Theology Programme

In September 2009 our Diocese launched a Theology Programme.  This was a response to the call of the Second Vatican Council for co-responsibility between the ordained ministers, the consecrated persons and the lay faithful in the mission of the Church.  Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI pointed out “that this demanded a change in mentality, above all with regard to the lay faithful, moving from considering them as collaborators of the clergy to recognising them as truly co-responsible for the being and action of the Church, promoting a mature and dedicated laity in this way.”  Indeed, Pope Francis has reiterated that the lay faithful are the mainstay of the Church. This diocese recognised that if this was to become a reality, then this would require a process of formation and education.

To date ninety-two students have taken part in the programme, forty-one of whom have graduated with a Degree in Theology.  The remaining students have achieved certificate or diploma level.  The external examiner described the modules delivered in this academic year as “impressive, demonstrating high quality standards and outputs, and consistently impressive student results.”  

Many of these students are involved at Parish level in Pastoral Councils and other parish activities, such as establishing bible study groups, organising Ministers of the Word and of the Eucharist, and setting up children’s liturgies.  One student became the laity coordinator for the SMA order based in Dromantine.  Other students have been involved in the Diocesan Pastoral Council, and another is currently working as a pastoral worker.  Each in their own way are a reflection of the Diocese’s commitment to co-responsibility in the mission of the Church.

Students will be graduating this year and applications for this years intake are invited.  This programme is an important element of the formation and development of pastoral life in the Archdiocese and graduates from this programme are a valuable resource for our parishes and pastoral areas.

Should you wish to enquire about this programme please contact Milanda via the email below 

Milanda Kelly  [email protected] 

Year of Reflection and Prayer to close with ‘Lets Talk Family’ Sessions

The Diocesan Pastoral Team is closing out the ‘Year of Reflection and Prayer’ in the diocese with four sessions of the “Let’s Talk Family” programme via Zoom over four weeks in June and early July. The programme was very successfully run in the diocese in 2018 in the lead up to the ‘World Meeting of Families’ in Dublin. It is an opportunity to reflect and share on family life in these challenging times.

The themes, dates, and times for the four sessions are as follows:

Session 1:  ‘God’s Dream for Love’ – Mon. 14th June 7pm – 8.30pm

Session 2:  ‘Married Love Growing to Maturity’ – Mon. 21st June 7pm – 8.30pm

Session 3: ‘God’s Mercy No one Excluded’ – Mon. 28th June 7pm – 8.30pm

Session 4:  ‘A Gospel of Hope for our Families’ – Mon. 5th July 7pm – 8.30pm

The Programme is free to all participants. Registration is essential and places are limited. Participants are required to provide a valid email address for the zoom link. To register contact Milanda at: [email protected]. The closing date for registration is Wednesday 9th June.

Ordination to the Priesthood of Callum Douglas Young and Juan Jesus Gonzalez Borrallo

Archbishop Eamon Martin will ordain Callum Douglas Young and Juan Jesus Gonzalez Borrallo as priests for the Archdiocese of Armagh on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul Apostles in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral – Armagh on the 29^th June 2021.

Callum was born in London in 1991. He is the eldest child of  Neil and Bernadette Young. He has five younger brothers and sisters. He began his formation for the priesthood in the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Dundalk in the year 2012.

As part of his formation, he spent some time in the Holy Land, UAE and Bahrain. Over the years, Callum has been on pastoral placement in the parishes of Cookstown, Coalisland and Newry.

He was ordained deacon on 28^th August 2020 and has been ministering in Newry Parish since October 2020.

Juan Jesus was born in 1991. He comes from El Repilado (Spain). He is the first child of Jose Antonio and Maria de las Nieves. He has three younger siblings. He started his formation to the priesthood in the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Dundalk in the year 2013.

Juan Jesus has done pastoral placements in the parishes of Dungannon and Newry Cathedral. As part of his formation in the Seminary, he has been in mission in the Holy Land, Mozambique and Argentina.

He was ordained deacon on 28^th August 2020 and has been ministering in Moyraverty Parish since October 2020.

World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests

The World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests takes place annually on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which this year falls on 11 June.  On that morning I will take part in the Worldpriest Global Rosary Relay by reciting the Glorious Mysteries at 8.30 am over the webcam in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, after the 8.00 am Mass. You may wish to share the attached poster of the event on social media platforms.

Pope Francis has given his Apostolic Blessing to this global event and has sent a message of appreciation to priests and commends them and all those praying for priests that day to the loving intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Please set aside time on 11 June to pray for yourselves and your brother priests.

To access a PDF copy of Pope Benedict’s Prayer for Priests click here.

Trócaire’s Prayer and Petition for Gaza

We are all aware of the scale of the emergency in Gaza:  to date, 217 Palestinians have lost their lives along with 63 children and 1500 people are injured.  This devastating situation must end. 

Trócaire is meeting with the Irish Government tomorrow about the crisis. You might like to sign their online petition, and share widely – https://www.trocaire.org/gaza-in-crisis/

Here is an article written by one of  Trócaire’s partners in Gaza, Dr. Yasser Abu Jamei who leads the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme – https://www.trocaire.org/news/this-must-end/

Prayer Vigil for Gaza in your home

The nights are the hardest in Gaza due to the bombardments.  It is dark and people are scared, hungry, and cold.  As we look on with pain in our hearts, it is all too easy to feel hopeless, so we are inviting you to join us in offering light in the dark, to create connection, solidarity, and support for the people of Gaza. 

Our hope is to have a candle burning throughout the nights of this week from 8 pm to 8 am (10 to 10 in Gaza) and to virtually pass this on hour-to-hour to another home, connecting our homes with the people living in homes in Gaza. 

 How to participate

Light a candle and hold space in any way that feels right for you, for an hour this week. You may sit in quiet reflection, play some gentle music, read a little about the Palestinian people and their plight for justice, draw, write, pray, meditate. There is no right or wrong way, simply the intentional moving into connectedness with people in Gaza.

If you would like to share an image from your space  or a message of support, we will collate these at the end of the week and share them with our colleagues and friends in Gaza, and with all of us who are offering solidarity and support. 

If you can offer some time, please email Janet Twomey, Trócaire [email protected] and let her know the night and time that suits you.

 Thank you for your continued support and prayers for the people of Palestine.

Archdiocese of Armagh, Virtual Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2021

The Covid 19 pandemic has meant that we are again unable to travel to Lourdes as an Archdiocese in 2021.  The annual pilgrimage to Lourdes is a point in the Archdiocesan year that many look forward to and so Fr Mark, Fr Michael and the Lourdes Pilgrimage committee has developed a Virtual Pilgrimage that will again be available online.  

You can access each of the Pilgrimage Masses, Holy Hours, Rosaries etc in this years programme by clicking any of the images or links below:

Virtual Pilgrimage Programme

Pilgrimage Schedule

Friday 7th May 2021

12 Noon: Words of Welcome and Mass from St. Brigid’s Shrine and Church Faughart

5pm: Rosary lead by Dr Sean McNichol, Pilgrimage Medical Director

Saturday 8th May 2021​

12 Noon: Mass of St. Bernadette, celebrated by Fr. Gerry Tremer, Cullyhanna

5pm: Rosary lead by Ann Forbes, Head of Nursing.

7pm: Torchlight Procession from St. Patrick’s Cathedral Armagh

Sunday 9th May 2021

12 Noon: Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael Router from Holy Redeemer Church, Dundalk

5pm: Rosary lead by Cora Muckian, Head Handmaid

7pm:  Holy Hour, Fr John Gates, Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Magherafelt​​

Monday 10th May 2021

12 Noon: Healing Mass, Fr. Barry Matthews from Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Drogheda

5pm:  Rosary led by Head Brancardier Gabriel McGuigan

7pm: Outdoor Stations of the Cross led by Fr Garrett Campbell, Our Lady’s Grotto Maghery

Tuesday 11th May 2021

12 Noon:  Mass of the Holy Rosary celebrated by Dean Kevin Donaghy, Dungannon

5pm: Rosary lead by Joe McCrystal, Central Council Secretary

7pm: Eucharistic Procession lead by Fr Aidan McCann, Keady.​

Wednesday 12 May 2021

5pm: Rosary lead by Gerry Woods Central Council Treasurer

7.30pm: Mass from St. Patrick’s Cathedral Armagh celebrated by Archbishop Eamon Martin 

8.15pm: Closing words from Fr Mark O’Hagan​

All Masses during our Virtual Pilgrimage will be offered up for those who have travelled to Lourdes with the Diocesan Pilgrimage throughout the years and for all our deceased pilgrims and volunteers.

A dedicated email account has been set up if anyone wishes to send in petitions which will then be printed off and placed in front of the Altar during the pilgrimage. The address is [email protected]

 Please note this account will be deleted after the 12th May 2021

Heartfelt hanks are extended to @www.stillpoint.photo for images used throughout the Virtual Pilgrimage videos.

Meeting Between Archbishop Eamon Martin and Minister Stephen Donnelly

Following contact from Minister Donnelly’s office today, Archbishop Eamon Martin had a meeting with the Minister this afternoon to discuss concerns that have arisen following the publication on Friday of SI 171/2021. Minister Donnelly was joined at the meeting by Dr Colette Bonner from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer. 

Archbishop Eamon Martin explained the deep concerns already expressed with regard to the criminalising of leading, and gathering for, public worship at this time in Ireland despite the consistent support from the Churches for public health messaging since the beginning of the pandemic.  He reiterated the Church’s support for the protection of health, life and for the Common Good and he emphasised the importance of respecting and sustaining people’s spiritual well-being alongside their physical and mental health. For people of faith, he added, this is deemed essential.

The Archbishop emphasised that the vital pastoral work of priests and other ministers on the ground should also be respected and deemed essential, rather than subject to penal sanction. Ministers of religion are often on the front line supporting the sick, the bereaved, the isolated and those who are struggling to cope. Pastoral ministry and spiritual support, which are so important for people during the time of pandemic, ought not to be confined to a small number of legally acceptable and “regulated activities”.

Archbishop Eamon Martin stressed the importance of regular and meaningful conversation and consultation between Church, State and public health advisers to ensure that there is mutual understanding and positive cooperation in supporting life and health during times like the Covid-19 crisis.

The Minister outlined that the Statutory Instrument was not intended to single out worship but was designed to regulate indoor and outdoor gatherings that might pose a risk. He said that religious worship and spiritual well-being were taken very seriously by government and consideration would be given to early re-opening of public worship in accordance with public health advice in the coming weeks.

The Archbishop said that he will meet with the other Archbishops to brief them on this exchange. Meanwhile the Church was seeking clarification and legal advice regarding the extent and implications of the Statutory Instrument.

+  Archbishop Eamon Martin

Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.