The report of the Archdiocese of Armagh’s Diocesan Congress on Youth, Family and Faith gathers the fruits of a prayerful process and points towards a new stage of renewal, implementation and shared mission.
The Archdiocese of Armagh is pleased to publish the report of the Diocesan Congress on Youth, Family and Faith, which took place from 20 to 22 March 2026.
The Congress brought together more than 300 people from across the Archdiocese, including representatives from parishes, schools, families, clergy, religious communities, diocesan groups and young people. Over the course of the weekend, those gathered prayed, listened, reflected and discerned together, asking where the Holy Spirit may be calling the Church in the Archdiocese of Armagh at this time.
This report gathers the fruits of that experience and also reflects the wider synodal journey that has been unfolding across the Archdiocese since 2021. Many voices and communities have shaped this process: young people and families, parishioners and clergy, teachers and volunteers, those active in parish life and those who long for a deeper sense of belonging in the Church.
The report points to several key areas for renewal, including fostering prayer in the home and parish, faith formation, youth and family ministry, belonging, the deepening of parish-school-family partnership, along with digital communication and the need to foster a shared responsibility for mission. These themes are no longer the focus of discussion and reflection but represent an invitation to all in the Archdiocese to consider how our parishes, schools, families and diocesan communities can become more prayerful, welcoming, missionary and alive in faith.
Everyone across the Archdiocese is warmly encouraged to read the report and Parish Pastoral Councils, schools, families, clergy, religious communities, youth leaders, diocesan groups and all who care about the life and mission of the Church are invited to spend some time with it. Read it slowly, read it with others and ask what gives you hope, what challenges, and where your own parish, school, family or community might begin to implement the fruits of our journey.
Looking ahead, Archbishop Eamon hopes to share a Pastoral Letter with the Archdiocese in Autumn 2026 and this will officially open the next stage of response and implementation. In the months and years that follow, parishes, Pastoral Areas and diocesan bodies will be invited to consider how the fruits of the Congress can begin to shape local priorities, formation, planning and pastoral life in ways that are effective and lifegiving.
The Archdiocese of Armagh will be sharing the report in the coming days with Delegates, Clergy, Parishes, Schools and other Fraternal Delegates who engaged with and supported the journey over the last five years. It is important to stress that the publication of this report is not the end of the Congress but a beginning and a further invitation to all involved to pray, listen and trust the Holy Spirit, taking the next faithful step together with courage.
Diocesan Congress Report
The Diocesan Congress Report gathers the prayer, listening and discernment that shaped the Congress on Youth, Family and Faith. It offers a record of what was shared, the hopes that emerged, and the first steps towards renewal across the Archdiocese. All are invited to read it prayerfully and reflect on how its fruits might shape the life of our parishes, schools, families and communities in the years ahead.
CLICK HERE to Access the Report Document
Congress Photo Gallery
