News

Calling Pioneers and Friends to the 25th Pioneer National Ball. An evening of celebration and fun on Saturday April 6th 2024. Mass at 6pm in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, followed by special guest speaker, dinner, music and dancing at the Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar. Extra activities on Friday night and Saturday and Sunday
afternoons. For details/ tickets contact Dermot Fagan 085-7201646 or Daisy Carey 087-6544626

Good morning, A Happy New Year to you all!

I am seeking volunteers for future public examinations. Due to strike action by teaching and Non-Teaching unions we must have contingency plans in place to accommodate Access arrangements. We must train volunteers in advance. If you feel that this is something you can assist us with can you please let me know so that appropriate training can be arranged. Kind regards, Grainne, Principal. Email: info@stpats.lisburn.ni.sch.uk Tel: 02892 664877

Alumni and Friends Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of St Paul Departing Dublin on 7 February 2024, pilgrimage to Greece and Malta over 10 days, following in the footsteps of St Paul. For more information & how to book, email Chaplaincy Director, Shannon Campbell, at catholicchaplaincy@qub.ac.uk

DOWN AND CONNOR DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA 2024

Spiritual Directors Fr G McCloskey, Fr M Graham, Canon S Gilmore 20 Aug 2024.

7 Nights £799 per person sharing (£100 off per person if paid in full by 8th December 2023) direct return flights from Dublin to Lisbon, afternoon flights. 20KG bags included. Return airport transfers in Fatima. 7 Nights Hotel Avenida. Full board: breakfast, lunch & dinner each day. Guided tour of the Sanctuary & Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. Optional: Travel Insurance & Single Supplement. For further information please contact: Joe Catney 07776 425 631/02890714001.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s Environmental Health, Risk & Emergency Planning team are hosting a FREE Healthy Eating on a Budget event – ‘Eat Well, Spend Less’, on the evening of 23rd January 2024 with top local celebrity chef Paula McIntyre.

TIME: 18:30- 21:00
DATE: TUESDAY 23RD JANUARY 2024
LOCATION: ISLAND HALL, LISBURN & CASTLEREAGH CITY COUNCIL, CIVIC HEADQUARTERS,
LAGAN VALLEY ISLAND, LISBURN, BT27 4RL

We hope shortly to reintroduce our ‘Preparing your child for Baptism’ programme and are seeking volunteers to help with the delivery of this programme to parents and godparents of children presenting for baptism in parish. Baptism preparation is important for new parents and godparents to gain an understanding of the sacrament, the rite of Baptism and their commitment on behalf of their child at the start of their relationship with God.

If you are interested in joining in this important parish ministry please contact Parish O?ce.

TRÓCAIRE SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS: Are you a retired teacher or someone who has experience presenting to groups of school children? Do you have a passion for making this world a better place, especially for the most vulnerable?

Trócaire is looking for volunteers to support our School Talks Programme for Lent 2024 in the Down & Connor Diocese Area. If you think you have the right skills and experience and will have a few free hours during Lent then we would love to hear from you! For more information call Casey Schell on 02890 808033 or email casey.schell@trocaire.org

Family Care Adoption Services is an Adoption Agency, and a core part of our work is to place children with new adoptive families. We provide adoption services throughout all Northern Ireland and work with Health and Social Care Trusts to place single children and sibling groups for adoption. These children are aged from babyhood to approximately 5 years old. There are currently more children waiting to be adopted in Northern Ireland than families approved to adopt and there is an urgent need for new families to come forward. All sorts of people from all walks of life can be considered for adoption. If you think you could offer a child/ren a new life in a family of their own and would like an informal chat to discuss this and to find out more about adoption, email@familycareadoption.org Phone: 02890 691133. Website: www.familycareadoption.com We are waiting to hear from you!

In excess of 1,000 people have registered or have already attended one of the Pathways to the Future conversations that are being held across the Diocese during November. The conversations have been animated, rich, and fruitful, with those present sharing their hopes and dreams for their parishes and Families of parishes, their cares and concerns, as well as ideas and suggestions on how we build the Kingdom of God in Down and Connor. The Holy Spirit is moving through our parishes and our people, and there is a very real sense of excitement and optimism, and a willingness among our faithful to answer’s Christ’s call to renew and rebuild His Church for now and for the future.

On this Feast of Christ the King, as this church year draws to a close and we move into a time of waiting, expectation and preparation for the birth of Christ, our Saviour and King, let us pray for the renewal of our Church in Down and Connor and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we plan for our future. Let us pray to be guided by the Spirit in the discernment of our own personal gifts and the role that God wants us to play in sharing the Good News of the Gospel and the love of God with all we meet and journey within our lives.

“I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view.” Ezekiel 34:11

Subscription of £22 is now due for 2024. Please place payment in envelope provided and return to Parish Office. Thank you.