News

Commissioning and Recommissioning will take place next Sunday – Pentecost Sunday – during the 10.00am Mass.

Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ and Jim Deeds will lead the Three-Day Pilgrimage to Lough Derg.

Date: 19th – 21st June 2026. Bus will depart from St Patrick’s Church Donegall Street. Cost £100.

Places are limited early booking advised. To book contact Claire on 028 90690920 or email:
pathwaystothefuture@downandconnor.org

Congratulations to our boys and girls from ST. JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL who received First Holy Communion on Friday morning in St. Patrick’s Church. A word of thanks to the teachers and all who assisted in the preparation of the children for First Communion.

Congratulations also to the children from OTHER SCHOOLS who received First Holy Communion on Saturday morning in St. Patrick’s Church. Our grateful thanks to Miss Elaine Barton who voluntary prepared the children for First Holy Communion.

Thanks also to Mrs Sharon Chittick who prepared the children from Downshire Primary Integrated School for the Sacrament.

Appreciation to the parents of the children from St. Joseph’s and other Schools for supporting their children on their First Communion Day.

People from all over Ireland are invited to Knock Shrine on Saturday May 16, for a special pilgrimage to pray for peace in
the Holy Land. The pilgrimage – organised by the papal charity Aid to the Church in Need ? will be led by Bishop William Shomali from Bethlehem. Bishop Shomali will offer a message of hope at 11am and celebrate Mass at 3pm.

All are welcome. More information at www.acnireland.org

A count of attendance will take place at all Masses across the Diocese on THIS WEEKEND. The annual parish census captures valuable information about the numbers, ages, and gender of people attending Mass. This information helps the Diocese and parishes to identify pastoral priorities, make plans to address them, and provide support to our faith communities.

To facilitate an accurate recording of attendance at each Mass, as per last year, on enterng the church everyone will be handed a plastic coloured counter – red (female), blue (male). Placed nearby will be clearly marked ‘age band’ baskets according to age. If you do not receive a counter on entering please collect one before leaving the church. Parents, please obtain counter for each child in attendance.

Census data will be provided later.

We look forward to seeing you at Mass this weekend and thank you for your patience and co-operation.

New Church Cleaning rota is ready to pick up from Parish Centre Office.

We are in urgent need of more church cleaners. Could you spare one hour per month working as part of a team?

If interested, please contact Centre Manager on 028 92 607110 for further details.

Ascert facilitate a weekly SMART Recovery Programme, providing practical support for individuals dealing with substance dependencies or problem behaviours. These meetings empower participants to effectively manage addictive behaviours.

Meeting details:
• When: Thursdays,
• Where: 11am-12.30pm, Atlas Centre, 7 Bachelor’s Walk, Lisburn.
• Who: Anyone aged 18+ struggling with drugs or alcohol.
• No need to book in advance, please show up at 11am.

These meetings provide a safe, non-judgemental; space that upholds principles of respect, inclusivity and confidentiality.

“Living our Baptism today”
St Gerard’s Parish Church, 722 Antrim Road
Monday 11th To Tuesday 19th May 2026
Monday To Friday 9.30am & 7.30pm
Saturday 9.30am & 6.30pm
Sunday 10.30am & 7.30pm

Our grateful thanks and appreciation to Danny & Ann Kearney who recently retired after generously serving 20 years each helping with the cleaning and interior maintenance of the Church. Well done!

May your ‘retirement’ days be filled with joy and peace.

Join us for an evening of food, music and dancing in the Ballymac hotel on Saturday 13th June at 7pm to raise vital funds for the mission project of the Sisters of the Community of Mary, of the Heart of Jesus (Sisters of Comunidade Servos de Maria do Coração de Jesus) in Rwanda.

For more information and tickets, please visit bit.ly/4aAsKIO