On Sunday, May 25, the Polish Chaplaincy in the Diocese of Cork and Ross celebrated its 20th anniversary
The official structures of the Polish chaplaincy in the diocese began to take shape in November 2005. At that time, in response to the large number of Poles arriving in Ireland for work following Poland’s accession to the European Union, the then-bishop of Cork and Ross, John Buckley, decided that the Polish chaplaincy would be based at St. Augustine’s Church in the city center and appointed Fr. Piotr Galus from Tarnów as chaplain to the Polish community.
Since the beginning of 2025, the Polish chaplaincy has been relocated to Holy Cross Church in Mahon.
Polish Community in Cork and Ross celebrate 20 yearsA solemn Mass was celebrated under the leadership of Bishop Fintan Gavin and concelebrated by Fr. Michael Keohane, as well as former and current Polish chaplains: Fr. Piotr Galus, Fr. Kamil Bachara, Fr. Rafał Zielonka, and Fr. Bartłomiej Dziedzic. During the Mass, Bishop Fintan addressed the large congregation with the following words:
“Many of you have started your own families and you want to pass on to your children the values, traditions, and lived faith that you received from your parents and grandparents in Poland. As the Polish chaplaincy and Polish people who have made their home — or a home for their families — in various parishes throughout the diocese, we are greatly enriched by your presence and participation.”
At the end of the Eucharist, Bishop Fintan blessed a beautiful icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa — an image especially close to the heart of every Pole — which was donated to the church in Mahon by the Polish community. After the Mass, everyone gathered at the nearby Community Hall for a shared celebration at the table. The event also featured a screening of a film about the history of the Polish chaplaincy in the Diocese of Cork and Ross, as well as artistic performances by Polish children and youth.
