Lady’s Acre alteration sheet >>
Nurses - Will you lend us a hand?
The Down & Connor Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes is seeking volunteer registered nurses for our pilgrimage from 12th to 17th July 2023.
Working with other volunteer doctors and nurses in a specially designed care setting, you will be part of a very special and faith filled community.
For more information, please email your contact details to lourdes@downandconnor.org
Dromantine Retreat and Conference Centre - New Workshops
STOP MISSING YOUR LIFE
Stress, burnout and discovering a calmer you
Friday, 01 September (5pm) – Sunday, 03 September (2pm) 2023
£225 / €255
LET EVENING COME
Finding comfort and healing after loss and bereavement
Friday, 13 October (5pm) – Sunday, 15 October (2pm) 2023
£225 / €255
Please contact Jacinta or Louisa to reserve your place:
TEL: 028 (048 from ROI) 3082 1964
EMAIL: admin@dromantineconference.com
Please click here to view flyer >>
SUPPORT AVAILABLE FROM ST VINCENT DE PAUL
Loughshore Parishes have St Vincent de Paul conferences in each Church.
If you or you anyone you know is in crisis or need, please ask for help. You can speak to any Conference member or put your name, address and phone number in the red box at the church door.
Phone 02890351561 and request a call from your local conference
Online Contribution(s) to your Parish
Dear Parishioners, if you wish to continue making your contributions to the various collections you can do so online from your bank account by making an electronic transfer. [For information you need to include in the payment ref so that we know who is paying and examples please click here]
The information you will need for the Payee is:
- Name of Account: Star of the Sea Whitehouse
- Sort Code: 93 83 19
- Account No: 28701180
- Name of Account: St James Parish Account (this is the account for St James’ & St Colman’s)
- Sort Code: 93-84-24
- Account No: 09358002
- Name of Account: Parish of Greencastle
- Sort Code: 93-83-19
- Account No: 28883277