Ara Coeli
Cathedral Road
ARMAGH BT61 7QY
Tel (028) 3752 2045
Fax (028) 3752 6182
Email: [email protected]
Administrative Staff:
Mrs Caroline Hicks
[email protected]
Mrs Donna Gray
[email protected]
Mrs Kathy Lennon
[email protected]
Chancellor:
Very Rev Michael Toner PP
[email protected]
Assistant Chancellor:
Rev Paul Murphy
[email protected]
Diocesan Secretary:
Rev Colm Hagan
[email protected]
Financial Administrator:
Mrs Brenda O’Hare
[email protected]
Media Queries:
Mr Martin Long – Tel: 01 5053010
Mobile: 086 1727 678
[email protected]
The Office of Pastoral Renewal and Family Ministry visited the Armagh Diocesan Students in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth on Thursday 11th February.
During Mass that evening Stephen Wilson received the Ministry of Reader.
The Armagh Seminarians are: Brendan Marshall, Stephen Wilson, Barry Matthews and Rev. Damien Quigley.
Wishing them every blessing with their vocation to Priesthood.
Gangland Killings
The serious escalation of gangland violence and killings in recent times has shocked right thinking people throughout the country. Numerous communities remain fearful, feel isolated and the law enforcement agencies do not always receive the support they deserve. Many might wonder if such senseless violence can ever be removed from our midst. As Patron for Peace and Reconciliation in Ireland, St. Oliver Plunkett is always happy to intercede on our behalf in this regard. Please pay a visit to his Shrine in St. Peter’s Church, Drogheda, where entering through the Holy Door, one may write a petition for peace, light a candle and offer a prayer for this intention.
Prayer to St. Oliver
Glorious Martyr, St. Oliver, who willingly gave your life for your faith, help us also to be strong in faith. May we be loyal like you to the see of Peter. By your intercession and example may all hatred and bitterness be banished from the hearts of Irish men and women. May the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, as it did in your heart, even at the moment of your death. Pray for us and for Ireland. Amen.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING – MODERN DAY SLAVERY
Trafficking causes unacceptable misery and suffering to those who are dehumanized, forced to become commodities bought, sold, used and abused. The reality is that trafficking is occurring everywhere, including all around us here in Ireland.
At every stage in the trafficking process, the victim loses power, while the trafficker gains more power over their victim. These victims are forced into compliance through physical, psychological and emotional violence exercised by others for financial gain. This form of modern day slavery is dynamic, adaptable and opportunistic, using modern technology and communications. It exploits, deceives and takes advantage of poverty, conflict, humanitarian disasters and vulnerable people in times of crisis.
Established routes for trafficking exist across Africa, Asia and Europe in particular, with more people now enslaved through trafficking than during the entire 400 years of the transatlantic slave trade. With women and children most vulnerable, UNICEF estimates that 1.2 children are trafficked annually for forced labour and sexual exploitation. The UN identifies human trafficking as the third most lucrative crime globally generating in excess of US$ 9.5 billion.
Many groups and bodies are now working actively to raise awareness of trafficking, to provide support and care for victims and to press for legislative reform to ensure that trafficking is illegal and heavily penalised. One example of such a group is Action to Prevent Trafficking. For more information about their work and to access resources see www.aptireland.org
Two interviews have been posted on iCatholic in relation to the NCCA consultation re ERB + Ethics.
These videos have been grouped together with some other existing videos in regard to ethos, identity, inclusion, pluralism, the new RE curriculum and the Grow in Love series.
They are available to view here: http://www.icatholic.ie/tag/primary-ethos/
iCatholic also has a Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/iCatholic/ – on which there are clips and links re the NCCA consultation..
Teaching religion and inclusion in Catholic Schools: Fr Michael Drumm and Claire Clifford
Education about Religions and Beliefs in our Primary Schools: Kate Liffey and Maeve Mahon
Some prayer services and resources for Parish, school and personal use in Lent and Easter.
Includes: Sunday Gospel Lectio pages suitable for Taize style prayer, Reflection on Lent and its meaning, Stations of the Cross, Penance Services.
Download:
Ash Wednesday Lenten Services including Penance Service
Mary takes us through the Stations of the Cross
The Start of Catholic Schools Week took place at St John the Baptist Church Drumcree Portadown yesterday January 26th. Schools from all over the Archdiocese attended. Nearly 600 gathered for the event at 11.30 am.The Liturgy was a service that featured reflection of the theme of mercy in our lives personally and as school communities.
Archbishop Eamon led the celebration which featured art based on the seven corporal works of mercy, a dramatized retelling of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitutes. We watched a drama about the Apple tree Story and then were fortunate to be able to reflect in a prayerful way in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Two original 18th Century Penal Crosses from South Armagh were used to confirm our commitment to be mercy-filled people. We each venerated the cross and offered incense to the Blessed Sacrament as a sign and pledge of our discipleship in this Jubilee Year..
The service was moving and filled with God’s Holy Spirit. Many seeds of faith were planted in young hearts. Pupils received a personal copy of a penal cross to use in their own homes, rooms and prayerlife.
Fr Ryan our new Primary Adviser led the prayers and students and teachers took part by reading these. Fr Toner PP Portadown led the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament. Mr Francis Hagan sacristan acted as MC.
Music and hymns were just splendid and really enhanced the whole experience for all present. Light refreshments were provided by Drumcree College in the Pastoral Centre for those travelling. All in all a brilliant start to our week celebrating all that is special and good in Catholic Education.
” Highlights for me were the Drama of the Beatitudes so moving and thought provoking, and the heavenly music from St Paul’s Choir, what a joy and treat. ”
” Loved every minute, could not believe we were praying for nearly an hour and 20 minutes. Well done all concerned.”
” What a warm Church. We could see everything this year. Great hospitality afterwards. Thanks Drumcree College !!”
” The Apple tree drama and story was just what I needed to hear today. God was thinking of me. Thanks. ”
” Loved the veneration of the Cross just like Good Friday. What a lovely idea.”
” Our children were spell bound by the beauty and presence of the Holy Eucharist in the Monstrance. Real seeds of faith were planted. ”
The Irish pilgrims arrived in Cebu on Friday and on Saturday attended a ‘Table of Hope’ meal with several hundred young children from poorer backgrounds, many of whom are living on the streets. The church has set up many centres called ‘Children of Hope’, with a long term aim of helping the children through school and with religious education. Some have been orphaned as a result of the huricane some two hears ago. Five hundred of the children have been prepared by volunteers and will make their First Holy Communion during the Congress.
The Congress opens officially on Sunday, and all are looking forward to an exciting programme of events over the coming week. Please join in the recitation of the Congress Prayer during the week of Congress.
At this time of year and we celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18 – 25 January). The theme chosen for this year is: Called to proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord. (cf. 1 Peter: 2:9) Throughout the Christian world, people of different denominations come together during this special week for conferences, prayer services and social gatherings. As we celebrate the week, we recall how an Episcopalian Franciscan priest from America, Fr Paul Watson, started these gatherings in 1908 by praying for Christian Unity.
This year our Ecumenical Service took place in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh on Wednesday 20 January at 7.30pm. The guest preacher was Archbishop Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham.
PRAYER
God our Father, we ask you to send your Holy Spirit ever more deeply into our hearts and minds that we may think thoughts of peace, speak words that build up and do the truth always in love, the truth that sets us free, the truth that gives us hope, AMEN
Catholic Schools Week is an all-Ireland annual event which invites Catholic schools to give expression in a special way to the ethos of Catholic education. It is a celebration of Catholic schools throughout Ireland, North and South which acknowledges the tremendous contribution that our Catholic primary and post-primary schools make not just to Irish society, but to the mission of the Church. Catholic Schools Week 2016 will take place from Sunday 31 January to Saturday 6 February 2016 on the theme “Catholic Schools: Challenged to Proclaim God’s Mercy”. It is hoped that this theme will help contextualise the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis from 8 December 2015 to 20 November 2016.
This year, for the first time, resources will not be mailed to schools, but are available for download here.
Primary School Resources for Download
Primary School Flyer
Primary School Poster
Primary Notes for Teachers
Primary Irish Notes for Teachers
Primary – Grandparents Day
Primary – Grandparents Day Irish
Primary – Junior and Senior Infants
Primary – Junior and Senior Infants Irish
Primary – First and Second Class
Primary – First and Second Class Irish
Primary – Third and Fourth Class
Primary – Third and Fourth Class Irish
Primary – Fifth and Sixth Class
Primary – Fifth and Sixth Class Irish
Post Primary School Resources for Download
Post Primary Flyer
Poster for Post Primary Schools
Post Primary Junior Cycle Resources
Post Primary Junior Cycle Resources Irish
Post Primary Senior Cycle Resources
Post Primary Senior Cycle Resources Irish
Post Primary Board of Management Reflections
Post Primary Board of Management Reflections Irish
More resources will be added so do check back and follow the Catholic Schools Week conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #CSW2016 or find the Catholic Schools Week Facebook page.
Launch of Catholic Schools Week 2016 and Mass
The official launch of Catholic Schools Week will take place on Monday 25 January in Mount Mercy College, Model Farm Road, Bishopstown, Co Cork. This will be the first time that a school in Cork will host the national launch of Catholic Schools Week. Representatives from twenty-five primary and secondary schools in the Cork city area will also be in attendance. Welcoming Catholic Schools Week 2016 Ms Padraigín Ui Riordáin, the principal of Mount Mercy College, said, “We are delighted to be chosen to launch this national celebration of Catholic education. We look forward to welcoming the wider Catholic community to our school in Cork for this special event. The words of Pope Francis ‘Mercy is the spirit that awakens us’ will inspire the community of Mount Mercy College to participate wholeheartedly in, and celebrate, this spiritually enriching occasion at a milestone in our school tradition, having just celebrated our Golden Jubilee.”
Ms Ui Riordáin continued, “The upcoming Year of Mercy for the Universal Church, and the official launch of Catholic Schools Week, is an opportunity for us to focus on our traditions and at the same time to look forward with anticipation to our future, to the challenge of proclaiming God’s mercy as we promote tolerance, respect and inclusiveness, whilst we explore the possibilities for all in our daily work and the many charities and causes which we support.”
Mount Mercy College Cork has eight-hundred students with sixty staff. Mount Mercy College was founded in 1965 under the trusteeship of the Sisters of Mercy. Catherine McAuley founded the Religious Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy in 1831. Mercy education is committed to holistic development and to the achievement of the full potential of each student. It is a process informed and influenced by the teaching and example of Jesus Christ and is conducted in an atmosphere of care, respect and joy.
A Mass will be broadcast by RTÉ on Sunday 31 January to celebrate both Catholic Schools Week and the new Grow in Love religious education programme for primary schools. Students from Mount Mercy College, Cork, as well as pupils from Saint Pius X primary school in Templeogue, Dublin, will participate in this special liturgy to mark the beginning of Catholic Schools Week across Ireland. This Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Brendan Kelly, Bishop of Achonry and chair of the Bishops’ Council for Education.
International Eucharistic Congress
The 51st International Eucharistic Congress commences at Cebu, the Philippines on Sunday 24th January. The theme: ‘Christ in You, Our Hope of Glory’ will give the Congress a focus on mission. Here in Ireland, we recall the many blessings and signs of hope which were experienced by so many people who attended the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 2012. Please join spiritually with the Irish pilgrims attending the Congress in Cebu by reciting the Congress Prayer during the week of Congress 24th to 31st January.
Prayer for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress.
Sunday 24th – Sunday 31st January 2016
Lord Jesus Christ, our hope of glory, You are the fulfillment of the Father’s plan to save all humanity. You are the mystery hidden from the ages and from generations past now manifested to us. You abide in your Church in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist. As we celebrate the Holy Eucharist and receive your Body and Blood, grant us the awareness that your presence in us urges us to continue your saving mission in the world. Send us your Holy Spirit, that he may lead us to walk humbly with the poor and the marginalized, in the company of Mary, your most holy mother and ours. O Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, to you be all honour and glory and praise in the unity of the Father and the Holy Spirit. One God, forever and ever. Amen.
