Down & Connor Diocesan Sacred Heart Novena: 4th to 12th June, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus It is with great joy as a diocese we celebrate the Novena to The Sacred Heart. The Sacred Heart Novena invites you to nine days of prayer, cumulating in the celebration of the Feast of the…
In the Roman Catholic Church, Easter has always been a celebration of the great love that God has for His Creation. A love that was shown when the Divine Son became incarnate and dwelt among us, sharing in our lot, showing us the way to the Father, and making the perfect offering in atonement for…
Blessings Beannachtaí na Cásca ortBlessings of Easter on you Jesus is risen On the first day of the week,Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,while it was still dark,and saw the stone removed from the tomb.John 20:1 In the same way we begin each Easter Vigil liturgy, on that first Easter…
Perhaps surprisingly, we do not celebrate Mass on Good Friday. Instead, we commemorate Jesus’ saving Sacrifice by reading the Passion account, venerating the Cross, and receiving Holy Communion that was consecrated the day before. Saint Thomas Aquinas tells us that there is great power in the Liturgical Year and in commemorating our Lord’s Passion on…
Blessings Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig ortBlessings of the Feast of Patrick on you Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duitHappy Saint Patrick’s day to you Naomh Pádraig As a community based near Downpatrick, we live in the heart of “Patrick’s Country”. Every day, we walk the same hills and look upon the same landscapes where the Apostle…
Saint Malachy’s Primary School Lenten appeal This Lent, the pupils of Saint Malachy’s Primary School are leading a heartfelt campaign to support Children in Crossfire, a charity working with children and families living in extreme hardship in Ethiopia. During their recent presentation, the School Council shared powerful stories about life in Nefas Silk, an area…
26 things to give up for Lent in 2026 Wearing headphones in public Maybe it’s your commute to work, your morning run, or just sitting alone in a coffee shop — try to be more present with the world around you. It gives you a chance to be more charitable with your time and more…
Blessings Beannachtaí na Féile BrídeBlessings of the Feast of Saint Brigid Lá Fhéile Bríde sona duitHappy Saint Brigid’s day to you History of Saint Brigid We thank Mrs West of Saint Bridget’s Catholic Primary School and Nursery for permission to share this text and to Therese Pollock for her devotion to Saint Brigid. Saint Brigid…
When Saint Malachy’s Church Castlewellan was renovated in 2007, a brochure was created. It detailed the history of the church, including its stained glass windows and paintings. Karen Mc Loughlin has added these photos and descriptions, along with recent photos taken by Laurence Mc Alinden, to the 3D virtual tour of the church. The virtual…