The 25^th Anniversary of the signing of

THE BELFAST /GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT

‘What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.’ Micah 6:8

The Agreement was signed on 10^th April 1998, which that year was Good Friday.  It was a political deal designed to bring about the end of ‘the Troubles’, which, after nearly thirty years of violence and conflict on the streets of Northern Ireland, had resulted in more than 3,500 deaths. 

This year marks twenty-five years since the historic agreement was signed but the reality is that people from different parts of the community will approach this anniversary with mixed emotions.  We can all be thankful that many lives were no doubt saved as a result of the Agreement but the relative peace that it brought came at a cost.  Prisoners, those serving time for murder, were released back into the community and were able to return to their families, while victim’s families had to show tolerance and acceptance, despite the reality that their loved ones would never return home. 

We must remember that the signing of the Agreement was not the end of the journey to peace in Northern Ireland.  It marked simply the first faltering steps down a very long road to a new, brighter, and shared future. That road will continue to be shaped by tolerance and respect for our differences, and a recognition of the need for greater understanding and reconciliation.  The principles of the Agreement were based on ‘partnership, equality and mutual respect’.  As we reflect on how far we have travelled, we must fully appreciate the sacrifices that were made as we capture a vision for what lies ahead.

In the journey from Good Friday to Easter, from death to new life, as people of faith we believe that love is stronger than hate and that the light of hope shines brightly in the darkness.

The following resources are offered by The Church Leaders Group (Ireland) for use in times of private prayer and public forms of worship marking the anniversary, recalling the events of the past and looking to the future.

The Most Reverend John McDowell
Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland

The Most Reverend Eamon Martin
Catholic Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland

The Right Reverend Dr John Kirkpatrick
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

The Reverend David Nixon
President of the Methodist Church in Ireland

The Right Reverend Andrew Forster
President of the Irish Council of Churches

Click Here for A Prayer Service to accompany this message.

The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed His Excellency Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, Titular Archbishop of Illici, up until now the Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia, as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland.

The President of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, said, “I very much welcome today’s news that Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor as Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland.  I pray God’s blessings on Archbishop Mariano and look forward to meeting with him when he takes up his appointment in Ireland in the near future.”

As Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, His Excellency Archbishop Montemayor succeeds His Excellency Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo who currently serves as Apostolic Nuncio in Prague, Czechia.  

Please see below a brief overview of the life and ministry of Archbishop Montemayor:

16 March 1956: Date of birth, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
15 November 1985: Ordination to Priesthood.
1991-2008: PhD in Canon Law, Apostolic Nunciature in Ethiopia, Brazil, Thailand, and the
Secretariat of State.
2008: Apostolic Nuncio in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau e Capo Verde and
Apostolic Delegate in Mauritania.
2015: Apostolic Nuncio in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
2018: Apostolic Nuncio in Colombia.

Archbishop Montemayor speaks the following languages fluently: Spanish, Italian, French, English, and Portuguese.

Joint Statement from the Archbishops of Armagh condemning attempted murder of PSNI Officer in Omagh

It is with great shock and a sense of disbelief that we have learned of the horrific gun attack on a member of the PSNI in Omagh. It is impossible to find appropriate words even to describe let alone condemn such an act of depraved violence against a police officer who, as a public servant, works for the protection and well-being of the whole community. Our thoughts and prayers at this time, along with those of our parishioners, are with the officer, and with his colleagues, family and friends.

As the Catholic and Protestant Archbishops of Armagh, we are united in our condemnation of this abhorrent attack on someone serving our community. Regardless of who they think they are, the individuals who planned and carried out this shooting represent a deep seated criminal threat to the health and peace of our society and it is important that we do everything in our power to prevent such things from ever happening again.

The Most Revd Eamon Martin, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland 

The Most Revd John McDowell, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland                                                                                      

The Annual General Meeting of St Patrick’s Archdiocesan Trust Limited (Trust) was held on Thursday 14th December 2022, in which the audited Annual Report and Financial Statements to 31st March 2022 was presented. Presenting at the meeting were Archbishop Eamon Martin (Director of the Trust), Mr John McVey (Secretary to the Trust) and Mrs Roisin Traynor (Audit Manager – Cavanagh Kelly Accountants).

In attendance at the meeting where the Directors of the Trust, Members of the Diocesan Committees, Diocesan Clergy, Members of Parish Finance Committees, External Auditors, staff members throughout the diocese and volunteers throughout the Diocese.

A full copy of the Annual Report and Financial Statements and the presentation of the summary of the Financial Statements to 31st March 2022 can be view below:

Financial Statements to 31st March 2022

Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, is the beginning of the holy season of Lent when, each day, Christians offer prayer, charity and sacrifice.  The beginning of Lent traditionally involves fasting, and the distribution of ashes on the foreheads of church-goers.  Many make Lenten promises or resolutions throughout the forty day penitential period leading up to Holy Week and Easter Sunday, when we mark the Crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Ahead of Lent 2023 Archbishop Eamon Martin said, “Over the last year people around the world have experienced death and suffering on a large scale caused by wars and natural disasters.  The effects of climate change continue to impact our most vulnerable sisters and brothers.  Now, more than ever, the three pillars of Lent – prayer, charity and sacrifice – are needed for our own spiritual conversion and to support those in need.

“At this time, when homes throughout the country receive their annual Lenten Trócaire box, I encourage families to pray together in a special way, and to fast, for world peace, and for the alleviation of the suffering of refugees who are living amongst us.  I also invite everyone to follow our daily #LivingLent digital media initiative to grow closer to God during Lent.

“Our hearts and prayers continue go out to the suffering people of Ukraine.  During Lent let our acts of prayer, charity and fasting, each day, be dedicated to the plight of refugees, and for a global peaceful environment.  We must always work for peace, pray for peace and make sacrifices for peace.  All of us have the capacity to build peace by our words, our actions and our attitudes to others. 

“As we approach the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, we remember that this agreement was not an end in itself, but the beginning of a new way of living our relationships on this shared island.  We must continue the unfinished work of peace and reconciliation.  With our words, particularly on social media, we choose to sow peace or conflict, love or hate, to build up, or to tear down, to heal or to hurt, to forgive or to resent, to soothe or to inflame.  During Lent we should place a guard over our social media use and learn that as Christians working together on this island we should build bridges in a spirit of collaboration for the greater good.”

On Sunday 19th February, the Catholic Church marked the Day of Prayer for Temperance which offered an opportunity to reflect on our relationship with addiction, and to pray for all who suffer from any form of addiction and for those who work to alleviate its detrimental effects on individuals, families and communities.

In my roles as liaison bishop to the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative, and as patron to the Family Addiction Support Network in the North East, I invited everyone to avail of Temperance Sunday to reflect on the harm caused by the abuse of drugs and alcohol throughout every parish in our country.

I welcomed in particular the comments last week in the Dáil, by Minister for Justice Simon Harris, who highlighted a “direct link between snorting a line or taking a pill and murder, assault, criminality and misery.”  He stated that, “Drug use on a Friday or Saturday night is funding and supporting violence, crime, murders the next week … We need to get real about this, drug use is not victimless, it’s far from it”.

In an interview with the Sunday Independent on 19 September 2021, I made the point that drug abuse is now “a silent pandemic” in Ireland, and that political will is needed to tackle it.  I, like Minister Harris, called on all those who use drugs as a so-called “recreational” activity, to rethink their behaviour as it helps to fund gangs who prey on socially deprived families.

I know that many community based groups like the Family Addiction Support Network (FASN) in Dundalk, that are dealing with the dreadful consequences of addiction and the associated intimidation and violence.  While better-off families may have resources to pay off a drug debt and can afford to send their loved ones to a private clinic for treatment, there are also a lot of people in socially deprived areas who are not able to do this.  Sadly the personal, physical, psychological and social damage of those without such resources are devastating.  In addition, organised crime gangs are causing immense damage to individuals, families, and communities.  Their tactic is often to keep drug-users indebted to them, to force them to deal in drugs and become involved in other criminal activities.  This vicious cycle can be impossible to break.

The Government’s own strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, calls for a health-led approach to drug abuse.  This direction corresponds to what groups such as FASN have repeatedly called for.  A health-led approach will help move vulnerable people away from the orbit of influence of criminal gangs and stop the ever-increasing circle of drug use, intimidation and violence.  However, this will necessitate the investment of significant public resources into rehabilitation services so that there is early and effective intervention for people who have an addiction to drugs and alcohol. 

I also welcome the Government’s announcement last week of a Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use, by Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy, Ms Hildegarde Naughton.  This initiative will keep attention on the issue of drug abuse and, hopefully, focus minds on finding solutions to what is one of the most corrosive, and seemingly intractable, problems that is facing our society.

As we marked temperance Sunday we also remembered the powerful ministry of Father Theobald Mathew who became known as the Apostle of Temperance.  During the 19^th century Father Mathew’s awareness campaign against the widespread abuse of alcohol was recognised at home and abroad.  Father Mathew’s call to sobriety has relevance to our contemporary society, as the cost of human suffering, familial upheaval, work absenteeism, criminality and social disorder has become inestimable. 

May we realise, through our prayers and reflection, that we all have a responsibility to moderate our own behaviour and attitudes to drugs and alcohol so as to bring about the change we so urgently need in our country at this time.

Prayer for Temperance

Compassionate Lord and Saviour, you inspired the Capuchin Friar Theobald Mathew to show your compassionate face to those addicted and burdened by the abuse of alcohol or addicted behaviour, and to promote temperance.

May we today, continue to serve our brothers and sisters with love and joy, and to foster balance, and moderation in our life styles with the help of God.

So, we pray, “here goes in the name of God.”

Amen

The proposal for a universal day of prayer was initially made in 2016 to the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM) by a survivor of clerical abuse. At the time a press release from the Commission stated, “In the experience of our members, victims/survivors have often expressed a desire for prayer as an important element in their healing process.”

 In response Pope Francis invited bishops around the world to establish a special day of prayer in the Church year to support the paths of human and spiritual recovery. This day is not only for victims and survivors, who have been so severely injured, either inside or outside the Church, but also for families and communities affected by grief for their loved ones.  

In 2019 the Irish Bishops introduced a Candle and Prayer of Atonement as part of this day.

All parishes and religious communities are invited to organise their own service or moment of prayer; encouraged to light again the Candle of Atonement, and include a prayer for victims. 

it is suggested that one of the prayers of the faithful on the Sunday following could also include a prayer for victims and survivors of abuse.

CLICK HERE to learn more about this years day of prayer for survivors of abuse.

This year the Day of Prayer will take place on Friday, 24th February.

Click the following link to view the 2023 Confirmation dates for the Archdiocese of Armagh:

Confirmation List 2023