Towards Peace is a new spiritual support service designed for those who have experienced sexual, physical, emotional or spiritual abuse by Catholic Church personnel in Ireland.  Support is also available for family members of abuse survivors.  The vision of Towards Peace is to provide a safe supportive space, where people who have been affected by abuse in a Church context can be accompanied as they seek their own experience of spiritual peace, one step at a time.  Towards Peace provides spiritual support through one-to-one spiritual direction sessions, with a qualified spiritual companion.  Up to nine sessions are offered and there is no cost.  For more information, please visit www.towardspeace.ie, phone 01 505 3028 or email [email protected].

Towards Peace Newsletter_September2015

Towards-Peace-Leaflet-Sept-2015

An Timire

Timire an Chroí Ró-Naofa or an Timire as it is better known is the longest running  Irish Language magazine in the world, in print since 1911 and now available through the web. It comes out 4 times per year, Spring Summer Autumn and Winter. The anchor articles offer reflections on the intentions of Pope Francis for the coming 3 months. Each issue contains a variety of other articles in social, cultural and spirituality areas that would be of interest to our Catholic Christian readers.

From the Pope’s Intention October’15 :

Sclábhaíocht an lae Inniú

Thart timpeall an domhain inniu, tá thart fá 21 milliún duine ina n-íospartaigh de dheasca oibre éigeantais  – 11.4 milliún ban is cailíní agus 9.5 milliún fear is buachaillí.   Tarlaíonn obair éigeantais go mór mór sa tionscal talmhaíochta, in obair tí, sa tionscal miondíola, i gcúrsaí loingseoireachta agus sa tionscal siamsaíochta. Tá oibrithe imirceacha go mór i mbaol. Brabús a dhéanamh an phríomhchúis leis an tionscal seo agus gintear US$ 150 billiún go mí-dhleathach ar an mbealach seo in aghaidh na bliana. …. 

An Comhthéacs Éireannach

In Éirinn tá diandlíthe ann chun obair éigeantais a ionchúiseamh ach tá ag teip orainn íospartaigh den choireacht ghráinniúil seo a aithint is a chosaint.

What’s happening in our World

There are 21 million people today who suffer a modern form of slavery; 11.4 million women and girls and 9.5 million men and boys. Slavery and forced labour happens in the agriculture industry, in the retail sector, in the domestic sector in the seafaring and entertainment industries. Migrants are especially vulnerable. Profit is the main incentive for this exploitation which is estimated to earn US$ 150 Million each year for those who exploit vulnerable others. Léigh leat / read more…

Link: www.timire.ie

Sclábhaíocht an lae inniu.

Grainne O’ Toole

Thart timpeall an domhain inniu, tá thart fá 21 milliún duine ina n-íospartaigh de dheasca oibre éigeantais  – 11.4 milliún ban is cailíní agus 9.5 milliún fear is buachaillí.   Tarlaíonn obair éigeantais go mór mór sa tionscal talmhaíochta, in obair tí, sa tionscal miondíola, i gcúrsaí loingseoireachta agus sa tionscal siamsaíochta. Tá oibrithe imirceacha go mór i mbaol. Brabús a dhéanamh an phríomhchúis leis an tionscal seo agus gintear US$ 150 billiún go mí-dhleathach ar an mbealach seo in aghaidh na bliana. (Foinse: International Labour Organisation).

In Éirinn tá diandlíthe ann chun obair éigeantais a ionchúiseamh ach tá ag teip orainn íospartaigh den choireacht ghráinniúil seo a aithint is a chosaint. Sa bhliain 2006 d’aithin Lárionad um Chearta Imirceach Éire (MRCI – Migrant Rights Centre Ireland) fadhb na hoibre éigeantais nó sclábhaíocht i gcúrsaí obair tí, tógála, miondíola, cúraim, talmhaíochta, iascaigh agus bialainne.  Tharla go raibh oibrithe coinnithe san ionad oibre ag maireachtáil faoi choinníollacha uafásacha, pá dóibh diúltaithe, an ceart dá gcuid doiciméad aitheantais bainte díobh agus bagairtí orthu. Bhí eagla an domhain ar go leor acu roimh a bhfostóirí. D’inis bean amháin do MRCI gurbh fhearr léi an bás ná lá eile a chaitheamh in dteach a fostóra. Chabhraigh MCRI le 220  imirceach a d’fhulaing tríd an obair éigeantais le seacht mbliana anuas, éalú óna bhfulaingt agus bogadh ar aghaidh lena saol. Is turas fada dian do na híospartaigh seo a mbealach a bhaint amach arís sa saol.

Cé go bhfuil ag éirí leis an MRCI go pointe áirithe faire amach do na hinimircigh atá in Éirinn faoi láthair, tá bóthar sách fada le taisteal fós chun a chinntiú go bhfuil éifeacht ag dul leis na bearta i gcoinne na hoibre éigeantais. Níl aon scéim éifeachtach ann a bhfuil sé mar bhua aici coimirce shásúil a chur ar fáil do na híospartaigh sa gcomhthéacs seo. Go fíormhinic, níl na Gardaí in ann a rá cé hiad na daoine atá thíos leis an obair éigeantais agus dá bharr seo níl na hoibrithe iad féin in ann rochtain a fháil ar na seirbhísí cuí, ar nós tithíochta, stádas inimircigh agus cúnamh ó chomhairleoirí profisiúnta.Tá chuile rud níos measa toisc go bhfuil cor nua sa scéal, is é sin an gáinneáil atá á déanamh ag buíonta coiriúla. Tá an MRCI théis a fháil amach go bhfuil obair éigeantais ann maidir le táirgeadh an channabais in Éirinn. Déantar inimircigh a earcú chun plandaí cannabais a fhás. Cuid acu tá siad faoi ghlas i staid suarach taobh istigh de thithe speisialta a bhfuil sé mar aidhm acu na plandaí a fhás. Nuair a théann na Gardaí isteach sna tithe seo, déantar na hoibrithe ann a ghabháil agus cuirtear coireanna ina leith agus go minic gabhtar téarmaí príosúnachta orthu. Chun a dhul i ngleic leis an gcor nua seo, tá an MRCI ag tabhairt cúnamh do na híospartaigh sa gcaoi gur féidir leo an obair éigeantais a lua mar chosaint, ina trialacha coiriúla. Sa gcomthéacs seo i mí an Mhárta, 2015 éigiontaíodh beirt fhear a luaigh an obair éigeantais mar chosaint ina dtrialacha.

I mí Aibreáin, 2015, rinne Ardchúirt na hÉireann breithiúnas an-tábhachtach go deo nuair a rialaigh sé go raibh teipthe ag an stát bearta a chur i gcrích chun daoine a bhí thíos leis an obair éigeantais a chaomhnú, go háirithe i gcásanna go raibh gáinneáil choiriúil i gceist. Ba é an ní a rialaíodh ná go raibh rialtas na hÉireann ag sárú dlíthe na hEorpa. Ní mór dul i ngleic leis an bhfadhb seo láithreach bonn agus ba chóir córas a chur ar an bhfód chun cabhrú le daoine ar mian leo éalú ó phríosún na hoibre éigeantais. Sa gcaoi seo is féidir leis na daoine seo a gcearta daonna agus a ndínit a fháil ar ais. Amach anseo beidh an MRCI ag stocaireacht le daoine atá buailte síos ag an obair éigeantais chun a chinntiú go mbeidh córas cuimsitheach ann chun coimirce a chur ar fáil do gach éinne a bhfuil sé ag teastáil uaidh. Ina theannta seo, beidh an rialtas ag obair ar Phlean Náisiúnta Gníomhaíochta chun a dhul i ngleic leis an ngáinneáil. Is deis fíor-thábhachtach í seo chun na hathruithe is gá a dhéanamh. Má tá tuilleadh eolais ag teastáil uait ar an ábhar seo, déan teagmháil le do thoil le Gráinne O, Toole, MRCI; ríomhphost: [email protected]

Is oibrí í an t-údar le Lárionad um Chearta Imirceach Éire (MRCI – Migrant Rights Centre Ireland)

INTINN UILECHOITEANN DO MHÍ DHEIREADH FÓMHAIR 2015

Gáinneáil ar dhaoine: Go gcuirtear deireadh le gáinneáil ar dhaoine, sclábhaíocht an lae inniu.

Universal: Human trafficking 

That human trafficking, the modern form of slavery, may be eradicated. 

English poster

Magazine

World Mission Sunday takes place on the second last Sunday of October each year. Since 1926, the Church has traditionally remembered its universal mission during the month of October. This year Mission Sunday will be celebrated globally on the 18th October 2015.

Throughout the world the faithful will reflect on the universal call to Mission of all the baptized. They will be invited to contribute what they can to support the development and growth of young churches internationally. Mission Sunday is celebrated by every Church worldwide, including the poorest. This special Sunday in October provides Catholics with the opportunity to unite with their missionary sisters and brothers overseas, and to recommit themselves to bringing the Joy of the Gospel to everyone they meet in their daily lives at home and at work.

In October and especially on Mission Sunday Catholics are invited to be specifically conscious of the Church’s missionary activity abroad (ad gentes) through prayer, sacrifice and financial contributions. The funds collected in all Churches throughout the world on Mission Sunday, is coordinated by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, founded by Pauline Jaricot 190 years ago. The funds are used to assist Churches who need financial support and directed towards communities in need, both spiritually and materially.

In October 2014, Irish Catholics contributed more than €1.78 million on Mission Sunday. The Mission Sunday collection is made available to be distributed to as many as 1,100 young Churches who are supported by the generosity of Churches that have been blessed with a greater quantity of financial and material gifts. Our Mission Sunday figures for October 2014 are available to view in the Mission Sunday magazine.

Contributions will be used to build simple mission churches, to educate seminarians as well as female religious novices. Your support also assists in the formation of catechists and lay leaders. The Mission Sunday gift may also be used for building health facilities for children and adults as well as for providing emergency aid in times of war or natural disaster or to assist missionaries in their efforts to care for refugees.

The theme for Mission Sunday 2015 is ‘Abundant Life’.

On Mission Sunday, in a special way, we celebrate the work circa 1,300 Irish born missionaries and all missionaries throughout the world. We thank God for them, for all who support them in our own country and during mission month we unite ourselves in prayer with them and with the communities with whom they work.

“We encourage the faithful in our countries to keep the Christian people of the Holy Land in their prayers and also support them through charitable outreach from parishes as pilgrims to the Holy Places. Pilgrimages are visible and concrete ways of showing solidarity and harmony with the Christian people of the land in which Jesus himself lived” – Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Eamon Martin

Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Eamon Martin, presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences of England & Wales, and of Ireland, have called for solidarity with, and prayer for the Christian communities who live in the Holy Land.  The Cardinal and Archbishop were returning from the Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) which had been meeting in Galilee and Jerusalem at the invitation of His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The European bishops visited the Christian communities in Nazareth, Mil’ya (a town near the Israeli-Lebanese border) and Bethlehem, to hear first-hand the experiences, joys and sufferings of Christian families living there.  They also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (see picture below) and Israeli President Dr Reuven Rivlin.

Cardinal Nichols and Archbishop Martin said they were deeply moved by their encounters with Christians in both Israel and Palestine and they both undertook to bring back to their faithful in England, Wales and Ireland the heartfelt wishes of Christians in the Holy Land to live in peace with a sustained hope for safety and a realistic long- term future for their families and children.

They said: “We came as pilgrims to some of the most sacred places for Christianity. We wanted to express our closeness and concern for the communities who live there and to pray with them and for them.  We were met by Christian communities who have a deep love and attachment to the homes and towns in which they and their ancestors have been living for many centuries.  The Christian qualities of charity, hospitality, faith and hope shone out on the faces of the people, young and old.  They yearn for peace and the stability of knowing that their property and livelihoods will be protected.  In Nazareth and Mil’ya we were overwhelmed by the youthful dynamism of their faith which was evident in their prayers and singing. In Beit-Jala, at the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation, which specialises in care for disabled people, we witnessed first-hand the healing outreach of Christian people who seek to build bridges through health and education.  However at times we also sensed the isolation that Christian communities are experiencing – their fear of being neglected or even forgotten by their brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. We heard accounts of so many families who have already left because of fear or lack of confidence in a prosperous future for their children and grandchildren.

“Among the causes of concern we heard is the situation of the Christian schools in Israel which are facing a real crisis. At Nazareth young people, teachers, parents and pastors spoke to us of their struggle to keep their Christian schools open because of being faced with impossible cuts to the state grant. They have been ‘on strike’ since 1 September and the children have not been having any lessons. The sustainability of their schools is critical to the well-being, identity and confidence of these Christian communities. We communicated these concerns to President Rivlin when we met him.  We also heard from the Latin Patriarch about the widespread dismay and exasperation at the continuing construction of the wall in the Cremisan Valley on the border between Israel and the West Bank. Fifty-eight Christian families will be separated from their lands and their means of livelihood.

“It is important for all of us in Ireland, England and Wales to be fully aware and supportive of our brothers and sisters who live with such fear and uncertainty.  We also have to recognise the threats faced by the State of Israel and the fear that is constantly in the minds of its people. The Christian communities, which were the special focus of our visit, are a tremendous resource for the future of the Holy Land.  Their communities are vibrant, their schools are among the top-performing in the area.

“Both President Abbas and President Rivlin expressed their appreciation for the initiative and closeness of Pope Francis in their efforts to build peace.  We were heartened to hear them both speak to us of their desires for peace. We hope that they will redouble their efforts to find a solution to the problems in the region that fully respects the right of all its peoples, Jewish, Christian and Muslim, to live together in peace.

“For our part we encourage the faithful in our countries to keep the Christian people of the Holy Land in their prayers and also support them through charitable outreach from parishes as pilgrims to the Holy Places.  Pilgrimages are visible and concrete ways of showing solidarity and harmony with the Christian people of the land in which Jesus Himself lived.”

Cardinal Vincent Nichols

Archbishop of Westminster

President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

Archbishop Eamon Martin

Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland

President of the Irish Episcopal Conference

Armagh Diocesan Youth Commission (ADYC) is bringing 100 pilgrims to WYD Krakow 2016. We feel that this is a wonderful faith development project to enable young people to celebrate and experience the joy of the Gospel.

The purpose of this evening is to bring more awareness of our plans for the pilgrimage and to help pilgrims confirm their places.

Find out more information at our diocesan website:
http://www.armagharchdiocese.org/wyd2016/

Click here to complete our FORM and register for World Youth Day with the Armagh Archdiocese.

If you rather print out and post the form to our diocesan offices, you can find the form here: WORLD YOUTH DAY 2016

We hope that all recruitment for pilgrimage will be completed by end of Autumn 2015. After this ADYC aims to journey with young people & leaders by providing a six month preparation programme that will involve; catechesis, fun and friendship.

The Archdiocese of Armagh is sad to announce the death on Saturday, 12 September 2015  of Fr John (Jackie) Finn PE, peacefully, at his residence.  Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Reposing of Remains at Moorehall Lodge Nursing Home Ardee, Co. Louth from Sunday, 13 September;

Removal of Remains Monday, 14 September at 6.15 pm, arriving at the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Louth for Mass at 7.00 pm;

Requiem Mass on Tuesday, 15 September at 12 noon, followed by burial in adjoining Cemetery.

The sympathy of the bishops, priests and people of the Archdiocese of Armagh are extended to Fr Jackie’s sister, Eileen, his nephews and nieces and the wider Finn family. May he rest in peace.

Biographical Details

Very Rev John Finn, PE

Died 12 September 2015, peacefully in Moorehall Lodge Nursing Home, Ardee Co Louth

Born 11 March 1922, Parish of Loughgall

Studied      
St Patrick’s College, Armagh             1936 – 1940
St Patrick’s College, Maynooth         1940 – 1947

Ordained 13 July 1947 in St Patrick’s College Oratory, Armagh

Appointments

On Sunday 6^th September, a special celebration took place in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh to honour those consecrated to Religious Life. The special Mass which was celebrated by Archbishop Eamon Martin was organised by Armagh Parish Pastoral Council to celebrate this special year. A number of religious were present for the occasion and as well as native sons and daughters of the parish, religious who have worked and served in the parish over the years were also in attendance. Orders represented included the Vincentians, Missionaries of Charity, Sacred Heart Sisters, Daughters of Charity, Presentation Sisters, Medical Missionaries of Mary, Columban Fathers, Jesuits as well as a number of Diocesan Priests

Members of the Parish Pastoral Council were involved in different ways during the ceremony which was one of praise and thanks to God for the great witness of these men and women whose lives are dedicated to the Lord. After the very rich and meaningful ceremony, parish representatives joined with the religious for some refreshments.

ARCHDIOCESE OF ARMAGH

CLERGY APPOINTMENTS – JULY 2015

The Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, announces the following clergy appointments, effective from the weekend of 22 August 2015.

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.

Very Rev Eugene Sweeney VG, PP Loughgall, to be VG, PP Eglish and Moderator of the Diocesan Curia.

Very Rev Brian Hackett, PE AP Ballygawley (Errigal Ciaran), to retire.

Very Rev Michael Seery, PP Ballygawley (Errigal Ciaran) to be PE AP Coalisland and to reside in Stewartstown.

Rev John McGoldrick, retiring from the staff of St Patrick’s Grammar School, Armagh will take a period of sabbatical leave (October to June) before taking up a new appointment in the diocese.

Very Rev Michael O’Dwyer, PP Portadown (Drumcree), to be PP Ballygawley (Errigal Ciaran).

Very Rev Michael Toner, PP Eglish, Diocesan Secretary and Chancellor, to be PP Portadown (Drumcree), remaining as Chancellor of the diocese.

Rev Garett Campbell, CC St Patrick’s, Dundalk, to be PP Loughgall.

Rev John McKeever, CC Keady and Derrynoose, to be Assistant Chancellor of the diocese.

Rev Ryan McAleer, CC Dungannon, to be a Diocesan Advisor for Religious Education (Primary).

Rev Aidan McCann, newly ordained, to be CC Dungannon.

Rev Brian Slater, newly ordained, to be CC St Patrick’s, Dundalk.

31 July 2015