You may wish to download this prayer of consecration to use personally or with your family, parish or school.

Ireland will be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The consecration will take place at Knock Shrine, during the annual Novena to Our Lady of Knock.

Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland will lead the Act of Consecration. Archbishop Eamon Martin, Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh will be the principal celebrant and preacher at the Mass on that day. Bishops, priests and people from across the country will be in attendance.

The Prayer of Consecration will entrust families, homes and the dioceses of Ireland to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary and call on her to watch over the young people of Ireland. As the universal Church is currently celebrating a Year of Faith, it is fitting that the Act of Consecration calls to mind the woman of faith par excellence and asks for her prayers for the people of this country.

Commenting ahead of the Consecration Cardinal Brady said: “In his recent encyclical for the Year of Faith, Pope Francis invited us to turn to Mary, Mother of the Church and Mother of our Faith. I am very pleased that the Irish Bishops decided at their June Conference to consecrate Ireland to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I am looking forward to being at our National Shrine in Knock on the 15^th August to ask Mary’s maternal blessing on the people of Ireland. The Feast of the Assumption is one of the biggest days of the year in Knock, with bishops, priests and people present for the opening of the Novena. I invite the people of Ireland to come along to Knock on the day or to join in this beautiful devotional act by praying the prayer of entrustment in their homes and parish churches.”

Background information:

• Consecration to Our Lady is well-attested to in the tradition of the Church.
• Consecration is understood as referring to “entrusting” the person consecrated to Our Lady. Consecration “is a conscious recognition of the singular role of Mary in the Mystery of Christ and of the Church, of the universal and exemplary importance of her witness to the Gospel, of trust in her intercession, and of the efficacy of her patronage, of the many maternal functions she has, since she is a true mother in the order of grace to each and every one of her children.”
• The act of consecration is made “to the Father, through Christ in the Holy Spirit, imploring the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom we entrust ourselves completely, so as to keep our baptismal commitments and live as her children.”
• The National Centre for Liturgy has assisted in drawing up the text to be used in the consecration.

Act of Consecration

Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Refuge of Sinners, we entrust and consecrate ourselves, our family, our home and our Dioceses to Jesus through your Immaculate Heart.  As your children, we promise to follow your example in our lives by doing at all times the will of God.

O Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, we renew today the promises of our Baptism and Confirmation.  Intercede for us with the Holy Spirit that we may be always faithful to your Divine Son, to his Mystical Body, the Catholic Church, and to the teachings of his Vicar on earth, our Holy Father the Pope.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, our Queen and our Mother, we promise to uphold the sanctity of marriage and the welfare of the family.  Watch over our minds and hearts and preserve our youth from dangers to the faith and the many temptations that threaten them in the world today.

We ask you, Mary our Advocate to intercede with your divine Son.  Obtain for our country the grace to uphold the uniqueness of every human life, from the first moment of conception to natural death.

O Blessed Mother, Our Life, our Sweetness and Our Hope, we wish that this Consecration be for the great glory of God and that it lead us safely to Jesus your Son.

A Naomh-Mhuire, a Mháthair Dé, guigh orainn na peacaigh, anois agus ar uair ár mbáis.

Amen.

This prayer has been approved for use by the National Centre for Liturgy and by Cardinal Seán Brady.

Prayer to Mary, Mother of the Church and Mother of our faith (from the encyclical Lumen Fidei of Pope Francis)

Mother, help our faith!

Open our ears to hear God’s word and to recognise his voice and call.

Awaken in us a desire to follow in his footsteps, to go forth from our own land and to receive his promise.

Help us to be touched by his love, that we may touch him in faith.

Help us to entrust ourselves fully to him and to believe in his love, especially at times of trial, beneath the shadow of the cross, when our faith is called to mature.

Sow in our faith the joy of the Risen One.

Remind us that those who believe are never alone.

Teach us to see all things with the eyes of Jesus, that he may be light for our path. And may this light of faith always increase in us, until the dawn of that undying day which is Christ himself, your Son, our Lord!

Amen

This prayer is taken from Lumen Fidei,  the recent Encyclical of Pope Francis.

Sr. Rhoda Curran, Director of the Armagh Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Dundalk, recently celebrated her Golden Jubilee of Religious life.  Celebrations started with Mass in Holy Family, Dundalk and followed by refreshments in Darver Castle.

Dean Colum Curry celebrated the Mass and had a word or two to say about Sr. Rhoda as they worked together when the Pastoral Centre started twenty years ago in Mount Oliver, Dundalk.  

There were people from all over the country helping Sr. Rhoda celebrate her 50 years of Religious Life.  There to help her celebrate was her family (there is quite a few of them), the groups that Sr. Rhoda is involved in, B.E., Rainbows, The Diaconate, the Pastoral Centre staff, clergy, religious sisters and the Cardinal popped in to wish her well on his way back from Drogheda and the St. Oliver Plunkett celebrations there.

We would like to congratulate Sr. Rhoda on reaching a big milestone in her life and we wish her many more years of happiness as she serves the Lord.

“Were you abused when you were in an Institution? Talk to us – we will listen”

 The Historic Institutional Abuse Inquiry is an independent Inquiry set up to investigate abuse of children in residential institutions (but not schools) in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1995. Abuse could be sexual or physical abuse, or emotional abuse or neglect.  The Inquiry has an Acknowledgment Forum where you can come and tell experienced professionals in private, and in confidence, about abuse you experienced.   Another part of the inquiry will investigate abuse, and then make recommendations to the Northern Ireland government. You can choose to talk to both parts, or to either part, of the Inquiry.

If you were abused in an institution, or saw others being abused, the Inquiry wants to talk to you. It hopes that as many people as possible who experienced abuse in institutions, or witnessed others being abused, will come forward to help the Inquiry investigate the way these children were treated, and what should be done about it. If you know someone who was abused encourage them to contact us.

If you want to contact us you can get more information on our website www.hiainquiry.org. If you live in the UK you can write to us at FREEPOST HIA Inquiry, or ring us at our FREEPHONE number 0800 068 4935. If you live outside the UK you can write to us at HIA Inquiry, PO Box 2080, Belfast, BT1 9QA, Northern Ireland.

Click Poster FINAL (3) to view poster

http://www.saintoliverplunkett.com/

St. Peter’s Church
The National Shrine to St. Oliver is located in St. Peter’s Church, Drogheda otherwise known as the
St. Oliver Plunkett Memorial Church. The church was one of the last of the gothic churches to have been
built and as such it incorporates many of the finer aspects of gothic architecture. Built by parish priest, Mgr.
Robert Murphy in the late nineteenth century; it is regarded today as a masterpiece of beauty and design. Its
interior was decorated by his successor, Mgr. Patrick Segrave in the early twentieth century and his work is
also regarded as exquisite in both taste and in finish. A similar building of design and adornment, could not
be built by the people of Drogheda today because of the astronomical costs such a project would entail.
A couple of years after St. Oliver’s martyrdom, the Relic of the Head was brought to Rome and
remained there for about forty years, until it was given into the care of the new community of Dominican
nuns at Siena convent in Drogheda, c.1725. The nuns were under the leadership of Sr. Catherine Plunkett a
relative of St. Oliver and believed to have been his grand niece. The community had shortly beforehand
moved from a mud cabin on the south side of the Boyne to a more substantial house in Dyer Street and they
were living surreptitiously as a group of women, so as to avoid any difficulties with the authorities. For the
following two centuries, this community proved their resourcefulness and devotion by faithfully preserving
and venerating this priceless relic of the Irish Church, throughout the difficulties of penal times. During the
war of independence because of a fear that some of the notorious Black and Tan forces might steal or
desecrate the Relic, armed republican forces were positioned in its defence, in the locality of the Siena
community at Chord Road, this being in an era of attack and reprisal. Within months and to the great
disappointment of this community, the Relic of the Head was transferred in 1921 to the newly built, St.
Peter’s Church, Drogheda, the Memorial Church of St. Oliver, where it was installed in a side altar.

National Shrine to St. Oliver
The Relic of St. Oliver’s Head now stands in an impressive new shrine, which was erected in 1995.
Pilgrims have the opportunity to walk around the shrine and view at close quarters this precious relic of the
Irish church. One can also view the original document of authentication of the relics, which was signed
shortly after St. Oliver’s martyrdom, by Elizabeth Sheldon and surgeon John Ridley. After St. Oliver was
hung, drawn and quartered at Tyburn, the Head was thrown into the prepared fire nearby. His friends
quickly retrieved it however and scorch marks from the fire may still be seen on the left cheek of the Head.
The Head is heavy and not just a bare skull and is in remarkably good condition considering that it has
never been hermetically sealed. The Shrine at Drogheda also includes some bone relics of St. Oliver,
donated by the Benedictine Community, Downside around the time of his canonisation. Overhead is the
Canonisation Picture, which hung from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome during the canonisation
ceremony on October 12th 1975. In a glass cabinet nearby, is the door from the condemned cell of Newgate
Prison, London and St. Oliver would have been in this cell as a condemned man for the last few weeks of
his life. Renowned for his letter writing, it was during this time that St. Oliver wrote his most poignant
letters. He also wrote during this time, his last speech, which he delivered from the gallows at Tyburn and is
famous for showing forgiveness to all those who had anything to do with his death.
Thousands of pilgrims visit the National Shrine of St. Oliver each month, making it one of the most
popular attractions in Ireland. Coming from all counties of Ireland and various parts of the world; some
come as sightseers, but many go away with an admiration for the loyalty in faith of those who have gone
before us. Many pilgrims come to pray for various petitions and light candles. Some come to give thanks to
St. Oliver for his intercession and for favours already received. [email protected] Many
come to kneel and pray for peace and reconciliation in Ireland, before the Shrine of our patron saint for this
cause in Ireland.
Many dignitaries also come to pray at the Shrine of St. Oliver. Pope Paul VI at the canonisation
ceremony in 1975, recalled a visit he made to the shrine some years earlier as Cardinal Montini. The
President of Ireland, Mary McAleese has prayed at a service for peace and reconciliation at the Shrine, and
there have been many other such prayer ceremonies at the Shrine. On the first Sunday of July each year, the
annual celebration takes place at the Shrine, with a procession and Mass, commencing at 3pm.

Cardinal Seán Brady raises legal and Constitutional concerns
about the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013

 I am conscious that the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, is entering the final stages of the legislative process in the Oireachtas.  In addition to the fundamental ethical concerns already raised by Bishops and others, this Bill contains a number of serious Constitutional and legal conflicts that require immediate clarification.

This Bill will provide the widest possible legal justification for deliberately and intentionally destroying the life of the unborn child, with no time limits and no mechanism for ensuring that the right to life of the unborn is adequately vindicated as required by Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution. In practice, the right to life of the unborn child will no longer be treated as equal.  The wording of this Bill is so vague that ever wider access to abortion can be easily facilitated.  The intention to pursue this wider access has already been publicly indicated by some.  This Bill represents a legislative and political ‘Trojan Horse’ which heralds a much more liberal and aggressive abortion regime in Ireland.

Medical evidence does not support the view that abortion is an appropriate treatment for expectant mothers with suicidal feelings.  Mothers in these situations deserve the best professional care and support that can be provided.  As well as involving the deliberate killing of an unborn child, this Bill by promoting abortion risks creating the very symptoms of suicidal feelings it claims to address.

Moreover, the Bill makes it lawful to induce the premature delivery of an unborn child in response to the suicidal feelings of a mother, foreseeably exposing that child to the risk of serious and permanent damage to her or his health.  Where a child is perhaps only days away from viability, the Bill is silent on whether the child will be killed or delivered with serious risk to the health of the child.  Where are the mechanisms to vindicate the Constitutional right to life of the child in these circumstances?  How can an act which involves serious risk to the health of a child be reconciled with the State’s duty in Article 42A of the Constitution to ensure that in all decisions the welfare of the child will be ‘the paramount consideration’?

Serious moral and Constitutional conflicts also arise in the area of freedom of conscience and religious belief. In contrast to the practice in many other jurisdictions, this Bill obliges medical practitioners, nurses and midwives with conscientious objections to cooperate in the evil of abortion by insisting they hand over the care of a patient to someone they know will provide an abortion.  The Bill provides no conscientious objection provision for others such as ancillary and administrative personnel.  This is in clear conflict with the unequivocal rights to freedom of conscience and religion provided for all in the Constitution.  The legal and constitutional position of hospitals forced to provide abortions against their pro-life ethos and identity also needs to be clarified.

Article 44.2.3 of the Constitution is clear that, “The State shall not impose any disabilities or make any discrimination on the ground of religious profession, belief or status”.  This raises important questions about the Constitutional rights of those members of the Oireachtas calling for a free vote.  I encourage any public representative who believes their Constitutional right is being denied to seek immediate clarification on this issue from the Courts.

I also call on the Government to publish its advice from the Attorney General on the potential Constitutional and legal conflicts that have been raised here and by others in response to this Bill.

This is a defining moment for our country. I repeat the call of Bishops to pray at this critical time that our country will continue to uphold the equal right to life of a mother and her unborn child in practice, as well as in law, and that our public representatives will choose life in every decision they make.

All-Ireland Rally for Life

Saturday, 6 July 2013

 At 2.00 pm

 Parnell Square, Dublin City Centre

 Precious Life is co-ordinating the organising of buses to the Rally from across Northern Ireland.

 To book your seat please contact 028 90127 8484

 More information is available at www.rallyforlife.net

This summer, the most important date on the pro-life calendar is 6th July. That’s when we hope you join with thousands of others to speak up for the right to life. Meet us at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin  City Centre on 6th July at 2pm!

Ireland – north and south – is one of the last remaining places in Europe where abortion is still illegal. But our unborn children are under threat. Powerful pro-abortion campaigners in Ireland, the UK, European Union and United Nations are attacking our pro-life laws. In the South we are on the brink of abortion legislation that would open the doors to abortion on demand. Show the government you care about mothers and babies! On 6th July 2013, be there!

• Rally for Life Leaflet North
• Rally for Life Leaflet South

GETTING THERE

On Foot

Parnell Square North is in Dublin City Centre at the Northern end of O’Connell Street, the capital’s main street. Most busses travelling to the city centre will stop at, near or on O’Connell Street.

Driving

If you are driving, there are carparks at the Rotunda Hospital, the Ilac Shopping Centre, Marlborough St Car Park and Arnotts Car Park.

By Train

If you are arriving by train, hop on the Luas at either Heuston Station (luas going towards Connolly) or Connolly Station and get off at Abbey Street, walk up to O’Connell Street and up to Parnell Square

The Armagh Diocesan Youth Commission, first ever summer camp!
12-16th August 2013, Greenhill Centre Newcastle
This is an adverture and faith, four night residential for 12 – 14th year olds.
For more details please contact [email protected] or call 028/048 3752 3084

 DOWNLOAD THE FULL POSTER HERE

Choose Life: Prayer for the Child in the Womb

Lord Jesus, you are the source and lover of life.
Reawaken in us respect for every human life.

Help us to see in each child the marvellous
work of our Creator.
Open our hearts to welcome every child as a
unique and wonderful gift.

Guide the work of doctors, nurses and
midwives.
May the life of a mother and her baby in the
womb be equally cherished and respected.

Help those who make our laws to uphold the
uniqueness and sacredness of every human life,
from the first moment of conception to natural
death.

Give us wisdom and generosity to build a
society that cares for all.

Together with Mary, your Mother,
in whose womb you took on our human
nature,
Help us to choose life in every decision we
take.

We ask this in the joyful hope of eternal life
with you, and in the communion of the
Blessed Trinity.

Amen.

Our Lady of Knock, pray for us.
All the Saints of Ireland, pray for us.

Here are some of the photographs from Spiritfest 2013, that was held in the Fairways Hotel on 11th May. You can find more photographs in the Gallery section under the Archdiocese tab.

We had over 100 participants who attended the day.  The feedback has been great and we hope to see you all again at the next Spiritfest?