Michael Router

Router was born in Rahardrum, Virginia, County Cavan, on 15 April 1965, one of three children to Anthony and Nora Router.{{Cite web |date=7 May 2019 |title=Resignations and appointments |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2019/05/07/190507c.html |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Holy See Press Office}} 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.{{Cite web |date=7 May 2019 |title=Pope Francis appoints Father Michael Router as Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh |url=https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2019/05/07/pope-francis-appoints-father-michael-router-as-auxiliary-bishop-of-armagh/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference}}

He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Kilmore on 25 June 1989.

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.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-07 |title=Fr. Michael Router appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh |url=https://www.kilmorediocese.ie/fr-michael-router-appointed-auxiliary-bishop-of-armagh/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Kilmore Diocese |language=en-GB}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Mac Donald |first=Sarah |date=2019-05-07 |title=Fr Michael Router appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh |url=https://www.catholicireland.net/fr-michael-router-appointed-auxiliary-bishop-armagh/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=CatholicIreland.net |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |date=17 July 2019 |title=Media Diary Notice: Father Michael Router to be ordained as Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh on Sunday |url=https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2019/07/17/media-diary-notice-father-michael-router-to-be-ordained-as-auxiliary-bishop-of-armagh-on-sunday/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference}}

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.

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.{{Cite web |date=7 May 2019 |title=Local priest appointed Auxiliary Bishop |url=https://www.anglocelt.ie/2019/05/07/local-priest-appointed-auxiliary-bishop/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Anglo Celt |language=en-US}}

Router was appointed auxiliary bishop-elect of Armagh and titular bishop-elect of Lugmad by Pope Francis on 7 May 2019.{{Cite web |last=Little |first=Joe |date=7 May 2019 |title=Pope appoints new Auxiliary Bishop to Armagh Archdiocese |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2019/0507/1047929-pope-names-new-auxiliary-bishop-to-armagh-archdiocese/ |access-date=28 February 2023 |website=RTÉ}}{{Cite web |last=Pollak |first=Sorcha |date=7 May 2019 |title=Pope appoints Father Michael Router as auxiliary bishop of Armagh |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/pope-appoints-father-michael-router-as-auxiliary-bishop-of-armagh-1.3884058 |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Archer |first=Bimpe |date=2019-05-08 |title=Co Cavan priest Fr Michael Router appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh |url=http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2019/05/08/news/co-cavan-priest-fr-michael-router-appointed-auxiliary-bishop-of-armagh-1614740/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=The Irish News |language=en}}

He was consecrated by the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Eamon Martin, on 21 July in Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh.{{Cite web |date=22 July 2019 |title=Bishop Michael Router ordained as Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh |url=https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2019/07/22/bishop-michael-router-ordained-as-auxiliary-bishop-of-armagh-2/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference}}{{Cite web |last=Molloy |first=Cian |date=2019-07-22 |title=Ireland's newest bishop expresses hope for the Church's future |url=https://www.catholicireland.net/day-hope-armagh-fr-michael-router-consecrated-bishop/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=CatholicIreland.net |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Tim |last2=Burns |first2=Sarah |date=21 July 2019 |title=Cavan man ordained auxiliary bishop of Armagh archdiocese |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/cavan-man-ordained-auxiliary-bishop-of-armagh-archdiocese-1.3963331 |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}

Router is currently based in Dundalk, County Louth.{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Sarah |date=8 May 2019 |title=New bishop for diocese vulnerable to Brexit will be based in south |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/new-bishop-for-diocese-vulnerable-to-brexit-will-be-based-in-south-38090738.html |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Olivia |date=18 May 2019 |title=Bishop Router to be based in town |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/bishop-router-to-be-based-in-town-38106795.html |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=The Argus |language=en}}

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• [https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/brouter.html Bishop Michael Router] on Catholic-Hierarchy.org
• [https://www.gcatholic.org/hierarchy/data/bishops-RO.htm#62644 Bishop Michael Router] on GCatholic
• [https://www.armagharchdiocese.org/bishop-michael-router/ Bishop Michael Router] on Archdiocese of Armagh
• [https://www.twitter.com/MichaelRouter/ Bishop Michael Router] on Twitter

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Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth

Category:Alumni of Mater Dei Institute of Education

Category:Christian clergy from County Cavan

Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland

Category:1965 births

Category:People from Virginia, County Cavan