Fr. Andrew (Andy) McNally was a priest of the Armagh Diocese for over 25 years and was the director of the Office of Pastoral Renewal and Family Ministry (OPRFM) for seven years.

He ran marathons and mini marathons over the years and raised a lot of money for Trócaire. The first anniversary of his death occurred on 6th September 2013 and to honour him, his family decided to have a fundraising event after his anniversary Mass in the Parish Hall, Magherafelt in aid of Trócaire, who happens to be celebrating their 40th anniversary this year.

The night was a great success! There were seven acts in total, and among them were a lot of young talented people. Maybe even stars of the future? One of the acts was only newly formed and did a great job!

The Office of Pastoral Renewal and Family Ministry would like to thank everyone who participated in the fundraising event and Fr. McNally’s sister, Therese who put a huge effort into organising this event. We would also like to thank all those who gave generously, especially when money is a bit tight for everyone.

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Over the next few weeks, visitation teams will be at work in four parishes in the Archdiocese of Armagh. This is a pilot project called “Galilee” and it has been organised by the Diocesan Vocations Commission and the Office for Pastoral Renewal and Family Ministry. The parishes to be involved in the project are Dungannon, Kilmore, St Patrick’s and Holy Redeemer, Dundalk.

Visitation of homes used to be a big part of the ministry of priests and religious but as the number of priests and religious declines, it’s becoming more difficult to keep this important point of contact alive and so a number of committed lay people will engage in this initiative in each of the four parishes during October.

Galilee was a place in the gospels where Jesus felt welcomed and he promised that he would meet his disciples there after he had risen from the dead. It’s hoped that as the visitation teams engage in the work, that they will receive a warm welcome as they visit many homes on behalf of their local Church.

Over the coming weeks, let us pray for those involved in the work and we pray especially for the success of the project.

Galilee Prayer

Jesus, Galilee was a place where you felt welcomed and at home.

It was there that you worked many of your miracles.

It was from there that you called many of your first disciples

You promised them that you would meet them in Galilee after you had risen from the dead.

Lord, make each of our hearts like Galilee.

Help us to be welcoming and hospitable. Give us the grace to be receptive to your words of life and healing.

Give us new eyes to recognize you in the midst of your people.

As we meet one another, remind us that you are ever present, that you always go ahead of us preparing the way.

Bless us Lord as we journey in your name, AMEN.

One of the constant requests that is made to us is to improve our communication systems. We hope that the launch of our quarterly ezine will go some way to keep people up to date with events in the diocese.

The first issue can be accessed by clicking on this link. 

If you have an event that happened recently or one that is about to happen in your locality please send us some information and we will be happy to include it

On Sunday 1st September, Pope Francis made a strong appeal for peace in Syria.

He asked that Saturday 7 September, be dedicated by the whole Church as a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria.  Saturday is the vigil of the Birthday of Our Lady, Queen of Peace.

Saturday 7 September: Day of Prayer & Fasting for the people of Syria

We pray for peace in our world and we pray particularly for peace in troubled parts. Let us pray in a special way for those who work to build peace in our world. May the Lord bless and guide them in the good work that they do.

Lord hear us

We pray for the suffering people of Syria at this time. Loving God, we ask you to listen to our prayers for all who are suffering through the conflict in Syria and especially those who have lost loved ones and all who have been injured. We pray that there may soon be an end to the conflict and may the people of that land experience healing and peace.

Lord hear us

We pray for all who have died and all who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. We remember in a special way all who have died as a result of the situation in Syria at this time. May the Lord grant all of them the fullness of new life and happiness in the Kingdom of heaven.

Lord hear us

APP PUTS ARMAGH Cathedrals ON THE DIGITAL MAP

–Churches target mobile devotees in major development for local tourism

Armagh’s religious leaders have joined forces to launch a brand new tourist app which is designed to provide thousands of mobile visitors and local residents with a comprehensive digital guide to the city’s two world-famous Cathedrals.

The latest, cutting-edge technology has been used to produce the innovative, digital guide, and will be used to help visitors navigate their way in and around the two impressive and iconic buildings. The app, which is free to download, has been partly financed by the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and involved special input from both churches and Armagh City and District Council.

Representatives from the two principal churches in Ireland – Archbishops of Armagh, The Most Reverend Dr Richard Clarke and Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Eamon Martin – came together to launch their joint digital creation.

The move marks yet another historic moment for both Cathedrals in Armagh and shows that the two main churches in Ireland are at the forefront of embracing the latest digital technology to connect with visitors.

Cllr Gerald Mallon, Chairman of East Border Region stated; “Thousands of visitors come to Armagh every year specifically to visit the two well-known cathedrals. This new app will make these visits even more informative, easier to navigate and all the more enjoyable. With the massive growth in the use of mobile apps for everyday essentials, travel, news and social media, we’re delighted to have been able to work with Armagh City and District Council to fund and develop this new mobile resource which will help attract an even wider audience to Armagh.”

The app is designed to encourage visitors of all ages to explore the two magnificent Saint Patrick’s Cathedrals of Armagh; guiding them through the spiritual, cultural and historic heritage of these two iconic Cathedrals.  Through the app, visitors can explore over 1,500 years of history in the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland. The app offers an in-depth guided tour of both Saint Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral and Saint Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral and is designed to help visitors enjoy the Cathedrals’ unique history, architectures and spiritual life.

Using the latest technology, visitors simply follow the suggested points and when they arrive at each location, the app will provide further information on that point of interest. 

Visitors can also enjoy a sacred experience in the Ancient Cathedral City, exploring the many evocative spaces, stories and symbols within the app. The project is part of the East Border Region’s Tourism Development Programme which has secured in excess of £2.7 million of INTERREG IVA Funding to enhance the tourism product across the entire East Border Region and encourage an increase in cross border tourism activity.

Speaking about the use of new technology, The Most Reverend Dr Richard Clarke, said:

“This is a great opportunity to make this cathedral city much more appealing to audiences of every age and I’m thrilled that Armagh’s Cathedrals are the first in Ireland to have introduced this type of technology to improve our visitor experience. I’m looking forward to seeing the app in everyday use and I hope that many more people will enjoy their experience because of it.”

Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Eamon Martin, added:

“The Church is very open to new technology and understands the importance of embracing it as part of its future. This app will provide visitors with a wealth of information, interesting facts and history and I’m confident that it will encourage even more people to visit both historic sites and enable them to engage with us.”

The free app is available to download free on both Android and Apple. For more information visit www.armagh.co.uk or contact Armagh Tourist Information Centre on 028 3752 1800.

The free app is available to download free on both Android and Apple.

Click here to download the android app

Click here to download the apple app

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