Information

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Children in our Parish Schools will be prepared for the reception of the Sacraments.

Parents of children attending schools, other than Parish Schools who wish to have their child prepared for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion (2011) are requested to register at the Parish Office as soon as possible.

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Baptisms are normally held on alternate Sundays at 1.00pm in St. Patricks Church but may vary over the summer months.  Before making family arrangements please check with Parish Office for available dates.

Parents and godparents are invited and expected to attend a Baptism preparation meeting normally held on the Thursday evening at 7.30pm  prior to the child’s Baptism.  Signs and symbols used in the celebration of the Sacrament and the role of parents and godparents are explained.

A child can have either a godmother or godfather or both.  A godparent should be a practising Catholic (at least 17 years of age), mature, trustworthy and responsible.  At the request of the parents, a baptised and believing Christian not belonging to the Catholic Church may act as a Christian witness along with a Catholic godparent.

Parents living outside this parish, and wishing to have their child baptised in Blaris Parish, must obtain the written permission of the priest of their own parish.

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The Altar Society is responsible for the cleaning of the church on a weekly basis. A group of volunteers make themselves available on a rota basis, for cleaning, flower arrangements, care of the altar linens and sacred vessels.

Members consider it a privlege to be involved in this worthwhile and important work. New Members are always welcome.  If you have a couple of spare hours on a Saturday, once a month, and would like to help please contact Parish Office or speak with any Team Member.

Ministers of the Word on a rota basis proclaim the Word of God at daily, Holy Day, Sunday Masses and Liturgical Services.

Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist serve the Church on a rota basis by assisting the priest in the distribution of Communion at weekday and Sunday Masses. Holy Communion is brought by the Ministers to the sick and housebound in the Parish on a weekly basis, including those in Nursing Homes and Thompson House Hospital.

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Each week on Sunday at 12 noon and Saturday at 6.30pm in St. Patrick’s Church the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered for the repose of the souls of those whose Month’s Mind or Anniversaries have been requested on one of these specific days. The names of the deceased sharing in the Holy Sacrifice on each specific day will be displayed before the Altar at Mass. Names for inclusion must be submitted to the Parish Office no later than Thursday morning for the following weekend Masses.

Chair : Gerald McGoldrick  Deputy Chair : Maria McDonald

Members : Very Rev. Dermot McCaughan, Geraldine Clenaghan, Una Tracey, Pat Catney, Marie Allen.

Approximately 3 times a year in St Patrick’s Parish Centre.

In line with the Down & Connor Diocesan policies and procedures concerning the protection of children and those who work with them, a Child Care Committee has been established in the Parish of Blaris. The role of the committee is to:

1 Make parishioners aware of the existence of the Down & Connor Child protection policy and Procedures. Link to Down and Connor Child Protection Policy and Procedures booklet
2 Identify parish activities which involve children and young people.
3 Require that non-parish groups and individuals, who use parish premises and facilities for activities, have their own child protection policy and procedures in place and have insurance for the event.
4 Arrange for adults who are responsible for parish run children’s activities, to participate in the required child protection information session, which is a necessary part of our on-going care and support for parish volunteers.
5 Ensure that all staff and volunteers, who work with children and young people, are vetted as required by current legislation.
6 Guide and assist parish activity groups, in the recruitment and selection of parish volunteers, ensuring that ‘best practice’ is implemented.
7 Ensure that parish activities have a code of conduct for their activity.

“Along with the family, the parish has a key role to play in promoting and protecting the rights of children. This means that within the parish, the families, schools and groups work together in creating a safe and caring community in which children can develop and mature.”

Pontifical Council for the Family. The Family and Human Rights 2001.

The CCC is a committee of volunteers who have a background working with children, young people and vulnerable adults or who are representatives of the different organisations and groups who work with children, young people and vulnerable adults in the parish. These include: Do this in memory programme, Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick and Housebound etc.

The CCC does not have an investigative role in the protection of children and vulnerable adults, our role is to develop and promote best practice towards children, young people and vulnerable adults. We do this through a two stage process by ensuring that all volunteers:

1 Are vetted by Access NI; and
2 Attend a Parish Information Session to ensure they develop their understanding of their responsibilities for promoting and safeguarding in all parish activities involving children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Through an ongoing audit of all the activities which occur in the church and in the pastoral centre, we maintain a record of all the individuals involved.

Our purpose is to advise all parish organisations of their responsibilities in relation to who they should contact if they have any queries or concerns. They are listed below.

Child Protection - This is comprehensively explained at the parish information sessions delivered by the Vicariate Support team and this is why attendance at such sessions is mandatory before anyone can work with children, young people or vulnerable adults in our parish.

Recruitment and selection of new staff / volunteers - Ensuring that all volunteers have been vetted. The vetting process involves the receipt of an application form from a potential volunteer of staff member. The Deputy Chair then obtains references from two referees as to the suitability of the applicant for the role within the parish.

When the references are in place, the applicant then completes three forms which are forwarded to the Diocesan Safeguarding Office – these forms include:
1 A confidential declaration of any previous convictions;
2 An Access NI Vetting Form; and
3 A Declaration form which is completed by the applicant and the Chair of Deputy Chair of the CCC who verifies that they have produced the three pieces of identification required for vetting.

This process is completely confidential and only the Chair or Deputy Chair sees any of the forms relating to the process – (no other committee members see any of the potential applicants personal information)

All of the information is stored securely including, the role(s) they have applied for, the date they were vetted and the date they have attended the parish information session on Child Protection. This is kept in a secure filing cabinet in the Parish Office to which only the Deputy Chair and Fr. McCaughan and Fr. Magorrian have access to.

You have a choice of any of the following four routes:

Diocesan Designated Officer for Child Protection : Mr Andy Thompson, Safeguarding Officer, Good Shepherd Centre, 511 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 3GS. Tel: 028 9049 2783

Social Services : Ask to speak with Duty Social worker at 028 9266 9111

NSPCC : Child Protection Helpline 0808 800 5000

PSNI : Child Abuse and Rape Enquiry Unit. Our local CARE Unit is based at Lisburn PSNI station 0845 600 8000