‘Hold on to Hope’

Archbishop Eamon offers a message of encouragement to all Leaving Cert and A-Level pupils during the current Covid-19 pandemic.  He acknowledges their worries and concerns in the beautiful video and letter below. He assures them that they will not be robbed of their hopes and dreams and offers his continued support and prayers in the coming days, weeks and months.  

Click Here to access the video

Click Here to access Archbishop Eamon’s letter

Bishop Michael Router offers this beautiful reflection video on the vocation we each hold through our baptism and speaks about the gifts and graces offered through the call to priesthood, the diaconate and to religious life. 

Click here to access

“The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out. When he has brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice.”

On this Good Shepherd Sunday we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. We pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life, especially for our diocese, that God will raise up good shepherds in our midst.  Do you hear the voice of the Lord, the Good Shepherd calling you to a particular way of life?

If you think God is calling you to serve the Church as a priest or in the consecrated life, contact the National Vocations Office,  email: [email protected] or our local Diocesan Vocations Director Fr. Peter McAnenly email: [email protected].

Archbishop Eamon Speaks to Eamonn Maillie

Earlier this week Archbishop Recorded a Podcast with Eamonn Mallie.  In the episode  Archbishop Eamon engages in a wide ranging and philosophical conversation, he spoke to Eamonn about a wide range of issues including the question of squaring the Coronavirus pandemic with what some argue is a just God.

It is a meaningful and interesting listen.  The Podcast can be accessed by clicking the link below.  

Click Here for Archbishop Eamon’s Poscast.  

Letter of His holiness Pope Francis to the Faithful for the Month of May 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The month of May is approaching, a time when the People of God express with particular intensity their love and devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this “family” aspect, also from a spiritual point of view.

For this reason, I want to encourage everyone to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary at home in the month of May. This can be done either as a group or individually; you can decide according to your own situations, making the most of both opportunities. The key to doing this is always simplicity, and it is easy also on the internet to find good models of prayers to follow.

I am also providing two prayers to Our Lady that you can recite at the end of the Rosary, and that I myself will pray in the month of May, in spiritual union with all of you. I include them with this letter so that they are available to everyone.

Dear brothers and sisters, contemplating the face of Christ with the heart of Mary our Mother will make us even more united as a spiritual family and will help us overcome this time of trial. I keep all of you in my prayers, especially those suffering most greatly, and I ask you, please, to pray for me. I thank you, and with great affection I send you my blessing.

Rome, Saint John Lateran, 25 April 2020

Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist

FRANCIS

First Prayer

O Mary,

You shine continuously on our journey

as a sign of salvation and hope.

We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,

who, at the foot of the cross,

were united with Jesus’ suffering,

and persevered in your faith.

“Protectress of the Roman people”,

you know our needs,

and we know that you will provide,

so that, as at Cana in Galilee,

joy and celebration may return

after this time of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love,

to conform ourselves to the will of the Father

and to do what Jesus tells us.

For he took upon himself our suffering,

and burdened himself with our sorrows

to bring us, through the cross,

to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always
from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

Second Prayer

“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God”.

In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you, Mother of God and our Mother, and seek refuge under your protection.

Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them. Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy and employment.

Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew. Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust.

Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity and continued health.

Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel, are trying to help and support everyone.

Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.

Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity they may come to the aid of those lacking the basic necessities of life and may devise social and economic solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.

Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing and stockpiling arms will instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Beloved Mother, help us realise that we are all members of one great family and to recognise the bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need. Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.

Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal course.

To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves, O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

Easter 2020 message to the people of Ireland from Archbishop Eamon Martin

“The sun dances on Easter morning … as surely as Christ rose on Easter morning, we will come through this, hopefully as better people, strengthened by the experience” – Archbishop Eamon

Easter message
I have an early childhood memory of my mother leaving a basin of water out in the back yard on a bright Easter Sunday morning and inviting us to look in and watch the sun dance! ‘The sun dances on Easter morning’, she told us.

It’s the kind of message of joy and hope that we all need during these difficult days.

The Easter story begins in darkness and sorrow. The disciples were hidden away behind locked doors, isolated and feeling alone, fearing for their lives. But when Christ rose from the dead he brought back the light of hope into the darkness of despair. The stone was rolled away from the entrance to the tomb. He entered through the closed doors of the place where the disciples were and he said to them ‘peace be with you.’

Easter reminds us that, as Pope Francis keeps saying, we must never let ourselves be ‘robbed of hope’. As the children’s hymn joyfully puts it:

‘They buried my body

And they thought I’d gone,

But I am the Dance,

And I still go on.

Dance, then, wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the Dance, said he’.

We know how important it is to continue to make sacrifices and to maintain the current restrictions in order to protect and save lives. Please God it won’t be too long before we can go back to singing and dancing together, to meeting and greeting, travelling and discovering, and gathering in church to celebrate and praise God.

But what will we have learned? What is this crisis teaching us about ourselves and others, about faith and hope, about the importance of caring and loving, of living simpler lives and managing our expectations? In a strange way these days of seclusion have been helping us stop and think about what we value and perhaps even question some of the ways we have been living our lives.

An old medieval carol about the life of Jesus promises that ‘Tomorrow shall be my dancing day’. We still have a long way to go in the fight against Covid-19 and its consequences. There will be many more sacrifices to make before this is all over. But as surely as Christ rose on Easter morning, we will come through this, hopefully as better people, strengthened by the experience.

A very happy Easter to you all, and to our loved ones and friends across the world this Easter time.

Archbishop Eamon Martin is Archbishop of Armagh, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Dromore and Primate of All Ireland

Catholic Bishops in Northern Ireland have written to the Secretary of State, Mr Brandon Lewis MP, expressing their concern at the UK Government`s proposed approach to dealing with the legacy of the past.  Mentioned below, the role of the Northern Ireland Catholic Council on Social Affairs, established in 2003, is to assist in the coordination of, and to enhance, the work of the bishops on social, legal, moral and political issues.  Please see the following correspondence of 7 April to the Secretary of State detailing  issues raised by the bishops such as prioritising victims as the focal point of a response in dealing with the legacy of the past; equal access to justice for all; facing the past however painful; and in seeking to achieve authentic reconciliation for a just and stable peace:

Dear Mr Lewis,

Since we have not had the opportunity to meet with you since taking up your new appointment, we wish to congratulate you on your appointment as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and look forward to working constructively with you in the future.

Written Statement regarding the UK Government’s position on Addressing the Legacy of the Past in Northern Ireland.
As bishops of those dioceses with parishes in Northern Ireland, and having liaised with our Northern Ireland Catholic Council on Social Affairs (NICCOSA), we write to express our deep concern at your statement of 18 March 2020 regarding the UK Government’s proposed approach to dealing with the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland.  When the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) launched its public consultation in May 2018, Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s Past, it was based on the Stormont House Agreement Framework that had been agreed by both Governments and the political parties.  Determined to offer constructive feedback to the public consultation, NICOSSA submitted a response.  One theme emphasised by the NIO throughout the consultation, and which NICOSSA positively endorsed, was that victims should finally be given priority as the focal point of any response to addressing the legacy of the past.  A primary principle of the ‘Addressing the Legacy of the Past’ public consultation was that justice would be pursued, where possible, regardless of the identity of the perpetrator.

Having considered your statement of 18 March 2020, it is deeply concerning to us that the UK Government has departed from this fundamental principle and has moved away from the position of equal access to justice for all.  A key principle of the NICOSSA response was that any approach to dealing with the past in Northern Ireland should commit to providing support and options for victims. In particular, NICOSSA stated;

“If we trivialise or ignore a history of suffering, or call on those who have suffered to forget or overlook their suffering, we are in fact continuing to perpetuate an oppressive situation. Reconciliation can only come about if the nature of the violence perpetrated is acknowledged, and conditions for its recurrence are removed. Real reconciliation means that we cannot forget the past. We must face the past, no matter how costly or painful that encounter may be, before real reconciliation can flourish. Victims and survivors have paid the highest price for the fragile peace we all enjoy today. For too long their voices have been marginalised in our society, and their needs neglected”.

We feel impelled to reiterate these words.  As a society, we must face up to the reality of the past. We must consider the actions of all involved.  State and non-state actors must be equally accountable before the law. Otherwise no authentic reconciliation can be achieved.

Furthermore, the NICOSSA response stated;

“Justice should be pursued, for a just society is a society of peace. For those victims who do not feel justly treated, the wounds of the past will never fully heal.  We therefore support the ongoing pursuit of appropriate criminal, legal and civic justice for all victims”.

The NICOSSA response also held that the search for truth must be pursued unflinchingly. Accordingly, NICOSSA cannot  support any legislation that substantially undermines the foundational work of the 2018 process and provides that State-actors would not be equally subject to the rule of law.

The participants to the Stormont House Agreement agreed that:

‘As part of the transition to long-term peace and stability the participants agree that an approach to dealing with the past is necessary which respects the following principles:

• promoting reconciliation;
• upholding the rule of law;
• acknowledging and addressing the suffering of victims and survivors;
• facilitating the pursuit of justice and information recovery;
• is human rights compliant; and
• is balanced, proportionate, transparent, fair and equitable’.

It is deeply concerning that the proposed legislation for Northern Ireland, which is stated to mirror the provisions of the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel & Veterans) Bill, will not honour some of these principles, in particular the human rights compliance provision, the commitment to uphold the rule of law, the commitment to facilitate the pursuit of justice, and the pledge to devise a modality that is inter alia, transparent, fair and equitable.

You have said it is the Government’s view that;

“…to best meet the needs of all victims and of wider society, we need to shift the focus of our approach to the past. While there must always be a route to justice, experience suggests that the likelihood of justice in most cases may now be small, and continues to decrease as time passes. Our view is that we should now therefore centre our attention on providing as much information as possible to families about what happened to their loved ones – while this is still possible”. 

We would be interested to know the empirical basis leading to this conclusion. NICOSSA is equally concerned that very little information has been appended to your statement as to the detail of how proposed new approaches to dealing with the past will operate. This is unfortunate given the detailed information regarding the proposed operation of, for example, the Historical Investigations Unit, in the suite of consultation documents entitled, ‘Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s Past’.

Moreover, we have concerns about the proposals regarding investigations, particularly the requirements needed to pursue investigations.  These are manifestly onerous and contrary to the normal procedure for the investigation and prosecution of crime.  We do not believe such approaches represent fair and open access to the pursuit of justice for all.  In fact, these approaches would self-evidently discriminate against victims of Troubles’ related crimes in Northern Ireland, and would therefore be a breach of Article 14 of the European Convention as provided by the first Schedule to the Human Rights Act 1998.

You have also stated that;

“The Government believes that this approach would deliver a fair, balanced, and proportionate system that is consistent with the principles of the Stormont House Agreement and deliver for all those who have been affected by the events of the past; striking a balance in enabling criminal investigations to proceed where necessary, while facilitating a swift transition to an effective information recovery mechanism before this information is lost forever”.

With the information available to us at present, we disagree with this statement and do not believe it is consistent with the principles of the Stormont House Agreement or will deliver for all affected by the events of the past.

Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill.
Turning to the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill, we read with particular concern many of the provisions of the Bill, inter alia, with regard to the presumption against prosecution and the provision of a duty to consider derogating from certain rights in the European Convention on Human Rights. As stated above, whilst we understand that this Bill relates to overseas activities, we note that the Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP has stated that;

“Addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past – delivering reconciliation whilst also ensuring that veterans who served in Northern Ireland are treated no less fairly than those who served overseas – will form the basis of separate legislation to be brought forward by the Northern Ireland Office. The legislation will deliver on the Government’s commitment to legislate on this issue in the “New Decade, New Approach” deal. This will be brought forward in a timeframe which is broadly in line with the key stages of the passage of the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill”.^[1]

Since you have confirmed the Government’s intention to ensure equal treatment of veterans who have served in Northern Ireland with those who served overseas, we are alarmed by the provisions of this Bill and wish to strongly assert our opposition to many of its Articles.

As it stands, owing to the fact that prospective prosecutions of State-actors in NI appears to require the consent of both the Attorney General and the Advocate General for NI, it is clear that the measures proposed in the Bill have a particular impact on Northern Ireland. In our view this is manifestly prejudicial to those in NI who may make a complaint of an offence committed by State Forces in NI that could lead to a prosecution and therefore appears to be in contravention on Article 14 of the European Convention.

As a High Contracting Party to the European Convention, the United Kingdom has affirmed its “profound belief in those fundamental freedoms which are the foundation of justice and peace in the world and are best maintained on the one hand by an effective political democracy and on the other by a common understanding and observance of the Human Rights upon which they depend”.  The provisions you have suggested for Northern Ireland run contrary to these established commitments, leaving us to wonder if the UK Government is retreating from the belief that the foundation of justice and peace in the world is best maintained by a common understanding and observance of Human Rights.  The Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill proposes a different observance, understanding and application of these rights to the actions of the British Armed forces overseas.  In essence, the Bill provides an inversion of the normal principle that every citizen is subject equally to the rule of law. It provides a presumption against prosecution.  The effect of this is the way in which the British Armed forces can behave overseas differs to the standard of behaviour to which they may be held when on home soil.  We fundamentally disagree with this proposition as it may relate to Northern Ireland, as well as any other country. Derogation from the European Convention is strictly limited to the provisions of Article 15.  For the avoidance of doubt, NICOSSA’s view is that the provisions of Article 15 of the Convention did not and do not apply in respect of the conduct of the British Armed Forces in Northern Ireland.

Conclusion
While we do not wish to outline all of our detailed concerns on this issue at present, we wish to express our alarm and disappointment at the new position which the UK Government is taking to address the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland, and specifically its departure from the understanding inherent in the Stormont House Agreement to which all parties signed up to with good-will.

In addition, we wish to draw your attention to the serious implications of even partly undoing existing agreements. The timing of the announcement was unfortunate, coming at a time when our citizens, and people across the world, are dealing with the serious impact of the global Coronavirus pandemic. The implications of the proposals are therefore not receiving the widespread scrutiny they might otherwise receive.

We also caution that any similar proposed legislation to the Bill referred to in this letter, which would make specific provisions for Northern Ireland, could destabilise the Executive and other institutions which are only recently operational again after three years of political sclerosis, and currently exist on a fragile equilibrium. Any such legislation would undoubtedly provoke significant political and public reaction as a time when a strong and unified Executive, focussed on delivering the best outcomes for the health of citizens in NI, is needed more than ever.

We look forward to hearing from you on these important issues.

Yours sincerely,

Most Rev Eamon Martin DD
Archbishop of Armagh
Apostolic Administrator of Dromore

Most Rev Noel Treanor DD
Bishop of Down and Connor

Most Rev Donal McKeown DD
Bishop of Derry

Most Rev Larry Duffy DD
Bishop of Clogher

Most Rev Michael Router DD
Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh

A joint Holy Week and Easter message from Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop-elect John McDowell

 “Early on the first day of the week while it was still dark…”  John 20:1

The Easter story begins in darkness, in a time of great fear, sorrow and despair.  The disciples were nowhere to be seen but were hidden away behind locked doors fearing for their lives.  That description could very easily describe the world we have been living in for the last number of weeks as the covid-19 pandemic has taken hold. What once was familiar has become unfamiliar and we are now in so many ways cut off from our normal routine and way of living.  Family and friends are isolated and kept apart, with doors closed to keep out an unseen enemy.  Every day we search for good news and some sort of light upon the horizon.

When he rose from the dead on that first Easter morning, the risen Christ brought the light of hope into the darkness of despair. The stone was rolled away from the entrance to the tomb and the risen Lord appeared to Mary.  Through closed doors he entered the place where the disciples were and said to them “peace be with you.”

The Easter story may begin in the darkness, but it ends in the light.  From Good Friday to Easter Day – from the cross to the empty tomb, from death to life, these holy days invite us to journey inwards to seek the inner peace that only Christ can bring.  

That peace and confidence in Christ encourages us, like the first disciples, to announce and live out the Good News that Christ is alive! In our present situation we have seen the light of the risen Christ shine out in the devotion and care shown by healthcare workers and others on the frontline reaching out to help the sick; in the kindness shown by neighbour to neighbour and in gentle and simple acts of compassion carried out by countless “Good Samaritans”.  Despite the uncertainty, suffering and grief caused by the pandemic, the Lord is near. We must never give up hope.  His spirit is with us as sons and daughters of the Resurrection.

“Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.”  John 20:20

Christ is risen from the dead. Alleluia!

+Eamon                                                                                                                         Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh     

+John

Church of Ireland Archbishop-elect of Armagh      

Easter Week Schedule Archbishop Eamon and Bishop Michael

Archbishop Eamon and Bishop Michael will be presiding at the following Liturgies and Ceremonies during Holy Week and Easter.  Given that Holy Week and Easter will be different and perhaps difficult for many this year, Archbishop Eamon and Bishop Michael extend a warm welcome to join them via the respective webcam’s. 

Details and links to the webcams are provided below: 

A Call to Prayer at the beginning of Holy Week

On Palm Sunday afternoon as part of the Christian call to prayer from 3-4 pm Archbishop Eamon will lead, via the webcam in his oratory, a gentle reading and prayerful meditation on the passion narrative in Matthew’s gospel. All are most welcome. You can access the stream by clicking the link below.

https://www.armagharchdiocese.org/live-feed/