The upcoming Pentecost gatherings on Saturday 27th in Rosscarbery and on Sunday 28th May in Cork city will be a wonderful opportunity for people and priests to gather to further develop the way forward for our diocese and the Family of Parishes way of being Church

At the centre of both gatherings will be presentations from Julianne Stanz who is Director of New Evangelization in the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA. Julianne has extensive experience in guiding faith communities towards a more vibrant and mission-oriented future. Her expertise and wisdom will be thought-provoking as we navigate the changes in our own diocese.

Bishop Fintan Gavin has announced the appointment in the Diocese of Cork and Ross of a Parish Life Co-ordinator

Eilís Casey who has commenced work with the Diocese will direct the Office for Mission and Ministry.

As Parish Life Co-ordinator she will work to support the implementation of the vision of the Family of Parishes’ way of being church in the Diocese identifying and responding to the needs of parishes and faith communities as they develop new ways of ministry and new structures to serve the mission.

The Parish Life Co-ordinator will also resource the ministry of priests as they develop team ministry in collaboration with parish leadership groups navigating together the transition to Families of Parishes.

Until recently, Eilís was principal of the new secondary school in Doon, Co Limerick, and has academic qualifications in theology, education, law and mediation.

On Friday 12th May, Bishop Fintan celebrated Mass at Bon Secours Hospital, Cork, marking International Nurse Day and also 100 years of the School of Nursing at the hospital

Nurse Education at Bon Secours Cork began in 1923 with Sr. Mary Engelberth as the school’s first tutor.

Today, BSHC plays an important role in Nurse Education through its clinical partnership with UCC and the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery.

The future of the Catholic Church in our diocese requires lay people in the parishes and faith communities along with the priests who minister to them to work closely together in new ways.

A married woman and a mother of three children will lead two gatherings in the diocese in May where she will share the experience she has from working with parishes across America.

Julianne Stanz, a native of Co Carlow and now resident in Wisconsin, USA, was invited by Bishop Fintan Gavin to help address the challenges for our parishes identified by lay people and clergy at recent meetings.

A Polish-English Charismatic Forum took place at St. Joseph's Church in Glanmire parish on 28th - 30th April

The forum was organised by the Community of the Risen Christ, GALILEA, which operates on a daily basis at the Polish Chaplaincy in Cork.

Father Jozef Witko OFM and Marcin Zielinski were special guests.

Fr Jozef Witko is a Franciscan from the Province of Our Lady of the Angels in Krakow, a charismatic priest, preacher and retreat leader. He is well known both in Poland and abroad. He is also an author of many books on God as well as the power and work of the Holy Spirit.