Bishop Fintan Gavin with members of the Ukrainian Community in Cork. (Photos: Oren Gontmaher)

While many Ukrainians who have come to live in Cork since the war have made a home in Cork, Bishop Fintan says that for many their hearts remain at home in Ukraine.

Bishop Fintan was speaking during a sacred liturgy held by the Ukrainian community in Cork to mark Independence Day. Hundreds gathered in Fitzgerald’s Park in Cork for a day that was filled with celebration, prayer and cultural activities.

Bishop Fintan praised the Ukrainian people for their extraordinary courage and resilience.

“I have seen that courage here in Cork, too: in people beginning again in a new country, learning a new language, finding work, making a home, caring for children, building friendships and communities, while at the same time carrying deep concern for those left behind.”

The bishop’s central message to the hundreds of people of all ages who gathered is that they are not alone.

Many parish communities gather each year to mark the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady on August 15th. They meet at roadside grottos, at shrines, Mass rocks and holy wells.

This year saw the 75th annual Mass and devotions at the Holy Rosary Shrine on the Lee Road in Cork. Bishop Fintan Gavin was the principal concelbrant.

In his homily, Bishop Fintan noted that many of those who gathered and prayed at the grotto in the early years have long since gone home to God.

“Others continued the tradition. Parents brought children; grandparents brought grandchildren. People have come quietly to pray the Rosary and to entrust their lives and the lives of those they loved to God through the intercession of Mary.”

One of the prayers at the Mass describes Mary as “a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people.”

“Perhaps we particularly need that hope today. The Church in Ireland and here in Cork and Ross is very different from the Church in which these devotions began 75 years ago. We are living through a time of great change, but also a time of new possibility. We cannot simply recreate the Church of the past, nor are we called to do so. We are called to discover how the Lord is asking us to live and share the Gospel today.”

Bishop Fintan Gavin withy concelebrating priests, L to R., Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap., Fr Aidan Vaughan OFm Cap, Fr Tijo John, Fr Ken Cooney SMA, Fr Frasad Rad, Fr Dermot Lynch OFM Cap, Fr Declan Mansfield and Fr. Sean O’Sullivan. . Photo: Tony O’Connell.

The 100th Cork Eucharistic Procession was featured on RTÉ Nationwide last night, showcasing this year's historic celebration and the faith of the thousands who took part.

The programme highlighted the tradition of the Eucharistic Procession, which was first established in 1926 as a prayer for peace and reconciliation following the War of Independence and Civil War. One hundred years later, the procession continues to be a powerful public witness of faith in the heart of Cork.

If you missed the broadcast, or would like to watch it again, you can catch it on the RTÉ Player here:

RTÉ Nationwide

The 100th Anniversary of the Cork Eucharistic Procession on June 7th 2026.

Eucharistic Procession in Cork on Sunday, June 7. Pic: Brian Lougheed

Cork's Eucharistic Process features on Nationwide on RTE Television on Wed Aug 5th.

This was the 100th year of the procession with the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Cork.

The procession was held on June 7th and even though the rain poured down thousands attended and took part.

A Nationwide crew also attended and the programme on Wednesday August 5th will feature interviews with some of the organisers and some people who took part. 

The Eucharistic Procession in Cork was established in 1926 to pray for peace and reconciliation following the War of Independence and Civil War, and has been going ever since with the Blessed Sacrament being born by the bishop.

The Nationwide programme will also be on the RTE Player.

Bishop Fintan Gavin announces new appointments of priests and a deacon in the diocese.

The diocese has published the details of the new appointments which will be effective on July 25th 2026.

Bishop Fintan has said that he is grateful to the priests who are undertaking new appointments this year and to those who retire from a fulltime appointment.

"I continue to be grateful to all of you for your ministry and your commitment to serve the people of the diocese.

I also extend a warm welcome to the priests who are coming from abroad to minister in our diocese. We are deeply appreciative of their generosity in responding to the needs of our local Church here in Cork and Ross and we look forward to the gifts, experience and richness they will bring to our faith communities."

Retirement

Fr Pat Nugent CC in the Family of Parishes of Carrig na bhFear, Glanmire, Glounthane, Watergrasshill and Glenville retires from this full-time appointment, though his priestly ministry will continue.

Appointments:

Bishop Fintan Gavin

Closure of St. Augustine’s Church in Cork is a poignant milestone in the continuing faith-life of the city centre

• The final Mass at St. Augustine’s Church, Washington St., Cork, was celebrated on Sunday July 12th, 2026 at 11.30am.
• The principal celebrant of the Mass was Fr. Paddy O’Reilly, Provincial of the Augustinian Order in Ireland.

These are the Words of Appreciation spoken by Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross at the beginning of the Mass.

St Augustines Church, Cork

Priests who are ministering in the Diocese of Cork and Ross are celebrating jubilees of their ordination as priests

Some of the priest jubilarians in 2026 with Bishop Fintan: Fr. Bartolomiej Dziedzic, Mgr Aidan O'Driscoll, Fr. Kieron O'Driscoll, Canon Martin O'Driscoll, Fr. Gerard Dunne OP, Bishop Fintan Gavin, Fr Michael Forde, Fr. Emmanuel Ihomon, Fr Padraig Corkery, Fr Liam Crowley and Fr. Joyel Cletus.

Bishop Fintan Gavin hosted a celebratory lunch with priests who are marking significant milestones in their priesthood and were free to attend.

The jubilations include Fr Tom Clancy who was ordained 65 years ago, Canon Tadhg Ó Mathúna who was ordained 60 years ago and An tAthair Seosamh Ó Cochláin who was ordained 55 years ago. All three are are retired.

Golden jubilations include Canon Robert Brophy, Fr Liam Crowley and Fr. Noel O'Sullivan who were all ordained in 1976.

Fr Padraig Corkery, Mgr Aidan O'Driscoll and Fr. Fergus Tuohy SMA were ordained 45 years in 1981.

Fr. Kieron O'Driscoll, Canon Martin O'Driscoll and Fr. Patrick Walsh were ordained 40 years ago in 1986.

Fr Myles McSweeney, Fr. Gerard Dunne OP and Fr Michael Forde C.Ss.R. were ordained 30 years ago in 1996.

Fr. Michael Anthony Buckley, Fr. Bartolomiej Dziedzic, Fr. Joyel John Michael Cletus IC and Fr. Emmanuel Ihomon were all ordained in 2011 and are 15 years in the priesthood.

Fr. Pat Nugent and Fr. Vineesh K Ulahannan MI are both marking the tenth anniversary of their ordination in 2016.

A deacon stands at the meeting point between the altar and the world

This was Bishop Fintan’s message to the newest permanent deacon in our diocese who was ordained last Sunday.

Paul Ryan was ordained in his parish church in Timoleague by Bishop Fintan at a concelebrated Mass attended by Paul’s family and friends, other deacons and priests, along with parishioners from Timoleague and across the diocese.

“A deacon brings the needs of people to the altar, and he carries the charity of Christ from the altar back to the people,” Bishop Fintan said in his homily.”

Paul grew up in west Co Clare but has been living in Timoleague for over 20 years.

Addressing Paul during the Mass, Bishop Fintan acknowledged that a vocation grows and is nourished during a person’s own growth.

Pictured are Tomás Ryan, Deacon Paul Ryan and his wife Bríd, Bishop Fintan Gavin and Anne Ryan. (Photo BGM Media)

Bishop Fintan Gavin

Bishop Fintan Gavin, Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Cork and Ross, has warmly welcomed the announcement that the Venerable Andrew Orr has been elected as the new Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.

“I warmly congratulate Archdeacon Andrew Orr on his election as the new Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross,” Bishop Fintan said.

“On my own behalf, and on behalf of the clergy, religious and people of the Catholic Diocese of Cork and Ross, I assure Bishop-elect Andrew of our prayerful support and good wishes as he prepares for his consecration and for this new ministry of service.

“I look forward to working with him in the years ahead and to continuing to build on the good relationships and strong bonds of friendship that have existed between the bishops and people of our two dioceses.

“May the Lord bless him and guide him in this new ministry.”

The result of the election was announced on Friday, 19 June 2026.

A livestream of the Ordination of Paul Ryan as Deacon will be available

The Ordination Mass will be accessible from

3:00pm on

Sunday 21 June 2026

Watch the Livestream

We ask the Lord to bless Paul as he prepares to be ordained at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Timoleague and to serve the people of the Diocese of Cork and Ross as a Permanent Deacon.

Bishop Fintan Gavin will ordain Paul, priests will concelebrate the Mass and other permanent deacons will also minister.

More about the Diaconate

At Kinsale Parish Church In 2024 when Paul was admitted to Candidacy for Ordination, Paul is seen with Bishop Fintan Gavin, along with Paul's wife Bríd, their daughter Anne and son Tomás. (Photo: Mariana Wirsam)