Koinonia John the Baptist Ireland

07/06/2026

SUMMER MADNESS - TASTER DAY & MASS

We are so excited to be on the final countdown to Summer Madness 2026… any young person who’d like to join us for the festival can still register here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticketing/koinonia-summer-madness

But, we also have an exciting invitation, from us and Bishop Alan, to come along and experience the festival on Saturday 27 July. You can come with your youth leader, or register with us for the day! You can register at this link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticketing/summer-madness-taster-day

Here is more info… please share to any young person interested.

SO… Join us for the SUMMER MADNESS TASTER DAY – Saturday 27 June 2026, Portglenone
(Aged 11–18 | Just £15 - lunch and dinner included)

Not sure about a full festival? Come dip into the joy of Summer Madness 2026 on Taster Day! On Saturday 27 June, experience the energy, music, and community—with a special Diocesan welcome.

Bishop Alan will celebrate Mass with us (Sunday Vigil Mass on Saturday lathen fire up the grill for his very own “Bishop’s BBQ” – and you’re invited!

COMING SOLO?
No problem. Koinonia Youth (Catholic youth ministry) will give you a warm welcome, safeguarding support, and a safe space to connect with others.

COMING AS A YOUTH GROUP with your leader?

Awesome – just let us know your numbers! Koinonia Youth, together with Youth Ministry in Antrim, Randalstown and Duneane, run a community hub on site and are the official Catholic chaplains at the festival. We'd love you to join us for lunch on Saturday and the Bishop’s BBQ in the evening. Youth leaders: want to chat about activities and the programme? Call Br Darren on 07752154369.

📅 Saturday 27 June 2026 | 9am-10pm
📍 Summer Madness Festival, Portglenone
🎟️ £15 Taster Day entry
👥 11–18 years

Gather your friends—or come and make new ones. See you for faith, food, and festival fun!

Diocese of Down and Connor Pathways to The Future Down and Connor St Patrick's College, Ballymena St Killian's College St Louis Grammar School St Benedict's College, Randalstown Our Lady of Lourdes School Ballymoney Ballymena Kirkinriola Parish Glenravel and the Braid

21/05/2026

Today, Derry is adorned with artistic murals of Sr Clare Crockett. A Derry woman with aspirations in acting whose life was altered on Good Friday. Her journey led her to become a religious sister and ended in a devastating earthquake in Ecuador where she was working. This film charts the life of a remarkable woman who may one day be recognised as Saint Clare. Movie shown in GCDA Conf Room at 9:30pm

21/05/2026

Come join us for some board game banter!

Family Fun continues at with Board Games in The Ballsallagh Suite at 1pm on Sat May 23rd. Organised by Koinonia and St Vincent de Paul. Fun for all the family guaranteed. Contact Siobhan on 07912 796182 for more details.

18/05/2026

🌟 SUMMER MADNESS 2026 🌟

A fantastic opportunity for young people to enjoy a few days of fun, faith and friendship this summer at Portglenone Monastery. 🙌⛺️🎶

With sports, outdoor activities, live music, prayer and worship, Summer Madness promises to be a fun and faith-filled experience for all involved.

📅 26–30 June
📍 Portglenone Monastery
👥 For Years 8–10 and Years 11–14

If anyone would like a taster of Summer Madness, we would encourage them to come along on Saturday 27 June when the Bishop will celebrate Mass as part of the festival.

Please see the poster below for full details and booking information. ⬇️

18/05/2026

Looking for friendship, faith, fun and free pizza? 🍕🙌

Koinonia Youth meets every two weeks in All Saints Parish Centre and is open to all young people aged 11–18.

Our next gathering is Tuesday 20 May from 4.00–6.00pm. Come along — you’ll be made most welcome! 💙💚

For more information, or to register, contact Sr Kimberly on 07763 698579.

04/05/2026

Here is the link to tonight’s session, with Br Esteban as guest speaker. 7.30pm (BST) start time

04/05/26 - Novena Day 4 (19.30)

04/05/2026

Our brother Esteban will be sharing his powerful testimony this evening as part of Ballymena Kirkinriola Parish Annual Novena in honour of Our Lady.

Meet our speaker for this evening 🙏

Deacon Esteban Beltran Rosales was born in Mexico. Since 2008, he has been a member of the John the Baptist Koinonia Community and has been living as part of the Community in the Braid since 2020. He will be ordained to the priesthood on 4th July in Glenravel.

Join us this evening at 7.30pm in St Patrick’s Church, Crebilly. All are very welcome. A YouTube livestream link will be shared beforehand.

25/04/2026

RADIO MARIA | Kimberly and Darren, Northern Soul with Carmela

Last week Kimberly and Darren were guests on Northern Soul, a programme that showcases what the Lord is doing here in the North. They had the opportunity to share the testimony of their call to Consecrated Life.

In this weekend of Vocations Sunday, we give thanks for the gift of call, and ask the Good Shepherd to send His Spirit into the hearts and lives of the men and women who He is calling to follow Him in priesthood and Consecrated Life

Thank you Carmela for the welcome and the chat. It was truly a conversation in the Spirit.

You can listen to the Podcast by Radio Maria - Ireland on their website.

Down & Connor - Vocations

Carmela speaks with Darren and Kimberly from Koinonia John the Baptist, a covenant community living on the slopes of Slemish in County Antrim. Darren describes a vocation planted at age four, eventually finding its home in a community he encountered during a Catholic-Protestant street outreach in We...

19/04/2026

Thank you to our amazing Parish Choir here in Glenravel starting to make final preparations for Esteban’s ordination in July.

If any of our lay members are free on Thursday nights, you would be made more than welcome to join them.

YOU’RE INVITED | COMBINED PARISH CHOIR - GLENRAVEL AND THE BRAID

Our choir greatly enriches our Sunday liturgy. It is always open to new members - young and not so young - who like to sing and who would like a fresh experience of Mass and the Sacramental Life of the parish.

They are beginning preparations for the Ordination in July, and are extending a warm invitation to anyone from ACROSS the Parish - Glenravel and the Braid, or anyone who likes to worship and pray with us here! It would be great to have any Braid parishioners who like to sing join us, as we sing at the ordination of an adopted son of the Braid!

- Like to sing?
- Curious about what it’s like to sing as part of a community?
- New to the parish and would love to get involved in the prayer and music life of the Parish?
- Involved in secondary school choirs?
- Used to be involved in choirs or music groups in the parish and would like to get involved again?

YOU’RE WARMLY INVITED!
Additional Choir Members are invited to join our music ministry to celebrate
The Solemn Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood for Brother Esteban (July 4th at 4pm, in Church of Mary Queen of Peace, Glenravel).

Choir Rehearsals will be held each Thursday at 8pm from Thursday 30th April onwards.

A further 1/2 day intensive is planned for Saturday 16th May 9.30 to 12.30pm.

All practices and rehearsals are in Mary Queen of Peace Church in Glenravel.

If you are available for these days and times, and would like to be involved in this special occasion, please just come along on the 30th at 8pm.

Any questions, or practical queries, feel free to give our Choir Director Jason a call on 07834785052. If you are under 18, please ask your parent to ring Jason and we will get Parental Consent sorted.

We really look forward to welcoming you, and thank you for your contribution to Parish life.

Glenravel and District Community and Residents Association LTD Glenravel - Gleann Fhreabhail GAA The Braid Community Association Koinonia John the Baptist Ireland