Fr Larry Kapitbahay OFMCap, Rosebelle Martir, Lyn Barbas, Jub Quiton and Nora Esparto who visited Bishop Fintan.

Representatives of the Filipino Catholic Community visited Bishop Fintan at the Cork and Ross Diocesan Offices on Tuesday, 13 October.

The group briefed Bishop Fintan on the various activities of the Filipino community, including a Filipino Mass which is celebrated on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month in Holy Trinity at 6pm.

Frankfield & Grange Parish is celebrating a milestone as the community marks the fiftieth anniversary of the dedication of its church

The Church of the Incarnation was dedicated in 1976 to cater to the needs of the expanding city suburb. It was designed by architect Patrick McSweeney, a native of Ballydehob.

It was constructed on land donated by Patrick McCarthy and the building contractor was P. J. Hegarty & Sons. The church was blessed by Bishop Michael Murphy who earlier that same year had been ordained Coadjutor Bishop of Cork and Ross.

Marking the golden jubilee of the church, Bishop Fintan Gavin was the principal celebrant at Mass.

Preaching at the concelebrated Mass, Bishop Fintan noted how the church had soon become very busy.

At the Golden Jubilee Mass at the Church of the Incarnation, Frankfield.

Bishop Antony Mar Silvanos, Bishop Fintan Gavin and Fr. Shinu Varghese

Bishop Antony Mar Silvanos, Curia Bishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, visited Bishop Fintan Gavin at the Cork and Ross Diocesan Centre on 2 October.

He was accompanied by Fr. Shinu Varghese, National Coordinator of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Ireland.

The visit provided an opportunity for a cordial meeting and fellowship.

The sunshine was a welcome addition to a joyful afternoon on Saturday, 3 October, as Bishop Fintan blessed and officially opened the new St. Carlo Acutis Prayer Garden at Presentation Brothers, Mardyke House.

The celebration brought together members of the Presentation Community, friends and supporters of Mardyke House, and many of the young adults involved in the Formation and Faith Programmes based there.

At the heart of the afternoon was a prayer service, during which Bishop Fintan blessed the new garden. The garden, inspired by the life and witness of St. Carlo Acutis, provides a peaceful space for prayer, reflection and encounter, and is a fitting addition to Mardyke House as it continues to develop its ministry with young adults.

An orientation session for recently appointed teachers in primary schools under the patronage of the Bishop of Cork and Ross was held in the Cork Education Support Centre.

An orientation session for recently appointed teachers in primary schools under the patronage of the Bishop of Cork and Ross was held on Wednesday 30th September at the Cork Education Support Centre.

Bishop Fintan Gavin thanked the teachers for their important work in schools and emphasised his wish to connect with and support them in their role as educators. The teachers learned more about the role of the patron and the supports offered by the diocese, including support for teaching the Grow in Love programme, Mass for the New School Year, School visits, Confirmation retreats with NET Ministries etc.

The teachers also received an overview of the differentiated Grow in Love resources for children with Special Educational Needs which are currently available for the 2nd class level of the programme.

Alpha teams gathered recently for a day of formation, reflection and encouragement as they prepare to run Alpha in their parishes and Families of Parishes this autumn.

Bishop Fintan Gavin welcomed participants and shared his own experience of Alpha, reflecting on its value as a tool for evangelisation and parish renewal. Reflecting on his own experience of Alpha, Bishop Fintan said: “I saw people asking honest questions and relationships developing around the table. I saw people being introduced to Jesus, to prayer and to the Holy Spirit in a way that was gentle and non-threatening.”

Bishop Fintan continued by reminding teams that evangelisation begins with personal dialogue, listening to another person’s joys, hopes and concerns and, from there, gently sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Alpha teams gathered recently for a day of formation as they prepare to run Alpha in their parishes and Families of Parishes this autumn.

Bishop Fintan with the altar servers and priests in St Patrick's Cathedral Skibbereen

Bishop Fintan Gavin celebrated two Masses this week for Catholic primary schools across the Diocese of Cork and Ross - at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Skibbereen on Monday 14 September and at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne, Cork on Tuesday 15 September.

The joyful celebrations brought together principals, teachers, SNAs, members of Boards of Management and others who support Catholic primary education across the diocese, to pray for God’s blessing on the new school year.

This year’s theme, taken from the Vision for Catholic Education, was Invites. In his homily, the Bishop reflected on how the Catholic school invites every child to know that they are loved by God, emphasising that “each child has dignity; each child with their unique gifts has a purpose.”

UCC Chaplaincy and Ardens Missionaries with Bishop Fintan

For the past three years, FOCUS missionaries have successfully worked alongside UCC Chaplaincy to encourage third level students to begin an encounter with Christ and to accompany them in their journey of faith while at university.

While FOCUS have decided to end their European mission, a new entity 'Ardens' have taken on the task to continue, in a new way, the mission to third level colleges in Europe and have begun their missionary activity in UCC for the new academic year.

In preparation for this, the UCC chaplaincy team and the new Ardens team spent some days in planning, orientation and prayer at Mardyke House. The days were facilitated by Br Martin Kenneally.