University College Cork
Sun 17 Nov 2024
starting at 9:30am
Receive diocesan news and announcements direct to your email
I hope that whatever you are seeking you may find some steps here that will lead you to know the God of Love in your life. You are welcome to walk with us on our social media channels, too.
Bishop Fintan Gavin
Receive diocesan news direct to your email 
"Even the winds and seas obey Him"Three key information meetings are planned for Priests, Parish Leadership Teams and chaplaincies on Saturday 23 November, Sunday 24 November and Sunday 1 December.
These meetings will set the context for the Year ahead and outline the next steps for Parishes and Families of Parishes. The process for prayer, listening, and discernment has been piloted in one Family of Parishes and is being fine-tuned based on the feedback to be rolled out across the Diocese in the new year.
The Holy Spirit is guiding us to be faithful and courageous in new ways so that we can carry on the mission of the Church. In addition to reciting ‘Our Prayer from the Boat,’ you are invited to participate in special times of guided prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in the following Parish churches:
Fr Des Campion SDB, CFCBishop Fintan Gavin has extended his sympathy and prayerful support to all of Fr Des’s family, Salesian Confreres, Naval colleagues and friends at this time.
Fr Des has been ministering as Chaplain Naval Services and Port Chaplain, Haulbowline, Cork since 1988.
Fr Des, a native of Drimnagh, Dublin 12 , was ordained on December 7th 1973 to the Salesians of Don Bosco Ireland at the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Mourne Road, Drimnagh. After ordination he served in many teaching, chaplaincy and pastoral roles in various Salesian Houses including Crumlin - Dublin, Ballinakill - Laois and Pallaskenry and Milford in Limerick.
In 1985 Fr Des took up appointment as Chaplain to Sarsfield Army Barracks in Henry Street, Limerick. In 1988 Fr Des was appointed Chaplain to the Naval Base at Haulbowline, Cork where he served until his death.
Fr Columba Jordan CFR, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal and Ms Katie Ascough, Founder of ‘Called to More’, were the guest speakers at CONNECT 5 to speak on this year’s CONNECT theme which was “In a troubled world, Dare to Hope”.
This was the fifth in a series of meetings of young people which were initiated by Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, to help young Catholics CONNECT with each other in a sociable and reflective atmosphere.
Speaking to the young people between 18 and 35 years, Fr Columba said “We don’t get hope by figuring out the problems of the world. We get hope from the Lord. Hope is based on what God has promised.”
CONNECT 5 Attendees
Bishop Fintan was warmly welcomed at Holy Well National School middle and senior school buildings by Principal Mr Aidan Crowley, BOM Chairperson, Mr. Diarmaid Cogan, priests from Carrigaline Parish, staff members as well as parent and pupil representatives. He met with pupils in both buildings and shared in a liturgy at both assemblies during which pupils sang and joined him in prayer. Following Bishop Fintan’s lead, all pupils learned and joined with him in saying a meaningful prayer with actions.
Pupils engaged in a Q&A session with Bishop Fintan in which they gained an insight into both his life and ministry as Bishop of Cork & Ross. Bishop Fintan thanked the pupils for their kind welcome and rewarded them with a homework pass which was well received.
Bishop Fintan's addresses the school community during a visit to Holy Well National School.
Attendees at the Launch of Maranatha which is set to take place in City Hall Thursday 6 MarchMaranatha is the first of what will become an annual faith-based, high energy music event for young people from parishes throughout the Diocese attending post-primary schools. Almost half of the Post-Primary schools throughout the diocese will participate in this initiative.
Twenty recently appointed principals of primary schools throughout the Diocese of Cork and Ross gathered in Cork International Hotel to meet as a group with Bishop Fintan as school patron.
Bishop Fintan assured the gathering of his support for them in their leadership and management role through the Diocesan Education Secretariat as well as in their role as faith leaders via the Diocesan Co-ordinator of Faith Formation in primary schools. Bishop Fintan acknowledged that while school principals, staff members and Boards of Management face many challenges in a changing faith landscape in families, the Catholic ethos of schools centred on the Person of Jesus is even more needed than ever.
Ms. Susan O’Hanrahan, Diocesan Co-ordinator for Faith Formation in Primary Schools, outlined initiatives to support the faith formation of children as well as nourishing the faith lives of staff members including an upcoming Day of Reflection for teachers on Saturday 30th November in Mardyke House, the roll-out of a pilot programme for the introduction of Christian meditation in primary schools, the development of a pilot retreat for Confirmation candidates with NET Ministries, Bishop Fintan’s on-going pastoral visits to schools and her own on-going school visits to support teachers with the Grow In Love Programme.
Michelle Griffin (St Maries of the Isle), Sinead Elliffe (Scoil Padre Pio), Louise Hallissey (Summercove NS), Jan O'Sullivan (St Vincent's Convent School)Make a secure donation to
the Diocese of Cork and Ross
