Mission and Ministry
Developing the vision for the Family of Parishes
Developing the vision for the Family of Parishes 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
Parish Life Coordinator
Faith Development Coordinator
Alpha in the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne (North Cathedral)
Alpha is an opportunity for anyone, anywhere, to freely explore their unique questions about life, faith and God.
It is a series of interactive sessions exploring the Christian faith run over eleven weeks.
The sessions have three key elements: food, talk and discussion. Our sessions include food because it’s a great way to build community and get to know each other.
The talks are designed to engage and inspire conversation on big issues around faith.
The discussion is probably the most important part of any Alpha: it is the chance to share thoughts/ideas on the topic in an honest, friendly and open environment, and simply discuss it in a small group.
Alpha at the CathedralThe Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne (North Cathedral) will host Alpha on:
Wednesday evenings
7:30pm to 9:15pm
beginning 10 January to 20 March 2024
(with a Holy Spirit Day on Saturday, February 24th, 2024)
Please contact the Office for Mission and Ministry for more information and to register your interest.
Telephone: 021 735 5517
or
Alpha Information Afternoon group discussionThere was an engaging Alpha Information afternoon last Saturday, November 25th, at Ovens Parish Centre. It was a great opportunity for over 40 people from all over the Diocese to gather, learn more about Alpha and share their experiences.
Theresa Cronin gave an engaging and informative presentation on Alpha, what it is, why run it, and how it can be run in a Parish. John McCarthy (Clonakilty) and Gearóid Wycherley (Kinsale) spoke about Alpha from their own personal perspectives of attending and running Alphas in their Parishes. Mary Harrington (Douglas & Rochestown) shared her experience of attending Alpha and how she has now become involved as a facilitator in her Parish.
If Jesus asked you the question, “Who do you say I am?” How would you answer it?
Alpha helps people not just know about the person, Jesus, but to come to know him, to come into an encounter with him, and into a relationship with him. Alpha also brings new life and energy back into the parish community because people form friendships, experience Christian community, and experience God in a new and life-giving way through Alpha.
We are hosting a Diocesan Alpha Information Day on:
Saturday 25 November
Ovens Parish Centre
1:30pm to 4:00pm
We will begin with welcome and hospitality from 1.30pm to 2.00pm, followed by an exploration of what Alpha is, why run Alpha and who Alpha is for.
Alpha is currently run in a number of our Parishes with great success, and some Parishioners will share both their personal experience of attending Alpha and the experience of running Alpha in a Parish setting. We are hoping that other Parishes or Families of Parishes would consider introducing Alpha.
Please contact us as soon as possible if you are interested in attending this information day to find out more about running Alpha in your Parish or Family of Parishes
Alpha Information Day – Sat 25 Nov – Ovens Parish CentreOctober has been a busy month for the Office for Mission and Ministry!
Eilís and Lorraine have met with gatherings of priests. We have also been meeting Parish Councils/Assemblies.
We have met with priests and lay people from Douglas & Rochestown, Ballyphehane, The Lough, Togher and Innishannon. We have also been in contact with other Parishes and Families of Parishes who will be availing of reflection, formation, and spiritual nourishment for existing Ministers of the Word and for Ministers of the Eucharist.
Eilís and Lorraine began Parish Pastoral Council training with Clonakilty and Ovens & Farran this week, with more Parishes and Families of Parishes booked in for November and December.
Members of Clonakilty Parish Assembly
Putting into the deep (Luke 5:4)The 2023 phase of the Synod on Synodality has concluded in Rome.
The participants from all over the world have agreed a document which summarises the key issues discussed.
During the next year, local faith communities are asked to consider the topics further before a final synodal gathering in Rome in October 2024.
The synthesis document is only available in Italian now. However, a report from Vatican News in English is a good summary.
Read the report here.
The Synod meeting place in the Vatican.Eilís and Lorraine are continuing to meet with Priests, Parishes and Families of Parishes
Our diary is filling up fast, so we would like to remind Co-Parish Priests and/or Moderators to please contact us as soon as possible if you wish to avail of formation in any of the following areas:
- Formation for Parish Pastoral Council/Assemblies
- Ministers of the Eucharist
- Ministers of the Word
Eilís Casey and Lorraine Buckley
Mission and Ministry Newsletter - Sep 2023
Bishop Fintan Gavin has announced the appointment of a Faith Development Coordinator to serve the parishes of the diocese
Lorraine Buckley will work alongside Eilís Casey, Parish Life Coordinator, and will be based at the Mission and Ministry Office located in the Cathedral Presbytery. Both will support the teams of priests and lay leaders across parishes in the Families of Parishes. Lorraine’s particular focus will be on faith development and formation for lay ministry.
Lorraine has worked both at parish and diocesan level in various areas of faith development and has been involved in parish councils and pastoral areas. She holds qualifications in business, theology (particularly in the areas of applied theology and catechetics), and counselling plus psychotherapy.
Lorraine Buckley, Faith Development Coordinator, Bishop Fintan Gavin and Eilís Casey, Parish Life CoordinatorOn the weekend of Pentecost this year, two gatherings of people and priests of the diocese met to explore new ways of being church
Julianne Stanz, a Carlow native now living and working in the US, spoke about transforming parishes into mission-centered faith communities.
Julianne’s presentations are available here to view and discuss. They are introduced by Eilís Casey, Parish Life Coordinator of the Diocese of Cork and Ross.
Julianne Stanz - watch the videosHundreds of parishioners from across the diocese have heard a call to become active in putting new life into parishes with hope and faith by reaching out in new ways
Representatives of parishes and faith communities in the diocese, along with the priests of the diocese and Bishop Fintan Gavin, took part in two gatherings last weekend.
The principal speaker was Julianne Stanz, who serves the Diocese of Green Bay, WI, USA, and who grew up in Hacketstown, Co Carlow. She spoke of her own faith and her experience of parish life and the challenges of handing on faith to a new generation.
The Saturday meeting was held in Rosscarbery and was attended by people from West Cork parishes. Sunday’s gathering in the city had people from Cork city, suburbs and surrounding areas. Each parish was asked to send representatives and more than 500 people attended.
Feedback from the discussions is being collated and this, along with the presentations will be available at family of parishes meetings to be held in the autumn.
The attendace in Rosscarbery included people from West Cork parishes. Pictures: Andy Gibson
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