Record numbers gathered as the sun shone for Gougane Barra Sunday (Connie Cronin Photography)
Record numbers gathered in Gougane as the sun shone for Gougane Barra Sunday.
Large numbers of pilgrims representing all ages, from parishes, new Irish faith communities and movements, gathered yesterday around St Finbarr’s oratory to celebrate Gougane Sunday in this Jubilee Year of Hope.
In his homily, Bishop Fintan reflected on the feedback from the year of prayer, listening and discernment, and invited those gathered to take home three invitations, where the Holy Spirit is encouraging us to go forward in our parishes:
1. Baptism as a Path, not an Event – Walking with families from birth through the early years, ensuring a genuine welcome at Sunday Mass, and creating spaces where families and children are truly welcome.
2. Shared Mission Across Parishes – Collaborating in hospitality, formation for different ministries such as baptism teams, readers, etc - so that gifts are shared, multiplied, and strengthened, building each other up through mutual support.
3. Placing Young People at the Centre – Recognising that without young people, we won’t have a Church in the future. We need to work together with our young people to find ways of engaging them.
The day in Gougane Barra was marked by joy, community, and hope—reminding all who gathered of the living faith of St Finbarr and the call to carry that faith forward together.
Photos by Connie Cronin Photography.
Large numbers of pilgrims representing all ages, from parishes, new Irish faith communities and movements gathered at St Finbarr’s oratory for Gougane Barra Sunday
