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Welcome
A very warm welcome to our Parish website. Here in Larne, we have a thriving Catholic community worshipping in our two churches – St MacNissi’s in the town centre and St Anthony’s in Craigyhill. You can find here the details of our many parish groups and activities, our sacraments and life of prayer. Whether you are a regular, newly arrived or a passing visitor, you are always welcome to join in the life of the Parish.
Our Lord Jesus Christ showed us the way to the Father that our joy may be complete. By supporting one another in witnessing to our faith in God and walking the journey together, we form a community of faith. We share our highs and our lows, we share our celebrations and our struggles, and we place them all in God’s hands, knowing that He is our constant companion and guide, and that His plan is greater for us than any we could imagine for ourselves.
Wherever you are, we wish you every blessing.
News
Contact Tracing Guidance
In the light of further guidance from both the Diocese and the HSC the Parish will be implementing a temporary written record of attendees at Mass to assist with contact tracing.
We intend to implement the guidance from this weekend onwards.
Thank you for your continued understanding and cooperation.
Recent Deaths & Anniversaries - 12/13 September 2020
For our beloved dead
During this time when it is not possible to publish our weekly parish bulletin, the names of those recently deceased and those whose anniversaries occur at this time will be published here on our website.
We remember in our prayers the following:
Months Mind:
Lee Barry
5.30pm Mass
St Anthony’s Church
Sat 19th September
Elizabeth McKeown
7.30pm Mass
St Anthony’s Church. Tues 22nd September
1st Anniversary:
Kathleen Rice
10.00am Mass
St MacNissi’s Church
Sun 20th September
Anniversaries:
William Convery
Tommy Devine
Liam Gribben
Clara Heggarty
Etta McGavock
Martha McGavock
Gerald McMullan
Charles O’Mullan
Jean Maxwell
Eileen Rea
Bridget Stephens
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
Diocesan Update in relation to facemasks
From 10 August it will be mandatory to wear a face covering in a shop or shopping centre, or any indoor public space where it is not possible to maintain social distancing.”
We have sought further advice regarding how churches are to interpret this, however we would now recommend that all persons attending liturgical celebrations be strongly encouraged to wear a face covering as an additional measure in helping to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Directions for attending Mass
As earlier publicised, we are opening St MacNissi's for 10am Mass this coming Sunday, August 2nd.
In order to ensure the health and safety of all, we will be using two entrance doors and two exit doors.
Entrances are the door at the Sacred Heart statue and the door at the very back of the church.
Stewards will be at each door to sanitise your hands before you enter and importantly to lead you to appropriate seats.
We would ask that family groups enter at the back door and sit as a family in the longer pews at the back of the Church.
Individuals and couples should enter via the Sacred Heart Transept door and sit in the side pews or in the Transepts.
By following these directions we hope to maximise the seating available while keeping the priority of social distancing.
To make a success of this and to ensure we can continue to open for Sunday mass we really need full co-operation with the stewards on duty.
Directions for the distribution of Holy Communion will be given by Fr O'Brien at Mass.
Fr O'Brien and a Eucharistic minister will be stationed at the front of the Church and one Eucharistic Minister will be stationed at the very back of the church with the stewards as ushers.
Two doors will be used as exits, the door at the statue of Our Lady and the Middle door of the Church, when leaving please allow more time for social distancing to be adhered to.
We trust you will be pleased we are ready to begin public Sunday mass again and hope that with everyone's co-operation we can make a success of our first public Sunday Mass since March.
Arrangements for celebration of Mass from 1st August 2020
We would like to thank all our parishioners for their support and understanding as we move through the process of reopening our Churches for public Mass.
The next stage will begin this weekend which coincides with the end of shielding for many in our community.
The arrangements are as follows:
Sat 1st August Vigil Mass in St Anthony's will be live streamed on Facebook only. (Not open to the public)
Sun 2nd August 10am Mass in St MacNissi's will be open to the public (not live streamed).
Weekday Masses will return to the times and Church where they would normally have been celebrated, therefore:
Monday 10am in St MacNissi's
Tuesday 7.30pm in St Anthony's
Wednesday 7.30pm in St MacNissi's
Thursday 10am in St Anthony's
Friday 10am in St MacNissi's
We have already made a start to reopening St Anthony's with baptisms and requiem Mass taking place there.
Both Churches are marked out for 2 metre social distancing and stewards will be at the entrance asking you to sanitise your hands.
It is essential that we continue to follow the guidance as laid out by the NI Executive and the Public Health Service if we are to remain open for Mass and the Sacraments.
All who wish to use the Church are therefore required to follow the direction of the stewards and ensure the health and safety of everyone.
The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass continues and we would like to remind you that attendance at any Mass each week will fulfil your Sunday duty.
Notices
Ordination of Fr Aidan O'Kane
We extend our congratulations and good wishes to Fr Aidan O’Kane of Carnlough Parish who will be ordained to the priesthood for the Passionist community today, Saturday 5th September in Holy Cross, Ardoyne.
Let us pray for Fr Aidan as he begins his priestly ministry and give thanks to God for blessing the Church with a new labourer in the vineyard.
Reflection for 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time - 19/20 September 2020
‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are my ways your ways. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways,
my thoughts above your thoughts,’ says the Lord
How small our thoughts can be, and how poor our ways of seeing and judging.
We think miserly thoughts, and act in miserly ways.
Why?
Because we have small minds and hearts.
Lord, open our minds and enlarge our hearts, so that we think more like you, and act more like you.
Let us not begrudge your goodness to others, knowing that we too are undeserving of your favour, and stand in more need of your mercy than your justice.
Amen
Readings for 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time - 12/13th September 2020
First Reading:
(Eccl 27:30-28:7)
In refusing to forgive those who have sinned against us, we exclude ourselves from receiving God’s forgiveness for our own sins.
Second Reading:
(Rom 14:7-9)
The entire existence of a Christian is for Christ and for others.
Gospel:
(Mt 18:21-35)
We must be willing to extend to others the generous forgiveness God has extended to us.
Upcoming Events
Sunday Mass
Every Sunday at 10am
This Mass will be open to the public in St MacNissi's at 10am. This Mass will not be live streamed.
Vigil Mass
Every Saturday at 5.30pm
This Mass will be live streamed on our Facebook page from St Anthony's at 5.30pm. This Mass is not open to the public.