- Gerard Gallagher, Fr Tim Lehane SVD, Bishop Michael Router, and Sr Anne Codd at AMRI’s annual conference in Tullamore with a focus on synodality, 2024. Photo: AMRI. Our hope is that the 2026 Congress will not only support the renewal of pastoral life within the Archdiocese of Armagh, but also position us to contribute meaningfully to national and continental discussions as the Church enters the next phase of synodal implementation.
Last autumn the Diocesan Pastoral Council and the Diocesan Synodal Team, along with Archbishop Eamon Martin, decided to hold a Congress in the Archdiocese of Armagh in 2026 with the theme, ‘Youth, Family and Faith’. This theme arose directly from the diocesan consultation held as part of the Universal Synod (2022–2024), during which youth engagement, family life, and faith transmission emerged as key concerns.
Journey
The journey toward the upcoming 2026 Congress, however, began much earlier. In January 2020, the Archdiocese launched a ‘Year of Prayer and Reflection’ to help discern a new Pastoral Plan. Soon after, the world was overtaken by the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis prompted a reimagining of pastoral outreach, as communities adapted to isolation and uncertainty. Amid these changes, the Irish Bishops initiated a national Synodal process in spring 2021, followed by Pope Francis’ global Synodal call later that autumn – both providential, and timely, opportunities to listen anew to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
The Archdiocese embraced this Synodal journey, launching a diocesan-wide listening process that invited clergy, laypeople, religious, and youth to share their hopes, concerns, and ideas for the Church’s future. The insights gathered were submitted at national, continental, and global levels and formed the foundation of the discernment leading to the Congress.
One theme echoed powerfully and consistently: the need for renewed focus on youth and family ministry. Across the Archdiocese, young people voiced a deep desire for authentic spiritual support and opportunities to explore faith meaningfully. Nearly 500 students, engaged through our secondary schools, articulated this longing clearly. At the same time, parents and grandparents expressed a need for stronger support systems within their parishes to help nurture the faith of the next generation. Many parish communities also identified the challenge of engaging young adults (18–35) and the urgency of becoming vibrant centres of evangelisation.
Parishes have been invited into a new season of prayer, listening, and discernment”
The theme ‘Youth, Family, and Faith’ is therefore not simply aspirational: it is the fruit of a Spirit-led discernment process. It echoes broader Church priorities as seen in Rome at the Synod on the New Evangelisation in 2012, the Synods on the Family in both 2014 and 2015, and at the Synod on Young People in 2018. The related post-synodal exhortations of Evangelii Gaudium, Amoris Laetitia, and Christus Vivit all serve as foundational texts to guide the reflections of Congress delegates.
As we prepare for our Congress in March 2026, parishes have been invited into a new season of prayer, listening, and discernment. In pastoral meetings, clergy are often asked, ‘What are you doing about the youth?’ – as if the task rests solely with ordained ministers! Yet the Synodal journey challenges the whole people of God to ask instead: ‘What is my role in renewing parish life and accompanying young people in faith?’
Ignite
The preparation process for the Congress will unfold in three phases. The first phase, ‘Listening and Discernment,’ from May to November this year, will involve parishes and delegates engaging in prayerful dialogue, reflecting on the lived realities of young people and families, and listening attentively to their needs and experiences. This will be followed by ‘Dreaming Together,’ from November to February 2026, where the insights gathered will inform the identification of pastoral priorities and potential initiatives. Finally, in the ‘Crafting the Future’ phase, from February to March 2026, will involve concrete proposals to be developed and brought to the Congress for deliberation, marking the transition from discernment to action.
This journey is not intended to spark a brief surge of energy, but to ignite long-term renewal in parish life. Central to this renewal is the recognition that meaningful transformation does not come from top-down strategies alone – it emerges when local communities take ownership and respond creatively to the Gospel.
Synodality can be embedded in the Church’s life and culture. Our diocesan process is closely aligned with this vision”
Several key focus areas will be explored: digital evangelisation, family-based catechesis, youth leadership, and peer mentoring. These initiatives aim to foster deeper encounters with Christ and help parishes build vibrant, mission-oriented communities. Each parish will be supported in tailoring responses to their own context and needs.
The recently released document, ‘Pathways for the Implementation Phase of the Synod (2025–2028)’, published by the General Secretariat of the Synod outlines how synodality can be embedded in the Church’s life and culture. Our diocesan process is closely aligned with this vision in several ways: it roots all activity in prayer and discernment, promotes co-responsible leadership with laity and clergy working together, and commits to ongoing renewal, reflection, and adaptation. Our hope is that the 2026 Congress will not only support the renewal of pastoral life within the Archdiocese of Armagh, but also position us to contribute meaningfully to national and continental discussions as the Church enters the next phase of synodal implementation.
Embrace
As delegates and parish communities across the Archdiocese of Armagh – which includes almost all of the counties of Armagh and Louth, half of Tyrone and parts of Derry and Meath – enter this vital period of preparation, they are encouraged to participate wholeheartedly, trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Archbishop Eamon Martin has called all communities to embrace the Synodal path as a Spirit-led opportunity for transformation – grounded in compassion, courage, and renewed missionary zeal.
We pray that the Diocesan Congress will offer fresh direction”
This process also unfolds during a significant moment in our diocesan life. We have just concluded the St Brigid 1500 celebrations and are currently marking St Oliver Plunkett 400 – both timely reminders of faithful witness during difficult times.
As we look ahead to 2032, the 1600th anniversary of St Patrick bringing Christianity to Ireland, we pray that the Diocesan Congress will offer fresh direction and hope, enabling us to spiritually accompany young people and families in a complex and ever-changing world.