Derriaghy Catholic Parish

Welcome to the website of Derriaghy Parish in the Diocese of Down and Connor. Derriaghy is the oldest Catholic Parish in the Diocese and you can find out more about our history here. The Parish exists within the wider Derriaghy-Colin Pastoral Family of Parishes.

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The Parish comprises St. Colman’s Church, Lambeg, and St. Patrick’s Church, Barnfield Road, Derriaghy.

Derriaghy Catholic Parish

6 days ago

HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIVSaint Peter's SquareSunday, 18 May 2025___________________Dear Brother Cardinals,Brother Bishops and Priests,Distinguished Authorities and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,Greetings to the pilgrims who came on the occasion of the Jubilee of Confraternities!Brothers and Sisters,I greet all of you with a heart full of gratitude at the beginning of the ministry that has been entrusted to me. Saint Augustine wrote: “Lord, you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you” (Confessions, I: 1,1).In these days, we have experienced intense emotions. The death of Pope Francis filled our hearts with sadness. In those difficult hours, we felt like the crowds that the Gospel says were “like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt 9:36). Yet on Easter Sunday, we received his final blessing and, in the light of the resurrection, we experienced the days that followed in the certainty that the Lord never abandons his people, but gathers them when they are scattered and guards them “as a shepherd guards his flock” (Jer 31:10).In this spirit of faith, the College of Cardinals met for the conclave. Coming from different backgrounds and experiences, we placed in God’s hands our desire to elect the new Successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome, a shepherd capable of preserving the rich heritage of the Christian faith and, at the same time, looking to the future, in order to confront the questions, concerns and challenges of today’s world. Accompanied by your prayers, we could feel the working of the Holy Spirit, who was able to bring us into harmony, like musical instruments, so that our heartstrings could vibrate in a single melody.I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother, who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy, walking with you on the path of God’s love, for he wants us all to be united in one family.Love and unity: these are the two dimensions of the mission entrusted to Peter by Jesus.We see this in today’s Gospel, which takes us to the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus began the mission he received from the Father: to be a “fisher” of humanity in order to draw it up from the waters of evil and death. Walking along the shore, he had called Peter and the other first disciples to be, like him, “fishers of men”. Now, after the resurrection, it is up to them to carry on this mission, to cast their nets again and again, to bring the hope of the Gospel into the “waters” of the world, to sail the seas of life so that all may experience God’s embrace.How can Peter carry out this task? The Gospel tells us that it is possible only because his own life was touched by the infinite and unconditional love of God, even in the hour of his failure and denial. For this reason, when Jesus addresses Peter, the Gospel uses the Greek verb agapáo, which refers to the love that God has for us, to the offering of himself without reserve and without calculation. Whereas the verb used in Peter’s response describes the love of friendship that we have for one another.Consequently, when Jesus asks Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (Jn 21:16), he is referring to the love of the Father. It is as if Jesus said to him, “Only if you have known and experienced this love of God, which never fails, will you be able to feed my lambs. Only in the love of God the Father will you be able to love your brothers and sisters with that same ‘more’, that is, by offering your life for your brothers and sisters.”Peter is thus entrusted with the task of “loving more” and giving his life for the flock. The ministry of Peter is distinguished precisely by this self-sacrificing love, because the Church of Rome presides in charity and its true authority is the charity of Christ. It is never a question of capturing others by force, by religious propaganda or by means of power. Instead, it is always and only a question of loving as Jesus did.The Apostle Peter himself tells us that Jesus “is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, and has become the cornerstone” (Acts 4:11). Moreover, if the rock is Christ, Peter must shepherd the flock without ever yielding to the temptation to be an autocrat, lording it over those entrusted to him (cf. 1 Pet 5:3). On the contrary, he is called to serve the faith of his brothers and sisters, and to walk alongside them, for all of us are “living stones” (1 Pet 2:5), called through our baptism to build God’s house in fraternal communion, in the harmony of the Spirit, in the coexistence of diversity. In the words of Saint Augustine: “The Church consists of all those who are in harmony with their brothers and sisters and who love their neighbour” (Serm. 359,9).Brothers and sisters, I would like that our first great desire be for a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest. For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion and fraternity within the world. We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: Look to Christ! Come closer to him! Welcome his word that enlightens and consoles! Listen to his offer of love and become his one family: in the one Christ, we are one. This is the path to follow together, among ourselves but also with our sister Christian churches, with those who follow other religious paths, with those who are searching for God, with all women and men of good will, in order to build a new world where peace reigns!This is the missionary spirit that must animate us; not closing ourselves off in our small groups, nor feeling superior to the world. We are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people.Brothers and sisters, this is the hour for love! The heart of the Gospel is the love of God that makes us brothers and sisters. With my predecessor Leo XIII, we can ask ourselves today: If this criterion “were to prevail in the world, would not every conflict cease and peace return?” (Rerum Novarum, 21).With the light and the strength of the Holy Spirit, let us build a Church founded on God’s love, a sign of unity, a missionary Church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made “restless” by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity.Together, as one people, as brothers and sisters, let us walk towards God and love one another. ... See MoreSee Less

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Derriaghy Catholic Parish

1 week ago

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Derriaghy Catholic Parish

2 weeks ago

You are invited to a special centenary celebration of the canonization of St Thérèse of Lisieux. St Thérèse is a beloved saint known for her little way of love and spiritual simplicity. We are honoured to welcome Fr Paul Murray OP, renowned speaker and spiritual director of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who will offer a reflection on how to live and pray like St Thérèse. The event will take place on 22 May at 19:00 at Holy Family Church (226-228 Limestone Road, Belfast, BT15 3AP). All are welcome. ... See MoreSee Less

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Derriaghy Catholic Parish

2 weeks ago

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Derriaghy Catholic Parish

2 weeks ago

8 May 2025 Bishop Alan McGuckian welcomes Election of Pope Leo XIVStatement by Bishop Alan McGuckian on the Election of Pope Leo XIVWith joy and gratitude, I welcome the news of the election of Pope Leo XIV as the Bishop of Rome and successor to Saint Peter. On behalf of the Diocese of Down and Connor, I pledge our prayer and heartfelt support for this ‘Son of St. Augustine’ entrusted with the apostolic mission to shepherd and serve the Church.Addressing the crowds gathered in Rome earlier this evening, Pope Leo XIV reminded everyone of the universality of the Church and that “God loves us, all of us”. In a world torn apart by conflict, war and confusion, he encourages us to be heralds of peace and unity.I invite all the clergy, religious and laity across the Diocese of Down and Connor to offer prayers of thanksgiving. May God’s blessing be upon Pope Leo XIV that he may bring the light of faith to those who are searching and be an instrument of God’s peace in the world.+Bishop Alan McGuckian SJBishop of Down and Connor ... See MoreSee Less

8 May 2025 Bishop Alan McGuckian welcomes Election of Pope Leo XIV

www.downandconnor.org

With joy and gratitude, I welcome the good news of the election of Pope Leo XIV as the Bishop of Rome and successor of Saint Peter. On behalf of the Diocese of Down and Connor, I pledge our prayers an...

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Sunday Mass	Sunday - 12.00pm
Weekday Mass	Tuesday - 10.00am

St Luke's	Saturday Vigil - 6.00pm
Nativity	Sunday - 10.00am
Our Lady Queen of Peace	Sunday - 10.30am
Christ the Redeemer	Sunday - 11.00am