Bishop Fintan with the altar servers 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.”
He thanked all those who give so generously to the life of our schools and spoke of the goodness, dedication and spirit of service he encounters when visiting schools throughout the diocese.
Concluding, he prayed that our schools would continue to be places of “welcome and belonging, of learning and discovery, of faith and friendship,” where every child is gently invited to discover that God loves them and that Jesus Christ invites them into friendship with him.
Both Masses were followed by refreshments and an opportunity to meet representatives from Catholic primary schools across Cork and Ross.
Scoil Eoin, Ballincollig provided the music in the Cathedral of St Mary And St Anne, Cork.Pictures from the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne, Cork
Pictures from St Patrick's Cathedral, Skibbereen
