On Thursday December 5th Bishop Fintan Gavin made a Pastoral Visit to Maria Immaculata Community College (MICC) Dunmanway. He was welcomed by Principal Mr. Niall Collins, Deputy Principal Fiona Nic Chárthaigh, School Chaplain Elaine O’Sullivan, Student Council members Ciara Galvin and John Smith and school staff. Local clergy, Fr. Liam Crowley and Fr. Pat O’Donovan, were also present to welcome the Bishop to the school.
Following the Principal’s welcome address to the school assembly, Bishop Fintan celebrated a thoughtfully prepared Prayer Liturgy with staff and students titled “Counting our blessings as we journey through Advent”. The ceremony was beautifully enhanced by the school choir with musical accompaniment from both students and staff.
Bishop Fintan’s message to students was based on the life of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the Italian teenager who will become the first Millennial Saint when he is Canonised by Pope Francis in Rome next April. The Bishop spoke about his visit to the tomb of Blessed Carlo last summer and how Carlo was a typical teenager in so many ways yet he was extraordinary when it came to his remarkable faith. Carlo had a short life and died of leukaemia aged just 15 years in October 2006.
Bishop Fintan receives a gift from Co-chairs of Student Council Ciara Galvin and John Smith
Bishop Fintan also spoke about his experience of World Youth Day in August 2023 when he accompanied 40 young people from the Diocese including some from Dunmanway, to that event in Lisbon. Bishop Fintan echoed the words of both Carlo Acutis and Pope Francis when he urged the students to have confidence, to realise that they are unique individuals loved by God, to listen to God’s voice and not be afraid.
At the conclusion there was a Q&A session with the Bishop which provided some light-hearted moments. Bishop Fintan was then presented with a souvenir to mark the occasion - a beautifully framed piece of spalted beech from a tree which once grew on the site where MICC is built. Bishop Fintan was then taken on a brief tour of school facilities including a visit to the students in Rang Seán and Rang Sinéad, where he was very warmly received. The visit concluded with a beautiful lunch in the staffroom where Bishop Fintan had an opportunity to chat informally with members of staff and invited guests.
MICC RE Dept.: Maria Moynihan, Elaine O'Sullivan, Orlaith Sheehan, Trish Kiely and Jack O'Sullivan with Bishop Fintan
Elaine O'Sullivan Chaplain, Niall Murphy Principal, Bishop Fintan, Fiona Nic Chárthaigh Deputy Principal, Paul Kelly, Diocesan Coordinator of RE in Post-primary Schools
Bishop Fintan meets staff and students in Rang Sinead
