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:
Sacrament Classes
Classes are available to prepare children at non-Catholic schools within the parish for the sacraments. Registration available for P4 children and above for first penance, first holy communion and confirmation. Please contact loughshoresacraments@gmail.com as soon as possible and let us know your child’s details. Registration for this year’s classes closes on 2nd October 2023.
While there is no charge for the class, there is a fee of £30 to cover the cost of resources. If you will be unable to pay the fee, please advise us via email so we can make other arrangements to help. Thank you.
World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees - 24 September 2023
God, Father Almighty,
grant us the grace to work tirelessly for justice, solidarity and peace,
so that all your children may enjoy the freedom to choose whether to migrate or to stay.
Grant us the courage to denounce
all the horrors of our world,
and to combat every injustice that mars the beauty of your children
and the harmony of our common home.
Sustain us by the power of your Spirit,
so that we can reflect your tender love
to every migrant whom you place in our path,
and to spread in hearts and in every situation
the culture of encounter and of care.
To read Pope Francis’ message, please click on this link Message for the 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023
Venezuela's Water Treatment and Sanitation Appeal on the 7th and 8th of October 2023.
Venezuela has faced a prolonged socio-political and economic situation since 2015, deeply and negatively impacting social and health services. COVID-19 further aggravated the humanitarian context in the country. Violence and social conflicts, hyperinflation, constant political tensions, the persistence of migratory movements and the intensification of climate threats and natural disasters have worsened the living conditions and health status of populations in vulnerable situations, including women, children, and indigenous peoples.
Many health institutions lack adequate clean water and water sanitation infrastructure, preventing quality healthcare services. 82% of the population have no access to drinking water. Babies are the most affected by waterborne infections because of the lack of access to drinking water. That’s why Healing Venezuela (https://healingvenezuela.org/what-we-do/ ) decided to act. Since 2018, we have donated and installed six water sanitation plants in public hospitals nationwide, giving access to safe drinking water to over 50,000 people every year, and crucial medical procedures in those hospitals have become safer. The Water sanitation project is delivered in coordination with public health authorities, civil society organizations, and other humanitarian partners.
We appeal to you to help us to continue delivering clean water. You can support this appeal after masses on the weekend of the 7th and 8th of October. Your contribution can make a difference and help save children’s and people’s lives without leaving anyone behind. Or, if you prefer, you can donate online at https://gofund.me/aa748400.
Greencastle Graveyard
We are blessed to have a graveyard in the grounds of the old church where so many parishioners who have gone before us are now resting.
We would like to ask for your help in maintaining this sacred place.
**Could we respectfully ask that waste is not dumped on the ground where the old church stood**
To this end, a new bin has been ordered which will be placed in the graveyard and there are also bins at the bottom of the lane which can be used.
Fr Delargy is incredibly grateful to the two parishioners who have volunteered to help maintain the graveyard.
If anyone is able to help them, please contact the parish office.
New Choir Members Welcome
ST. MARY’S CHOIR, GREENCASTLE would be delighted to welcome new members, both male and female, to join the choir. If interested, please join us for choir practice, which is held each Wednesday evening at 5.00pm in the church.
Youth 2000 retreat
The next Youth 2000 Ulster retreat will be taking place in the beautiful and tranquil surroundings of Lough Derg, Co. Donegal between 29th September to the 1st October. This retreat is for anyone aged 16-35. Great CRAIC!!, Excellent Speakers, Inspiring Talks & Workshops, Fantastic music, Group activities, Youth Masses, Adoration, Reconciliation, prayer, Drama, Games & plenty of time to chill out, meet new people and find out what it means to be young & Catholic today!! The retreat is donation only however if you are staying over there is a cost £35/€40 which goes to Lough Derg. Register now on www.youth2000.ie
Down and Connor Diocesan Trust - Vacancy
ST COLMCILLE’S PARISH, BELFAST
PASTORAL/ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT
An opportunity has arisen where we seek to recruit into the role of Pastoral/ Administration Assistant within St Colmcille’s Parish, Ballyhackamore, Belfast, BT4 3JB.
The post holder will be required to:
– Represent the Parish and assist the Parish Priest in the mission and pastoral care by working with those in the parish who require spiritual and practical support.
– Provide confidential, efficient, and effective administrative support to the Parish Priest, and assistant to visitors and parishioners who visit or make contact with the Parish Office.
Hours of work – 20 hours per week, flexibility will be required from time to time.
Rate of Pay: £11.50 gross per hour.
Full details relating to the vacancy can be found on the Diocesan website at: https://www.downandconnor.org/ clicking on the tab: Job Vacancies and on the Community NI and NIJobs.com websites, where terms and conditions relating to the role can also be accessed by way of a Role Profile and Employment Application form.
We welcome applications from anyone who feels they meet the criteria as presented and are interested in playing an active role within the Diocese of Down and Connor.
Closing date for applications will be 12.00 noon on Monday 25th September 2023
World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
The Season of Creation is marked throughout the Christian world from 1 September to 4 October (Feast of St Francis of Assisi) and celebrates the joy of creation as well as encouraging awareness – raising initiatives to protect the natural environment. The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is on 1 September 2023
Pope Francis calls us to be just in every situation, to harmonise with creation and to be mindful of the victims of climate injustice.
This year’s theme highlights that, by doing a little to care for our water supply – our local streams and rivers – each of us can also contribute to the flow of justice and peace in our world and so renew our relationship with creation. We pray that our efforts to promote climate justice may continue to flow together as a source of life for our Church and for our common home.
Please click on this link to view a video reflection of Pope Francis’ message for Season of Creation >>
MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIP COUNSELLING WITH ACCORD
Let us help you support your marriage and relationship. If you feel your relationship is in crisis or need a little guidance and feel that you and your partner could benefit from Marriage & Relationship Counselling, either face to face or online, contact your local Centre. Every year we help thousands of couples rebuild and sustain healthy
relationships.
Call us on 02890 233002 for all N. Ireland centres
Ireland Regional Office, Armagh, Ballymena, Belfast, Derry, Enniskillen, Maghera, Newry & Omagh
Email: info@accordni.com
Web: www.accordni.com
Ceili Dancing Classes
Ceili classes will begin again on
Monday 11th September
7.30pm – 9pm at St James’ Parish Hall
Cost £20 for four weeks, payable on first night.
We’d especially love our young people to get involved, so why not come along and enjoy the craic.
Anyone interested, please contact Brónagh in the parish office on 02890370845
Stress Control Classes
The Northern Trust Stress Control team are offering stress control classes online. Jim White, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, will be key presenter for these online stress control classes.
Please see attached information sheet with instructions on how to access the online classes available at https://ni.stresscontrol.org/.
The classes are FREE and the next round will commence on Monday 4th September, with session two on the following Thursday (7th September).
Each class will begin at 9am and will be available to watch online for around 2 ½ days (62 hours) after the start time. The details of the class schedule are on the information sheet attached.
If you have any questions or queries please get in touch using this email stress.control@northerntrust.hscni.net
Catholic Marriage Encounter
Catholic Marriage Encounter is a Weekend experience for any Sacramentally married couple.
Every relationship is a journey, and the grind of everyday life can cause you to lose touch with your spouse.
This is a space for you and your spouse to pause, reflect, and reconnect privately.
Our next Marriage Enrichment Weekend is Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th November 2023.
At “The Cork International Hotel” Cork. To book your place visit our website: www.marriageencounter.ie Tel. 087-2162436
Pathways to the Future
This is a time of major change – politically, economically, socially, and within our Church. Change can be unsettling and even a little frightening, especially when it impacts on something that we love, cherish, and rely upon, like our parish communities and how we celebrate our faith. Over recent weeks, we have heard about changes that are coming to our parishes and Diocese. Changes in the number of priests in active ministry in years to come, changes in how our parishes will work together in new families of parishes, changes in the active role that lay people will play working alongside our clergy in new ministries, leadership roles and the management of our parishes. The Holy Spirit is moving within these changes, and Jesus is calling each one of us to renew and to rebuild His Church. As Bishop Donal McKeown said in his Pastoral Letter at Pentecost, “The Spirit which acted with such unexpected force and fulness in Pentecost is the same Spirit we can call upon and put our entire trust in today.”
The Pathways to the Future team is concluding its initial planning work. Further information about our new Families of Parishes, lay ministries, and new ways for our lay people and clergy to work together in the service of God and each other will shared through a series of events across the Diocese in the autumn. This will be the start of ongoing conversations that will continue within parishes and across parishes as we start to build our new parish families. As Bishop McKeown said at Pentecost, “Together we can renew and rebuild the Church. Together, we can become part of God’s amazing dream for ourselves and for the whole of creation. Like the disciples at Pentecost, let us embrace the future with confidence and hope.” In doing so, let us hear Jesus’ voice as He continues to tell each of us “Do not be afraid”.
To find out more go to www.pathwaystothefuture.org
Weekday Masses in St Mary's, Greencastle
St Gerard’s will no longer be able to use their church for weekday Masses while roadworks are being carried out in the vicinity of their church. Mass will be celebrated in St Mary’s, Greencastle instead at 9.30am each weekday morning while this work is under way.
The time of our usual morning Mass on Wednesday morning will also be changed to 9.30am during this period.
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 >>
Dromantine Retreat and Conference Centre - New Workshops
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