Irish Mass in St Malachy’s Church 16 May 2026 at 4.00pm
Aifreann Gaeilge in Ard Mhacha: Léifear an tAifreann Gaeilge arís ar an tríú Satharn den mhí seo, 16ú Mín a Bealtaine ar 4.00 i.n. in Eaglais Naomh Maolmhaodhóg, Ard Mhacha. Fáilte roimh chách! Scaipigí an scéal!
Irish Mass in Armagh: The next Irish Mass will be celebrated in St Malachy’s Church, Armagh, on the third Saturday of this month, 16th May, at 4.00pm. All welcome- Irish speakers and those learning Irish. Spread the word!
Knock Pilgrimage to Pray for Peace in the Holy Land 16 May 2026
People from all over Ireland are invited to Knock Shrine on Saturday May 16, for a special pilgrimage to pray for peace in the Holy Land. The pilgrimage – organised by the papal charity Aid to the Church in Need – will be led by Bishop William Shomali from Bethlehem. Bishop Shomali will offer a message of hope at 11am and celebrate Mass at 3pm. All are welcome. More information at www.acnireland.org
Vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood special event Synod Hall 23 May 2026 @ 3pm
Fr Barry Matthews & the Vocations Commission are inviting men discerning the Vocation to Diocesan Priesthood in the Archdiocese of Armagh to join them in the Synod Hall, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh on Saturday May 23rd at 3pm – please encourage anyone in your parish who you feel shows signs of a vocation to come along to this special event. This will be a gentle introduction to discernment with opportunities to ask questions and hear from others about their journey. The afternoon will conclude with Mass at 6:30pm in the Cathedral.
Walk in the footsteps of our Patron Saint on Saint Patrick’s Way Pilgrim Walk in Downpatrick with guides Martina Purdy and Elaine Kelly on Sat 6 June and 8 August, and Mairead Sweeney on Sat 4 July, begin at Saint Patricks Centre with the fabulous 180° IMAX film of St Patrick, price includes entrance fees, internal bus transfers, pilgrimage lunch at the famous Saul Barn, plus a stamped Camino passport and a 6 mile pilgrimage walk finishing at Saint Patrick’s grave. Come and Be Amazed! (Duration 9am-approx 3pm, all for just £55) To book ring 02844 619000 or go to website www.saintpatrickcentre.com
The Camino de Santiaga de Compostelo 27 July 2026 for 7 nights
Walk the Camino (The Portuguese Way), beginning in Vigo and finishing in Santiago. The route takes pilgrims through stunning countryside, villages and towns and we will also walk past terraced fields, lush forests and beautiful vineyards. Over the course of the week, pilgrims will walk approximately 100km and pilgrims will spend the last day in the ancient city of Santiago de Compostela where we will have the opportunity to visit the tomb of St James the Apostle. A spiritual director and guide will accompany the group. For further details and booking see www.marian.ie or email info@marian.ie or call 028 95680005 or 01 8788159.
Pilgrimage to Rome and Umbria 27 July – 4 August 2026
Nine day pilgrimage led by Canon Michael Toner (Lower Creggan Parish) and Fr Paul Murphy (Kilmore Parish) to Rome and Umbria, 27 July to 4 August. Excellent value at 1395 euro, includes flights, accommodation, most dinners, coaching and all tours. Visiting some of the most beautiful places in Italy including Assisi, Orvieto and Spoleto. Mass at the tomb of St Carlo Acutis. For more information email us at: info@myriam.ie or call 0579355050 during office hours.
Pilgrimage to Lisieux 18 -21 September
Pilgrimage to Lisieux, September 18 to 21, staying in a beautiful hotel across the road from the Carmel of St Therese. €795 includes flights, coaching, full religious programme, all dinners, and some lunches. Please phone 057 93 55050 or email info@myriam.ie
ACCORD NEEDS YOU!
ACCORD Catholic Marriage Care Service CLG/NI is currently recruiting volunteers to train as marriage preparation programme facilitators to support couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage. The marriage preparation programmes are fun and interactive and very popular with couples.
Working as part of an enthusiastic, friendly, and experienced team, facilitators typically provide four marriage preparation programmes per annum. Each team works from Accord centres which are located in every diocese, north and south.
Testimonials from facilitators who have completed our training programme:
“The Training really prepared me for my role as marriage preparation programme facilitator. The tutors shared their own experiences of being a facilitator and this was great as it gave me confidence in my own ability to fulfil the role in the future.”
Successful applicants will receive free professional training during seven in person workshops at venues around the country and will be part of a team delivering marriage preparation programmes in your local area.
The closing date for receipt of application forms to be included in Selections for this year is Friday 29th May 2026.
Contact Aisling on 01 505 3112 or by email to marriagepreparation@accord.ie
Anam Cara online Bereavement Information
We offer informational packets, providing information about our supports, grieving processes, and ways to support families through this immensely challenging time. If your parish or community would like a set of packets, or to find out more about the services we offer please email us at info@anamcara.ie or call 085 288 8888.
Walk the Camino (The Portuguese Way), beginning in Vigo and finishing in Santiago. The route takes pilgrims through stunning countryside, villages and towns and we will also walk past terraced fields, lush forests and beautiful vineyards. Over the course of the week, pilgrims will walk approximately 100km and pilgrims will spend the last day in the ancient city of Santiago de Compostela where we will have the opportunity to visit the tomb of St James the Apostle. A spiritual director and guide will accompany the group. For further details and booking see www.marian.ie or email info@marian.ie or call 028 95680005 or 01 8788159.
St Patrick’s Church, Dungannon, 150th Anniversary Concert 29 May 2026 at 7.30pm
As part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of St Patrick’s Church, Dungannon please
join us for a special evening featuring Malachi Cush, Karl McGuckin, and special guests as we celebrate 150 years of faith, music, and community.
Tickets for the 150th Anniversary Celebration Concert at St Patrick’s Church, Dungannon are now available to purchase online at:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/st-patricks-church
£20 each Friday 29th May 2026 7:30pm St Patrick’s Church, Dungannon
Printed tickets will also be available from:
• The Parish Office
• Áras Mhuire Holy Shop, Irish Street
We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you.
On behalf of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust
You are warmly invited to a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving for parents and families who have been bereaved through pregnancy loss or the death of a baby, child or young person in Craigavon Area Hospital or the wider community.
Date: Sunday 31st May 2026
Time: 3pm
Venue: Seagoe Parish Centre, 46 Seagoe Road, Portadown BT63 5HW
Fr Mike Schmitz – The Parables Tour, Dublin, 20 July 2026
Fr Mike Schmitz will visit Ireland next summer for The Parables Tour: A Time of Reflection with Fr Mike Schmitz, taking place in the National Stadium, Dublin, on Monday 20 July 2026, from 7.00pm to 9.00pm.
On the same day, the Evangelisation and Youth Ministry Sub-Council of the Irish Bishops’ Conference will host a special Mass for young people at 5.00pm in Saint Teresa’s Church, Donore Avenue, Dublin, at which Fr Mike Schmitz will preach.
This promises to be an engaging opportunity for young people to gather with others from across the wider Church for an evening of faith, reflection, and encouragement.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.ie. Young people, parents/guardians, and youth groups are encouraged to consider this event.
INVITATION TO DIOCESAN THEOLOGY PROGRAMME
Do you want to learn more about your faith? Do you want more confidence to play a role in your parish? If you are interested, why not consider joining our Diocesan Theology Programme. The programme is accredited by St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth. There are no educational entry requirements, and completion of the course is based on submitted work and does not include sitting exams. Our Theology programme will be continuing this year and starting late September.
If you are interested and would like more information contact Milanda on 0(0353 42)9342954 or milanda@parishandfamily.ie (9am – 2pm). All are welcome.
Join St. Vincent de Paul Dundalk as a Home Visitation Volunteer! St. Vincent de Paul is currently looking for compassionate individuals to join our Home Visitation teams. As a volunteer, you’ll receive training and work alongside experienced members to provide support to families in need. Through home visits, you’ll assess unique needs and offer practical or financial assistance to those in need. This meaningful role is ideal for those with life experience and a heart for service. If interested: email: Dundalk.areacouncil@svp.ie or call 1800 677 777 (press 2 for members)
Accord Seeking Marriage Preparation Facilitators
Accord Catholic Marriage Care Service CLG is currently recruiting volunteers to train as marriage preparation programme facilitators. If you are supportive of marriage in the Catholic Church and have the enthusiasm to be part of the Accord team that supports couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, Accord wants to hear from you
Vocations – Anyone considering God’s call to Priesthood in the Archdiocese of Armagh is invited to contact Fr Barry Matthews
Vocations – Anyone considering God’s call to Priesthood in the Archdiocese of Armagh is invited to contact Fr Barry Matthews, Vocations Director (www.armaghpriest.com) to arrange a meeting to discuss the process and the programme of formation. This Jubilee Year is an ideal time to consider God’s call for your life. Family members also can do their bit by encouraging a young person to consider a vocation to Priesthood or Religious Life and by praying for Vocations.
Volunteering opportunity: Can you spare 2/3 hours one morning per week?
Back on Track is a primary schools programme which provides support for children needing additional help in Literacy or Numeracy. The programme is delivered on a voluntary basis by retired teachers, people who have experience working in education and people who simply want to give children that little bit of extra help with their learning. Never before has there been a greater need to support these children. The Back on Track volunteer is required to commit to 2/3 hours one morning per week for 15 weeks but potentially for a full school year. Sessions with the children are done on a 1:1 or small group basis and are done in a space separate to the classroom. Induction and training will be provided.
For further details contact Kate at Sólás Charity NIC100114 on 02890247600 or 07749633243 or email progs@solasbt7.com
Oasis of Peace Retreat Centre
New Catholic Young Adult Group (18-35y). Join us for a relaxed Meet Up, first Sunday of each month @1pm. Mellifont Abbey, Collon Co. Louth
Join us to make new friends, enjoy an Italian coffee & cake. Live Worship music, time to reflect, Fun & Faith, discuss some life issues like, Finding Happiness, Purpose in Life, Is God Real. Contact Daryl or Deacon John Taaffe (089) 615 2568 www.apostlesoflove.ie
Tours of St Patrick’s Cathedral and Museum
St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish, Armagh are delighted to launch a series of tours of St Patrick’s Cathedral & Museum. Parishioners & visitors to Armagh have the unique opportunity to explore the Cathedral & our museum with the help of our expert guides. Places are limited. For information and booking, visit: https://tinyurl.com/CathedralTours2024
Diploma in Church Music
Programme is suitable for those already involved in the ministry of church music in the Christian tradition, whether as organists, singers, or choir directors.
https://sppu.ie/news-events/2024/diploma-in-church-music-final-year-students
Saint Brigid – St Brigid’s Camino for Children
Join the Archdiocese of Armagh in celebrating the 1500th anniversary of St. Brigid’s life and ministry!
To mark this occasion the Archdiocese has created a special Camino to St. Brigid for children, inviting children and their families to visit Churches and holy sites dedicated to St. Brigid across the Archdiocese of Armagh.
Discover more and learn about how to participate in this unique pilgrimage journey at https://www.armaghprays.com/st-brigids-camino
Accord Catholic Marriage Care Services
Accord Catholic Marriage Care Services CLG is currently recruiting volunteers to train as marriage preparation programme facilitators. If you are supportive of marriage in the Catholic Church and have the enthusiasm to be part of the Accord team that supports couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage – then accord wants to hear from you.
An Accord marriage preparation facilitator is a personally fulfilling leadership role, blending life experience and faith. Successful applicants will receive professional training and be part of the team delivering preparation programmes locally.
Contact Aisling on 01 505 3112 or by email to marriagepreparation@accord.ie and for further information see www.accord.ie
Commemorative Books on Cardinal Ó Fiaich
To mark the centenary of Cardinal Ó Fiaich’s birth a small number of commemorative books have been published and can be purchased from the Cardinal Ó Fiaich Library & Archive. All proceeds will go to the library. For details contact the library on 028 3752 2981.
Totus Tuus Magazine
Totus Tuus Magazine is a Catholic magazine, full of articles from Irish priests and laity, which aims to highlight the beauty and joy of our faith. The magazine is coming into its 7th year of publication and is funded by donations. If you haven’t come across Totus Tuus Magazine and would like a free copy please contact Fiona Kiely on 086 8760058.
Adoptive Parents Needed Urgently
Family Care Adoption Services is an Adoption Agency, and a core part of our work is to place children with new adoptive families. We provide adoption services throughout all Northern Ireland and work with Health and Social Care Trusts to place single children and sibling groups for adoption.
These children are aged from babyhood to approximately 5 years old.
There are currently more children waiting to be adopted in Northern Ireland than families approved to adopt and there is an urgent need for new families to come forward.
All sorts of people from all walks of life can be considered for adoption.
So, wherever you live in Northern Ireland if you think you could offer a child/ren a new life in a family of their own and would like an informal chat to discuss this and to find out more about adoption,
Contact details:
Email:email@familycareadoption.org
Phone: 028 9069 1133
Website: www.familycareadoption.com We are waiting to hear from you!
Archbishop Eamon Martin has asked that the following notice be placed in all parish bulletins and parish websites as soon as possible. It relates to an important independent survey being undertaken by RSM on behalf of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
Safeguarding Survey for Survivors of Abuse
The Irish Bishops’ Conference, along with the Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland, have commissioned consultants, RSM Ireland, to undertake a review of child safeguarding in the Catholic Church. One part of this review is to engage with survivors and victims of abuse, to seek their views on Church Safeguarding processes. Specifically, RSM would like to hear from survivors who have disclosed abuse within the last twenty years, to see what needs to be improved. For more information please contact: survivor.consultation@rsmireland.ie.
St Patrick’s Charismatic Prayer Group Dungannon
Please use the Zoom link below to join session:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83963157819?pwd=UDQwNTNENGx1SktsNkNoQWFVRS9Pdz09
Marriage and Relationship Counselling with Accord
Let us, help you, support your marriage & relationship. If you feel your relationship is in crisis or need a little guidance and feel that you and your partner could benefit from Marriage & Relationship Counselling, either face to face or online, contact your local Centre. Every year we help thousands of couples rebuild and sustain healthy relationships.
Call us on 02890 233002 for all N. Ireland centres: N. Ireland Regional Office, Armagh, Ballymena,
Belfast, Derry, Enniskillen, Maghera, Newry & Omagh
Email: info@accordni.com Web: www.accordni.com
Recordings of the Rosary
Recordings of the 20 mysteries of the Rosary, with meditations, by the Dominican Nuns, Monastery of St Catherine of Siena, Drogheda can be downloaded from www.dominicannun.ie
The link to the web page, with the audio files for download is here.
The link to the youtube video is here.
Southern Trust Hospital Chaplain Band 6 Waiting List
A waiting list will be created for future PART-TIME, PERMANENT posts TRUSTWIDE that arise over the next 12 months. Please note there is currently 1 Catholic Chaplain permanent part-time post available as follows:
Hospital Chaplain (Catholic) Band 6 – 7 hours per week – Craigavon Area Hospital and Bluestone.
You can find all the information here: https://jobs.hscni.net/Job/28859/shsct-hospital-chaplain-band-6-waiting-list
ALONE – Provider of Services to Older People
“Would you be willing to provide companionship or make calls to Older People once a week? ALONE are seeking volunteers in your area. Full training and support provided. If interested please sign up here: https://alone.ie/volunteers/
For more information, contact Fiona on fiona.boyle@alone.ie or on 086 1366539.”
Choose Healthcare Chaplaincy as a career
For more details please email: informationHCBoard@gmail.com
It’s Cardiac Rehab
‘It’s Cardiac Rehab’ – A podcast series bringing together experts in cardiac rehab and patients who have attended cardiac rehabilitation. Topics included are exercise, medication, healthy eating and the psychological impact of living with heart disease. If you have had a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack, coronary artery stenting or coronary artery bypass surgery – log onto https://irishheart.ie/services-for-you/its-cardiac-rehab-podcast/ for information and support’
A Journey of Faith, Hope and Joy with St Patrick
Come and be refreshed on ancient paths in the cradle of Christianity in Ireland. Poor Clares, Sr Martina Purdy and Sr Elaine Kelly will lead you on an amazing five day pilgrimage that includes guided walks to sites associated with St Patrick in County Down. Stay in Tobar Mhuire Retreat Centre, visit with monks along St Patrick’s Way, and capture the joy of the first Christians in Ireland. From £850 all inc meals, transport, activities. Details www.saintpatrickcentre.com or call centre Downpatrick 028 4461 9000
A Prayer by Telephone
The Sisters of Mercy “Bethany” 34 Point Road, Dundalk, welcome any person who may wish to request prayer, especially during these difficult times. All requests are confidential. One of the sisters will be happy to LISTEN & PRAY with you, 9am -9pm daily.ROI 042 933 1602 NI 00353 42 933 1602
EVERYONE WELCOME.
An Irish Pilgrimage Guide to the Holy Land
An Irish Pilgrimage Guide to the Holy Land is a new book by Michael Kelly, Editor of The Irish Catholic newspaper which explores the places associated with the life of Christ. Michael, who has led many pilgrimages to the Holy Land, says he hopes the book can also act as an ‘armchair retreat’ for people who cannot travel to the Holy Land bringing the Gospel to life for them. It is available now from all good bookshops and www.columbabooks.com price €16.99/£14.99
Accord NI
If you feel your relationship is in crisis or you just need a little guidance.
If you and your partner feel you could benefit from Marriage & Relationship Counselling, contact your local ACCORD Centre. Every year we help thousands of couples rebuild and sustain healthy relationships. Protect your most precious investment. Let us, help you, support your marriage.
T: 02890 233002 for an appointment E: info@accordni.com www.accordni.com
Matt Talbot Prayer Society
The Matt Talbot Prayer Society prays daily for those with addictions. You can enrol somebody to be prayed for each day as well as at the monthly Mass which takes place in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. The monthly Mass takes place on the First Monday of each month at 7:30pm. For more information, please visit www.matttalbotprayersociety.com where you can also enrol somebody via the online submission.
HSC NI Foster Care
HSC NI Foster Care is urgently appealing for more foster carers and supported lodgings hosts who can provide homes to young refugees who arrive in Northern Ireland without a parent or carer. For more information on becoming a foster carer or supported lodgings host, contact HSC NI Foster Care on 0800 0720 137 or visit www.adoptionandfostercare.hscni.net/young-refugees/
Diploma in Youth Ministry & Spirituality
Diploma in Youth Ministry & Spirituality from Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth. The diploma is tailored for those who wish to work in Youth Ministry. For more information please see www.maynoothcollege.ie/courses
Accord
Accord is recruiting interested people to assist in the provision of Marriage Preparation Programmes. Application forms are available by contacting marriagepreparation@accord.ie.
Selections will take place in June of this year with training commencing in September. This year Accord is celebrating 60 years supporting couples and families.
Please contact us for any support you