Archdiocese of Armagh
2013 Ecumenical Report
Very Rev. Dr. Pádraig Murphy, P.P.
Director for Ecumenism,
Archdiocese of Armagh,
Parochial House,
Ravensdale,
DUNDALK,
Co. Louth.
1. Broad Areas for Consideration
This year, 2013, has been an eventful year in the Archdiocese of Armagh. The Week of
Prayer for Christian Unity began with Archbishop Charles Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to
Ireland, joining Cardinal Seán Brady at a concelebrated Mass for Christian Unity in St
Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, on Friday 18th January. It was no coincidence that the official
announcement of Mgr Eamon Martin’s appointment at Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh was
made at a press conference following the Mass, signalling the advent of a new era in the
diocese. Then on 27th February, the day before Pope Benedict XVI retired as pope, the
announcement came that he had granted Bishop Gerard Clifford’s request to retire as
auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese on the grounds of ill health, marking the end of another
era.
Bishop Gerry has been one of the ecumenical stalwarts in the country for many years.
Following the 1979 visit to Ireland of Blessed John Paul II, Bishop Gerry was a key player in
the closer cooperation between the Churches and Christian traditions on this island. When
appointed curate in Portadown that same year he also assumed the role of Diocesan Director
for Ecumenism. He worked closely with the late Canon William Arlow of St Anne’s
Cathedral, Belfast, who held a similar post in the Church of Ireland. In 1980 he was
appointed curate in the parish of Kilmore, Co. Armagh and continued in his role as Director
for Ecumenism until 1991 when he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh and Titular
Bishop of Geron.
Bishop Gerry’s episcopal motto Ut Unum Sint, (That They May Be One), signifies his
commitment and work for ecumenism. It expresses the hoped-for reconciliation of the two
principal Christian traditions in Ireland. Until recently he was a member of the Bishops’
Commission for Ecumenism, the Advisory Committee on Ecumenism and the Inter-Church
Standing Committee on Mixed Marriages. For many years he served as a member of the Irish
Inter-Church Committee (Ballymascanlon Conference). Cardinal Brady rightly paid tribute to
Bishop Gerry’s many gifts and selfless contribution to the work of the Irish Bishops’
Conference over the last two decades especially in the area of ecumenism.
2. Events
Events during the Week of Prayer 2014
As usual, a number of events took place throughout the Archdiocese between 18th and 25th
January 2014 to mark the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Armagh
Cardinal Brady hosted the customary Ecumenical Coffee Morning in Ara Coeli on Friday,
24th January for local Protestant clergy and their wives along with the priests of the local
vicariate.
The annual Ecumenical Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity took place in St
Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral on Wednesday 22nd January at 7.30pm. Most Rev.
Richard Clarke, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, participating in the service. The
two Deans of Armagh, Rt. Rev. Mgr. Colum Curry VG and Very Rev. Gregory Dunstan
(Church of Ireland), Rev. Tony Davidson, Armagh First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Denis
Maguire, Methodist Church in Armagh, took part in the service in addition to clergy from the
various denominations in Armagh City and district. Most Rev. Charles J. Brown, Apostolic
Nuncio to Ireland, gave the address. Refreshments were served afterwards in the Synod Hall,
Church House in Abbey Street. Cardinal Brady
Dungannon
During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 2013) a joint ecumenical service was
held in St Anne’s Church of Ireland, which was very well attended by all sections of the
community.
Cookstown
Local clergy participated in a Prayer Walk on 20th January visiting and praying in the
churches of the various denominations in Cookstown. The following evening the annual
ecumenical service was hosted in Holy Trinity Catholic Church, which saw the clergy and
people from each denomination in the town coming together in prayer and fellowship. Very
Rev. Kenny Hall, Church of Ireland Dean of Clogher, gave the address at the service.
Magherafelt
An ecumenical coffee morning was hosted by the priests of the parish in the Parochial House
which was attended by the local Church of Ireland rector, Canon Terry Scott, Presbyterian
Minister, Rev. Jonathan Curry and his assistant, and the Methodist Minister, Rev. Stephen
Sheerin.
Portadown
During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Epworth Methodist Church congregation
hosted the annual Inter-Church Service on Friday 25th January. The previous Sunday, the
annual reader exchange to mark the Week of Prayer took place with readers from the various
congregations visiting each other’s services to read from the scriptures.
Coalisland
During the Week of Prayer the local clergy organised a school assembly in the secondary
school led by the parish priest, Fr Paul Byrne, and the Church of Ireland rector, Rev. Andrew
Rawding. That evening the annual Inter Church service was held in the local Church of
Ireland church during which the address was given by Rev. Ken Newell. The Presbyterian
minister in Newmills, Rev David Brownlow, was also in attendance.
Drogheda
On 24th January 2013, during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, there was an
ecumenical prayer service jointly organised by St Oliver’s Pastoral Area (Mell, Mellifont &
St Peter’s, Drogheda) and the Drogheda, Ardee & Collon, and Kilsaran Union of Parishes,
held in the Church of the Assumption, Mellifont. The service was jointly led by Rev. Joyce
Moore and Fr Sean Dooley, and the preacher was the Rev. Peter Rutherford, Rector,
Julianstown. A joint choir from the three Catholic parishes and the Church of Ireland Union
was assembled for the occasion.
Dundalk
Due to the recent transfer of the local Church of Ireland rector to Limerick, the annual
ecumenical service to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the town did not take
place as the local Presbyterian minister does not attend or participate in Inter-Church prayer
services with Catholics.
Events during the Year
Pádraig Murphy attended the funeral of Very Rev. Herbert Cassidy, former Dean of St
Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral on Monday, 15th April. He also attended the Church of
Ireland General Synod in Armagh from 9th to 11th May as a representative of the Irish
Episcopal Conference.
Portadown Lay Forum hosted their AGM on 6th March 2013 with a local Jesuit priest as
guest speaker, giving insight into some aspects of Jesuit life and spirituality.
In Drogheda, the St. Oliver’s Pastoral Area (Catholic) & Drogheda, Ardee & Kilsaran Union
of Parishes (Church of Ireland) hosted an Ecumenical Service to mark Women’s World Day
of Prayer in St Peter’s Church of Ireland, Drogheda on Friday 1st March 2013.
The 26th Irish Inter-Church Meeting took place in the Dromantine Retreat and Conference
Centre near Newry on Thursday 25th April and was jointly chaired by Cardinal Seán Brady
and Mrs Gillian Kingston. The theme of the meeting was the Second Vatican Council. Dr
James Corkery SJ delivered a paper on ‘Vatican II and its Reception in Ireland’, while Dr
Patrick Mitchell delivered a paper on ‘Vatican II and Contemporary Ireland; a Protestant
Response.’
In May the Centre for Celtic Spirituality moved from St Patrick’s Church of Ireland
Cathedral, to new premises at the Navan Interpretive Centre, Killylea Road, Armagh. The
Centre is a combined Church and charitable project involving Quakers, Anglicans,
Methodists, Catholics and Presbyterians. The Centre, which had established a small Celtic
Studies library for the study of Celtic spirituality, was officially opened on Friday 10 th May,
when the chairman of the Board of Directors, Rev. Dr. Johnston McMaster, gave an address
to mark the occasion. Armagh City & District Council has supported the work of the Centre
since its inception which was duly acknowledged by its director Rev. Grace Clunie.
The annual Charles Wood Summer School for singers, organists and choir directors took
place in all of the main churches in Armagh, from 18th to 25th August 2013. The rich and
varied programme featured lunchtime and evening concerts, religious services, and teaching
and workshop sessions. On Sunday, 25th August, as in previous years, an ecumenical service
from the Church of Ireland Cathedral was broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster.
3. Groups and Processes
Armagh
The Armagh Inter Clergy Group continues to meet on a regular basis. During Lent there were
four gatherings in each of the main churches in Armagh City, enabling people to come
together to learn about the different customs and practices associated with each of the
churches. These gatherings proved to be very successful and were very well attended. The
Cathedrals’ Partnership continues to meet on a regular basis and organised a number of
events during the year. In mid September an Inter-Church service was held in the ruins of the
13th century Franciscan Friary in the Palace Demesne, and a special Inter Church Advent
evening took place during the first week of Advent involving the various denominations in
the city.
Dungannon
The local Clergy Forum continues to build relationships of confidence and trust, and an open
space to respond to local issues. The Forum works in close partnership with Dungannon and
South Tyrone Borough Council, who provide financial assistance to it. While all the clergy in
the borough are notified, the attendance is usually limited to 12 to 14 clergy, derived mainly
from the Catholic and Church of Ireland denominations.
The Forum organised a three day excursion to London last February. Clergy from all
denominations participated in a very full programme with visits to places of worship like St
Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Brompton Oratory. They also visited Notre Dame
de France Night Shelter for homeless people and St Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace and
Reconciliation. Meetings with Dr Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, and with Nicky
Grumble of the Alpha Programme followed. The trip proved to be a very valuable exercise
for the Forum, both educationally and in terms of building relationships, thereby helping the
members of the Forum to work ever more closely together in the future. Following from the
success of previous years, the Forum organised five evenings during Lent where people were
invited to come together to reflect on a piece of scripture.
The Forum has met regularly throughout the past year and focused on matters of common
concern. A very worthwhile workshop was facilitated by representatives from CAP
(Christians Against Poverty), a group which provides a counselling service for people who
are struggling with financial difficulties. Since opening its first centre in Northern Ireland, it
has helped over 2000 clients and their families. The Forum also reflected on the impact of
suicide within the local community. On Tuesday 10th September they had an ecumenical
‘Service of Comfort and Hope’ to mark World Suicide Awareness Day. A ‘Walk of Hope’
was organised for families affected by suicide on the First Sunday of Advent (1st December).
The Forum is planning to hold a Peace Conference in February 2014 to look at the role of the
Clergy and the Churches in addressing the legacy of the Troubles. While the efforts have
been modest, it is felt by the participants of the Clergy Forum that they have grown in depth
and in friendship.
Coalisland: The local Clergy Forum meets on a monthly basis. In February 2013 it organised
a two-day residential for all local clergy. In early September it organised an Inter-Church
service for Suicide Awareness Week with Catholic, Church of Ireland and Presbyterian
clergy taking part. This month (December) will see a number of Inter-Church Carol Services.
The local clergy are currently organising with the help of the ICPP (Irish Churches Peace
Project) a Peace Conference for clergy that will be held in February 2014. Sadly, the
Presbyterians and the Methodists in that part of Co. Tyrone aren’t as forthcoming in
ecumenical matters and consequently, they feel unable to take part. Despite this, there is an
eventful series of ecumenical contacts and activities in the locality at the present time, even if
it is confined to Catholic and Church of Ireland clergy.
Cookstown: The local Inter-Church Forum organised a number of events during this year.
On Friday 15th February, the Annual Dinner was held in Braeside Restaurant. On Friday, 1st
March an Inter-Church Service was held to mark Woman’s World Day of Prayer. The Forum
organised a presentation entitled ‘Passing on the Gift’ by Aoibheann Fearon from Bóthar on
providing gifts of livestock for families in some of the poorest Third World countries. On
Monday 8th April, Kate Shersta gave a presentation on ‘The Leprosy Mission’ in Nepal and
provided samples of Nepalese food. The Forum had a planning day aimed at setting up a food
bank, an idea which was taken up by the local conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society
which is now working with the Forum on the project.
The Forum held its AGM on Monday 13th May in Lissan House which was preceded by an
address by Very Rev. Dr. Ken Newell on ‘The Imitation of Christ living an inclusive lifestyle
in a divided community.’ Lissan House was also the venue for the annual Forum Barbecue
which was very well attended. On 13th June Forum members went to the Shrine of Our Lady
in Walsingham, England, while on Saturday 14th September they gathered together holding
placards for ‘Peace’ and handed out peace prayer cards in Cookstown town centre. On
Remembrance Sunday (10th November), Forum members prayed together at the Royal British
Legion ceremony at the town’s cenotaph. On Saturday 30th November they gathered around
the town’s Christmas tree singing carols to mark the turning on of the Christmas lights.
During this month of December they will have a prayer service in the local Women’s Aid
Centre and another in the local hostel for the homeless. Current members of the Forum are
delighted that Pastor Ufuoma Obahor, of the Ark Kingdom Ministries Pentecostal Church,
has recently joined the Clergy Forum.
Portadown: The Churches Together in Portadown Group continues to meet on a monthly
basis. The group comprises of Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist, Society of Friends,
Salvation Army, Vineyard, and Catholic members. At the recent AGM Mrs Myrtle Wright
(Methodist) was elected chair while the local parish priest, Fr Michael O’Dwyer, was reelected secretary. During the year clergy meet monthly at Seagoe Church of Ireland Parish
Centre. Each meeting begins with prayer at 12noon in which they pray for themselves as
Church leaders, for their town and its people. Such prayer time isn’t a formal part of their
meetings. Consequently, some clergy come and some do not.
During the past year the Group organised the usual round of events: an Easter Dawn Service
at Craigavon Lakes, and a day of reflection in May for themselves at Moyallen Quaker
House. Following the success of the 2012 ‘Good Friday Walk with the Cross’ a similar walk
was organised on Good Friday this year which took place in the morning. Each Church group
left their respective places of worship and walked into the town centre to meet up at the Plaza
at St Mark’s Church of Ireland. Along the way the Passion narrative from St Mark’s Gospel
was read. Seagoe Church of Ireland supplied a large cross for the Plaza at St Mark’s Church
where the Gospel account of the Crucifixion was read, hymns were sung and a moment of
silence was observed. Then the whole group walked up and down the street as people on the
pavement stopped to look.
All the members of the Group were invited to attend the Down and Dromore (Church of
Ireland) Diocesan Synod which was hosted by Seagoe Parish in September. Most of the
members managed to be present during parts of the synod. As a group they have also been
engaged with the Irish Churches Peace Project (ICPP) with some attending the launch in
Belfast. They are currently meeting with the project managers about what they as Churches
can do to further the peace in their community. This initiative embraces clergy and Church
groups that do not meet with the Church Together in Portadown.
The Lay Forum Group continues to organise the Pre-Christmas Service which takes place this
month in Armagh Road Presbyterian Church. It meets twice a year in June and December, for
lunch and a social. It hosted its AGM on 6th March 2013 with a local Jesuit priest as guest
speaker, giving insight into some aspects of Jesuit life and spirituality.
Magherafelt: The clergy of the four main churches in Magherafelt continue to meet every
second month in each other’s homes. Although ecumenism is progressing well in the town,
the clergy always have to move slowly because the Presbyterian minister feels under a lot of
pressure from his congregation with regard to ecumenical ventures with Catholics. Informal
meetings have also taken place from time to time between the local Catholic clergy and the
local Baptist minister, who would like to join the clergy fellowship. However, clergy from
the other denominations are not keen to foster such a development.
Drogheda:
On 1st March 2013, to mark the Women’s World Day of Prayer, there was a
joint Catholic Pastoral Area and Church of Ireland Union of Parishes prayer service, held in
St Peter’s Church of Ireland, Drogheda. The service was led by Mrs Catherine Logue (St
Oliver’s Pastoral Area) and Mrs Margaret Stafford (Church of Ireland Union), and the
address was given by Sr Catherine Dwyer, MMM, Drogheda. A joint choir from the three
Catholic parishes and the Church of Ireland Union was assembled for the event. This prayer
service has become a regular feature on the Pastoral Area calendar, and it is hoped that it will
remain so. During the annual Good Friday open-air Stations of the Cross in Drogheda, one
station was prayed at St Peter’s Church of Ireland and another at the old Presbyterian Church
in Palace Street.
Mellifont:
An Inter-Church Prayer Service was held on 1st March in Tullyallen Church
(Mellifont Parish) to mark Women’s World Day of Prayer.
Dundalk:
The Church of Ireland Dundalk/Ballymascanlon Union of parishes has been
without a rector for more than a year. However, the non-stipendiary curate, Rev. Richard
Moore, has worked closely with local Catholic clergy on a number of activities. The annual
‘Walk of Witness’ saw a cross being carried through the streets of the town on Good Friday,
6th April, beginning at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Roden Place and ending at St
Nicholas’s Church of Ireland. Both congregations met on 1st March for Women’s World Day
of Prayer which was held in St. Nicholas’ Church of Ireland where Fr. Garrett Campbell gave
the address. Rev. Richard Moore and Fr Mark O’Hagan had a number of short meetings with
the Muslim leader in Dundalk. They continue to invite their parishioners to a number of
services in the each other’s churches, most notably the parishes Carol Services.
Carrickmore: While co-existence with the Church of Ireland community in Carrickmore is
very positive, there is no liturgical interaction whatsoever. Of course Catholic parishioners
attend funerals and weddings in the local Church of Ireland but that is the current extent of
ecumenical activity in the village. However, a deceased member of the Church of Ireland
community was prayed for at Mass recently which was much appreciated.
4. Concluding Remarks
Even though ecumenical relations and practical ecumenism at grassroots level has increased
throughout the Archdiocese over the past three decades, such initiatives can prove to be quiet
divisive at times. As reported in recent years, some Protestant clergy readily admit to feeling
under pressure from their congregations where ecumenical ventures with Catholics are
concerned. This coupled with their reluctance to have ‘free church’ ministers involved in
clergy fora/groups, can greatly determine the pace of ecumenical activity in any given
locality. In the northern part of the archdiocese priests are noting a certain retrenchment and
lack of interest among some Protestant clergy. Dungannon Clergy Forum is a case in point.
Over the past few months, forum members have been reflecting on the lack of participation
from prospective clergy within their wider catchment area. While respecting the decisions of
those who do not wish to attend meetings, they regret their absence and acknowledge the
degree of fraternity and good will engendered among the regular participants who have
shared their faith journeys with one another and gained new ideas and different perspectives.