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

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 >>

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 >>

Vacancy - Sacristan St Gerard's Parish

DOWN & CONNOR DIOCESAN TRUST
ST GERARD’S PARISH
722 ANTRIM ROAD, NEWTOWNABBEY
SACRISTAN (JOB SHARE)
A vacancy has arisen for a Sacristan, as a Job Share arrangement, within
St Gerard’s Parish, 722 Antrim Road, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, BT36 7PG.
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 13 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 – £11.44 gross per hour.
Full details relating to the vacancy can be found on the Diocesan website at: http://www.downandconnor.org clicking on the tab: JOB VACANCIES and on the Community NI website, where terms and conditions relating to the role can also be accessed by way of a Role Profile and Employment Application form. Application packs can also be obtained from St Gerard’s Parish Office, 722 Antrim Road, Newtownabbey.
We welcome applications from anyone who feels they meet the criteria and are interested in playing an active part in the Parish.
Closing date for applications will be 12.00 noon on Tuesday 15 October 2024
Down and Connor Diocesan Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer

Season of Creation

SEASON OF CREATION 2024

To Hope and Act with Creation

1 September to 4th October (Feast of St Francis of Assisi)

“Future generations will never forgive us if we miss the opportunity to protect our common home. We have inherited a garden; we must not leave a desert for our children.” Joint statement from Pope Francis, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury.

Pope Francis’ prayer during the month of September – when the Church observes the “Season of Creation” – is “that each of us might listen with our hearts to the cry of the earth and of the victims of environmental disasters and climate change, making a personal commitment to care for the world we inhabit”.

Resources can be found on the following websites:

Season of Creation 2024 | Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference >>

and Season of Creation >>

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  >>

Recharge - a new young adult group

RECHARGE is a new young adult group starting in St Colmcille’s Parish for people aged 18 to 35. The group will meet twice monthly on the first and third Tuesday of each month to “recharge” the spiritual batteries through Adoration, intellectual formation and social gatherings. To keep updated and get involved, follow us on Facebook and Instagram or email rechargecatholic@gmail.com. Our first gathering will be for Adoration with guided meditation and confessions at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 1st October.

Visit of relics of St Bernadette to Ireland

The tour of the relics of St Bernadette runs from 4th September – 5th November 2024 and will be in St Mary’s, Chapel Lane on 15th & 16th October.

Tuesday 15th

12 noon: Angelus Bell: Liturgy of Welcome for the Relics.

1.00pm:  Mass of Our Lady of Lourdes.

3.00pm: Lourdes Water Ritual, Rosary mediation, Litany of St Bernadette.

4.00pm: Lourdes Water Ritual, Rosary mediation, Litany of St Bernadette.

5.00pm: Lourdes Water Ritual, Rosary mediation, Litany of St Bernadette.

6.00pm: Angelus – followed by period of quiet preparation for Mass.

7.00pm: Mass of St Bernadette followed by Marian Candelight Procession.

11.00pm: Church Closes

 

Wednesday 16th

7.00am Mass of Our Lady of Lourdes

9.00am: Lourdes Water Ritual, Rosary mediation, Litany of St Bernadette.

10.00am: Lourdes Water Ritual, Rosary mediation, Litany of St Bernadette.

11.00am: Lourdes Water Ritual, Rosary mediation, Litany of St Bernadette.

12.00 noon: Angelus – followed by period of quiet preparation for Mass.

1.00pm: Mass of St Bernadette

3.00pm: Lourdes meditation on Stations of the Cross

4.00pm: Lourdes Water Ritual, Rosary mediation, Litany of St Bernadette.

5.00pm: Lourdes Water Ritual, Rosary mediation, Litany of St Bernadette.

6.00pm: Angelus – followed by period of quiet preparation for Mass.

7.00pm: Concluding Mass of the Immaculate Conception, followed by Benediction

11.00pm: Church closes

More details on the Diocesan website >>

Fundraising for Lourdes Pilgrimage 2024

The organisers of the Coffee Morning, held in St Colman’s & St James , and the Bingo Ballot would like to express their sincere thanks to you, our parishioners, for your generosity in supporting the Down & Connor Lourdes Pilgrimage 2024.

The events raised £1209 for Lourdes. The volunteers travelling with the pilgrimage are bowled over with your kindness and generosity. We placed your petitions at the grotto during the Down and Connor Mass.

A large candle was purchased for The Loughshore Parishioner Petitions, listing the names of all those who supported our funding raising events. Thank you again for making such a difference to those within our diocese.  Photos can be viewed in the Gallery Page on the Parish Website >>

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

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.