Clerical Appointments in the Archdiocese of Armagh

ARCHDIOCESE OF ARMAGH

CLERGY APPOINTMENTS – AUGUST 2014

The Archbishop of Armagh, Cardinal Seán Brady, announces the following clergy appointments, effective from 14 August 2014.

Very Rev James Shevlin, PE, AP, Omeath (Carlingford & Omeath), to retire from active ministry and to continue to reside in Omeath.

Rev Phelim McKeown, CC Bessbrook (Killeavy Lower), to be PP Kilsaran.

Rev Aidan Dunne, CC Drogheda, to be CC Bessbrook (Killeavy Lower).

Rev Emlyn McGinn, CC Drogheda, to be CC Cookstown.

Rev Cathal Deveney, CC Cookstown, to be CC Drogheda.

Rev Paul Murphy, CC Armagh, to be CC Drogheda.

Rev Maciej Zacharek, newly ordained member of the Neo-Catechumenal Way, while pursuing further studies, to be CC Drogheda.

Rev Seán McGuigan, newly ordained, to be CC Cookstown.

Rev Biju Thomas, on loan from the Archdiocese of Kottayam, Kerala, India, to be CC Armagh.

14 August 2014

Lourdes 2010 Pilgrimage

Lourdes 2011 Pilgrimage

Lourdes 2012 Pilgrimage

Lourdes 2013 Pilgrimage

Lourdes 2014 Pilgrimage

Caritas Choir Coalisland at Irish Church Music Summer School in Maynooth

The Caritas Choir from Coalisland in County Tyrone who attended the recent Irish Church Music Summer School in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth.

Directors of Youth Ministry in the 5 Northern Dioceses recently organised a joint thank -you day for the volunteers in each of their diocese

The Directors of Youth Ministry in the 5 Northern Dioceses recently organised a joint thank -you day for the volunteers in each of their diocese who have worked tirelessly with their young people to provide a range of opportunities to enjoy, share and celebrate the faith. These volunteers in collaboration with their Parish Priests, School Principals and their Youth Commissions organise and manage faith-based activities throughout the year, including the Pope John Paul II Award, the parish GIFT programmes, parish folk groups, SEARCH and retreats. The retreat day at Benburb gave the 100 volunteers who attended, the opportunity to meet together, to relax, to take time out to enrich their own faith and to have fun together. The day began with a welcome from Pauline Dowd followed by prayer led by Yvonne Rooney and then moved into an ice-breaker/games session led by Frances Mc Nally.

Participants then attended workshops which included, Copper Artwork with Trudy Burke, Music and Meditation with Brendan Dowd, Positive Living with Brigid and Drumming with Joe from the Gathering Drum. Following lunch and share of Cara’s birthday cake, Matthew Mc Fadden contextualised the day, acknowledging the work of our volunteers and invited participants to chose a second workshop.

We then gathered to practice the music for Mass with Brendan and Conor. Mass was celebrated by Rev Thomas McHugh and was the highlight of the day with volunteers providing the music, serving Mass, reading, offering prayers of the faithful and leading the offertory procession. During the sermon we were invited to acknowledge the true presence of Christ at Mass and in everyone we meet. Dermot Kelly thanked those in attendance and those who assisted with the organisation of the day.

Volunteers left Benburb in the evening sunshine, refreshed and energised and asking for the date of the next volunteers’ retreat day. Pauline Dowd the Director of Living Youth (Down and Connor) commented “the success of youth ministry is dependent on a number of important elements: the support of our bishops, the guidance and teaching of our priests and the involvement of skilled, experienced and enthusiastic volunteers. At this time of change in our Church, as we acknowledge the importance of co-responsibility as well as striving to better understand and enrich our own faith, we must move forward together focused on passing on the faith to our young people and young adults, the volunteers who participated today are crucial to this plan. “

Annual Religious Education Seminar for Post Primary Catechetics Teachers and Heads of RE

On JUNE 17th the RELIGIOUS EDUCATION DAY was held at DRUMCREE PASTORAL CENTRE.
Teachers from schools in the Northern part of the Archdiocese gathered for their annual inservice day with
Fr Declan our post primary Rel Ed Diocesan Adviser. We were blessed by a great gathering and a most beautiful day.
As always the Centre in Drumcree was a joy for all. A warm welcome and plenty of time to catch up with colleagues and friends are an inportant
part of this annual meeting. Warm thanks to all Principals who facilitated the release of staff to attend. Your commitment to this very
important experience is appreciated and noted. A great atmosphere of prayer and reflection helped all replenish our spiritual energies and
refocussed us all on the work of sharing the Good News with our Young People.

The Programme for the day together took this form.

10. am Icons and how we can use them to nourish our Journey here to God

. Prayer and reflection time. (Fr Declan )

11 am Break for coffee and catchup

11.30 Meditation on The Polish Icon of our Lady of Częstochowa (Fr John McGoldrick) Praying the Jesus Prayer ( Fr Declan )
Religious Education Teacher, a vocation of discipleship (Mrs Joan McCombe St Malachys College, Castlewellen).

12.30 Lunch break (Light Lunch Provided)

1.30 Address by Archbishop Eamon Martin. Catechetics and Faith development … the work of Catholic Education Today.
Wilderness experience (Group dynamics on consensus and power issues) Mr Denis Bradley.

2.30 Sharing resources from classroom experience.
2.45 Updating Fully Alive Mrs Susan Morgan . Beginning the process of assembling insights and new resources.

3.30 Closure

The Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults

The Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults was launched by Cardinal Seán Brady on Monday 9 June in Maynooth.

The Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults is a new resource from the Irish Episcopal Conference. Designed to complement the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it is adapted for an Irish audience and written in accessible, easy-to-understand language. The Adult Catechism responds to the proposal made by the Irish National Directory for Catechesis, Share the Good News, that adult faith development should be given priority at this time.

The Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults presents Irish Catholics with a renewed opportunity to study, reflect on and live by the faith we profess in the Creed, celebrate in the Sacraments, live in the Christian moral life and deepen through prayer. Each chapter begins with a ‘Story or Lesson of Faith’, featuring many notable figures from Ireland, such as Edmund Rice, Catherine McAuley and Nano Nagle. These stories and lessons present the richness of the Church’s teaching within the Irish cultural context.

Who is the Catechism for?

This catechism is for adults who wish to renew or learn more about their faith, including:

– Parish Study Groups

– Retreat Groups

– Liturgy Committees

– RCIA Groups

– Those interested in personal study.

It also provides information about the Catholic faith to other interested readers.

How is the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults structured?

The Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults is composed of thirty-six chapters, divided into four sections:

I. The Creed: The Faith Professed

II. The Sacraments: The Faith Celebrated

III. Christian Morality: The Faith Lived

IV. The Our Father: The Faith Prayed.

Each chapter:

– Commences with a short account of a saint or holy person, most of whom are Irish

– Is followed by a presentation of a related teaching

– Contains excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church

– Relates the Church teaching to Irish culture

– Contains questions for discussion that invite the reader to explore personal ways of connecting with the teachings of the Church

– Concludes with doctrinal statements and suggestions for meditation and prayer.

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