Primary schools from across the diocese were invited to bring their students to the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne, Our Lady Crowned in Mayfield, and Christ Our Light in Ballincollig to venerate the relics of St Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint.

Monsignor Anthony Figueiredo, custodian of St Carlo’s relics, spoke to the students about the young saint’s life. He explained how Carlo enjoyed soccer and video games while also having a deep love for Jesus and the Eucharist. St Carlo described daily Mass and Eucharistic adoration as his “highway to heaven” and encouraged others to discover that active participation in the faith brings true fulfilment and happiness. Monsignor Anthony suggested that this is why St Carlo is such a good role model and witness to help us prepare for our own 100th Anniversary of the Eucharistic Procession.

Students in the Cathedral of St Mary and Anne

Mikey and Felicity were in Glanmire Parish speaking as Masses over the weekend

40 of the Cork and Ross mission team were in over 20 parishes this weekend speaking at Masses.

They mission team spoke about the mission plans as they visit parishes and schools, the visit of the relics of St Carlo Acutis and the 100 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration.

They also encouraged parishioners to respond to Bishop Fintan’s invitation to join the whole diocese for the 100^th Anniversary of the Eucharistic Procession on Sunday 7^th June, leaving the Cathedral at 3pm.

On Saturday morning, the missionaries visited the Poor Clares. They joined the Sisters for Mass and prayed a holy hour together before having the opportunity to meet the sisters and share about the mission plans in preparation for the Eucharistic Procession. The sisters also shared their vocation stories and offered some beautiful advice to our young missionaries.

The timetable for the Visit of the Relics of St. Carlo and the preparation for the Procession can be seen here.

Bishop Fintan is inviting people throughout the Diocese of Cork and Ross to pray a special Novena prayer as part of our preparation for the 100th anniversary of the Eucharistic Procession.

The Novena will be prayed over the nine days leading up to the Feast of Corpus Christi, from Friday, 29th May to Saturday, 6th June.

Copies of the Novena prayer have already been distributed to parishes and will be prayed at Masses across the diocese during these days. Further copies can also be downloaded from the diocesan website.

Each day of the Novena, a short video will be shared at 12 noon on the diocesan website and social media channels. 

Watch Bishop Fintan's invite to pray the Novena from Friday 29th May

The Diocesan Mission is being led by young people from the Diocese of Cork and Ross and joined by a mission team from Canada CCO

The Diocesan Mission team gathered for two days of prayer, formation, and training as the Diocese prepares for the lead-up to the Eucharistic Procession in the city.

The Diocesan Mission is being led by young people from the Diocese of Cork and Ross and joined by a mission team from Canada CCO (Catholic Christian Outreach).

Bishop Fintan Gavin outlined the vision for the mission, encouraging the team to see their work as part of something much bigger as we prepare as a whole diocese for this once in a lifetime milestone event as we prepare for the Eucharistic procession in Cork City.

Maura Whelton pictured with her extended family in the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Barryroe Photo: Paul Finn.

The recently retired sacristan of the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, in Barryroe, has received a papal award.

Maura Whelton was awarded the Benemerenti Medal by Pope Leo for her exceptional services to the Catholic Church and the local community. The presentation was made by Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross at the conclusion of Sunday Mass in Barryroe last week.

Maura’s work in the Barryroe church spanned some three decades and was in tandem with her association with local organisations including Community Alert, the Legion of Mary and St. Vincent de Paul.

Such dedication nowadays is a fading role as society continues to change. Maura's own assessment of the role as sacristan in her local church was “I did it for God, it's as simple as that really.”

When asked how she attained the role the response was: “I just glided in.” Perhaps, if Maura and her family were not living adjacent to the church, things could have been different. But for Maura and her late husband Willie, who married in 1970 and bought the local shop in Tirnanéan nine years later, it seemed the natural thing to do.