Up and coming events within the Archdiocese of Armagh

 

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will run as usual from 18 to 25 January.  The theme this year is They showed us unusual kindness (Acts 28:2). Resources are available as downloads from the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland website at www.ctbi.org.uk/weekofprayer.

 

An interdenominational Service for Christian Unity will be held in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, on Wednesday, 22 January at 7.30 pm. The guest preacher will be Fr Tony Currer, a diocesan priest of Hexham and Newcastle diocese in the North East of England who currently works at the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity where he is responsible for the Vatican’s relations with the worldwide Anglican and Methodist Communions and for the materials prepared for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  It is hoped that there will be a large attendance of clergy and people from the diocese at this service. Clergy are invited to join in the procession and should wear choral dress.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 2020

Catholic Schools Week 2020 runs from Sunday, 26 January to Sunday, 2 February. The theme this year is Catholic Schools: Living in Harmony with God’s Creation.  The launch of Catholic Schools Week in the Archdiocese of Armagh will take place as follows:

Tuesday, 21 January 11.00 am at St John the Baptist Church, Drumcree, Portadown

Thursday, 23 January 12.30 pm at Holy Redeemer Church, Ard Easmuinn, Dundalk

Organising teams have been meeting to prepare the liturgies and suitable resources for our own celebrations.  These will be posted on www.resource-ni.com. Please also see https://www.catholicschools.ie/resources-for-use-in-catholic-schools/.

 

The World Day for Consecrated Life is marked annually on 2 February. Please include a special prayer during Masses on that day to pray to God and give thanks for the great gift that consecrated life is to the Church and to the world.  The day will be celebrated in this diocese on Saturday, 1 February with Mass at 5.00 pm, celebrated by Bishop Michael, in the Medical Missionaries of Mary Convent, Beechgrove, Drogheda, Co Louth.

28TH WORLD DAY OF THE SICK – 11 FEBRUARY 2020

Each year on the Feast of Our Lady, 11 February, we celebrate World Day of the Sick.  The theme in 2020 is "Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).  Many parishes / pastoral areas mark this day and this is very commendable.

The 52nd International Eucharistic Congress will take place in Hungary from 13 – 20 September 2020.  For full details of the congress and registration please see the following link: https://www.iec2020.hu/en/registration.

In preparation for the International Congress, there will be a National Eucharistic Congress - Adoremus 2020 - at the national Marian shrine in Knock, Co Mayo, on 19 - 20 June.  Adoremus 2020 is a joint initiative between the National Apostolate of Eucharistic Adoration and the Bishops’ Conference.  Parishes are encouraged to assist pilgrims who wish to attend and participate in either the International and/or the National Eucharistic Congress.