News archive 2017

Mass celebrated in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh · Pope Francis invites us, in a spirit of compassion, to “embrace all those fleeing from war and hunger, or forced by discrimination, persecution, poverty and environmental degradation to leave their homelands” · My...

“At Christmas time we are especially conscious of families who have been bereaved this year, or who have someone in hospital or in care. The plight of homeless, migrant and refugee families is also in our Christmas thoughts and prayers, as well as the anguish of...

Please find below the message of Pope Francis for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace 1 January 2018 Migrants and refugees: men and women in search of peace Heartfelt good wishes for peace          Peace to all people...

Christmas and the Scandal of Christianity ‘The Word became flesh and lived among us’ must be the sentence that encapsulates more powerfully than any other the shocking presumption of Christian faith.  For non-believers who give the Christian claim any serious...

2018 – A Year dedicated to the Family When I look back on 2017 there were many significant moments and events, but a few dates stand out for me, two of them falling on Sundays.  On Sunday 25 June, I had the privilege of ordaining David Vard to the priesthood in...

Emmanuel – ‘God is with Us’ The liturgy of Christmas announces: ‘For in the mystery of the Word made flesh a new light of God’s glory has shone upon the eyes of our mind, so that, as we recognise in him God made visible, we may be caught up through him in love of...

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” John 1:5 A couple of weeks ago, we both travelled to Rome to meet with members of the Sant’Egidio Community and to experience at first hand - however briefly - some of the wonderful work that...

Although it is children who are often the centre of attention at Christmas time, this season brings its blessings in many ways to us all.  For families it is a time of togetherness, when extra effort is made to be at home and to renew the bonds of love and...

Christmas is a time of hope.  Into this uncertain world where every human being, however powerful is vulnerable, Christ was born, “the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1. Cor. 1. 24). In the infant of Bethlehem, God became part of human history....

I was born almost exactly six months after Christmas; so my first Christmas was spent in the comfort of my mother’s womb. The only gift I got was the only gift I really needed, the gift of life. I was the first child for my parents, and I imagine it was both an...

Hope is essential in human life whether for single, married, religious, priest or bishop.  The first reading in today’s Mass assures us that God is near and is a God who is compassionate and caring.  There is no need to be afraid as God speaks a word of...

On Wednesday, 13 December 2017 Bishop John McAreavey announced the following personnel changes in the diocese of Dromore. The changes will come into effect on Friday, 5 January 2018: 1. Canon Liam Stevenson, parish priest of Seapatrick (Banbridge), to be parish...