The Diocese of Cork and Ross has announced its intention to create a diocesan pastoral centre to serve the current and future needs of the local Church in Cork and Ross.
The current and future needs of the diocese and its parish faith communities rest on priests, deacons and lay people sharing responsibility for the life and mission of the Church, Bishop Fintan Gavin said.
The Cork and Ross Pastoral Centre will be used to help train volunteers for leadership and ministry in the families of parishes in the years and decades ahead.
The new Centre will bring all Diocesan functions under the one roof, including Education, Mission and Ministry, Youth Ministry, Safeguarding, Communications and administrative functions including the Bishop’s Office and the Diocesan Secretariat.
Bishop Fintan Gavin of the Diocese of Cork and RossThe Diocese has also identified the urgent need to create a secure archive space which can be used to store important records from across the diocese into the future.
Bishop of Cork and Ross, Most Reverend Fintan Gavin, said, “As a community, we need to address the reality that more and more lay people will be engaged to meet the Pastoral needs of our Diocese in the years ahead. As of now, we do not have suitable premises in which to train and support people, who will be vital to the provision of ministry and outreach. The new Pastoral Centre will be used by the community and priests, and ensure a more efficient use of resources under one roof for both the priests and laity.”
An assessment of the existing Diocesan Office off Redemption Road has determined that it no longer remains fit for purpose, and too significant an investment would be required to renovate and extend the existing building.
To that end, the Diocese of Cork and Ross has made the decision to instead offer the site of the Diocesan Office for sale, with the intention that it could be included in the wider Farranferris campus. The redevelopment of the site would allow for the provision of additional much needed homes on the northside of the city, and its sale would help fund the construction of a purpose-built facility at a different location.
The Diocese of Cork and Ross is engaging with Cork City Council with a view to agreeing a master plan in conjunction with the remaining lands at Farranferris.
Separately, a site in Dennehy’s Cross on the grounds of the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit is being considered as one of the potential sites for the new Pastoral Centre.
Bishop Gavin has begun a wider consultation process on these potential developments. He added, “The seat of the Bishop of Cork and Ross will always remain on the northside at the North Cathedral. However, we feel the time is right to move all training, support and administrative functions to one location. This will help us to secure the future for the diocese to continue supporting our parishes as we plan better for the future. Funds from the sale of the Diocesan Office will go towards meeting the costs of the new centre. I look forward to engaging widely throughout this process, and would ask anyone who has questions about the plans to contact me or the diocesan office at their convenience.”
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