Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland has invited people to share with him the names and work of individuals who put the corporal and spiritual works of mercy into practice in their daily lives so as they can be remembered in a special #BeMercy Mass of Thanksgiving which he will celebrate on 24 September.

Archbishop Eamon was speaking last night in Saint Malachy’s Church, Armagh, at a Mass of Thanksgiving for the canonisation of Saint Teresa of Calcuttal. In his homily Archbishop Eamon said, “The canonisation  of Saint Teresa of Calcutta challenges us all to #BeMercy and also to give thanks for those who live the works of mercy as she did.  In the coming three weeks I invite you to pray with me in thanksgiving for people you know who put the corporal and spiritual works of mercy into practice in their daily lives.  It may be someone very close to you, your granny or carer or neighbour who quietly cares for a sick or anxious person you know.  It may be a nurse, doctor or teacher who goes beyond the call of duty to reach out to someone who would otherwise be forgotten.  Perhaps you know a group like Alcoholics Anonymous or Saint Vincent de Paul Society whom you have experienced making a real difference to those who are in particular need of encouragement or help.  On the evening of 24 September, the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy, I will offer a #BeMercy Mass of Thanksgiving in the Cathedral for all those in our diocese and beyond who like Mother Teresa ‘do something beautiful for God’.  These are the people who today allow themselves to be the pencils through which God writes mercy in the world.  They are privileged to see the face of Jesus in those to whom they minister.  Please share with me by letter, email, or on social media using the hashtag  #BeMercyIreland or the dedicated Facebook page ‘Be Mercy Ireland’ and the Instagram pagewww.instagram.com/BeMercyIreland, the names and work of those individuals or groups you would like to be remembered at that Mass of Thanksgiving.”

Archbishop Eamon said, “A key theme of Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year of Mercy has been his call on all of us to ‘be merciful’, as God, our Heavenly Father, is merciful.  We all know people who are inspired by the life and teaching of Jesus to do corporal and spiritual works of mercy in the world today – who reach out to relieve poverty, hunger and homelessness; who bring the joy of the Gospel into our world and invite others in turn to come to know Jesus in their lives.

“The corporal and spiritual works of mercy are set out in that challenging reading from Matthew’s gospel which ends with words of Jesus that were at the heart of the mission of Saint Teresa of Calcutta: ‘as often as you did it to the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me’.  I am grateful to have met many good and saintly people who ‘do mercy’.  No doubt you too can think of women and men who care for the sick and suffering in our community, who feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger – and often do so quietly behind the scenes, without seeking any recognition or reward.”

Speaking about the canonisation of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, the Archbishop said, “In the canonisation of Mother Teresa, the Church is offering us a modern day ‘model of holiness’ or ‘icon of mercy’ – someone we can look to as an example and an encouragement for ourselves to ‘do mercy’, to ‘be mercy’, especially for those who are most rejected or forgotten in our world.

“For me there are three particular ways in which Mother Teresa illustrates how to #BeMercy in today’s world.

“Firstly, she was inspired to ‘do something beautiful for God’.  I do it for Him, she often said.  Being merciful begins with a desire to be a better person and to offer our gifts and talents to God who loved us first.

“Secondly, Mother Teresa opened herself up completely to what God wanted of her.  In fact she once made a vow never to refuse God anything that God wanted of her.  She simply wanted to be ‘like a little pencil in God’s hands’ and allow God to ‘write mercy’ into the world through her.  Being merciful is about allowing God to work his miracle of mercy through us, about not getting in the way of what God wants of us, but being open to letting God use us as God’s instruments of love, peace, goodness, generosity, forgiveness, encouragement to others.

“Thirdly, Mother Teresa was able to ‘see the face of Jesus’ in those to whom she brought God’s love and mercy.  She saw the face of Jesus in the poorest of the poor, those with AIDS, those with terrible disfigurements and disease, those abandoned and dying on the streets from malnutrition.  She once said, “When I wash the face of lepers, I am washing the face of Jesus himself”.  It did not matter to her if the person in need was Catholic or other Christian or Hindu or Muslim.  For her Calcutta was everywhere – she even joked that if there are poor people on the moon, ‘we will go to the moon too’!  She teaches us that when we ‘do mercy’ it opens up for us a window through which we can see the face of Christ in all those who suffer in the world.”

Archbishop Eamon said that he is very grateful to the sisters of Saint Teresa’s congregation, the Missionaries of Charity, who have lived and worked among the people in Armagh since 14 June 1996 when Mother and her sisters arrived from Dublin to set up home at 17 Arthur’s Villas, Armagh. The sisters stayed at Arthur’s Villas until 2 May 1999 before moving to Cathedral Road where they had established a convent and a hostel for women suffering from alcohol addiction.  After a couple of years the hostel became a men’s hostel, not only offering refuge from alcoholism but also from drug addiction and homelessness.  The sisters have become a familiar sight on the streets of Armagh, praying the Rosary for the intentions of those who ask for their prayers.  Today they spend much of their time visiting the sick and the elderly here in Armagh, praying with them and for them.

Archbishop Eamon said, “Saint Teresa’s sisters also provide faith development programmes and Catechism classes for children and adults in our community.  Just a few weeks ago I was delighted to join the leaders of their summer scheme for local children in which they are greatly helped by students who travel here each summer from Malta.

“Following Saint Teresa’s example and devotion to the Blessed Eucharist, the sisters here in Armagh encourage people to come and spend some quiet time in prayer at the convent chapel where they have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament two evenings a week.  Above all, in response to the Gospel, the sisters “make hospitality their constant care”.  In the hostel they are greatly helped by some local ‘co-workers’ from the Armagh region who volunteer to come and stay overnight and offer care and support to those staying at the hostel.  I am very grateful to the team of lay men and women in this parish who assist the sisters in their valuable work of mercy and I encourage any of you who would like to volunteer your time and gifts to help the sisters to make contact with them.

Concluding his homily, Archbishop Eamon said, “For reflection I offer you the concluding words of Pope Francis at yesterday’s canonisation of Mother Teresa.  He said:

“Her mission to the urban and existential peripheries remains for us today an eloquent witness to God’s closeness to the poorest of the poor.  Today, I pass on this emblematic figure of womanhood and of consecrated life to the whole world of volunteers: may she be your model of holiness!  May this tireless worker of mercy help us to increasingly understand that our only criterion for action is gratuitous love, free from every ideology and all obligations, offered freely to everyone without distinction of language, culture, race or religion.  Mother Teresa loved to say, ‘Perhaps I don’t speak their language, but I can smile’.  Let us carry her smile in our hearts and give it to those whom we meet along our journey, especially those who suffer.  In this way, we will open up opportunities of joy and hope for our many brothers and sisters who are discouraged and who stand in need of understanding and tenderness”.

You can share your names and nominations for the #BeMercyIreland initiative using the following social media channels and hashtag:

Twitter: @ArchbishopEamon; @CatholicBishops; #BeMercyIreland

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bemercyireland/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BeMercyIreland/

Olivia Mary Taaffe, founder of St Joseph¹s Young Priests Society, spent nearly a third of her long life in County Louth and is buried alongside her husband and only son at the graveyard at St Catherine’s Church, Ballapousta, Ardee.

Olivia Mary Taaffe had a life-long devotion to St Joseph and for many years prior to the formation of St Joseph’s Young Priests Society in 1895.

Part of the Society’s mission is to assist in the education of young priests and to that end publishes a newsletter called St Joseph’s Sheaf.  In an early edition of her newsletter Olivia Mary Taaffe published an appeal seeking financial support for a young man whose parents could not afford to educate him for the priesthood. From this the society was born and continues to flourish to this day.

The organization owes much to an unlikely driving force, a 19th century well-to-do Irishwoman who overcame her own setbacks in life to use her privileged upbringing in the service of those less fortunate than herself.

A special Mass to honour our foundress Olivia Mary Taaffe will take place in the Church of St Catherine, Ballapousta, Ardee on Sunday 2^nd October 2016 at 3pm and the Main Celebrant and Homilist will be Rev Fr Damien Quigley.

Fr Damien from Holy Redeemer Parish Dundalk was ordained a Priest of the Archdiocese of Armagh at the end of June this year.

Parishioners from all parishes of the Diocese are welcome to join us on the day and find out more about our Society.

We are looking parishioners in all our parishes to help us continue the work started by Olivia Mary Taaffe and we are always looking for new members.

Like to find out more about the Society in the Archdiocese of Armagh or interested in creating a branch contact [email protected]

Canonization of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Pope Francis will declare Blessed Teresa of Calcutta a saint at the Vatican on Sunday 4^th September. Mother Teresa was widely known as a living saint as she ministered to the sick and dying in some of the poorest neighbourhoods of the world. Her simple service touched the hearts of millions of people of all faiths. Born to an ethnic Albanian family in Skopje, in what is now part of Macedonia, she went to India in 1929 as a Sister of Loreto and became an Indian citizen in 1947. She founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. Shortly after she died in 1997, St John Paul II waived the usual five-year waiting period and allowed the opening of the process to declare her sainthood. She was beatified in 2003. The date chosen for her canonization is the eve of the 19^th anniversary of her death and the date previously established at the Vatican for the conclusion of the Year of Mercy pilgrimage of people like her who are engaged in works of mercy. Mother Teresa once wrote “If I ever become a saint – I will surely be one of darkness – I will continually be absent from Heaven – to light the light of those in darkness on earth”.

Quotations from Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

“By blood I am Albanian, by citizenship, an Indian, by faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the heart of Jesus”.

“Spread love everywhere you go and let no one ever come to you without leaving much happier”.

“Love begins at home and it’s not how much we do that matters but rather, it’s how much love we put into the action that matters most”.

“Love begins by taking care of those who are closest to us and those who are at home”.

A special Mass of Thanksgiving to celebrate the Canonization of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta in St Malachy’s Church, Armagh on Monday 5 September at 7.30pm. The main celebrant will be Archbishop Eamon Martin and all are welcome.

The Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, announces the following clergy appointments, effective 3 September 2016.

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

Rt Rev. Mgr Christopher O’Byrne, PE, AP, Magherafelt, to retire and to be Priest-in-Residence, Magherafelt.

V Rev Sean F Quinn, PP, Louth, to retire and to be Priest-in-Residence, Tallanstown.

Rev Thomas McNulty, CC, Cooley, retired on 12 May 2016, to be Priest-in-Residence, Cooley.

Rev Fergus Breslan, CC, Middle Killeavy, to become Assistant Pastor St Patrick’s, Dundalk (part-time), and Diocesan Liaison Priest with Redemptoris Mater House of Formation, Dundalk, / Neocatechumenal Way in the Archdiocese.

V Rev Peter Kerr, PP, Killcluney (Ballymacnab, Clady & Granemore), following a period of sabbatical leave, to be PE, AP, Cathedral Parish, Armagh (effective from First Sunday of Advent.)

V Rev Gerard McGinnity, PP, Knockbridge, retired on 30 May 2016.

Rev John McGoldrick, returning from sabbatical leave, to be CC, Aughnacloy (Aghaloo & Carnteel), residing in Caledon and to act as Adm Aughnacloy (Aghaloo & Carnteel) pro-tem.

Rev Sean McArdle, SM, to be PP, Louth.

Rev Kevin Donaghy, retiring as Principal of St Patrick’s Grammar School, Armagh, to take a period of sabbatical leave.

Rev Desmond Branigan, CC, St Patrick’s, Dundalk, to be CC, Magherafelt.

V Rev Gerard Campbell, PP, EV, Kilkerley, also to be PP, Knockbridge.

V Rev Joseph McKeever, PP, Crossmaglen, to retire on medical grounds (effective 30 September 2016.)

Rev Gregory Carvill, Adm, Aughnacloy (Aghaloo & Carnteel), to be PP, Kilcluney (Ballymacnab, Clady & Granemore).

Rev Patrick Rushe, VF, in addition to chaplaincy duties, to be part-time CC, Kilkerley, and Diocesan Education Secretary (Co Louth).

Rev Neil O’Donoghue, CC, Holy Redeemer, Dundalk (part-time), to be full-time Vice-Rector of the Redemptoris Mater House of Formation, Dundalk.  Fr Neil will assist with the parish of Crossmaglen (Creggan Upper) until January 2017.

Rev. Brian White, CC, Hagardstown and Blackrock, also to be Director of the Permanent Diaconate, Archdiocese of Armagh.

Rev Liam McKinney, CC, VF, Crossmaglen (Creggan Upper,) to act as Adm, Crossmaglen (Creggan Upper) until appointment of a new Parish Priest in January 2017 (effective 30 September 2016.)

Rev. Thomas McHugh, CC, Armagh, also to be Chairperson, Armagh Diocesan Youth Commission.

Rev Sean McGuigan, CC Cookstown (Desertcreight & Derryloran), to be CC Holy Redeemer, Dundalk, and to offer support in the Armagh Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Dundalk.

Rev Damien Quigley, newly ordained, to be CC, Middle Killeavy, and a member of the Chaplaincy Team to Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry.  He will also become a member of the Diocesan Vocations Commission.

29 July 2016

Fr Damien Quigley was ordained in Holy Redeemeer Church, Dundalk on Sunday 26th June. The new priest was ordained by Archbishop Eamon Martin. Fr Damien is the son of Thomas and Pacella Qugley from Holy Redeemer Parish, Dundalk and he is the youngest of a family of four. He’s a past pupil of Redeemer Boys’ Primary School and Colaiste Ris Secondary School in Dundalk. After leaving school, he studied at Dundalk Regional College and later in Queens University, Belfast. In 1998, he joined Tesco Ireland and he worked there until entering St Patrick’s College, Maynooth in 2010. He was ordained deacon for the Archdiocese of Armagh last year and he has ministered as a deacon for the past year in the parish of Magherafelt, Co Derry.
Many priests from across the Archdiocese of Armagh were present at the Ordination ceremony last Sunday as well as many of the new priests classmates from his years in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. Cardinal Sean Brady was also in attendance for the special celebration. We wish Fr Damien many long and fruitful years in his priestly ministry.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral Parish is pleased to announce that it has been successful in being awarded a substantial roof repair grant from the Listed Places of Worship Fund, supported by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport/National Heritage Memorial Fund.

The grant will be used to address urgent roof repairs to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the near future.  On being granted the award Rev. Peter McAnenly, Adminstrator of St. Patrick’s Cathedral Parish said

“ This is wonderful news for our Cathedral and I am very grateful to the awarding body to receive this news.  The money will be well spent as we seek to address essential repairs at this time”.

On Monday evening, many people gathered in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh for a time of prayer, to remember those affected by the recent massacre in Orlando, Florida. The Prayer Vigil was led by Archbishop Eamon Martin and during the service, people had an opportunity to sign A Book of Condolences, to express their solidarity and support for the people of Orlando. People travelled from many parishes for the special service and Mr Gareth Keating, Mayor of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council was also in attendance. People may continue to sing the Book of Condolences in the Cathedral over the coming days.

Pictures taken at a special evening of conversation on vocations in the Archdiocese of Armagh. The evening which took place in the Synod Hall was facilitated by Mrs Dympna Mallon.

Pictures taken on wednesday at the launch of St Josephs young priests new promotional materials in Portadown. Well done to Eva Sousa who designed the new logo & also Courtney Castles who was runner up in the competition!