28/10/2026
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St Patricks Belfast https://www.stpatricksbelfast.org
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PARISH BULLETIN
Sunday 25 October 2026 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Fr Francis O’Brien
028 90 324597
Address : 199 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2FL Emergency
07496818511 . Office hours 10.30am – 2.00pm Tuesday-Thursday, closes 1pm on Friday.
You can contact us by telephone or email.
Since St Patrick’s is a very busy Parish Office; we can’t always answer the phone immediately.
Please leave a message with your telephone number and we will call you back.
Parish
stpatricks@downandconnor.org Website: www.stpatricks.org St. Patrick's Parish, Belfast | Belfast | Facebook @stpatricks200 St Patrick’s Parish is a member of a Family of Parishes comprising the Parishes of Holy Family, St Gerards and St Patrick’s.
Holy Family – Fr Michael Spence, Fr John O’ Laverty (028 90 743119) St Gerards – Fr Patrick O’Keeffe (028 90 774833) Belfast Jesuit Centre: Fr Gerry Clarke SJ gclarke@jesuit.ie St Patrick’s Primary School: 028 90 351478
Blessed Trinity College: 028 90 370665
WEEKEND MASS Saturday Vigil 6pm. Sunday Morning 9am & 11am. Sunday Evening 6pm Candlelit Mass.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10am. CONFESSIONS Saturdays 5.30pm to 5.50pm. MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK Saturday 6pm: Mary Campbell Months Mind.
Sunday 9am: Peggy Fitzsimons 4th Anniversary.
Sunday 11am : In Memory of Robert Elliott and Kathleen Lundy, In Memory of Michael and Margaret Davis.
Sunday 6pm: Eddie Connor 4th Anniversary, Thomas McDowell 2nd Anniversary.
Tuesday 10am: In Memory of Alexander and Molly Elliott.
BAPTISMS IN ST PATRICKS We welcomed to the Family of God this week………… Thea Grace.
As a Parish we pray that the Lord protects her, strengthens her and helps her continue shining her light.
FEAST/MEMORIAL DAYS THIS WEEK
Tuesday 27 October - St Otteran, a descendent of Conall Gulban, is usually identified with Odhran who preceded Columba in Iona.
His death is recorded in 548 and his grave was greatly revered in Iona.
He was chosen by the Vikings as patron of the city of Waterford in 1096 and later patron of the diocese.
Wednesday 28 October - Ss Simon and Jude.
The teaching of the apostles is the living Gospel for all to hear.
Their authority comes from their fidelity to Christ and his message.
Saint Jude is patron saint of hopeless causes.
Thursday 29 October - St Colman, hailed from Kilmacduagh, Co. Galway in the seventh century.
After studying in Aran, where he founded two churches at Inis Mor, he returned to make a foundation at Kilmacduagh.
MASS FOR ALL SOULS DAY will take place at 10am on
Monday 2 November in St Patrick’s Church.
BLESSINGS AT COMMUNION For those who wish to receive a blessing rather than communion please approach the priest only, rather than any of the Eucharistic Ministers.
NEW LODGE GROTTO ROSARY at the Lourdes Grotto in the New Lodge every Monday at 7pm and Thursday at 7.30pm. All welcome.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL 028 90351561 or at www.svp.ie/requesthelp
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THIRTIETH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR The Two Great Commandments.
Today’s Gospel reminds us of the two great commandments: love of God and love of neighbour.
Here in a nutshell, we have the whole teaching of the Bible.
The only real failure for a Christian is the failure to love.
By rabbinical count, ‘the Law’ consisted of some 613 commandments.
The question as to which commandment was the greatest was one frequently discussed among the rabbis.
Jesus was asked to name one, but responded by naming two.
That is because, for him, the second followed directly and necessarily from the first. Love of neighbour arises out of love of God.
Both commandments are found in the Old Testament.
What is new is not the fact that Jesus brought these two commandments together, but that he made them of equal importance.
READINGS: First Reading (Ex 22:20-26). God tells the Israelites that there must be no discrimination against or exploitation of the weak members of their society . Second Reading (1 Thess 1:5-10).
Paul encourages the Thessalonians by telling them that their exemplary lives have become known far and wide.
Gospel (Mt 22:34-40). Jesus tells us that the whole of religion can be summed up in two commandments of love.
NOVEMBER DEAD November is the month of the Holy Souls – a time when the faithful departed are remembered and prayed for with great intensity.
This reminds us of our ongoing connection with those who have gone before us in this life.
We are still one family – those on earth, those in heaven and those being purified and awaiting paradise.
Mass is said each day, in every parish throughout the world for the dead – particularly remembering all those names included on the November Remembrance Lists.
These lists and the November envelopes are available from our Remembrance Garden.
When filled in, these can be put into the redbox.
These lists are then placed on the altar of St Patrick’s. “In Christ the hope of blessed resurrection has dawned, that those saddened by the certainty of dying might be consoled by the promise of immortality to come.” FAMILY OF PARISHES There will be an announcement at this weekend’s masses about the Diocesan ‘Family of Parishes’ initiative.
We are seeking your views about a potential name for our group of parishes, St Patrick’s, Holy Family and St Gerards’s.
Current options are ‘The Cavehill’, ‘Ben Madigan’ or ‘The Trinity’ Family of Parishes.
If you have a preference or alternative, please contact the parish office by phone – 02890 324597 or email – stpatricks@downandconnor.org . PRAYER OF THE WEEK PRAYER TO ST. JUDE Most holy Apostle, Saint Jude Thaddeus, friend of Jesus, I place myself in your care at this difficult time.
Help me know that I need not face my troubles alone.
Please join me in my need, asking God to send me: consolation in my sorrow, courage in my fear, and healing in the midst of my suffering.
Ask our loving Lord to fill me with the grace to accept whatever may lie ahead for me and my loved ones, and to strengthen my faith in God's healing powers.
Thank you, Saint Jude Thaddeus, for the promise of hope you hold out to all who believe, and inspire me to give this gift of hope to others as it has been given to me.
Amen THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “Don’t let fear haunt your dreams or hold you back from trying something new.
Sometimes, the scariest steps lead to the most wonderful adventures!” PARISH COLLECTIONS The Offertory Collection for
Sunday 18 October came to £1738.85. Dona £170.00. The Collection for World Mission Sunday came to £681.40. Dona £75.00. If you wish to donate directly via Bank Transfer the parish bank details are: Account Name: St Patricks Parish Account Number: 70327727 Sort Code: 95-06-79 (please add an identifying name to your transaction) or you can contact the Parish Office for a Standing Order Form.
Thank you for your continued support and generosity.
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rot TERR. PARISH OF ST TERESA OF AVILA 2 Ne Web Page: www.stteresasparish.church “ir A=
stteresas@downandconnor.org “ow & : Black Mountain Famialy of Parishes we . wtrod O80 iheae Fr Gabriel Lyons 028 9061 2855 g.lyons@downandconnor.org Parish Office Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am to 3pm. 25 October 2026 Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A. Sunday Gospel True love casts out fear.
Jesus told his disciples not to be afraid and yet many of those who consider themselves to be followers of Jesus are terrified of practically everything that is going on around them.
Fear paralyses faith, hope and love. Nothing will happen in God’s name when believers are afraid of what others think or what might happen.
We are called and chosen to love with all our hearts, souls and minds.
That teaching is important when the world in which we live is controlled by money, power and wealth.
Time to wake up to what the Lord is teaching.
We can change the world if we speak the truth in love and that truth will set us free from the oppression of corruption and evil. (Fr S Crumptor).
Church of the Holy Spirit (Sat.) Vigil 5pm, St Matthias’ 10am, St Teresa’s 12noon.
St Teresa’s, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 10am. St Matthias Monday 7pm, Wednesday 9am, Friday 7am & Saturday 10am. Confessions
Saturday 4 30pm in Church of the Holy Spirit, after any Mass and on request. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Wednesday in St Matthias’ Church from 11am to 4pm. November Dead Lists are available in the church porch.
Masses celebrated during the month of November are for those who have died.
To book an Anniversary Mass, Baptism or Wedding Ceremony please email the Parish Office.
Please note, that in accordance with Bishop Alan McGuckian’s recommendation, eulogies will not take place at Funeral Masses.
Mass for all the Faithful Departed, especially those parishioners who died in the last 12 months.
St Teresa’s
Thursday 5 November 2026 at 7pm. All welcome.
Tony Duffy.
Phil Stuart, Sharon Donnelly, William Davison.
Anniversaries: Vincent Bradley, Philip Glennon, Anne Mckenna, Liam McGreevy, Agnes McGrogan.
Weekly Collection: £1 783. World Missions £446. Thank you for your continued support.
Eucharistic Adoration in the Black Mountain Family of Parishes: St Matthias, Wednesdays 10am to 4pm. St Agnes’, Thursdays 3pm to 7pm, Saturdays 1.30pm to 6 15pm. St Michael’s, Wednesdays and Fridays after 10am Mass.
St Oliver Plunkett, Wednesdays 9am to 10am & 5pm to 8pm. St Peter’s The Rock, every day 6 30 to 7 30pm. St Joseph’s, Fridays 3pm to 4pm.
Auto-generated from the bulletin PDF. Irish (Gaeilge) and English preserved as printed. Check mass times and names against the original PDF.