Michael Router

Abstract is: Bishop Michael Router is an Irish Roman Catholic Bishop, appointed in 2019 as Auxiliary bishop of Armagh and Titular Bishop of Lugmad.Born in 1965, he grew up in Virginia, County Cavan, and was educated locally at Virginia National School and in Kells C.B.S. He studied for the priesthood in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he graduated with a Bachelor in Divinity Degree and a Higher Diploma in Education. He was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Francis McKiernan, the bishop of Kilmore, in 1987 and was subsequently ordained to the priesthood in St Matthew's Church, on 25 June 1989. He commenced priestly ministry as a curate in the parish of Killinkere and in 1991 the then Fr. Michael taught in St Patrick's College, Cavan.Bishop Michael was appointed Chaplain of Bailieborough Community School in 1996 and Priest in Residence in the Parish of Kilmainhamwood and Moybologue. He commenced studies at the Mater Dei Institute of Education, in Dublin and during that time assisted in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Drimnagh in 2002/2003 and upon completion of studies was awarded a Masters in Religious Education. Upon return to the Diocese of Kilmore, Router assumed the role of Diocesan Director of Adult Faith Formation and Pastoral Renewal. His role in the Diocese of Kilmore included providing training, and support for Parish Pastoral Councils, Liturgy Groups, Eucharistic Ministers and Ministers of the Word. He also helped provide Adult Religious Education courses in the Diocesan Pastoral Centre. In 2010, in addition to these roles, Bishop Michael was appointed director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre and in 2013 he was transferred as Curate to the Cathedral Parish in Cavan with responsibility for the Butlersbridge area. In 2014 he was appointed to his the position of Parish Priest of Killann Parish, which includes the towns of Bailieborough and Shercock, and as Vicar Forane for the Bailieborough Deanery. Bishop Michael was also a member of the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Kilmore and chairman of the Diocesan Priests’ Council. Bishop Router was ordained to the episcopate in Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh, on Sunday, 21 July 2019.