Over 160 young adults from across the island of Ireland gathered Saturday last for the inaugural ‘Intentional Young Adult Ministry’ gathering in Clongowes Wood College, Clane Co Kildare.  

Themed Into the deep and hosted by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the event was comprised of participant-led activities, reflections and the celebration of Mass.

Guest speaker for the Into the deep gathering was Fr. Stephen Wang, Archdiocese of Westminster, England, who founded the Sycamore programme for faith formation.

Addressing the participants, Bishop Fintan Gavin welcomed the representatives of dioceses and young adult ministry groups from across the country.

While there are many young people involved in Youth 2000, Alpha, Sycamore, Lourdes Pilgrimages and other projects inspired by movements and religious in Ireland, there are challenges to be recognised, he said.

“The context of Youth Ministry has changed so much. As a young person you have to stand out from your peers, and the culture does not support you as it did in the past. When we think of the small numbers of young people in the Church in Ireland today we could well feel despair, desolation - like we have fished all night long and caught nothing.”

“We are called to go beyond our traditional boundaries and meet young adults where they are - both physically and spiritually.  We are called to go to new shores and to connect with people one on one.”

See more on the Bishops' Conference website.

Organisers Gerard Hanley, Bishop Fintan Gavin and Miriam Goulding, with keynote speaker Fr Stephen Wang (Catholic Communications Office)

Bishop Fintan Gavin, Jubiliarians and guests at Innishannon House Hotel.

Bishop John Buckley and several of the priests of the diocese are marking milestones in their ministry this year.

Bishop Fintan Gavin invited Bishop Buckley who is marking 40 years as a bishop and the priests who are marking important jubilees of ordination as priests to a celebratory lunch.

Pictured are (front row) Fr. Michael Regan (50 years a priest), Bishop Noel O’Regan SMA, Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop John Buckley (40 years a bishop), Mgr. Gearóid Dullea (25 years a priest), Mgr. Aidan O’Driscoll VG. (Back row) Fr. Marius O’Reilly (10 years a priest), Fr. Bernard Cotter (40 years a priest), Fr. Eoin Whooley (40 years a priest), Fr. Jilson Kokkandathail (30 years a priest), Fr. Ben Hodnett (10 years a priest), An tAthair Liam Ó h-Icí (50 years a priest).

Absent were Fr Bernard Donovan (50 years a priest), Fr Alan O’Leary (40 years a priest) and Fr. Chris O’Donovan (25 years a priest)

Paul Ryan with family and clergy at Kinsale Church

Timoleague parishioner prepares for ordination as permanent deacon.

Paul Ryan from Clogagh in Timoleague Parish was formally launched on the path to ordination as a deacon in a ceremony in Kinsale Parish Church recently.

Bishop Fintan Gavin acknowledged Paul's suitability for ordination in the presence of Paul's wife Bríd, their daughter Anne and son Tomás, who was accompanied by his partner Emma Murphy from Newcestown.

Parishioners of Kinsale, among whom Paul has been engaged in pastoral work over the last while, prayed that Paul's path to ordination would be smooth, in a ceremony during the parish's 12 noon Mass on Pentecost Sunday, 19 May.

There are already three permanent deacons ministering in the Diocese of Cork and Ross. 

Learn about Deacons in our Diocese

Nearly 300 delegates representing bishops’ conferences from around the world recently met in Rome to participate in the International Youth Ministry Conference. 

Bishop Fintan Gavin represented the Irish Bishops’ Conference and was among the delegates from 110 countries.

The event was held in preparation for the 2027 World Youth Day (WYD), which is scheduled to take place in Seoul, South Korea.

Pope Francis also addressed the delegates and spent time with them at the conclusion of the conference. 

The Bon Secours Sisters in Cork recently celebrated the bicentenary of the congregation with Mass at which Bishop Fintan Gavin was the principal celbrant.

The congregation was founded in France in 1824 in the years after the French Revolution. 

In his homily at the Mass, Bishop Fintan said that while the first sisters arrived to Dublin in 1861, it was in Cork that the congregation really thrived, and a large religious community and hospital grew.

For over 200 years, women from France, and later from Ireland and the United States, and in more recent times from Peru and The Congo have dedicated their lives as Sisters of Bon Secours because they have been inspired to share the promise of blessedness made by Jesus in the Beatitudes with those who are most in need of hope, light, comfort and love.    

“A bicentenary celebration such as today’s, is a fitting occasion to pay tribute to the countless Sisters of Bon Secours who have left everything and selflessly answered that call of Christ to bring his healing and his compassion into the lives of those who needed it most,” Bishop Fintan said.

Recently Bishop Fintan visited Our Lady of Good Counsel Special School in Ballincollig.

He was warmly welcomed by the pupils, staff, school principal Ms Aisling Power, Board of Management Chairperson Mr Harold Brooks , Fr Alan O’ Leary Co-PP and parent representatives.

He joined in a beautiful prayer assembly where pupils sang wonderfully. He then answered pupil questions in a Q&A session in which pupils enquired about many things and Bishop Fintan shared stories of his life and work.

Recently Bishop Fintan visited both Togher Parish Primary Schools, Togher Boys National School and Scoil An Athar Maitiú Girls School

He was warmly received in both schools where he met pupils in 2nd – 6th Classes as part of a Prayer Assembly in the school hall followed by an opportunity to answer pupil questions. He then moved around the school to meet junior classes and special classes in their classrooms. He also had the opportunity to meet staff members socially for refreshments in the school staff rooms.

In the course of his pastoral visit he also met Board of Management members and Parents Association representatives in both schools.

Bishop Fintan looks forward to visiting more primary school communities before the summer and in the autumn.

There are 175 primary schools in the Diocese of Cork and Ross in the patronage of the Bishop.