The following is taken from the Parish Information Booklet, a description of each organisation being written by a member of the particular group, which gives a flavour and information about the various groups.  A copy of the Parish Information Booklet is available in the Church at Brunswick Road, from a link at the bottom of this webpage, or from the Parish Office.  This directory will be updated as and when possible.  Thanks.  [Fr McCann, Adm]

Parish Information  Booklet



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St Comgall's Youth Choir
St Comgall’s Mother and Toddler Group
St Comgall’s Children’s Liturgy
Teams of Our Lady
Scouting Movement
Fighting Poverty Through Trade
St Comgall’s Church Rosary Group - Marian Laity
Legion of Mary
SPRED
Apostolic Work
St Comgall’s Brigins
Rosary Group
Friendship Club
St Joseph’s Young Priests Society
Bible Group
St Comgall’s Folk Group
St Comgall’s Parish Prayer Group
Society of St Vincent de Paul
St Comgall’s Church Choir
St. Comgall’s Parish Youth Centre
Trocaire

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In 2002 I was invited to play the organ at 12.30pm Mass.  On special occasions I was joined by young musicians and singers.  Some of the young people expressed an interest in taking part on a more permanent basis.  Presently there are 8 members which include instrumentalists and singers.

We have a short fun practice on Tuesday evenings at my house.  If you are young at heart and enjoy playing or singing as part of a small group, you would be more than welcome.  You will help us make the 12.30 Mass a greater spiritual experience for the congregation.

If you are not sure, join us for a few Sundays and see how you get on.

Contact: Mary Keag (McClean)

St Comgall’s Mother and Toddler Group

The Mother and Toddler Group has been ongoing in the parish for over 30 years.  It is a great way for new mothers to meet parishioners and make new friends over a cup of tea or coffee.  There are plenty of toys to keep the children, from babies to toddlers, occupied.

The group meets on a Thursday morning in the Parish Centre 10.30 am to 12 noon during term time.
 
Contact: Angela Ireland, Eileen Nancarrow

 St Comgall’s Children’s Liturgy

The Children’s Liturgy aims to bring the Gospel message to the children of the parish each Sunday at the 11am Mass in St Comgall’s Church.

The children’s version of the Gospel is read and discussed by the children, helping them to understand the message of the Gospel.

There is an activity linked to the Gospel message (eg drawing, colouring, etc) which the children particularly enjoy. 

The Children’s Liturgy Group gives everyone of the children an opportunity to participate in the Mass and aims to make the experience enjoyable and fun!

We always welcome new volunteers - parents, grandparents & students are invited to help share their giftedness. We also learn something valuable from all the children who come to our liturgy.

Contact: Susan McCullough

Teams of Our Lady

The Teams of Our Lady is a movement within the church for married couples.  It is recognised and encouraged by the church and recent Popes have praised those involved in it’s work for marriage.

THE AIM OF THE TEAMS is broadly two-fold

1. to help couples grow in their Christian faith
2. to help them in particular to grow in their married love and acquire a deeper understanding of their married vocation.

The movement is made up of individual teams.  Each team consists of four to five couples who meet monthly with a priest.  The priest brings to the team the grace of his ministry, his theological knowledge and his pastoral experience.
The monthly meeting is held in the home of each family in turn and begins with a simple meal, the preparation of which is shared out in advance.  During the meeting the chaplain reads and explains a passage of scripture and the couples then pray about what he has said either silently or aloud.  They can also pray for their families, their problems, their joys.
The couples also share with each other on the important happenings of each family as well as on the various commitments of Team spirituality.  These include daily personal prayer, reading of scripture, a monthly ‘sit down’ or special listening to one’s spouse, and some ‘rule of life’ or growth point which each individual chooses for him/herself.
The last part of the meeting is devoted to a ‘study topic’.  This is usually the study of scripture, some religious book or a topic decided by the movement.  The purpose of the ‘study topic’ is to enable the couples through discussion to grow in faith.               

Contact: Charlie and Maureen McMullan

Scouting Movement

Scouting has held a valued place in society since its inception over ninety years ago. Socialism is the process whereby a person acquires a social identity, learns appropriate behaviour and conforms to expectations held by members of the group to which s/he belongs or aspires to belong.  The importance of the Scout Movement in socialisation has long been recognised.  The role of the Scout Movement in modern society has become increasingly more significant in the social and cultural life of many countries.

The Scout Movement has never been of greater importance than it is today, with all of the pressures and distractions [many less than healthy] calling on the minds and emotions of young people from an early age.  Apart from it important role in socialisation, Scouting answers many needs of today’s children and young people, healthy exercise in the out-of-doors to stress reduction, from the thrill of achievement to the enhancement of self-confidence and self-esteem.

The contribution of Scout Leaders, who voluntarily give of their time to provide such experiences for young people, is invaluable.  Without them Scouting could not flourish.  This unique relationship, whereby adults and young people voluntarily come together to learn and to share values, deserves all the support and protection that can be provided.  These Scouts are our future.

Contact: Phillip McMullan

Fighting Poverty Through Trade

Traidcraft, the Christian-based fair trade organisation, was formed by a group of people
concerned about issues of Christian witness through trade in 1979.  Christians are called to love the poor – but also to ask questions as to why they are poor.

Fair trade is not about charity, it’s about giving people the dignity of working their way out of poverty, providing opportunity and hope for the future.  It’s about developing a different way of buying things, whether we’re choosing coffee or cards, tea or t-shirts. 

Unjust trading systems are not new.  Proverbs 13.23  “ A poor man’s field may produce abundant food but injustice sweeps it away.”  But in 1 John 3.18 we are told ‘My children, our love is not just to be words or mere talk, but something real and active”

The Traidcraft Stall, set up in the parish in 1985, is held nine times a year after all Sunday Masses selling fairly traded Traidcraft  foods, crafts, jewellery and stationary from developing countries.  Since 2005 a small range of crafts from Sharing Fair, a project of the Good Shepherd Sisters in developing countries, is also available.

If you would like to help at the sale or want to know more about it contact the parish office for more details.  We can all do something – and it can start with something as simple as a cup of coffee.

Contact: Patricia Norrington
 

St Comgall’s Church Rosary Group - Marian Laity

St Comgall’s Church Rosary Group meets every Thursday at 6.30pm.  The Group members kneel together with Mary in a spirit of love and reverence before the living presence of Jesus in the tabernacle.

After an opening prayer of invocation to the Holy Spirit five decades of the Holy Rosary are meditated upon and recited. These are followed by music and a further reflection usually pertinent to the season we are in.  The recital of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, fittingly complete our hour of praise and worship.

Our prayers are offered for the fulfilment of ‘Our Lady’s request that we awaken from the tired sleep of our soul and say ‘Yes’ to God and decide for conversion and holiness.  We do this by offering up our prayers intently for our own needs, the needs of our families, the entire parish community and most especially for the needs and nourishment of our Priests.

As a group we already acknowledge & appreciate the many graces and blessings received personally as a result of our supplications and encourage the use of our petition box placed below the statue of Our Lady each week for specific requests. 

Contacts:  Una Popplewell, Pauline McDowell,
     Gemma Harrison &  Jacinta Crockford
 

Legion of Mary

The Legion of Mary is an association of Catholics for the purpose of active co-operation under the guidance of the Church in advancing the reign of Christ and the conversion of all people.

The Legion of Mary is at the disposal of the bishop of the diocese and the parish priest for any and every form of Catholic action useful for the welfare of the Church.  Legionaries will never engage in any action in a parish without the sanction of the parish priest or the bishop.

It is primarily engaged on all forms of spiritual work, promoting prayer, Catholic education, visiting families, devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary etc.

The vision of Frank Duff, the founder of the Legion of Mary, was to form a means of enlisting all the members of the Church, especially the Laity, in the Church’s evangelising work.

Membership requires participation at a prayer/reporting meeting once a week for 1½ hours and active work once per week for 2 hours.  The only restriction on membership is that it is confined to practising Catholics.

Contact: Stephen Duffin
 

SPRED
[Special Religious Education for people with special needs & learning difficulties]

We have 2 parish groups: Monday and Tuesday evenings.

Our special friends are:

Monday Group ~ Jane, Una, Jonathan, Gerard, John, Steven, David and Kieran.
Tuesday Group ~ Claire, Sally, Elaine, Lynn, Natascha, Karol and Hugh.

SPRED has been active in our parish for over 22 years.
We have 25 deeply committed people who give their time weekly to at least 15 people with a learning disability.  We see learning disabled persons as developing persons.  This creates an aura of hope and possibilities.  Through mutual friendship each one feels valued and respected.  We strive for equality in our groups.

Our SPRED method contains basic theology, scripture, life experiences – our special friends are capable of growing in love and in faith and they can lead us to touch mystery: they are  our greatest gift.

Each of us is called to manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit in an unique way and these the marginalised of society in SPRED, because of BAPTISM, are in full communion with all or us in our parish.

All persons with disabilities, learning or otherwise, are integral to the parish community.  Anyone interested in learning more about SPRED please contact the parish office.

Contacts: Maureen Ritchie(Mon Group) or Zeta Hehir (Tues Group)
 

Apostolic Work

Apostolic work began in 1923 when a young lady from Enniskillen called Agnes McAuley arranged a meeting with a group of girls to discuss ways and means of supporting missionaries by collecting gifts and raising money for foreign missions.  From this small beginning Apostolic Work spread to all the dioceses of Ireland.

Their aims are:
To pray for the missionaries.
To provide them with vestments, sacred vessels and finance when requested.
To provide finance for church buildings and equipment, rosaries, medals etc.

We have requests also for help with transport, education, very basic medical facilities, orphanages and general community development.

Contributions provide the poor, refugees with food, water, clothing, healthcare, medical clinics, medicines and equipment for hospitals.  Training and education of students to the priesthood.

Self-help projects have always been a special feature of Apostolic Work.  The lives of countless thousands of people have been changed for the better, both spiritually and materially. 

A special thank you for the unseen contribution over the years, their prayers and sacrifices of member’s, honorary members and friends.

Contact: Cathleen McKearney
 
Holy Family House of Prayer

We meet on a Wednesday night.  For more than 27 years there has been these kind of prayers here ~ Praise, Thanksgiving, Anointing, Scripture Intercession.

For us the Holy Family includes all of them to come to our aid in all our needs so the Holy Rosary starts at 7.30 to 8 o’clock.

For our mother to walk and turn the soil with us so the meeting will be fruitful 8 o’clock a cup of tea.

Then we start praise, worship, thanksgiving followed by Scripture Anointing if needed then intercession.  All prayers are entered into a book and prayer for through the week as well as at the meeting we experience great joy and peace.

We finish wish ‘A Hymn’ and go home a lot lighter.

Contact: Ann McCormick

St Comgall’s Brigins

We have our meetings at 6.30pm till 8.00pm every Thursday in the Parish Centre.

Brigins allow young girls to experience challenges, friendship, camping, games & crafts and gain skills health education, environmental awareness, teamwork and much more.

Catholic Guides of Ireland (CGI) is a volunteer-driven youth organisation, which provides a challenging guiding programme of activities, within a safe environment to enable all girls and young women to develop to their full potential.

We are looking for leaders from 18-65.  Through training, volunteers gain the skills needed to be a dynamic and able guide leader.

Students, unemployed, parent, married, single, all sorts of people come along and become leaders.  So why not come along one night a week and join our local Brigins, you will be surprised how much guiding can offer you!

Contacts: Roisin McKinley or Maire Dunwoody

Rosary Group

The Rosary Group meet every Monday morning.  The meeting is held in my home at around 11am after 10 o’clock morning Mass in St Comgall’s Church.  Members enjoy a cup of tea and a biscuit on arrival as well as an opportunity to briefly share our Ups and Downs in confidence, before partaking in the group Rosary.  The meeting usually lasts until around midday.

The Rosary Group was started some 10 years ago by a group of mothers who were concerned about their children and the need to pray for them.  From small beginnings the Group has flourished and whilst we still pray for our various children, we now pray for whatever concerns our various members, remembering our priests and people who are ill.  We consecrate ourselves and our children to our Mother and her son Jesus.  We have received many graces and blessings through this Rosary.

Contact: Pauline Crawley

 Friendship Club

St Comgall’s Friendship Club was formed in the Parish of St Comgall’s around 13-14 years ago and is open to men and women of 55 years and over.
It is open to all religions, the main rule stating that the President must be a Roman Catholic and a member of the Parish.
The Club meets weekly on a Tuesday morning, but has Christmas, Easter and summer recesses.
The aims of the Club is to provide a few hours each week for members to meet, enjoy a chat over tea/coffee.  The Committee try to organise from week to week something of interest, such as a great speaker, aerobics and on occasions bingo.  It’s always hard to keep up the entertainment, but with musical days, quizzes and of course days out by bus to places of interest and lunch, most of the members are happy to be part of the club.
Parties are held on special days, St Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, Easter Bonnet Day and Halloween, with Christmas a special time.  Apart from Christmas party, a Christmas dinner/dance/ music is usually booked at a local hotel – all are great successes.
There are eight members on the Committee, President and Treasurer are part of the eight.  All work hard.  Membership has dropped lately, due to death, illness and relocation.
The Club would benefit by more males (men) members of the Parish, but we will welcome all who are interested.

Contact: Betty Dornan

St Joseph’s Young Priests Society

Quote from Pope John Paul II:
“There is an urgent need for a widespread and deep conversion that all members of the church have a responsibility to look after vocations, for without priests we will lose the heart of our faith – the Mass and the Sacramental presence of Christ in the church”

AIMS
1. To promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and to assist financially in the education of students.
2. To promote the vocation of the laity by creating a greater understanding of the Mass.

IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THESE AIMS
We pray for vocations especially by our participation in the Mass, Eucharistic adoration, our special vocation prayer and we pray the Rosary.
Our prayers must lead to action.  So we work with the youth, both in our parish and in Belfast with Youth 2000.  At diocesan level, pilgrimages, retreats, prayer meetings and processions are arranged.  You can be sure that by helping us to sow the seed of a vocation you will find peace and contentment.

Meeting takes place in Parish Centre 2nd Tuesday of the month at 8pm.  All welcome.

Contact: Helen O’Hanlon
 

Bible Group

OBJECTIVES
1. The Bible contains the human expression of Divine revelation, the disclosure of the Word of God within the human story.   As it contains the Divine element [God’s] and the human element [Word], my purpose for the group is to explore the Divine and the human throughout its pages.
2. To foster a love for God’s Word and to encourage people to use the Bible as a source for their prayer, ground for their faith and a guide for their everyday living.
3. To draw people to read these sacred pages without fear or any sense of unwillingness and to realise that the Word of God is always concerned with people and goodness as it seeks to shape the story of their lives.
4. To help them understand that the Bible story is our story.  From it we learn from those who have gone before us.  We are total strangers, but like our ancestors in faith, we are fellow pilgrims journeying towards our common destiny in God.  In the Bible we meet human beings not symbols – sometimes troubled, sometimes exultant.  We find ourselves.
In our weekly meetings particular attention is given to the Sunday readings stressing that the proclamation of the Word goes hand in hand with the celebration of the Eucharist.  Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, people are encouraged to offer their own thoughts and feelings about the Word.  The remainder of the time is devoted to our ongoing study of a Gospel or Epistle.  The Bible is not for a select few.  It is for all and is offered to all as a living voice to guide us on our journey to God.

Contact: Dympna Lillie

St Comgall’s Folk Group

St Comgall’s Folk Group exist to provide music for the Saturday evening vigil Mass. The group is made up of singers of all ages and various instruments – guitars, flute, keyboards, Irish bazuki and bodhran.

Our sole purpose is to enhance the liturgy with music and song. Throughout the year we take part in various other liturgical events.

Our motto is taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians:

“With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God” (Col.3:16)

The Group practices in the Parish Centre on Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 8:15pm and meet in the church at 6pm for the vigil Mass on Saturday.

Contact: Joanne McCormick

St Comgall’s Parish Prayer Group

The purpose of our prayer group is that which was put so well by Pope John 23rd:

“Renew your wonders in our time as with a new Pentecost”

In response to this prayer the Holy Spirit gifted the Church with a dynamic experience of His presence.  As lately as 1998 Pope John Paul II said to all Catholics throughout the world;

“Pray for a new outpouring of the Spirit in the Church
and open yourself gently to the gift of the Spirit and
accept gratefully and obediently the charisms of the
Holy Spirit which the Spirit never ceases to bestow on us”

The parish prayer group helps its participants remain faithful, grateful and obedient to the charisms of the Holy Spirit, given to all at their Baptism and Confirmation. These charisms make us all aware as the People of God of the power and presence of the Trinity in our lives.  We do this in three ways:
1. We meet together each Monday evening @ 8pm. Here we praise and glorify God and, through regular teachings, deepen the understanding of our faith and encourage us in our spiritual journey to God and service to each other.
2. We also offer a deeper understanding of the basic gospel message, given in an interesting and challenging way in eight talks, known as ‘Life in the Spirit Seminars’.
3. We work with other Christian denominations in Bangor to offer the Alpha Course. This presents the basic gospel message of Jesus Christ in a simple, yet new and refreshing way.  Also retreats are organised and days of renewal.
We meet every Monday evening @8pm @ the Parish Centre.

Contact: M. Murray

Society of St Vincent de Paul

The aims of the St Vincent de Paul Society are:

to offer personal support and friendship
to promote self-sufficiency
to work for social justice for those in need

The SVP members meet one night per week to review the previous week’s work and to plan future work.  The way in which we support people depends on the individual’s specific requirements.  Perhaps they are just lonely and need someone to talk to.  We also liaise closely with other agencies and use their expertise.

Home visitation is the Keystone of the SVP work.  People whom we have helped will recommend us to their friends and so word spreads that the SVP really does care.  We help everyone regardless of race or religion.  Need is the only criterion.

Confidentiality is assured and is of prime importance in establishing trust.  The SVP in North Down has a widely publicised and busy helpline

The St Vincent de Paul helpline is: T: 028 91272467

Contact:  Monica McDowell
 

St Comgall’s Church Choir

St Comgall’s church choir plays an important part in the church liturgy.  The choir has 16 members who volunteer their time, talent and commitment to the parish community. 

The choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings in the parish centre from 8.15 – 9.30pm.  

The choir sings at the 10.30AM Mass, Midnight Mass at Christmas, Holy Week ceremonies, Holy Days of Obligation, special ceremonies and if possible choir members sing at funerals.  The choir also have social evenings and a few outings throughout the year.  All new singers, whether you are alto, soprano, tenor or bass are very welcome.  Music reading skills are not necessary. 

If you are interested in joining the choir please leave your details with the parish office.

Contact: Christine McClean

St. Comgall’s Parish Youth Centre

We are based on two sites, St. Comgall’s Parish Centre  and St. Columbanus’ College, Bangor.

Our opening times are:

St. Comgall’s Parish Site
Wednesday  6.30pm -8.30pm (For P7 and Year 8)
Friday    7.00pm -9.00pm (For Year 9 and Year 10)
            8.00 pm – 10.00pm (For Year 11+)

St. Columbanus’ College Site
Monday (Yr 10+)   7.00pm – 9.30pm
Wednesday (P6 & P7) 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Fridays (Years 8 & 9)  7.00pm – 9.00pm

St. Comgall’s Parish Youth Centre promotes the personal, social and spiritual development of Young people.

We currently provide a wide range of activities that are set in a non-formal environment.  These activities include sport and recreations, music and drama, Youth Leadership development, trips out, multi-media projects, community relations and international exchanges.

We are currently looking for new volunteer leaders from the community 18-65 who would like to gain experience and gain qualifications to aid them in possible future careers.

Contact: Brian Jamison- Youth Centre Telephone Number: 028 91466307

Trocaire Group

        
Trócaire is the official overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland. It was set up by the Irish Catholic Bishops in 1973 to express the concern of the Irish Church for the suffering of the world’s poorest and most oppressed people.
        
Trócaire was given a dual mandate: to support long-term development projects overseas and to provide relief during emergencies; and at home to inform the Irish public about the root causes of poverty and injustice and mobilise the public to bring about global change.
        
Trócaire, which means “Compassion” in the Irish language, draws its inspiration from Scripture and the social teaching of the Catholic Church. The agency strives to promote human development and social justice in line with Gospel values.
        
Here in the parish of St. Comgall’s, the Trocaire group raises funds for the third world by holding sales, usually once a month, of books, bric a brac, toys etc. along with tea and coffee. Last year the group raised £3,000.
        
We welcome your support at these events. You can help by donating items for the sale or, if you have a little time to spare, you might like to assist on the stalls. It is very rewarding work and of a very worthy cause.

Contact : Joan Mencarelli T: 028 91852676

Link to a downloadable Parish Information Booklet