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St Patrick's Church in Belfast to lose morning Mass on weekdays

St Patrick's Church in Belfast's Donegall Street, Belfast. Picture by Ann McManus 
St Patrick's Church in Belfast's Donegall Street, Belfast. Picture by Ann McManus  St Patrick's Church in Belfast's Donegall Street, Belfast. Picture by Ann McManus 

ST Patrick's Church is to lose its daily morning Mass due to the growing demands on priests in north Belfast.

The Donegall Street parish has confirmed that the 10am Mass on weekdays, which had been suspended during the summer months, will not return in September.

The parish has said the move will enable funerals to be celebrated "in the morning at a mutually convenient time for priests and bereaved families."

It will leave the parish with one daily Mass during the week, at 1pm.

Saturday and Sunday Masses will not be affected.

St Patrick's is part of the north Belfast Pastoral Area which also takes in Holy Family, Holy Cross, Sacred Heart and St Vincent De Paul.

Under the pastoral areas scheme, it is proposed that priests will help out in different parishes within their area.

The parish said: "The North Belfast Pastoral community has been reviewing resources and services over the summer with a view to future provision.

"This has enabled the parishes to plan more effectively for the pastoral and spiritual needs of our parishioners.

"The alteration will enable funerals to be celebrated in the morning at a mutually convenient time for priests and bereaved families."