Prisons Week: 10th – 16th October – A Week of Prayer

“Respair” is an Old English word which fell out of use many centuries ago but means “the return of hope after a period of despair”. The prayer tradition of lament helps us to make that journey from a dark place of pain, suffering, fear or sorrow to somewhere that the light can get in. Maybe only through a tiny crack to begin with but bringing a gradual dawning of hope and sense of God’s promise, that we are loved and will never be abandoned or alone. No matter how messy and difficult life becomes, God is never distant and longs for us to let him in.

Please pray with us each day during Prisons Week, these prayers offered by chaplains, serving prisoners, police officers, victims of crime, prison leavers, family members and communities – crying out to God, asking for help, responding in faith, giving thanks for his unending love, grace and mercy.

Let us walk together through the week in prayer and grow in our understanding of the value God places on each one of his children, so that like the ravens we may soar, free at last, trusting in the knowledge of his provision and love for us.

Click Here to find more information and resources

Ordination to the Diaconate of Stefano Colleluori, Redemptoris Mater Seminary, Thursday, 14th October 2021 at 5PM. St Patrick’s Cathedral Armagh.

Ordination to the Diaconate of Stefano Colleluori, Redemptoris Mater Seminary,

On Thursday, 14^th October 2021 at 5PM, His Excellency Archbishop Eamon Martin will ordain Stefano Colleluori deacon for the Archdiocese of Armagh in St. Patrick’s Cathedral Armagh.

Stefano Colleluori was born 1993. He comes from Pescara (Italy). He is the third child of Donato and Teresa. He has other six brothers and two sisters. He started his formation to the priesthood in the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Dundalk in the year 2013.

He completed his studies for the priesthood at St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth. Stefano has done pastoral placement in the parish of Crossmaglen.

As part of his missionary formation, he spent time in mission in Mozambique, Holy Land and South Africa.

Archbishop Eamon Martin celebrates Mass for the centenary of the Legion of Mary

Archbishop Eamon Martin’s Homily at the Mass for the centenary of the Legion of Mary

Dear brothers and sisters, you will remember the day you first made your legionary promise, praying to the Holy Spirit, with the legionary standard in your hand. On that occasion you declared your entire dependence on Mary as the mother of your soul. You undertook to be her soldier and her child.

“Most Holy Spirit, I, desiring to be enrolled this day as a legionary of Mary, yet knowing that of myself I cannot render worthy service, do ask of you to come upon me and fill me with yourself, so that my poor acts may be sustained by your power, and become an instrument of your mighty purposes…

So, taking in my hand the legionary Standard…

I stand before you as her soldier and her child, and I so declare my entire dependence on her. She is the mother of my soul”.

In today’s Gospel (Mk 9:30-37), Jesus speaks about spiritual childhood – teaching how true greatness in God’s eyes is to be as innocent and humble as a little child. It reminds us of course also of the “little way” of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, and of the childhood of Jesus and Mary that is described in the “true devotion” of Saint Louis Marie de Montfort, which was central to the spiritual thinking of the great Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary, 100 years ago.

Lest anyone underestimate the power of “spiritual childhood”, one only has to observe its fruits: from humble beginnings of only 15 people gathered around a small altar of the Immaculate Conception in Dublin’s Francis Street 100 years ago, the Legion of Mary has touched the lives of millions of people in almost every country of the world. Today it has over four million active members, more than seventy million auxiliary members, – a great army of spiritual children of Mary engaged in an outpouring of apostolic work: door to door evangelisation; parish and hospital visitation; reaching out to the marginalised in prison and on the streets; gently teaching and explaining the Catholic faith; and all this, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and under the protection of Mary.

My dear brothers and sisters in the Legion of Mary here in the Archdiocese of Armagh I congratulate you, thank you and bless you on your 100th anniversary. Your praesidiums throughout our diocese have overseen amazing prayerful and apostolic works throughout this diocese. Your members, both alive, and those who had gone to their rest, have made a real difference in the lives of so many. You have helped to save souls for Christ, ‘bringing Christ to the world and the souls who need him’, and helping, through the power of the Holy Spirit, ‘to renew the face of the earth’.

Spiritual childhood of Jesus, and of Mary, does not of course mean spiritual weakness. As your promise puts it, you are not only Mary’s children; you are also her soldiers, and, under the Holy Spirit, you are soldiers for Christ. You are a Legion, equipped for battle against evil, godlessness, selfishness, and all the sin and despair that Satan sows in the world.

It is interesting that in today’s Gospel passage, Jesus spoke His words about spiritual childhood immediately after predicting and instructing His disciples that: “the Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again (Mk 9:30ff)”. Jesus was under no illusions that the Good News will face many obstacles, much opposition, persecution, ridicule even death.

Today’s first reading from the Book of Wisdom (2:12,17-20), is equally clear that the “godless” lie in wait for the virtuous, since they annoy them and oppose their way of life:

‘Let us test him with cruelty and with torture,
and thus explore this gentleness of his
and put his endurance to the proof’.

The great Frank Duff, and inspirational legionaries like Eden Quinn and Alfie Lambe, shared this conviction and emphasised time and again that you are a “Legion”, armed for battle. You wear armour of Christ; you are guided by the grace of the Holy Spirit and you proceed under the standard of Mary.

The legionary, according to the handbook, must therefore “clothe himself or herself in the armour of God”, and must have loyalty, courage, discipline, endurance. But, equally, he or she must also walk with love and sympathy, be ready to finish the course, and be prepared to serve without limitations.

The Legion of Mary therefore seeks to blend humble childhood of Mary with the determination and zeal of being her soldiers. This powerful combination of qualities has enabled your legionaries to make such a lasting impact on the world. Just as Jesus sent out His disciples to be “wise as serpents” and “harmless as doves”, so also you are sent out to “conquer the world”, while walking in the “Way of Peace”.

These characteristics are needed more than ever today as we endeavour to keep the faith alive here in Ireland and beyond. The challenge, of course, is to attract new members and to encourage, in particular, more young people to discover the Legion. This may mean re-examining the way we recruit, form and retain junior members. Perhaps a way towards this is to emphasise the qualities which I have spoken about today – to be both a child of Mary and a soldier of Mary.

Therein lies the power of the Gospel and the power of the Legion of Mary which, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has sustained your Legion for the past one hundred years.

May God continue to bless you and grant success to your valuable endeavours. Happy Anniversary

+Archbishop Eamon Martin

Irish Church leaders promote service of reflection and hope

A Service of Reflection and Hope to mark the centenaries of the partition of Ireland and the formation of Northern Ireland will take place in Saint Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, on Thursday, 21 October 2021.

The service is being organised by the Church Leaders Group, as part of their wider programme of collective engagement around the 1921 centenaries, with an emphasis on their common Christian commitment to peace, healing and reconciliation.

Armagh has been chosen as the location due to its significance as Ireland’s ecclesiastical capital – a status which has its origins in the 5th Century when the present site of the Church of Ireland cathedral was presented to Saint Patrick for building his ‘great stone church’.

In a joint statement issued on Saint Patrick’s Day the Church Leaders emphasised the need to ‘be intentional in creating spaces for encounter with those who are different from us, and those who may feel marginalised in the narratives that have shaped our community identity’ and, in doing so, ’to face difficult truths about failings in our own leadership in the work of peace and reconciliation’. This Christian act of worship will involve people from across the community, from diverse backgrounds and traditions, and with different beliefs and aspirations, coming together to pray for the healing of past hurts and to seek God’s guidance in a spirit of hope for the future. The ongoing risks of Covid-19 will restrict the space for in-person participation, but the service will be broadcast and local church communities will be invited to support the initiative in prayer.

At the heart of the Church Leaders’ joint engagements over the course of this year, in prayer, in dialogue and in collective outreach to the wider community, has been a focus on relationships. In their joint statement they say: ‘We find inspiration and encouragement in the progress that has been made through our peace process in building relations of mutual respect and trust across these islands. These relationships are often tested, and will at times be found wanting, but our communities have also demonstrated great resilience, solidarity and compassion, evident most recently in the response to Covid-19’.

This Service of Reflection and Hope is offered as a contribution to the work of building community and deepening relationships.

Most Revd Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland

Most Revd John McDowell, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

Rt Revd David Bruce, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Revd Dr Sahr Yambasu, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the

Very Revd Dr Ivan Patterson, President of the Irish Council of Churches

Bishop Michael Router calls for urgent meeting with Minister Frank Feighan to stop closure of Family Addiction Support Network

Bishop Michael Router calls for urgent meeting with Minister Frank Feighan to stop closure of Family Addiction Support Network

This week national media coverage highlighted the serious intimidating behaviour connected to the ongoing drugs related criminal activity in the Border area. It’s hard to believe therefore that funding difficulties facing the Family Addiction Support Network in Dundalk – founded 20 years ago to support families traumatised by addiction – is threatening its continued existence. I am seeking an urgent meeting with Minister of State for Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan, to seek assistance to keep FASN operating into the future.

The value of FASN to our local community has been clearly identified by the State. Earlier this year Minister for Justice Helen McEntee published the Scoping Report into Community Safety and Wellbeing in Drogheda, by the former Director of the Probation Service, Mr Vivian Geiran, who identified FASN as one of the key local projects in response to the drugs-fuelled emergency in Drogheda, as did the Department of Justice’s own implementation plan, Drogheda: Building a Bridge to a Better Future, published last month.

Last October FASN applied for funding to keep its level of service going but received just a fraction of what it needed to run projects across the North East. These projects are vital at this time, providing significant support to families facing all the stresses and strains that addiction brings including the horrifying problem of drug-debt intimidation.

As patron of the Family Addiction Support Network in Dundalk, I have seen at first hand the great work that the organisation undertakes, but I have also witnessed the negative impact that the lack of funding is having on its very dedicated personnel. Last year FASN staff helped over 250 families in the region. Without question, it will be devastating for such families if its service is forced to close.

I strongly support the role of the Family Addiction Support Network and am appealing for Government funding to help deliver its vital services for the wellbeing of our community.

+ Bishop Michael Router

Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Armagh and member of the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative

Commissioning of The Divine Renovation Leadership Team in the parishes of Knockbridge and Kilkerly

Bishop Michael Router’s Homily for the , 15th August 2021.

Divine Renovation is a programme developed by Fr. James Mallon’s from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada which tries to move parish life away from maintenance and tries to re-orient it towards mission and evangelisation.

Homily Text

Today’s gospel on this Feast of the Annunciation recounts the visit of Mary to Elizabeth. Mary had just received the news that she was to be the mother of God’s Son, and that he was to come into the world to bring salvation to all who received him. The gospel today includes her remarkable statement known as the Magnificat in which she outlines how the power of God was working through her to bring salvation to the world. Through the child in her womb, the child that she had said yes to, God would turn the world on its head. He would show the power of his arm, he would rout the proud of heart. He would pull down princes from their thrones, exalt the lowly, fill the hungry with good things and send the rich away empty.

It is a remarkable statement of mission from someone who was young, humble, poor, and powerless and who lived in a land that was oppressed, on the margins, and politically unimportant. Yet though she would know much suffering, confusion and pain in her life, what she proclaimed would come true, and her child Jesus would grow into the single most important and influential man who ever walked the earth. Jesus revealed the Father to us as a merciful and just God and therefore undermined all systems of government, power and influence that survived through injustice and brutality. From humble beginnings, from deep confusion, from a moment of crisis Mary’s yes to her mission brought the savior into the world and nothing was ever the same again.

It is possible to look at the condition the Church finds itself in today and say that it is in a situation similar to Mary’s, powerless, immersed in confusion and crisis. But in many ways being in crisis is a good place to be. It sparks the creative energy within people and helps them to dream about new methods of mission and new approaches to religious life. Necessity is the mother of all invention, and it is true that when we are in most need good things begin to happen.

Today the challenge is clear to those of us of faith in Ireland, that we need to move away from trying to preserve in an unreflective way the model of church that we have had for the past 170 years since the famine, to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and to begin to focus our thoughts and our energies on renewing the mission of the Church that Jesus founded. The mission of the Church has always been to bring the life-giving message of Jesus to all people wherever they are to be found. Jesus himself did not stay within the walls of the temple or the synagogue, important as those places were for him as a Jew. He strayed beyond their safe and comfortable boundaries and wandered into the marketplace, through the fields and farms, into the houses and the places where people gathered to relax and to socialise. It was in those places that he encountered people where they were at, doing the things that were so ordinary yet so important. It was there that he made a real and lasting impression.

It seems to me that if we are to go forward as a Church in this challenging century we must go back to Jesus’ own model of leadership. Those who take their faith seriously both lay and religious must shed their fears and engage with others in the workplace, the school, the football club, the bingo hall, the pub, on internet sites such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, or indeed wherever it is that people gather. It is, however, very important that we do so in a delicate and sensitive manner. There is nothing worse than someone forcing what they believe to be certainties down someone else’s throat no matter how well intentioned they may be. It is simply our job to witness to the faith through our actions as much as our words and not be afraid to talk about the joy and comfort it brings into our lives.

In the age in which we live there is a very strong temptation in religious matters to play it safe and to mix only with the dwindling number of people who share our faith and who don’t challenge us. Such an approach makes us feel secure and we priests, in particular, feel appreciated. Such an inward-looking approach, however, will not bring success in the long-term task of building the Church. The alternative approach of reaching out to and journeying with those who don’t share our faith is much more dangerous but also much more effective in the long term.

Jesus is always our role model for evangelization in a secular society, and we can learn much from reflecting, particularly, on the story of Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-25). In that post-resurrection encounter Jesus meets people who are struggling with loss. He walks with them and listens. He asks questions. He gives meaning to the complicated mystery of life. His words burn within them and make a deep impression because they have the ring of authentic truth. He eventually reveals his identity at a simple supper table. This encounter offers guidance to us on how to be Church in a secular world. Like the disciples on the road, we are so disheartened by what we have lost – status, large congregations and young people in our churches – that we have forgotten that the one resource we really need is Jesus, the one who is alive and well and who walks beside us on the journey. Please God the synodal pathway we have embarked upon as a diocese, as a national and universal Church may reawaken new energy and a missionary zeal within us.

The process of divine renovation, which we launch in the parishes of Knockbridge and Kilkerly today, is a call to move away from the burden of maintenance, of trying to frantically preserve what we have, and instead trying to embrace the uncertainty and the challenge of mission wherever that may take us. To help lead the Church in Knockbridge and Kilkerly in this process of divine renovation of moving from maintenance to mission, I will shortly commission a leadership team who will help to overhaul the focus of the Church here and to encourage everyone who is baptized to accept their call to mission and to participate in the great work of evangelization which can no longer be left, if it ever could, just to priests and religious.

+ Bishop Michael Router

Death of Fr Christie O’Brien PE

The death has taken place of Fr Christie O’Brien PE on Saturday 14th August 202

Archbishop Eamon Martin expresses his sadness at the news of the death on Saturday, 14 August, of Fr Christie O’Brien, PE. May he rest in peace.

Due to Government guidelines and coronavirus restrictions, a private funeral for family and close friends will take place on Monday, 16 August. Removal from Halligan’s Funeral Home, Station Road, Rathvilly, Co. Carlow, R93 C560, on Monday at 11.30am to St. Patrick’s Church, Rathvilly, arriving for 12 noon Requiem Mass. Burial afterwards in Rathvilly Cemetery.

Fr Christie’s Funeral Mass can be viewed live on the following link: www.rathvillykilteganparish.ie/our-parish/webcam

Please remember Fr Christie in your Masses and prayers at this time.

Archbishop Eamon extends his sympathy and that of Cardinal Seán, Bishop Michael, the clergy and people of the Archdiocese, to his brothers, Fr Tom and Pat, his sister, Anne, and the extended O’Brien family.

Season of Creation 1st September – 4th October 2021

Season of Creation 2021

The Season of Creation has a special significance for the Catholic Church, particularly since Pope Francis established the 1st of September as an annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

The Season of Creation or Creation Time, is marked throughout the Christian world from 1 September to 4 October (Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi) and celebrates the joy of creation as well as encouraging awareness-raising initiatives to protect the natural environment.

Restoring Our Common Home

The theme for the Season of Creation 2021 is ‘Restoring Our Common Home’. During this season we are asked to join together to celebrate creation and protect our common home through prayer, reflection and action.

The global Christian family is called to awaken to the urgent need to heal our relationships with creation and with each other and to encourage our parish communities to do the same, “for we know that things can change!” (Laudato Si’, 13).

This year we celebrate this season mindful of the fact that our world continues to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic as well as a devastating climate and biodiversity crisis. We look towards two UN Conferences in the Autumn, COP15 (on Biodiversity, due to take place in China) and COP24 (on climate change, Glasgow) in the hope that world leaders take the urgent action that is needed to Restore Our Common Home. Catholics are urged to sign the “Healthy Planet Healthy People” petition as a key action for this year’s Season of Creation.

This petition has been endorsed by the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development in the hope that millions of Catholics will raise their voices in the public sphere to help Restore Our Common Home in the run up to these vital UN Conferences.

Resources from the Laudato Si Working Group of the Irish Bishops Conference have been developed for use by parishes and all other your and pastoral groups These resources can be accessed by Clicking Here

Accord Catholic Marriage Care Service CLG is currently recruiting volunteers to train as marriage preparation programme facilitators.

Accord is seeking registration of interest from those who have a positive attitude towards marriage in the Catholic Church and the enthusiasm to be part of a team supporting couples who are preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage.

Successful applicants will receive professional training and will be part of a team delivering marriage preparation programmes locally in accordance with best practice.

Contact Aisling on 01 505 3112 or by email to [email protected].

The closing date for receipt of registration of interest forms to be included in Selections for this year is Friday 27 August.

Additional information is available on www.accord.ie.

CLERGY APPOINTMENTS FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ARMAGH, EFFECTIVE 28 AUGUST 2021

CLERGY APPOINTMENTS FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ARMAGH

EFFECTIVE 28 AUGUST 2021

Archbishop Eamon Martin announces the following clergy appointments for the Archdiocese of Armagh, effective 28 August 2021.

Archbishop Eamon thanks the priests and deacons of the Archdiocese for their continued ministry and service and wishes well those who are taking up these new appointments. He also thanks the people of the Archdiocese of Armagh for their ongoing prayers and support of their clergy. He encourages them to welcome their new pastors in the coming weeks.

The Archbishop is deeply grateful to the Society of Mary (Marists) who are leaving Holy Family Parish in Dundalk after forty years of generous service to the local community. He wishes well Fr Cormac McNamara, SM, Adm, and Fr Francis Corry, SM, CC, who are departing the parish.

The Archbishop is very grateful also to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) who, in addition to their ministry in St Joseph’s Parish, Dundalk, have agreed to serve Holy Family Parish for a fixed period. The Archbishop has appointed Fr Derek Ryan, CSsR, CC, St Joseph’s, Dundalk, and Fr Richard Delahunty, CSsR, to be Administrator and Curate in Holy Family Parish, Dundalk, respectively.

Fr John Hughes, PE, CC, Moy (Clonfeacle), to retire, and to be priest-in-residence, Moy

Fr Fergus Breslan, PE, Moy (Clonfeacle), retired, to be priest-in-residence, Middle Killeavy

Fr Eamonn McCamley, to assist in the parish of Drumglass, Killyman & Tullyniskin (Dungannon)

Fr Desmond Branigan, CC, Magherafelt, to be CC, St Peter’s, Drogheda

Fr Thomas McHugh, CC, Cathedral Parish, Armagh, to be (pro tem), Adm, Moy (Clonfeacle), and Adm, Eglish

Fr Barry Matthews, CC, St Peter’s, Drogheda, to be CC, Cathedral Parish, Armagh

Fr Juan Jesus Gonzalez Borrallo, newly ordained, to be CC, Magherafelt

Fr Callum Young, newly ordained, to be Assistant to the Rector, Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary, Dundalk

Deacon Stephen Wilson, newly ordained, to serve in the parishes of Knockbridge, Kilkerley & Louth

Deacon Colm Hagan, newly ordained, to serve in the parishes of Donaghmore, Pomeroy & Termonmaguirc

29 July 2021

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