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Bishop Fintan has visited Sacred Heart Parish, Western Road, Cork and also presided at Mass at which a new parish priest was installed. 

Fr Con Doherty MSC was installed as the parish's new parish priest who will minister there withFr. Des Farren MSC.

Both priests are Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

The parish includes Western Road, Mardyke, Victoria Cross, Lee Road, (from Our Lady’s Hospital gate eastwards) and Sunday’s Well Road (to Daly’s Bridge).

(Image: Mike English)

Clergy and parishioners at Sacred Heart Parish, Western RoadBishop, clergy and parishioners at Sacred Heart Parish, Western Road

The late Archbishop Patrick CoveneyThe late Archbishop Patrick Coveney

Bishop Fintan Gavin has announced that the death has occurred of Archbishop Patrick Coveney who has resided in Crosshaven Parish since his retirement as Apostolic Nuncio to Greece in 2009.

Archbishop Coveney was born in 1934 and is a native of Tracton Abbey Parish.  He was ordained as a priest of the Diocese of Cork and Ross in Rome in 1959.  

His first pastoral appointment was in Kidlington, Archdiocese of Bermingham, for one year before joining the staff of St. Finbarr’s Seminary, Farranferris from 1960 – 1966. 

In 1966 he joined the Secretariat of State in the Vatican and then entered the Pontifical Ecclesial Academy in 1969. He served as Secretary to the Apostolic Nuncio in Argentina from 1972 -1976 after which he returned to Rome to rejoin the Secretariat of State until 1982. He then moved to New Delhi until 1984 as counsellor to the Nunciature there and then to Khartoum in Sudan until 1985.

He was consecrated as Titular Archbishop of Satrianum in the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne in the Diocese of Cork and Ross on 15th September 1985 and was appointed as Apostolic Pro Nuncio to Zimbabwe and Apostolic Delegate to Mozambique until 1990.  He then served as Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia residing in Addis Ababa as well as Apostolic Delegate to Djibouti until 1996.  

He was appointed as Apostolic Nuncio in New Zealand, the Marshall Islands, Samoa and Apostolic Delegate for Oceania in 1996 until 2005 residing in Wellington.  

In this period he also served as Apostolic Nuncio to Samoa, Tonga, Marshall Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Vanuatu, Nauru, Cook Islands and Palau.  

He was then appointed as Apostolic Nuncio to Greece from 2005 residing in Athens until his retirement in 2009.

Archbishop Coveney returned to the Diocese of Cork and Ross to reside in Crosshaven Parish. He assisted in Crosshaven parish as well as celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation in many parishes throughout the Diocese of Cork and Ross at the invitation of Bishop Gavin and Bishop Buckley.

May he rest in peace.

Bishop Fintan Gavin met with the Diocesan Primary School Advisors for a day of reflection, sharing and planning for the future.

The diocesan advisors are lay people with extensive educational involvement appointed by the Bishop to support our parish schools in the delivery of the Catholic religious education curriculum.

Bishop Fintan affirmed the work of the diocesan advisers and the support they have offered to schools across the diocese by visiting the schools and by appraising teachers of resources available to support their work.  Together with the bishop they began a conversation about how this can be best done into the future in rapidly evolving religious and educational landscape.

“It is part of our mission as a faith community to reach out to others with the Good News of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Fintan said. “And the diocesan advisors have made an important contribution to this.” 

The meeting on Thursday 20th October took place at Presentation Brothers, Mardyke House, Cork and was facilitated by Br. Martin Kenneally.

"We had a very worthwhile meeting,"

Seen at the meeting of Diocesan Primary School Advisors are; (l to r.) Brid O Callaghan, Catriona Ui Shuileabhain, Phil Deasy, Regina O'Sullivan (Diocesan Education Secretariat), Br. Martin Kenneally, Eddie Moloney, Bishop Fintan Gavin, TJ Coakley, Jim Daly, (Primary Religious Education Coordinator), Con McCarthy and AnnMarie Barry.At the meeting of Diocesan Primary School Advisors are; (l to r.) Brid O Callaghan, Catriona Ui Shuileabhain, Phil Deasy, Regina O'Sullivan (Diocesan Education Secretariat), Br. Martin Kenneally, Eddie Moloney, Bishop Fintan Gavin, TJ Coakley, Seamus O’Dálaigh, (Primary Religious Education Coordinator), Con McCarthy and AnnMarie Barry.

Read more …

at the Mass for the blessing of the school year celebrated by Bishop Fintan Gavin at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, Cork, for schools in Cork City and suburbs.Bishop Fintan Gavin at the Cathedral

Bishop Fintan Gavin has issued updated guidance to the clergy of the diocese which acknowledges that most Covid19 restrictions were lifted last February with ongoing caution needed.

Noting that "that we will have to learn to live with Covid19 in the safest way possible", the bishop's guidance allows for the careful restoration of most church practices which were routine before the pandemic.

Reception of Holy Communion

People may receive either in the hand or on the tongue.

Face Coverings

While people are no longer obliged to wear face coverings in churches some may continue to do so by choice.  However, for the distribution of Holy Communion, Priests, Deacons and Ministers of the Eucharist should continue to wear a face covering and to sanitise their hands before and after distributing Holy Communion.

Parish Ministries

All ministries such as choirs, music ministry, Ministers of the Word, Ministers of the Eucharist, altar servers, funeral ministry, baptism ministry and other such parish groups should be reinstated.

 

Read more …

At CONNECT2, a gathering of young adult Catholics organised by the Diocese of Cork and Ross at UCC.At CONNECT2 young adult Catholics with Bishop Fintan

It was pouring rain outside around the UCC campus on Sunday but over one hundred young people took their coats off and got stuck into discussions and debates about their faith.

The Diocese of Cork and Ross hosted CONNECT 2 at UCC's Devere Hall and Honan Chapel as part of a planned engagement with young adults about their faith.  

This was a follow up to the CONNECT event held in the same venue in May.  

Young adults from around the Diocese gathered for a day which included a talk, workshops, testimonies, lunch and finished with Mass celebrated by Bishop Fintan Gavin.

It is hoped that many of the attendees will join the Diocese in August for its first journey to World Youth Day in Lisbon with Pope Francis.  

Read more …

During the annual retreat for Priests of Cork and Ross Diocese the priests prayed the Rosary for the people and priests of Creeslough, Co Donegal.

The rosary was led by Fr Cian O'Sullivan who is a classmate of Fr John Joe Duffy of Creeslough.

More than 60 of the priests of the diocese are on a retreat and the retreat director is Donegal native Fr Michael McCullough CM.

World Mission Sunday 2022World Mission Sunday 2022

World Mission Sunday is the Holy Father’s annual appeal for spiritual and financial support so that the life-giving work of overseas mission and missionaries can continue

It always falls on the second last Sunday in October, meaning this year it will be celebrated over the weekend of Sunday 23rd.

All offerings made on behalf of World Mission Sunday become part of the Holy Father’s Universal Solidarity Fund. This Fund supports missionary activities in over 1,100 young dioceses, mostly in Africa, Asia, and Latin
America. As young dioceses grow, so do their needs. On top of this, they are often found in remote areas devastated by conflict or natural disasters. The Universal Solidarity Fund provides aid so that missionaries can continue to go to these places to share the love of God.

Every year to enhance World Mission Sunday celebrations we prepare the Mission Month Pack. These resources are designed to help individuals, parishes and communities celebrate not just World Mission Sunday, but the entire month of October.

Feel free to use and share these resources with your wider community in any way you wish – in person, from the pulpit, on your website, or over social media!

Access the Resources

Donate to World Mission Sunday

The church which hosts one of Cork’s best known clocks has marked its 300th year

The celebrations at the Parish Church of Saint Anne, Shandon, culminated in a Service of Thanksgiving on Sunday, 2nd October 2022.  The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Rev. Dr Paul Colton presided over the service, which was led by the Priest-in-Charge, the Rev. Meghan Farr. Dr Paula Gooder, Canon Chancellor of Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London, preached at the service.

The congregation included people from all over the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross and Ireland, with current and past associations with the parish.  Special guests included Simon Coveney TD, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Deirdre Forde, Colm Burke TD, Senator Jerry Buttimer, and Cllr. Oliver Moran, as well as representatives from local history and community groups.  The ecumenical guests included the Most Rev. Dr Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, the Rev. Andrew Robinson (Munster Methodist Circuit), the Rev. John O’Donovan PP (North Cathedral), the Rev. Mike O’Sullivan (Unitarian Church), as well as representatives from the Religious Society of Friends.

Clergy and guests outside Saint Anne’s Church, Shandon, after the serviceClergy and guests outside Saint Anne’s Church, Shandon, after the service

Bishop Fintan GavinBishop Fintan Gavin

Bishop Fintan Gavin has asked that prayers be said in parishes and communities across the Diocese of Cork and Ross this weekend for all those affected by the tragedy in Creeslough, Co Donegal.

"We will pray for those who have been injured, those who lost their lives and all who are still awaiting news, as well as all those who have lost loved ones in this tragedy."

"Our prayers will include gratitude for all the emergency servces and all who are assisting those in need," Bishop Fintan said.

The most southerly diocese is offering the prayers and support of the people of the diocese to the community in Creeslough and to Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ and everyone in the Diocese of Raphoe.

 

A Cork woman is the new Commissioner of the Catholic Girl Guides of Ireland

On the 90th year of the Catholic Guides of Ireland in Cork, a woman from the South West Region has become the organisation's new Chief Commissioner.

Julie Donnelly is a native of Dublin but she has lived in Cork for many years.

Her commissioning was celebrated at a special Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, Cork, which was celebrated by Bishop Fintan Gavin and concelebrated by Canon John O’Donovan.

Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Deirdre Forde attended and extended congratulations to Julie.

The previous Chief Commissioner, Emily McCann, was also present along with representatives of Irish Girl Guides and representatives of Scouting Ireland.

Julie started out as a Brigin in Harold’s Cross in Dublin in 1970. She continued through Guides and was appointed as a Guide Leader in Ballyroan, Templeogue in 1981. Julie moved to Cork in 1985 and was a Guide Leader in Carrigaline for several years.

Addressing the congregation at the Mass, Bishop Fintan Gavin, thanked all the guides for their commitment.

Speaking to the new Commissioner, he said:
“My prayer for you today Julie as you are commissioned as the chief commissioner of the Catholic Guides in Ireland, is that you will always know the closeness of God’s love for you so that you will have the courage, strength and the vision to lead this organisation with its rich and dynamic traditions and values so that they can be offered to young women today in an ever changing world more in need than ever for them.”

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Deirdre Forde, congratulates Julie Donnelly on becoming Chief Commissioner of Catholic Guides of IrelandLord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Deirdre Forde, congratulates Julie Donnelly on becoming Chief Commissioner of Catholic Guides of Ireland

 

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