At the Mass celebrated by Bishop Fintan Gavin at the Cathedral for schools in Cork City and suburbs.
Recently Bishop Fintan invited people from 174 primary schools in his patronage to a Mass for the opening of the School Year.
Included were all school principals, chairpersons and members of Boards of Management, teacher and parent representatives.
Two Masses were celebrated in Clonakilty Parish Church on Tuesday 27th September and in the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne on Wednesday 28th September. In his invitation, Bishop Fintan said that since his appointment as Bishop of Cork and Ross in 2019 he ‘looked forward to meeting with school communities.
This was not possible due to the pandemic and these have been an incredibly difficult few years for schools. As we begin this new school year, I invite you to join me for a Mass to call on God’s blessings for the year ahead’.
Both Masses were very well attended and were beautiful celebrations of the Catholic identity of the schools. In his homily, Bishop Fintan spoke of three key aspects, community, Christ and children.
In conclusion Bishop Fintan said, ‘so tonight, we say thank you to our school communities made up of teachers, schools principals, boards of management, SNA’s, school secretaries and caretakers and so many others all who together make our schools what they are. We ask that God will continue to guide and bless us in all we do in the year ahead’
School children and teachers from several schools joined in the music and singing at both Masses. There was extensive involvement from schools in all elements of the Masses which were co-ordinated by Mr. Seamus O’Dálaigh and his diocesan advisor coleagues for primary schools.
Mass for Schools at Cathedral
Mass for Schools at Clonakilty
