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

Novena Mass - change of time

 

The Novena Mass in St Mary, Star of the Sea, Whitehouse on:

 

Tuesday 3rd December and

 

Tuesday 17th December 2024

 

will be at 6pm,  and not at the usual time of 7pm.

Parish Office Closed on Wednesday

The Parish Office will be closed on Wednesday 4th December.

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 >>

Caring to the End

CARING TO THE END: WHY EUTHANASIA IS NOT AN ANSWER TO SUFFERING

Speakers: Dr Dominic Whitehouse (Palliative Care Consultant) and Jack Valero (communications expert and founder of Catholic Voices)

Location: St Malachy’s Parish Hall, 24 Alfred St, Belfast BT2 8EN

Time: 7pm 29th November 2024

For more information contact- emily@faithversed.com or 07481940689

Voices & Brass Christmas Concert

Come and join us for a festive Christmas concert at Star of the Sea, Whitehouse on Friday 13th December at 7.30pm.  Performing will be Third Carrickfergus Brass Band and Concordia, a small choir of which Fr David Delargy is a member. Admission will be by ticket only.  Recommended donation is £15.  Tickets will be available from next week from the Parish Office and from the sacristans in the churches.  All funds raised will go towards the urgent restoration repairs required at Whitehouse.

This promises to be a wonderful evening of music, not to be missed!

NI Cancer Pilgrimage to Lourdes

Sat 10 May to Thurs 15 May 2025
The price of £859 (with price reduction for Cancer Patients) includes: Return flights from Belfast International Airport, operated by Northern Star Travel Ltd and facilitated by Joe Walsh Tours. Full board and accommodation at the Hotel Agena in Lourdes for five nights based on twin/double/triple rooms.
The party will consist of patients, ex-patients, relatives and friends accompanied by medical, nursing and other staff.  To enquire or to obtain a booking form please contact:- Mrs Jean Clarke, Hon. Secretary,  NI Cancer Pilgrimage, 67 Ballynahinch Road,  Carryduff,  Belfast,  BT8 8DL, or speak to us on Tel. 078746 88388, or  e-mail at:-  mail@nicancerpilgrimage.org.uk

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 this year, 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.

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  >>

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.