Features
Living Church comes to Rome
Posted on 08. May, 2012
Living Church comes to Rome Down & Connor’s Living Church team have been in Rome recently to meet seminarians at the Pontifical Irish College. Fr Alan McGuckien and Paula McKeown from the Living Church office gave a weekend workshop for trainee priests from across Ireland – including five studying for Down & Connor. “It’s been [...]
Vocations Sunday 2012 – The Gift of the Love of God
Posted on 19. Apr, 2012
Vocations Sunday 2012: ‘The Gift of the Love of God’ Sunday, 29 April 2012, is Vocations Sunday or Good Shepherd Sunday. Vocations Sunday is the day on which the Church prays for and encourages vocations. The theme of this year’s Vocation’s Sunday message from Pope Benedict XVI is ’The Gift of the Love of God’. Pope Paul VI instituted the [...]
20 March 2012 Summary of the Findings of the Apostolic Visitation in Ireland
Posted on 20. Mar, 2012
Summary of the Findings of the Apostolic Visitation in Ireland Background On 19 March 2010, following a meeting in the Vatican with the bishops of Ireland, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI issued a Pastoral Letter to the Catholics in Ireland. The Pastoral Letter expressed his deep sorrow and regret regarding abuse perpetrated by priests and [...]
Training Course for Ministers of the Word
Posted on 21. Feb, 2012
“Effective Proclamation” Training Course for Ministers of the Word with Fr Alan McGuckian SJ and Team This training programme for Ministers of the Word will run over two Saturdays in Drumalis Retreat Centre, Larne: Saturday, 10th March 2012 Saturday, 14th April 2012 These days will provide input for Readers, including: An [...]
Bethany Bereavement Support Group
Posted on 07. Dec, 2011
Bethany Bereavement Support Group What is Bethany Bereavement Support? It is a parish based group ministry which aims to help those bereaved and grieving. Support is offered on a one-to-one basis in the home, to groups in drop-in centres, by phone calls, by helping at funeral liturgies and remembrance services. The distinctive features of Bethany [...]
26 November 2011 Opening Address by Bishop Treanor
Posted on 28. Nov, 2011
Opening address by Bishop Noel Treanor, Chair of the Episcopal Commission for International and Social Issues The annual joint meeting of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Council for Justice and Peace with the Northern Ireland Catholic Council for Social Affairs took place in the Ballymascanlon House Hotel near Dundalk, Co Louth, on 26 November 2011. [...]
Faith Development Programmes at Drumalis
Posted on 15. Jun, 2011
Faith Development Programmes Certificate in Christian Thought Living Theology for Daily Life This is a two year part-time course validated by St Mary's University College, Belfast. The course, beginning in October 2011, is delivered by a panel of theologians over 7 Saturdays per year. Click here to download information on the "Certificate in [...]
International Eucharistic Congress, Dublin 2012
Posted on 06. Jun, 2011
The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with One Another In June 2008, Pope Benedict XVI announced that the next International Eucharistic Congress will take place in Ireland in 2012. Whilst the main events will take place in Dublin, the Congress is intended to provide the whole Church, both here in Ireland and [...]
Eucharistic Congress Bell Pilgrimage in Down and Connor
Posted on 06. Mar, 2011
The Eucharistic Congress Bell Commencement of the Congress Bell Pilgrimage The Bell Pilgrimage in the Diocese of Down and Connor The Four Accompanying Icons Update on Preparations for the Eucharistic Congress 2012 The Eucharistic Congress Bell The Eucharistic Congress Bell is a key symbol of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress. From [...]
Listening Process in the Diocese of Down and Connor
Posted on 07. Feb, 2011
Letter of Invitation from Bishop Treanor to the People of the Diocese Outline of the Process of Listening Commissioning of Lay Facilitators for Listening Process (Wednesday 2nd February 2011) Details on the Listening Sessions across the Diocese of Down and Connor Extracts from the Letter of [...]
Catholic Schools Week 2011 – Resources
Posted on 23. Jan, 2011
Catholic Schools Week 2011 Sunday 30th January – Saturday 5th February The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2011 is inspired by the Pastoral Letter of Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI to the Catholics of Ireland. In paragraph 9, the Pope addresses the children and young people of Ireland. “He (Jesus Christ) loves [...]
Lighthouse Media Resources
Posted on 01. Dec, 2010
Lighthouse Catholic Media – Sharing the good news! An innovative new faith development ministry is up and running in numerous Parishes in several diocese. The Downpatrick based Lighthouse Catholic Media Project has been providing parishioners with faith based audio presentations on CD. These ‘lighthouse CDs’ include over 100 titles of inspirational talks by a [...]
Safeguarding Office Training
Posted on 20. Sep, 2010
Annual Safeguarding Training Events Calendar June 2010 – May 2011 Welcome to the first Safeguarding Office Annual Training Events Calendar for the Diocese of Down and Connor. The purpose of the calendar is to outline the range of safeguarding children and young people training events and initiatives which will take place throughout the [...]
Prime Minister David Cameron warmly welcomes Pope Benedict XVI
Posted on 15. Sep, 2010
Prime Minister warmly welcomes Pope Benedict XVI Prime Minister David Cameron has offered Pope Benedict XVI a “very warm welcome” to Britain ahead of his “incredibly important and historic visit”. Pope Benedict XVI starts his four day official visit to the UK on Thursday 16 September. This is the [...]
Follow the Papal Visit to the UK Online
Posted on 14. Sep, 2010
Watch Pope Benedict XVI in the UK live on your computer 24/7 live webcast announced for the Papal Visit If you have a computer and an internet connection, you will be able to watch the Holy Father’s visit to the UK live and in full online at thepapalvisit.org.uk. With just a few days until [...]
Drumalis ‘Pathways’ Faith Development Programme
Posted on 25. Jun, 2010
Pathways – An Opportunity to Explore Faith and Spirituality Collaboration with the ministerial priesthood and the exercise of their baptismal priesthood by the laity are becoming ever more important concepts in today’s Church. The pastoral team at Drumalis were aware of an urgent need to help prepare people for a more pro-active and responsible [...]
St Louis House SEARCH Programme
Posted on 23. Jun, 2010
St Louis House SEARCH Programme The weekend of 23rd-25th April was yet another big event in the life of St Louis House Youth Team. Another SEARCH residential – but one with a difference. This SEARCH outreach involved youth from as far across the diocese as Dunloy, in Antrim and Kilkeel, in Co Down. This [...]
Why Marriage Matters
Posted on 24. May, 2010
Why Marriage Matters 'Why Marriage Matters' is a statement in support of marriage and family life, which was published by the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference, concerning the Civil Partnership Bill currently before the Oireachtas. At a press conference on the last day of the spring general meeting of the Irish Bishops’ Conference on 10 March [...]
Student Prayer for Exams
Posted on 13. May, 2010
Lord Jesus, As I now prepare for my exams, I ask you to grant me strength of mind and constant hope. Banish from my mind all fear, anxiety, regret and nervous distraction. May your gift of the Holy Spirit guide and enlighten my fragile mind. At this difficult time, give me the gift of [...]
National Guidelines for Youth Retreats in Ireland
Posted on 11. May, 2010
In November 2009, the Irish Episcopal Commission for Catechetics issued guiding principles for organising youth retreats. There has been widespread interest in the emerging guidelines, in light of the importance of safeguarding and promoting the spiritual and personal well-being of young people and those who work with them. The guidelines are presented in their present form [...]
Rev. Damian McCaughan ordained Deacon
Posted on 05. Apr, 2010
Ordination to the Diaconate of Rev. Damian McCaughan On Easter Monday, Bishop Willie Walsh, Bishop of Killaloe, ordained Damian McCaughan (Diocese of Down and Connor) and Gerard Jones (Diocese of Killaloe) to the Diaconate in the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. Ordination to the Diaconate is one of the final steps [...]
Schola Cantorum
Posted on 03. Apr, 2010
Schola Cantorum Patron: Her Excellency Mary McAleese President of Ireland Cathedral Administrator: Very Reverend Fr. Hugh Kennedy, D.D. Director of Music: Nigel McClintock MMus, GRSM (Hons), FTCL, ARCO, DipRCM, AFCM Assistant Director of Schola: Helen Frame BMus Founded 2008 Scoil Ríoga Cheol na hEaglaise in Éirinn Royal School of Church Music [...]
Pope Benedict’s Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland
Posted on 24. Mar, 2010
Dear Friends in Christ, As you know, Pope Benedict’s Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland was issued recently. I wish to suggest that we read it, discuss its content in groups, in your parishes and neighbourhoods, as we prepare to undertake and respond to its proposals. In the opening lines Benedict XVI [...]
John Paul II Award
Posted on 18. Mar, 2010
About the Award The Award was created to commemorate the late Pope John Paul II who was so committed to young people and who had such belief and confidence in them. Through the Pope John Paul II Award, young people will be enabled to take an active part in the life of their Church, in [...]
ACCORD Marks 40 Years of Supporting Marriage
Posted on 18. Mar, 2010
ACCORD figures for 2009 show an 11% increase in demand for counselling The three areas listed by clients as being most problematic in their relationships: communication, stress and sexual intimacy Rates of depression and stress in clients are up 14% and 12% respectively ACCORD, a voluntary agency of the Catholic Church which promotes a deeper [...]
Trocaire
Posted on 16. Mar, 2010
The Hidden Scandal of Hunger For the first time ever the number of hungry people in the world has passed the one billion mark. That’s more than the population of the EU, the USA and Canada combined – one in every six people on our planet. The scandal of hunger sees a child die every [...]
Parish of St Gerard’s
Posted on 16. Mar, 2010
St Gerard’s Parish, Newtownabbey, Belfast by Aoife Hegarty A Redemptorist parish St Gerard's Church in Newtownabbey in North Belfast sits on high ground overlooking magnificent views of Belfast Lough. The church itself is no less impressive than the panoramic landscapes that surround it. A large red brick building fronts the Antrim Road [...]
Parish of Lagmore
Posted on 15. Mar, 2010
Christ the Redeemer Parish, Lagmore, Belfast – A Growing Parish by Aoife Hegarty The Christ the Redeemer Church in Lagmore is a small chapel nestled among sprawling housing estates in West Belfast. A rather unusual red brick building, the church is dwarfed by rows of large two-storey houses. Inside, as tens of morning [...]
Parish of Kirkinriola, Ballymena
Posted on 15. Mar, 2010
by Aoife Hegarty A centre for Catholic excellence Just like its bustling market town, the All Saints Church in Ballymena is a hive of activity. Parishioners stroll from morning Mass to the neighbouring parish centre where an extensive range of facilities serves to bring the surrounding community together on a daily basis. Others make [...]
Parish of Glenravel
Posted on 11. Mar, 2010
Parish of Glenravel, Antrim by Aoife Hegarty The Church of Mary Queen of Peace – a united people The parish of Glenravel is a little treasure, a throwback to old Ireland hidden in the rural hills of County Antrim. Here, among a population of just 2,000 people, it isn't unusual to have 70% [...]
Parish of Glengormley
Posted on 11. Mar, 2010
St Mary's on the Hill, Glengormley by Aoife Hegarty On a wet Wednesday morning in mid January, a steady stream of locals loyally make their way to daily Mass in St Bernard's Church in the parish of St Mary's on the Hill in the heart of Glengormley on the outskirts of Belfast. Inside, a [...]
Year for Priests
Posted on 11. Mar, 2010
19th June 2009 – 11th June 2010 Pope Benedict XVI declared a “Year for Priests” beginning with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 19, 2009. The year will conclude in Rome with an international gathering of priests with the Holy Father from June 9-11, 2010. With the announcement of this Year [...]
Holy Week Ceremonies in St. Peter’s
Posted on 11. Mar, 2010
St Peter’s Cathedral Parish, Belfast, extends a warm welcome to all in the diocese of Down and Connor to attend the Holy Week ceremonies. This year, RTÉ will be televising some of the ceremonies and the Easter Sunday Mass will be broadcast across Europe. The ambry in St. Peter’s Cathedral, dedicated to the memory [...]
Down and Connor Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Posted on 10. Mar, 2010
Down and Connor Diocesan Youth Team Pilgrimage to Lourdes Every year, young people travel to Lourdes as part of the Diocesan Pilgrimage. Traveling as part of the pilgrimage staff, they work to befriend and assist around 100 of our pilgrims who require support while in Lourdes. In addition a smaller group will work alongside [...]