| Title | Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh Titular Bishop of Lugmad |
|---|---|
| Church | Roman Catholic |
| Archdiocese | Armagh |
| See | Lugmad |
| Predecessor | Gerard Clifford (Armagh) John Joseph Gerry (Lugmad) |
| Ordination | 25 June 1989 |
| Ordained by | Francis MacKiernan |
| Consecration | 21 July 2019 |
| Consecrated by | Eamon Martin |
| Birth date | 15 April 1965 (age 61) |
| Birth place | Virginia, County Cavan, Ireland |
| Previous post | Vicar forane for the Bailieborough deanery Chairman of the council of priests and Director of adult faith formation and pastoral renewal for the Diocese of Kilmore Chaplain at Bailieborough Community School Chaplain and Teacher at St Patrick's College, Cavan |
| Alma mater | Mater Dei Institute of Education St Patrick’s College, Maynooth |
| Honorific prefix | The Most Reverend |
| Honorific suffix | MRE DD |
| Appointed | 7 May 2019 |
| Enthroned | 21 July 2019 (Lugmad) |
| Parents | Anthony and Nora Router |
| Bishop name | Michael Router |
|---|---|
| Dipstyle | The Most Reverend |
| Offstyle | Your Grace |
| Relstyle | Bishop |
Michael Router is an Irish Catholic prelate who has served as auxiliary bishop of Armagh and titular bishop of Lugmad since 2019.
Early life and education
Router was born in Rahardrum, Virginia, County Cavan, on 15 April 1965, one of three children to Anthony and Nora Router.[1] He played Gaelic football for Ramor United and Killinkere, and attended primary school at Virginia National School and the Christian Brothers secondary school in Kells, County Meath. Router began studying for the priesthood at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, in 1982, completing a Bachelor of Divinity and a higher diploma in education.[2]
He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Kilmore on 25 June 1989.[2]
Presbyteral ministry
Following ordination, Router's first pastoral assignment was as curate in Killinkere, between 1989 and 1991. Between 1991 and 1996 he taught English, geography and religion at St Patrick's College, Cavan, while also serving as chaplain and coaching basketball and Gaelic football.[3]
Router was appointed chaplain to Bailieborough Community School, where he also coached basketball and Gaelic football, and resident priest in Kilmainhamwood and Moybologue in 1996, before completing a Master of Religious Education at Mater Dei Institute of Education, Dublin, between 2002 and 2003, during which time he was assistant priest in Our Lady of Good Counsel parish, Drimnagh.[4]
Router returned to the Diocese of Kilmore in 2003, where he was appointed resident priest in Castletara (centred on Ballyhaise) and diocesan director of adult faith formation and pastoral renewal, where he was responsible for providing training, encouragement and support for parish pastoral councils, liturgy groups, Eucharistic ministers and Ministers of the Word. Router also facilitated the provision of adult religious education courses in the diocesan pastoral centre and in Manorhamilton, which were accredited by the Mater Dei Institute of Education and the Maryvale Institute. During his time in Ballyhaise, he also served as a selector for the local Gaelic football club between 2004 and 2012. It was during his time as diocesan director of adult faith formation and pastoral renewal that Router also wrote a religious affairs column for The Anglo-Celt and the Cavan Voice.[5][2]
He was appointed director of the diocesan pastoral centre in 2010, and curate in the cathedral parish of Urney and Annagelliff (centred on Cavan and Butlersbridge), with responsibility for Butlersbridge, in 2013.[2]
Router was appointed parish priest in Killann (centred on Bailieborough and Shercock) and vicar forane for the Bailieborough deanery in 2014. He also served on the diocesan college of consultors and as chairman of the diocesan council of priests since 2017.[6]
Episcopal ministry
Router was appointed auxiliary bishop-elect of Armagh and titular bishop-elect of Lugmad by Pope Francis on 7 May 2019.[1][7][8][9]
He was consecrated by the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Eamon Martin, on 21 July in Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh.[10][11][12]
Router is currently based in Dundalk, County Louth.[13][14]
References
- ^ "Resignations and appointments". Holy See Press Office. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Pope Francis appoints Father Michael Router as Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Fr. Michael Router appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh". Kilmore Diocese. 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Mac Donald, Sarah (2019-05-07). "Fr Michael Router appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh". CatholicIreland.net. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Media Diary Notice: Father Michael Router to be ordained as Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh on Sunday". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Local priest appointed Auxiliary Bishop". Anglo Celt. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Little, Joe (7 May 2019). "Pope appoints new Auxiliary Bishop to Armagh Archdiocese". RTÉ. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ Pollak, Sorcha (7 May 2019). "Pope appoints Father Michael Router as auxiliary bishop of Armagh". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Archer, Bimpe (2019-05-08). "Co Cavan priest Fr Michael Router appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh". The Irish News. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Bishop Michael Router ordained as Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Molloy, Cian (2019-07-22). "Ireland's newest bishop expresses hope for the Church's future". CatholicIreland.net. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ O'Brien, Tim & Burns, Sarah (21 July 2019). "Cavan man ordained auxiliary bishop of Armagh archdiocese". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ MacDonald, Sarah (8 May 2019). "New bishop for diocese vulnerable to Brexit will be based in south". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Ryan, Olivia (18 May 2019). "Bishop Router to be based in town". The Argus. Retrieved 2023-02-28.