Year of Reflection and Prayer Extended until June 2020

As the Diocesan Pastoral Plan in the Archdiocese of Armagh for the period 2015 to 2020, drew to a close, the Archdiocese launched a Year of Reflection and Prayer in January 2020 so that it could begin making preparations for a new Pastoral Plan in a new decade!

The purpose of the year was to encourage reflection and seek the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit in discerning the way forward for the diocese in the years ahead.  No one could have foreseen the arrival of a worldwide pandemic in 2020, nor the immense changes and challenges that it heralds.  For this reason, the Archdiocese has decided to extend the year of reflection and prayer until June 2021.

In the video above Bishop Michael Router and Leah Marron reflect on the year that has passed, acknowledging the difficulties it has presented, and outlining some pastoral initiatives that the Archdiocese has engaged with.  

Our Diocesan Pastoral Council believes the process of planning for the future is too important to be rushed. It is essential to give time as well to reflect on all that has been achieved over the past few decades of Pastoral Planning and consider how the past year and the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted each one of us.  The extended period of reflection is an opportunity for everyone in the diocese to get involved in the process and to offer their thoughts and insight.  

In the video Bishop Michael asks two questions to help in that reflection:

He invites you to send your considered responses to these questions to [email protected]