Mass held outside closed Belfast church

More than 100 people have attended a Mass outside a north Belfast church which they are campaigning to have reopened.

More than 100 people have attended a Mass outside a north Belfast church which they are campaigning to have reopened.

The Mass was celebrated by Father Des Wilson outside St Joseph's in Sailortown and marks a continuation of holding Mass there each Sunday since the church was closed in February 2001.

A spokesman for the Save St Joseph's Campaign, Gerry Gallagher, said the congregation had remained strong.

"It may seem strange to some people that we are having a Mass of celebration, given the fact that our church remains closed, but we have much to celebrate and there are few better days to do so than Christmas itself," he said.

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The Catholic Church decided St Joseph's had to close because there was no longer a sustainable local community in Sailortown.