‘Joy, love hope,’: Where to find a Christmas service near you

People of the Christian faith will flock to churches across the region to celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ. Where to find a service near you.

Freshwater Church is planning a Christmas Spectacular on Sunday, December 22. Freshwater Church pastor Josh Moncrieff is getting the church ready for the festive celebrations, which will include carols, songs by the children's choir and drama. Picture: Brendan Radke

Christmas. A time of joy, love, reflection and hope.

For many it is a time to revel in good food, catch up with friends and family and watch the cricket under the aircon.

For people of the Christian faith, Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Many parishioners will flock to services across the Far North to join in Christmas services and carols.

Freshwater Church Executive Pastor Joshua Moncrieff said Christmas was a great time to bring together people from all walks of life.

“It’s here — Christmas time! For many, what a wonderful time of year it is,” Ps Moncrieff said.

“Carols playing in the shops, plans to catch up with friends and family, and yes, the hot weather here in Cairns.”

Ps Moncrieff said it was a time for people of faith to not only celebrate the birth of Christ, but an opportunity to serve the wider community.

“For Christians, Christmas is a time to appreciate the gift of Jesus Christ and to extend kindness and care to those in need,” he said.

“Churches all across Far North Queensland put in months of work to create wonderful family Christmas carol events and services, and participate in many generous initiatives to care for people.”

Ps Moncrieff confirmed Freshwater Church would host a Christmas service and carols night on Sunday, December 22 and extended an invitation to all members of the community to join in church celebrations.

“We’d love to see you at a carol event near you.”

Freshwater Church is planning a Christmas Spectacular on Sunday, December 22. Freshwater Church pastor Josh Moncrieff is getting the church ready for the festive celebrations, which will include carols, songs by the children's choir and drama. Picture: Brendan Radke

Christmas church services

CAIRNS

Freshwater Church, Brinsmead

Carols Spectacular: 

6pm, Sunday, December 22

Christmas service:

9am, Wednesday, December 25

Calvary Church, Cairns City

Christmas service:

Christmas Eve – 6pm

Christmas Day – 9.30am

St John the Baptist, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Cairns

Eve of the Nativity of Christ:

8am, December 24

Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ:

6am, Wednesday, December 25

Saint John The Evangelist Anglican Church, Cairns

Christmas service:

9am, December 25

St John the Evangelist Anglican Church, Cairns City will host its annual Christmas service on December 25. Picture: Brendan Radke.

Cairns Presbyterian Church

Christmas Carols:

7pm, Wednesday, December 16

7pm, Thursday, December 17

7pm, Friday, December 18

Christmas Service

Christmas Eve: 6.30pm

Christmas Day, 9am

The Lakes Church, Cairns

Christmas Service

9.30am, December 25

The Good Shepherd Anglican Church, Edge Hill

Children’s Extravaganza:

5pm, December 24

Christmas Service:

9am, December 25

Elevation Church, Cairns

Christmas Celebration:

5pm, December 8

Members of the Christian faith will flock to Christmas services across the Far North this month to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, including at St Monica's cathedral in Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

St Monica’s Cathedral

Christmas Carols:

6.30pm, December 24

11pm, December 24

Mass Service:

7am, December 25

10am, December 25

Our Lady Help of Christians, Earlville

Mass Service:

6pm, December 24

8pm, December 24

8am, December 25

St Therese’s Catholic Parish

Mass Service:

6pm, December 24

10am, December 25

Freshwater Sacred Heart

Mass Service

7am, December 25

St Margaret’s Anglican Church, Cairns

Community Carols and fireworks

6.30pm, Saturday, December 7

St Margaret’s Anglican Church, Cairns will host a community carols and fireworks event at the Cairns Showgrounds on December 7. Picture: PETER CARRUTHERS

St Michael’s Catholic Church, Gordonvale

Mass Service:

8pm, December 24

8am, December 25

Mercy Place/Coral Sea Gardens Chapel

Mass Service:

10am, December 25

Mother of Good Counsel

Mass Service:

5.30pm, December 24

Holy Cross (Northern Beaches)

Mass Service: 

6pm, December 24 (Holy Cross Primary school Hall

area Trinity Park)

8.30am, December 25

St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Parramatta Park

Mass Service:

5pm, December 24

6.45pm, December 24 (Indian Community Christmas Vigil)

St Augustine’s Cairns

Mass Service: 

10am, December 25

St Francis Xavier Catholic Church

Carols:

6.30pm, December 24

Mass Service:

7pm, December 24

9am, December 25

Christians from all over the far north will gather at churches on Christmas Eve/Day to mark the birth of Christ in the most traditional manner. Reverend Rod Gooden led the congregation at St John Anglican Church in the city in 2023. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

DOUGLAS SHIRE

St Mary’s Church, Port Douglas

Mass Service:

10pm, December 24

9am, December 25

St Augustine’s Catholic Church, Mossman

Mass Service:

8.30pm, December 24

ATHERTON TABLELANDS

St Joseph’s, Atherton

Live nativity:

4.30pm, December 24

Mass Service:

5pm, December 24

9.30am, December 25

St Anthony’s, Dimbulah

Mass Service:

8am, December 25

Tablelands Presbyterian

Christmas Carols and sausage sizzle:

6pm, December 15

Christmas service:

6pm, December 24

9am, December 25

A select number of Catholic churches across the Far North will hold late night Christmas services/ midnight vigils through December 24 and December 25.

St James Catholic Church, Malanda

Mass Service:

6.30pm, December 24

9.15am, December 25

St Rita’s Catholic Church, Millaa Millaa

Mass Service:

8.30pm, December 24

St Teresa of the Child Jesus, Ravenshoe

Mass Service:

7am, December 25

St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Yungaburra

Mass Service:

7.30am, December 25

MAREEBA SHIRE

St Thomas of Villanova, Mareeba

Mass Service:

7pm, December 24

9.30pm, December 24

Carols:

From 9pm, December 24

St Nicholas of Tolentino and Bl Mother Mary of the Cross, Chillagoe

Mass Service:

9am, December 24

St Christopher Catholic Church, Kuranda

Mass Service:

5pm, December 24

Members of the Christian faith will flock to Christmas services across the Far North this month to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Photo: Bev Lacey / The Chronicle

St George’s Anglican, Mareeba

Church Christmas Service:

8.30am, December 24

St Saviour’s Anglican Church, Kuranda

Service of Nine Lessons and Carols:

6.00pm, Sunday, 15th December

Carols by Candlelight with Holy Communion:

7.30pm, Tuesday, December 24

Carols and Family Communion:

8.30am, Wednesday, December 25\

CASSOWARY COAST

Empower Church, Innisfail

Christmas show and festival:

10am, December 15

Mother of Good Counsel, Innisfail

Mass Service:

6.30pm, December 24

Midnight Mass and Carols:

From 11.30pm, December 24

Our Lady Star of the Sea, Cardwell

Mass Service:

5pm, December 24

The Mother of Good Counsel Church, Innisfail, will host Christmas services, including a midnight vigil on December 24. Picture: Chris Holmes

Our Lady of Fatima, El Arish

Mass Service:

10am, December 25

Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Mission Beach

Mass Service: 

7am, December 25

St John the Evangelist, Silkwood

Mass Service:

6pm, December 24

St Clare of Montefalco, Tully

Carols: 

6.30pm, December 24

Mass Service:

7pm, December 24

St Rita, South Johnstone

Mass Service:

7am, December 25

The Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, Far North Queensland. Picture: Brendan Radke

TORRES STRAIT

St Joseph the Worker, Hammond Island

Mass Service:

8am, December 25

The Holy Family, Horn Island

Mass Service:

10am, December 25

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Thursday Island

Mass Service:

7pm, December 24

CAPE YORK

St Mary’s Church, Cooktown

Liturgy of the Word with Communion:

6.30pm, December 24

St Joseph’s, Weipa

Liturgy of the Word with Communion:

8.30am, December 25

Note: There will be no Catholic Mass services across The Gulf of Carpentaria including; Croydon, Forsyth, Gregory Downs, Georgetown, Karumba and Normanton.

Mass services will also be unavailable at Mount Garnet, Herberton and Bamaga.

Originally published as ‘Joy, love hope,’: Where to find a Christmas service near you