Baptised and Sent in Lent: A Lenten Reflection Series for Parishes, Families and Groups

Baptised and Sent in Lent

“Now is a time for synodality: for walking together, listening to the Holy Spirit, and learning from one another. Baptised and Sent in Lent, our new Lenten resource, reminds us that synodality begins with baptism, which unites us and sends us out in hope to renew both Church and society.”

Archbishop Eamon Martin

From tomorrow, Ash Wednesday- the start of the season of Lent, faithful are invited to journey with a new set of weekly prayer and reflection resources inspired by Baptised and Sent, the preparatory document for Ireland’s National Pre-Synodal Assembly, which took place last October.

“Baptised and Sent – A Call to All” – Lenten Reflection on the Meaning of Baptism

This years Lenten resources are “Rooted in the conviction that baptism is the foundation of human dignity, identity and mission, Baptised and Sent in Lent seeks to encourage participants to pause, reflect on the Gospel, listen to one another, and take concrete action in their local communities. Designed for use in a wide range of settings, they offer a simple weekly structure built around shared reflection rather than lectures or debate.

“Each week in Lent Baptised and Sent explores themes such as belonging, healing, renewal and mission – drawing on its vision of baptism as ‘the entry point to a life of faith, a gateway to mission, and the root and foundation on which to build a Christian life.’ The aim is to place baptism at the centre of renewal efforts within the Church in Ireland, while also engaging real questions of hope, participation and responsibility in today’s world.”

Ms Moran concluded, “Lent is a season when many people are already seeking renewal and asking deeper questions about faith and purpose. Baptised and Sent in Lent responds to that desire by creating spaces of listening and encounter, helping communities rediscover baptism not as an abstract concept, but as a lived calling to hope, service and responsibility in today’s world.”

Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, described the initiative as timely, saying, “Now is a time for synodality: for walking together, listening to the Holy Spirit, and learning from one another. Baptised and Sent in Lent reminds us that synodality begins with baptism, which unites us and sends us out in hope to renew both Church and society.

“Through these Lenten reflections, people from all walks of life – lay, religious and ordained – are encouraged to rediscover their shared identity as God’s people, and to take practical steps, individually and collectively, towards living out our baptismal calling more deeply. It is my profound hope that this prayerful initiative will open hearts to renewal this Lent and help prepare our communities for the next phase of Ireland’s synodal journey, toward the Church’s National Assembly, that will take place this October.”

Lenten Resources

Click the Image below to access the resources

Bishop Michael’s Message for Temperance Sunday

Temperance Sunday 2026: Choosing Hope, Compassion and Care

This Sunday, 15 February, the Church in Ireland marks Temperance Sunday, a Day of Prayer inviting us to reflect on our relationship with alcohol, drugs and other habits or dependencies that can harm our freedom, dignity and wellbeing.

In his message for this year, Bishop Michael Router, Liaison Bishop with the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative, reminds us that addiction continues to impact individuals, families and communities across Ireland in ways both visible and hidden. Behind statistics are real lives marked by suffering, strained relationships, mental and physical health challenges, and deep personal struggle.

Yet the Gospel always calls us away from judgement and towards compassion. Our response as Church and community must begin with accompaniment — walking patiently with those who struggle and supporting families who often carry heavy burdens quietly.

A key part of this response is prevention and early intervention, especially among young people. In this context, the renewed Confirmation Pledge, which now includes vaping and cigarette smoking alongside alcohol and illicit drugs, is an important development. It reflects the lived reality facing young people today and offers them spiritual and moral support as they navigate complex social pressures.

The pledge is not simply a personal promise; it becomes a shared commitment involving families, schools and parish communities, helping young people know they are supported in making healthy, life-giving choices. The inclusion of a prayer for parents and guardians, inviting them also to reflect on their own example of moderation, strengthens this shared responsibility.

On Temperance Sunday we pray especially for those struggling with addiction, families affected by substance misuse, those working in treatment, recovery, education and pastoral care and communities seeking to build healthier futures for all.

We also ask for the grace to challenge cultural habits and social norms that can normalise harmful behaviour and leave vulnerable people isolated.

In prayer we turn to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and to Venerable Matt Talbot, whose life reminds us that transformation and healing are always possible.

May this Temperance Sunday renew in us a commitment to protect and cherish life, caring for both body and soul, so that every person may grow and flourish in hope.

Text of Bishop Michael’s Statement for Temperance Sunday 15/2/2026

This Sunday, 15 February 2026, the Church in Ireland marks Temperance Sunday, a Day of Prayer that invites reflection on our relationship with alcohol, drugs, and all substances or behaviours that can diminish human dignity and freedom. It is a time to pray for those who struggle with addiction, to support families and communities affected by its consequences and to renew our commitment to building a culture of care and moderation.

Addiction, in its many forms, continues to exact a devastating toll on individuals, families, and communities. The human cost, seen in suffering, broken relationships, mental and physical health problems, criminality, and social upheaval, is beyond calculation. Yet the Gospel calls us away from despair and condemnation to compassion and accompaniment.

Central to the mission of the Irish Bishop’s Drugs Initiative is the conviction that prevention and early intervention are as vital as treatment and recovery. Education and formation, especially of young people, are essential if we are to respond meaningfully to substance misuse. In this context, we warmly welcome the rewording of the Confirmation Pledge to explicitly include vaping and cigarette smoking, alongside alcohol and illicit drugs. This development reflects a thoughtful and prayerful response to the lived realities of young people today. Vaping has become widespread and is often presented in ways that obscure its risks and normalise dependency. By naming these realities clearly, the Church affirms her commitment to truth and to the wellbeing of young people.

The renewed Confirmation Pledge ensures that this long-standing tradition remains relevant and meaningful. It offers young people a moral framework and spiritual support as they navigate adolescence, while situating personal choice within the wider context of family, faith and community. Addiction thrives in isolation. By involving families, schools, parishes, and the wider faith community, the pledge becomes a shared commitment to support and hope.

The pledge may be taken either during the Confirmation ceremony itself or at the Ceremony of Light, depending on local pastoral practice and in consultation between priests, parents, and schools. We encourage dioceses, parishes, and schools to consider these options as they prepare for Confirmation celebrations in 2026. The inclusion in the Ceremony of Light option of a prayer spoken by parents and guardians, inviting them to reflect honestly on their own choices and to renew their commitment to being good examples of moderation, is significant and important.

On this Day of Prayer for Temperance, we hold in our hearts all who suffer from addiction, and their families who often carry hidden burdens. We also give thanks for those who work tirelessly in treatment, recovery, education, pastoral care, and community support. The Church’s response must always be rooted in mercy, meeting people where they are, affirming their dignity, and speaking honestly about harm while challenging the social and cultural norms that contribute to it.

As a society, Ireland continues to suffer the far-reaching consequences of drug and alcohol abuse, with costs felt across health services, workplaces, communities, and public life. These realities call for a collective response that will be honest and effective.

In praying for the grace of temperance, we turn to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and to our own national example of the power of prayer to overcome addiction, Venerable Matt Talbot, whose life bears powerful witness to the possibility of transformation and hope. With the help of the Holy Spirit, may we become a people who choose and protect life, caring for both body and soul, so that everyone may grow and flourish.

+Bishop Michael Router

Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh and Liaison Bishop for the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative

Please keep all affected by addiction in your prayers this Sunday and consider how each of us can help build communities of compassion, support and recovery.

Bishop Michael Router welcomes Pope Leo’s XIV message for the 34th World Day of the Sick

Bishop Michael Router Responds to Pope Leo XIV’s Message for the 34th World Day of the Sick

Text of Bishop Michael’s Message

“Society is judged by how we treat the addicted, sick, elderly, unborn, poor and hungry”

On Wednesday, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, we mark Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 message for the 34th World Day of the Sick. This year the Church is invited to contemplate the figure of the Good Samaritan as the great model of compassion. This familiar Gospel parable continues to challenge us to examine how we respond to suffering in our midst. For us in Ireland, reflecting on this message is a call to rediscover the heart of Christian charity and to measure ourselves honestly against it.

At the centre of the Holy Father’s message is the realisation that authentic charity begins in encounter with others. The Samaritan, when he encounters the man injured on the roadside, does not stop to analyse the situation or defer responsibility but approaches the person before him and allows himself to be moved by his suffering . In our culture increasingly shaped by haste and distraction, this willingness to pause and be present is countercultural. Pope Leo reminds us that offering our presence to those who suffer is not an optional extra but lies at the very heart of Christian discipleship. In a society where indifference or the focus on productivity can render the weak invisible, the Church is called to witness to a different way – a way that refuses to pass by on the other side.

Being a “neighbour,” as the Pope underlines, is not simply a matter of familial ties, friendship or physical proximity. It is a free and deliberate decision to love by being merciful and empathetic and have a willingness to share in another’s suffering. The Samaritan becomes a neighbour not because of where he lives, but because he chooses compassion. This insight speaks powerfully to our own context today. It challenges us to ask who we are willing to draw close to, especially when that closeness is uncomfortable, costly or inconvenient.

Compassion, in the Gospel sense, is never abstract. It is active, concrete and personal. The Samaritan gives his time, his care, his resources and, ultimately, something of himself.

Pope Leo reminds us that true charity involves the gift of one’s presence and participation in another’s suffering or loss. This understanding has profound implications for healthcare, pastoral care and family life. To care for the sick and suffering is not simply to provide services, but to affirm their dignity, to restore their hope and to accompany them in their vulnerability.

Significantly, the Holy Father situates care for the sick within a wider social and ecclesial context. He describes it as a genuine action of the Church and a measure of a society’s moral health. This observation invites a searching examination of conscience for us in Ireland. A society, as the Christian tradition insists, can be judged by how it treats its weakest members – the sick, the elderly, the unborn, the addicted, the poor and the hungry. When we look honestly at our reality, troubling signs emerge. Loneliness, rising suicide rates, the widespread acceptance of abortion, the growing acceptance of euthanasia, the treatment of immigrants and the scourge of drug and alcohol abuse all point to deeper wounds within our social fabric. These are not isolated issues; they are symptoms of an ailing society that too often fails to protect, accompany and cherish those who are most vulnerable.

Pope Leo reminds us that our love of neighbour is the visible proof of our love for God; the two are inseparable. Christian faith cannot be reduced to words, rituals or private devotion alone. It finds its fulfilment in concrete service. To serve the suffering neighbour is to worship God in truth. A truly Christian lifestyle, therefore, is marked by a Samaritan spirit that is welcoming, courageous and committed. It is rooted in love of God and expressed in compassionate care for those who are sick, elderly and afflicted.

As chair of the Bishops’ Council for Healthcare, I am deeply grateful for the countless healthcare workers, carers, priests, chaplains, volunteers and family members across Ireland who embody this Samaritan spirit every day. Their quiet fidelity gives living witness to the Gospel. Yet this year’s message from the Pope urges all of us – Church and society alike – to go further and to build a community where compassion is not the exception but the norm and where no one is left abandoned on the roadside.

I encourage all to read Pope Leo’s inspiring message for the 34th World Day of the Sick HERE

+ Bishop Michael Router

Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh and chair of the Council for Healthcare of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

St Patrick’s Archdiocesan Trust Limited – Financial Statement for Year Ending 31st March 2025

St Patrick’s Archdiocesan Trust Limited – Annual General Meeting 2025

The Annual General Meeting of St Patrick’s Archdiocesan Trust Limited will take place on Thursday, 11th December 2025 at 6.00 pm via Zoom, at which the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 will be presented.

A full copy of the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 can be viewed below.

Click here for Financial Statements to 31st March 2025: https://www.armagharchdiocese.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2025-Annual-Report-Financial-Statements.pdf

Listening, Discernment and Hope: The Priorities Emerging for Our Diocesan Congress on Youth Family and Faith

“The Congress invites us to shape together how faith is lived and passed on to the next generation.”

Since May 2025 parishes, schools, families, and young people across the Archdiocese have been invited into a process of listening and conversation as we prepare for our Diocesan Congress on Youth, Family and Faith, which will take place from Friday 20 March to Sunday 22 March 2026.

This has not simply been an exercise in consultation, but a prayerful process of listening where we have listened to one another, listened to lived experience, and above all listened for the movement of the Holy Spirit in our communities today.

Through parish gatherings, school conversations, youth engagement, and written submissions, voices from across the Archdiocese have helped shape our understanding of the hopes, struggles, and possibilities facing faith communities at this moment. What has emerged is both realistic about present challenges and deeply hopeful about the future.

From this shared listening, six key priorities and one overarching priority have emerged for the life and mission of the Church in our Archdiocese.

Supporting Preparation Through a New Podcast Series

To support delegates and parish communities as they prepare for the Congress gatherings, the Archdiocese has also produced a podcast reflection series exploring each of the emerging priorities in turn.

The series is designed to allow people to engage with the preparatory material in a flexible way — whether travelling, walking, or taking quiet time for reflection — and offers a prayerful introduction to each priority, together with the proposals and pastoral pathways emerging from the listening process.

The podcast series is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and the Spotify playlist is embedded below so that parishes, schools, and individuals across the Archdiocese can listen and reflect together in the weeks ahead.

The podcast series can also be accessed on Apple Podcasts by Searching for “Youth, Family and Faith – Preparing for the Congress” and on YouTube by clicking the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvU2KLnY7W5PXOqBiGQAChRSO9eK9mk68

The Seven Priorities

1. Digital Communication and Evangelisation

Recognising that much of life now unfolds online, especially for young people, this priority calls the Church to inhabit digital spaces creatively and responsibly, ensuring these spaces become pathways to encounter, belonging and faith.

2. Belonging

People long for the Church to be experienced as a place of welcome and relationship — not simply somewhere they attend, but somewhere they feel known, valued and at home.

3. Liturgy and Participation

Communities expressed a desire for liturgy that is prayerful, meaningful and participatory, helping people encounter Christ in ways that connect worship with real life and missionary discipleship.

4. The Ecosystem of Faith: Family, School and Parish

Faith is not formed in one place alone. Families, schools and parishes must work together so that responsibility for passing on faith is shared rather than carried by any one group.

5. Faith Formation and Catechesis

There is a clear desire for formation that goes deeper — helping people understand not only what the Church teaches but why faith matters for everyday life and decision-making.

6. Prayer and Spirituality

Despite busy and distracted lives, people expressed a hunger for prayer and spiritual depth, seeking spaces where faith can be nourished personally and communally.

7. The Challenges of Modern Life

The listening named the real pressures facing families and young people today: anxiety, mental health struggles, busyness, loss of trust, social and cultural change, and the difficulty of sustaining faith in a secular and rapidly changing society.

A Priority That Touches All the Others

While these seven priorities are distinct, it quickly became clear during reflections that the final priority — The Challenges of Modern Life— runs through and impacts all the others.

At the heart of our journey lies a simple but profound question facing the Church today:

How do we pass on faith in the modern world?

Families are under pressure. Young people face unprecedented cultural and social challenges. Communities are busier and more fragmented. Trust in institutions has weakened. Digital life reshapes identity and relationships. Traditional patterns of parish life no longer automatically carry faith from one generation to the next.

Every priority identified — belonging, liturgy, formation, digital presence, prayer, and collaboration between family, school and parish — is in some way a response to this deeper question and the challenges that arise from it.

The task before us is not to return to the past, but to faithfully discover how faith and the wisdom that resides in our tradition can take root and flourish in the realities of today.

A Moment of Shared Responsibility

The Diocesan Congress is not an end point, but the beginning of a new chapter. Delegates gathering in preparation and at the Congress itself will help refine these priorities and identify concrete pastoral pathways for the years ahead.

This is a moment of shared responsibility, hope and togetherness. The whole diocesan community is being invited to imagine how our parishes, schools, and families can become places where young people and communities encounter Christ, discover belonging, and live faith with joy and confidence in the modern world.

This journey continues…together!

To read the Priorities and proposals related to them in full CLICK HERE

Homily of Archbishop Eamon Martin for the Feast of St Brigid 2026

St Brigid of the Beatitudes: A Call to Mercy, Dignity and the Voice of Women

Tomorrow, as the Church celebrates the Feast of St Brigid, Archbishop Eamon Martin will invite us to reflect on St Brigid as a woman who brought the Beatitudes to life and modelled a deeply Gospel-shaped way of living.

In his homily, Archbishop Eamon will reflect on the tradition that St Brigid and her companions each chose a Beatitude as the guiding charism of their consecrated lives. He reminds us that the Beatitudes are not abstract ideals, nor separate virtues to be picked and chosen, but a single portrait of Christian holiness – what Pope Francis once described as the Christian’s “identity card”.

St Brigid was and is a powerful witness to mercy. Archbishop Eamon reflects on the fact that she is presented as a woman whose compassion embraced the poor, the sick, the vulnerable and those on the margins, a woman whose life consistently defended human dignity. For St Brigid, mercy was not a sentiment but a way of life, one lived generously, courageously and at great personal cost.

Archbishop Eamon’s homily offers a strong and timely affirmation of women in the life and mission of the Church. St Brigid is held up not only as a model of holiness, but as a reminder of the indispensable contribution women have made and do make to Church and society. In a world where the dignity of women is too often threatened or diminished, Archbishop Eamon highlights the urgent need for women’s voices, insights and leadership – particularly in the area’s of dialogue with contemporary culture, decision-making and governance, safeguarding, education, catechesis and care for the vulnerable.

As we celebrate St Brigid of the Beatitudes, we are invited to renew our commitment to a Church shaped by mercy rather than power, by humility rather than dominance, and by a shared baptismal vocation. St. Brigid’s life challenges each of us to live the Beatitudes visibly and courageously, so that the Church may more clearly reflect the Kingdom of God in our time.

Text of Archbishop Eamon Martin’s Homily – St Brigid of the Beatitudes – a model for Christian living today

Whenever Saint Brigid first chose to embrace the consecrated life, she was joined by seven other women. The story is told that each of them, after receiving the veil of religious life, chose one of the eight beatitudes of Jesus to be their motto – to represent the particular gift or ‘charism’ that they wanted to guide their life of dedication to God. It is a wonderful coincidence then, that as we celebrate the Feast of Saint Brigid this year on a Sunday, the set gospel reading from chapter 5 of Saint Matthew’s Gospel features those eight sayings of Jesus known as “the Beatitudes” which he spoke at the beginning of his famous ‘sermon on the mount’.

Jesus offered the ‘beatitudes’ to describe His way to holiness – the only pathway to true happiness. He tells us that “Happy” or “Blessed” are the poor in spirit; the gentle; those who mourn; and, those who hunger in thirst for what is right. He then singles out the merciful; the pure in heart; peacemakers; and, those who are persecuted in the cause of right.

If, like St Brigid and her companions, you were to select one of the beatitudes as your motto – to represent the kind of person you would like to be – which would you choose? To be Poor in spirit? Meek and gentle? Someone who weeps or mourns the sin and suffering in the world? Or, a person who hungers and thirsts for what is right? Would you desire to be always a merciful person? Or, to be pure in heart? A peacemaker? Or would you want to be known as someone willing to be persecuted in the cause of right?

Of course all eight of the beatitudes are inter-related. They are not describing eight different types of person, but one: the perfect Christian! They set out the essence of being the true follower of Christ. No wonder then, that our late Holy Father, Pope Francis, liked to describe the Beatitudes as the Christian’s “passport” or “identity card”, – their blueprint for holiness. If you are ever fortunate enough to meet someone who represents all eight beatitudes at once, then you have met a perfect Christian – you have met a saint!

The more I reflect on the life of Saint Brigid, the more I realise how much she represents a woman who brought the beatitudes to life! Interestingly, when she was reflecting on which beatitude would most inspire her life of consecration to God, she chose: “Happy are the merciful”; “Blessed are the merciful – they shall have mercy shown them”. She clearly wanted to model a life of mercy towards the poor, the sick, the vulnerable, those people who struggled with diseases or disabilities, the weak, the sinner, the lost. Like Jesus she wanted to promote their dignity at all times, to welcome them, to be with them, to accompany them.

They say she learned this beautiful quality from her Christian mother – remember, Saint Brigid lived at the very dawn of Christianity on this island; her mission was to call people away from empty paganism, from chasing after false and superficial gods and goddesses and instead to offer them Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Apparently, her pagan father couldn’t stand Brigid’s complete generosity towards the poor and the vulnerable – he felt she was going to bankrupt him by her kindness and goodness!

St Brigid was driven by compassion and hospitality to those whom the world tends to forget, or brush aside; she wanted her convent to be a haven of mercy for the weak – not just the materially poor, but also the poor in spirit, those who were spiritually hungering for the real food that would sustain them in life: the Bread of Life, the Body of Christ, the Church of God.

She was truly “St Brigid of the Beatitudes”! She, and her companions did not want to live just one of the beatitudes; they wanted to “action” them all, and to model their lives as followers of Christ: poor in spirit, gentle, pure in heart, peacemakers, merciful, able to weep for the suffering and sinners, determined to work for what is right and just in the world even if it meant being persecuted for doing so. She challenged people not to cling to the superficial and empty promises of pagan gods and goddesses; she was pointing them instead to the true God, to the Holy Spirit, to Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven! Her clear message was that if you your life inspired by Jesus Christ and His beatitudes, then you shall be truly satisfied; you shall inherit the earth; you shall be comforted; you shall have mercy shown you; you shall see God; you shall be called daughters and sons of God; yours will be the kingdom of heaven!

This is not an easy message. The beatitudes of Jesus are very challenging – they turn the values of this world on their head – by saying it is the poor, the persecuted, the gentle, the humble, the pure in heart who find true happiness, rather than the rich and powerful, the strong and aggressive. This world, often obsessed with money, power, individual freedoms and status, tries to convince us that it is those with the biggest armies, the most powerful weapons, the most money and access to celebrity, privilege and personal pleasure who are the greatest. Jesus and St Brigid represent an entirely different pathway. The way of the beatitudes; the promise of true perfection; the path to true happiness with God in eternal life.

Saint Brigid is often offered as a model for women in Ireland today. Saint Brigid is certainly an inspiring example of the indispensable contribution that women make to the daily life and mission of the Church, and society. Sadly we live in a world where the personal dignity of women is too often threatened by violence, abuse, inequality, commercial surrogacy, pornography, and now by the manipulation of female images online, gender ideology, the false promise of abortion on demand and other forms of exploitation.

The voice of women – St Brigid’s voice – and the specific vocation and charism of women is needed more than ever today, especially in the Church, for we struggle at times to navigate the complex, contradictory and misleading messages surrounding contemporary issues which, left unchecked, risk the “dehumanising” of human life and dignity.

Pope St John Paul, in Christifideles Laici,(his apostolic exhortation on the vocation and mission of the lay faithful) emphasised that women exercise a special role in the mission of Christ because “women have the task of assuring the moral dimension of culture”. He reminded us that God actually entrusted the human being to women, “precisely because the woman in virtue of her special experience of motherhood is seen to have a specific sensitivity towards the human person and all that constitutes the individual’s true welfare, beginning with the fundamental value of life.”

St Brigid of the Beatitudes reminds us today of the importance of promoting the specific charisms and dignity that women can bring to the Church’s mission. I’m thinking especially of dialogue with contemporary society; decision-making, governance and leadership; education, catechesis and evangelisation. The Church, and wider society needs the particular insights and witness of women – inspired by St Brigid of the Beatitudes – in matters such the protection of human life; outreach to poor, vulnerable and marginalised people; the safeguarding of children, marriage and the family; quality education and spiritual formation in our schools and parishes; and best practice in care and support for those who are disabled, sick or dying.

For that reason, I wish to pay tribute today to women – pastoral and present – in Ireland and throughout the world, who like Saint Brigid, have consecrated their lives to God, and dedicated themselves generously to promoting mercy, dignity of the human person, compassion towards the poor and the sick, and many other religious gifts and charisms. Tomorrow, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, is also the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. Let us pray and give thanks for all women and men who have given up everything to serve God and the Church in such a selfless manner. We pray for more vocations to the religious life to the priesthood, and for a deep sense of vocation in all the baptised – inspired by the Beatitudes!

We Pray…

St Brigid,
You were a woman of peace.
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness.
You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace
cover those who are troubled and anxious, and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.
Brigid you were a voice for the wounded and the weary.
Strengthen what is weak within us.
Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.
May we grow each day into greater
wholeness in mind, body and spirit.
Amen.

A Naomh Bríd a Mhuire na nGael,
scar orainn do bhrat,
A Naomh Bríd a chroí na féile,
stiúir sinn ar an mbóthar ceart,
A Naomh Bríd gheanúil ghrástúil,
ar ár namhaid cosain sinn,
A Naomh Bríd a bhean rialta álainn,
ar uair ár mbáis glaoigh orainn.

+ Archbishop Eamon Martin

Archbishop of Armagh, Apostolic Administrator of Dromore, Primate of all Ireland

Let Justice Flow Like a River – Creation Care Conference Held in Canal Court Hotel

Let Justice Flow Like a River

Churches gather in hope and action for creation care

More than 200 people gathered today on Saturday 17 January for the Creation Care Conference: Let Justice Flow Like a River, hosted by the Irish Church Leaders Group and the . The conference marked a significant moment of shared reflection, learning and commitment, rooted in the lived experience of ecological crisis here in Ireland and shaped by faith, science and practical action.

The conference grew directly out of the visit of Church Leaders to Lough Neagh in summer 2025, where they listened to local communities and witnessed first-hand the scale of environmental degradation affecting the lough. What was once often spoken of as a distant or global issue was brought sharply into focus as something happening on our own doorstep, impacting water, biodiversity, livelihoods and local identity.

Faith, Scripture and Science in Dialogue

The morning session focused on Lough Neagh, its significance, and the wider implications of ecological breakdown for communities across Ireland.

Biblical scholar Hilary Marlow explored the biblical roots of integral ecology, drawing on Scripture to show how care for the land, water and neighbour are woven into the covenantal relationship between God, humanity and creation. Her reflection grounded the ecological conversation firmly within the Christian story of justice, responsibility and hope.

Environmental scientist Jim McAdam then offered a detailed and compelling presentation on his work on and around Lough Neagh, outlining the scientific research, contributing factors to the current crisis, and the complex challenges involved in addressing pollution and ecological decline. His contribution helped bridge the gap between concern and understanding, pointing towards pathways for response rooted in evidence and collaboration.

The international dimension was brought by Gail Heffner, who spoke about Calvin University’s work with the Plaster Creek Stewards in the United States. Drawing clear parallels with Lough Neagh, she highlighted how faith communities, scientists and local residents can work together over time to restore damaged waterways and renew relationships with the land.

Prayer at the heart of the day

Just before lunch, Archbishop Eamon Martin and Bishop Sarah Groves led those gathered in a deeply reflective moment of prayer, centred on water from Lough Neagh. This symbolic act held together lament, gratitude and hope, reminding participants that care for creation is not only a technical or political task, but a profoundly spiritual one.

Stories of hope and action

Among the contributors in the morning was Andrew Muir, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, who reflected on the importance of collaboration between faith communities, policymakers and civic institutions in addressing environmental and climate challenges faced on Lough Neagh.

The afternoon session showcased a range of initiatives across the Irish Churches, offering practical examples of how faith communities are responding locally to ecological challenges. These stories of action, creativity and partnership underlined the central message of the day: that meaningful change happens when people work together in ways that are grounded in shared values and sustained commitment.

Returning to Nature – Putting Faith in Action

The conference also connected strongly with the Irish Bishops’ initiative “Returning to Nature”, which commits to returning 30% of church grounds to nature by 2030. This commitment reflects the call of Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum to move from awareness to action.

Here in the Archdiocese of Armagh, parishes are already responding. In partnership with Louth County Council, ten parishes have engaged in biodiversity projects that include reduced mowing, tree planting, and the restoration of church grounds as spaces where nature can flourish. These local initiatives demonstrate how global ecological concerns can be addressed through concrete, community-based action

A Shared Journey

Let Justice Flow Like a River was not simply a successful one-off event, but part of a growing shared journey among the Churches, a journey rooted in listening deeply, learning together, praying faithfully, and striving to act responsibly together. Throughout the day, it became clear that climate change and ecological degradation are not challenges for “somewhere else” or “sometime later”. They are realities affecting communities here and now and today’s conference renewed the call for courage, cooperation and hope at all levels of Church and Society.

As participants departed, there was a sense that this gathering had strengthened resolve and renewed commitment. The conversations, prayers and stories shared pointed towards a future shaped by care, responsibility and solidarity so that justice may indeed flow like a river, bringing life to our land, our waters, and to generations yet to come.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity | 18–25 January 2026 One Body. One Spirit.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity | 18–25 January 2026 – One Body. One Spirit.

“Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, strengthen the bond of peace among us.”

As we mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we join Christians across the world in praying and working for unity, peace, and reconciliation. This year’s theme, “One Body, One Spirit” (Ephesians 4:4), reminds us that our shared life in Christ calls us beyond division and towards hope, humility, gentleness, and love.

Video Message from Archbishops’ of Armagh

In this shared video message, Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop John McDowell reflect on unity as both a gift and a calling, especially in a world marked by conflict, displacement, and suffering. Drawing on ancient prayers and hymns from the Armenian Christian tradition, who have created the resources for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, they invite us to rediscover the Church as one body, diverse in expression, yet united in Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Peace, the two Archbishop’s of Armagh remind us, is not passive. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and a daily commitment, lived out in our homes, workplaces, schools, churches, and communities. Each of us is called to be a sign of that peace.

This upcoming week, let us pray together and live together as one body and one spirit, witnesses to peace on our island and in our world.

Resources for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026

The resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 have been prepared by Christians of the Armenian tradition, in collaboration with the World Council of Churches. Rooted in Ephesians 4:1–13, and the theme “One Body, One Spirit” (Eph 4:4), they invite Christians to pray and reflect together on unity and peace.

Drawing on ancient Armenian prayers and hymns, some dating back to the fourth century, these resources emerge from a living tradition shaped by faith, suffering, and hope. They offer a strong call for the Churches to speak with a united voice for peace, justice, and reconciliation in today’s world.

Suitable for parish prayer, ecumenical gatherings, small groups, and personal reflection, the resources remind us that unity is not just something we pray for, but something we are called to live — as one body and one spirit in Christ.

Click Here to access resources

Catholic Schools Week 2026 – Catholic Schools – Normal Lives, Called to Holiness

Catholic Schools Week 2026 – 18–24 January 2026

Called to be Stars – Archbishop Eamon’s Message for Catholic Schools Week 2026

In a short reflection ahead of Catholic Schools Week, Archbishop Eamon Martin invites us to look to the night sky for inspiration. Drawing on an image from Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, he speaks of small flashes of light that can be seen even in deep darkness.

Describing Catholic schools as stars in a constellation, Archbishop Eamon reflects on this year’s theme, Normal people (Lives), called to holiness. He reminds us that holiness is lived in ordinary ways: being kind, forgiving, compassionate, serving others, and bringing the joy of Jesus into daily life.

Each member of a Catholic school community, he says, can be a light for others, not by doing extraordinary things, but by living everyday life with love and faith.

Catholic Schools – Normal Lives, Called to Holiness

Catholic Schools Week 2026 invites us to pause, reflect, and celebrate the quiet yet extraordinary way holiness takes root in our ordinary lives. This year’s theme, “Catholic Schools – Normal Lives, Called to Holiness,” draws inspiration from the words of Pope Francis, reflecting on the life of Blessed Carlo Acutis:

“Holiness does not mean performing extraordinary things, but doing ordinary things with love and faith.”

Pope Francis on Carlo Acutis

Soon to be canonised as the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis reminds us that holiness is not distant or abstract. It is lived in classrooms and corridors, in friendships and families, in prayer before exams, kindness on the playground, and care for one another each day.

Normal Lives, Extraordinary hope

Catholic schools exist to nurture the whole person — mind, heart, and spirit — helping young people discover that their lives have meaning, dignity, and a calling from God. Holiness is not reserved for a few, nor confined to religious life. As Gaudete et Exsultate reminds us:

“Each of us is called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do.” (GE, 14)

Catholic Schools Week offers a precious opportunity for pupils, staff, families, and parishes to rediscover this truth together: that education is not only a pathway to knowledge and maturity, but also a journey towards friendship with Jesus Christ.

Everyday Holiness in Practice

The theme of everyday holiness speaks powerfully to children and young people. Throughout the week, schools are invited to explore how holiness is lived in real and practical ways:

Through modern witnesses like Blessed Carlo Acutis, a teenager who loved football, technology and the Eucharist
Through saints who lived family life, worked ordinary jobs, or carried illness and suffering with faith
Through prayer, service, courage, joy, and love in daily relationships
Through the Eucharist, Scripture, and Christian friendship as sources of strength and meaning

As Pope Leo XIV recently reflected, “The saints show us that holiness is not about escape from the world, but deep engagement with it in the Spirit of Christ.”

Daily themes for Catholic Schools Week 2026

Each day of the week highlights a different dimension of our shared call to holiness:

Monday – Called to Holiness through Prayer
Prayer nurtures our relationship with God, from quiet stillness to joyful praise, from traditional prayers to personal conversation with Jesus.
Tuesday – Called to Holiness through Love and Friendship
Inspired by Jesus’ command, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12), pupils reflect on kindness, forgiveness, and inclusion.
Wednesday – Called to Holiness in Family Life (Grandparents’ Day)
A cherished day that honours grandparents and elders, recognising their role in passing on faith, wisdom, and love across generations.
Thursday – Called to Holiness through Service and Courage
Stories of saints who served the poor, stood up for justice, and showed courage in difficulty encourage young people to live with compassion and integrity.
Friday – Called to Holiness through Joy and Mission
Holiness is joyful. The week concludes by celebrating the joy of the Gospel and the call for young people to be missionary disciples in today’s world.

Praying together as a diocesan family

In the Archdiocese, Archbishop Eamon Martin has joined with schools across the Northern part of the Diocese in prayer for a fruitful and grace-filled Catholic Schools Week, celebrating the vital witness of Catholic education in our communities.

Schools from the Southern part of the Archdiocese will gather for prayer and celebration in Holy Redeemer Church on Thursday 22 January 2026, a visible sign of unity, faith, and shared mission.

Resources to support schools

A wide range of resources has been prepared to support schools in bringing this theme to life:

Primary school resources:
https://catholiceducation.ie/csw-2026-primary-schools-resources/
Post-primary school resources:
https://catholiceducation.ie/csw-2026-post-primary-schools-resources/

These materials integrate seamlessly with Religious Education, SPHE, wellbeing, and digital literacy, helping young people explore human dignity, resilience, faith, and responsible online presence through the inspiring story of Carlo Acutis.

A Call to All of Us for Today

Holiness is not something to be achieved by effort alone; it is first and foremost a gift; God at work in the ordinary rhythm of our lives. During Catholic Schools Week 2026, we give thanks for Catholic schools as places where young people discover that they are loved by God, that their lives matter, and that they are called to be saints, here and now.

As Pope Francis urged us: “Do not be afraid to be saints!”

May this Catholic Schools Week renew hope in our school communities, strengthen partnerships between home, school, and parish, and help every child and young person recognise that even the most ordinary day can be a place of grace.

Bishop Michael Launches Baptised and Sent for Lent Resources

Baptised and Sent in Lent – Launch in the Archdiocese of Armagh

The Baptised and Sent Lenten resources were launched in the Archdiocese of Armagh by Bishop Michael Router at Mass in the Church of St. Laurence, Omeath on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

At the beginning of his homily, Bishop Michael posed a simple but searching question:
“Do I say I was baptised, or do I say I am baptised?”

It is a question that goes to the heart of Christian life. Baptism is not simply something that happened in the past, a moment recorded in a register or remembered in photographs. It is a living reality, an identity we carry each day. To say “I am baptised” is to recognise that baptism continues to shape who we are, how we live and how we are sent into the world as disciples of Christ.

Parishes, schools, youth groups and families are warmly encouraged to engage with the resources throughout Lent and to share them widely with family, friends and faith communities.

Access the Baptised and Sent Lenten resources »

Baptised and Sent: Returning to the Heart of Christian Life in Ireland

From quiet chapels to the hidden Mass rocks of penal times, faith has shaped the story of the Church in Ireland. At the heart of that story is something simple and shared by all: our baptism.

Baptism is where our Christian life begins. It tells us who we are, God’s beloved, and sends us out to live the Gospel with others. Through baptism, we share one dignity, one Spirit and one mission. Every voice matters, and every gift is needed.

A Lenten Journey for the Whole Church

Inspired by Baptised and Sent, the preparatory document for the 2025 National Assembly in Kilkenny, these Lenten resources invite parishes, schools and groups across Ireland to journey together through prayer, reflection and shared conversation.

Each week offers a simple structure rooted in the Sunday Gospel, helping individuals and groups reflect on key themes such as belonging, healing, renewal and mission. These themes flow from a shared conviction: that baptism is the entry point to a life of faith, the gateway to mission, and the foundation for the renewal of the Church in Ireland.

The resources are designed for everyone, lay, religious and ordained, and can be used personally, in families, or in parish, school and youth group settings. They encourage each of us to listen attentively to the Holy Spirit and to take concrete steps, individually and together, towards living our baptismal calling more deeply in our daily lives.

As this season of Lent begins, it is hoped that Baptised and Sent will open hearts to new life in Christ and help prepare communities for the continuing synodal journey towards the National Assembly in 2026.

Bishop Michael’s Homily, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Homily preached in St. Laurence’s Church, Omeath on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Sunday 11th January 2026

Text of Bishop Michael’s Homily – Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

If I were to begin this morning by asking you the question, “Are you baptised?” most of you would probably answer, “I was baptised.” Not many of us would say, “I am baptised,” yet that is actually the truer and more accurate response.

Because the vast majority of us were baptised as infants, we have no memory of it. It can feel like a historical event — something recorded on a certificate or captured in a photograph. As a result, we don’t often think of baptism as having much relevance for the present or for what we are called to do here and now. I believe that this lack of awareness is a major contributor to the lack of life we sometimes experience in the Church today. Many people do not fully appreciate baptism as that central and deeply important moment in their Christian life.

In today’s readings, we are told that at his baptism Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, and that he went about doing good. That short phrase is a beautiful summary of the Christian vocation — and of what happens for us too.

Baptism is not a private blessing or simply a naming ceremony for a family. It is much more than that. Baptism is the beginning of a mission. We are baptised not just to belong to a group, but to receive a vocation. We are sent.

That truth has not always been easy for us to grasp in Ireland, largely because we were baptised so young. Many of us — especially those over fifty or sixty — were baptised within a day or two of birth. Often our mothers were not even present. Godparents brought the child to the church, sometimes even returning with a different name than the parents had chosen. It simply shows how little awareness there often was of what baptism truly means.

Yet the Second Vatican Council, and more recently Pope Francis and Pope Leo through the synodal process, have called the Church to rediscover baptism as the foundation of Christian life, dignity and responsibility. Before any distinction of role or ministry, we are first and foremost the People of God, equal in dignity because we have been baptised into Jesus Christ.

It is this renewed understanding that lies at the heart of the Baptised and Sent in Lent resources being launched today across the country for the upcoming season of Lent.

These simple resources invite parishes, schools and groups throughout Ireland to journey together through prayer, reflection on the Gospel, and honest conversation. They are available online and consist of a two-sided sheet for each week of Lent, offering a clear and accessible structure. They can be used by families, parish groups, or entire communities.

Each week focuses on themes such as belonging, healing, renewal and mission — all flowing from the conviction that baptism is the gateway to a life of faith and the root from which the Church must grow and be renewed.

These resources are not just for a few enthusiastic parishioners or committee members. They are for all of us, lay, religious and ordained, as an invitation to rediscover who we are and to listen once again to the Holy Spirit speaking in our midst.

This is deeply connected to the spiritual journey the Church is making through synodality. Synodality is not about changing the faith or abandoning tradition. It is about listening, to God, to one another, and to the signs of the times, so that the mission of Christ can be lived more faithfully in a rapidly changing world.

The challenges facing the Church today are real and often painful. But history teaches us that adversity can become the seedbed of new life. The Spirit who descended on Jesus in the Jordan has not abandoned the Church.

As we look ahead to the National Assembly of the Catholic Church in Ireland later this year, the Baptised and Sent in Lent resources offer us a practical and spiritual way to prepare. They remind us that the gifts needed for renewal are already present among us. Through baptism, we all share in Christ’s priestly, prophetic and kingly mission.

The Church does not move forward through the efforts of a few trying to keep things going, but through the faithful participation of everyone who is baptised, including everyone here today, those joining us online, and indeed all who are baptised, whether they are present at Mass or not.

So today, as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, let us renew our baptismal awareness. Let us remember that we are beloved, anointed by the Spirit, and entrusted with the mission of Christ.

I encourage you to engage with these Lenten resources personally and as parish communities. Allow this Lent to be a time when the waters of baptism are stirred once more among us, so that renewed in Christ, we may truly know ourselves as baptised — and truly sent — on the mission of Christ in the world.

+ Bishop Michael Router

Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh

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