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Bishop Fintan's Christmas Message for primary schools has been streamed to 175 Catholic Primary Schools in Cork and Ross.
Bishop Fintan was at a live crib at the O’Leary Family Farm close to Rocky Bay in the Parish of Tracton Abbey. There, he was joined by Second Class children from Scoil Naomh Fionnán in Rennies.
Children from the school are heard singing Christmas carols and asking the bishop questions about the crib and about Christmas.
It is 800 years since St Francis of Assisi first depicted the birth of Christ with a stable which included animals. St Francis is especially known for his teaching about all creation being capable of bringing us close to God its creator.
Bishop Fintan's message was presented from a live crib in Tracton Abbey Parish
Carrigaline Community School Student Council and Meitheal Team with Bishop Fintan
Recently Bishop Fintan Gavin made a Pastoral Visit to Carrigaline Community School where he was warmly welcomed by School Principal Mr. Paul Burke
Members of the Senior Management Team, Board of Management and Student Representatives. Msgr. Aidan O’Driscoll Co-PP, Fr. James McSweeney Co-PP and Fr. Michael O’Connell MSC CC were also in attendance.
Bishop Fintan visited the Staffroom where he was warmly received, spoke briefly and circulated informally with staff members A short tour of school facilities followed including the Resource Centre where Bishop Fintan had an opportunity to meet with Student Council and Meitheal Team representatives as well as some Learning Support Students.
Recently Bishop Fintan welcomed two priests from the Order of St. Camilus to the Diocese and appointed them as healthcare chaplains
Fr. Biju Ilanjikkal Devasia M.I. has been appointed as Chaplain to St. Finbarr’s Hospital and South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. Fr. Devasia will join Fr. Michael Forde C.Ss.R as part of the chaplaincy team in both hospitals
Fr. Jaison Mathew M.I will join the Pastoral Care Team as a healthcare chaplain pro tem in the Bons Secours Hospital
Both priests are members of the Order of St. Camilus. The charism of the Order is ministry to the sick and dying and it is the first time that members of the Order of St. Camilus will minister in the Diocese of Cork and Ross.
Fr. Jaison Mathew (L) and Fr. Biju Ilanjikkal Devasia (R) with Bishop Fintan
Fr. Miron Sikiric OFM with Bishop FintanRecently Bishop Fintan welcomed Fr. Miron Sikiric OFM to Cork and Ross. Fr. Sikiric will minister to the Croatian Catholic Community in the Diocese who gather for the celebration of the Eucharist once a month in St. Finbarr’s South Church
Fr. Sikiric is a member of the Franciscan Order and originally from Zagreb. He currently ministers as Croatian Chaplain in the Archdiocese of Dublin and Curate in St. Mary’s Parish Haddington Road.
In welcoming Fr. Sikiric, Bishop Fintan spoke of the importance of the Croatian Catholic Community in the Diocese and looked forward to their participation in diocesan events.
Bishop Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross and Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross have issued the following Christmas Message
We send greetings to the people of faith in our city and county of Cork this Christmas: may you be filled with the hope which Christ brings. And we greet all people of good will, wishing you peace and joy always.
Peace is the gift most conspicuously lacking this Christmas. The images from the Middle East on the nightly news are horrifying. In Gaza, men, women and children are starving, wounded, living in fear for their lives. These innocent civilians suffer as did the victims of Hamas' October 7th invasion of Israel. There seems no end in sight to the pain of the innocents.
The images from Gaza are like those that have been beamed from Ukraine for the past 21 months, since the Russian invasion began. Innocent civilians there seek to get out of the way of the invading forces and those lethal nightly bombing raids.
Bishop Paul Colton and Bishop Fintan Gavin blessing the SHARE Crib in Cork (Pic Gerard McCarthy)The invasion of Ukraine has had effects closer to home for us too. Refugees from that war travel across Europe looking for a safe refuge, with some arriving in Ireland. Across Europe the challenge of welcoming refugees has seen politics swing from centrist parties to the extremes. In Ireland, the recent Dublin riots reflected a trend towards violent extremism.
An absence of peace is not the only lack the world suffers. As pastors, we are aware of many other ills plaguing our people. The shortage of homes impacts on many in our congregations, and we can never forget the homeless men, women and children on our streets. Financial pressures also afflict many families, with more and more finding it hard to make ends meet, as charities such as the Cork Penney Diners and St Vincent de Paul Society – among many – regularly report.
Bishop Fintan is joined by Second Class Children to prepare his Christmas Message to Primary Schools
On Wednesday 20th December at 12noon, Bishop Fintan will share his Live Crib Christmas Message with 175 Catholic Primary Schools in Cork and Ross
The message will reach all classrooms in primary schools from Watergrasshill in the east of the Diocese to Muintir Bháire and Cape Clear in the west.
Uniquely this year, Bishop Fintan is preparing his message with a live crib at the O’Leary Family Farm close to Rocky Bay in the Parish of Tracton Abbey. There, he will be joined by Second Class children from Scoil Naomh Fionnán in Rennies.
His message will prayerfully and joyfully remind school communities and parishes of the central truth of the Birth of the Infant Jesus at Christmas.
All primary schools will soon receive links for the Christmas Message which will be uploaded on YouTube and Vimeo in preparation for Wednesday 20th December. This broadcast will also be available on the Cork and Ross Diocesan website and social media from 20th December next.
Bishop Fintan with Parishioners at the Golden Jubilee Mass in St. Brendan’s Church, The Glen.
On Sunday 3rd December the faith Community of St. Brendan’s Church, The Glen gathered to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the church.
Bishop Fintan celebrated Mass which was concelebrated by Canon John O’Donovan Co-PP. The St. Brendan's church choir provided the music for the celebration.
In his words of appreciation, Canon John congratulated all involved in the celebration.
Recently Bishop Fintan Gavin made a Pastoral Visit to Skibbereen Community School where he received a very warm welcome from School Principal Mr. Anton O’Mahony, the Senior Management team, 6th Year Student Reps and members of the RE Department including School Chaplain Ms. Rosie O’Brien. Fr. John Heinhold Co-PP, Skibbereen Parish and Ms. Pádraigin Uí Riordain representing the CEIST Schools Trust.
Bishop Fintan met staff at their morning break in the staffroom and shared in some light refreshment with them. Students and staff assembled with invited guests in the school hall for an Advent Prayer Service where Bishop Fintan blessed the school Advent Wreath to mark the beginning of the season of Advent.
The Prayer Liturgy focused on “Hope” and was prepared and presented by School Chaplain Ms. Rosie O’Brien and members of the school Religious Education team.
Left to Right: Ms Hanora Hennigan (RE), Ms Orla O Sullivan (RE), Ms Deirdre Hennigan (RE), Student Ailbhe Dahm, Student Molly Lomansay, Bishop Fintan Gavin, Student Kitty O Donovan, Student Mark Keating, Laura Corkery (RE), Principal Anton O Mahony and School Chaplain Rosie O Brien.
Bishop Fintan with Fr. Roman Biletskyy, Fr. Ray Riordan Co-PP and children of the Ukrainian CommunityFr. Roman Biletskyy and the Ukrainian Catholic Community in Cork and Ross invited Bishop Fintan to their celebration of the Feast of St. Nicholas on Sunday 3rd December in the Church of the Incarnation, Frankfield
In Ukraine, St. Nicholas (Mykolai) visits children during the night and brings presents on the 5th/6th December.
The night is often called "Magic Night" or just St. Nicholas Day. From the Feast of St. Nicholas, Ukrainians begin preparing for the Christmas.
The Ukrainian Catholic Community in the Diocese meets for the celebration of Holy Eucharist in Frankfield every Sunday at 1:00pm.
The Diocese of Cork and Ross has announced that Fr. Pat Walsh, a retired priest of the diocese who lived in Ahiohill has died this afternoon.
Fr. Pat was a native of Bandon Parish and was ordained to the priesthood on 19th June 1957 and began his ministry on temporary mission with the Kiltegan Fathers in Nigeria for three years.
On returning to the Diocese of Cork and Ross, he ministered initially as curate pro tem in the Lough Parish and then joined the teaching staff of Farranferris College until 1972. In those years, he also ministered as chaplain to St. Stephen’s Hospital, Sarsfield Court.
He served in the Cork and Ross Mission to Peru in Trujillo from 1972 – 1978.
Ater returning from Peru he ministered as Curate in Clonakilty, Parish Priest of Rosscarbery, Assistant Priest in Rosscarbery and Kilmeen and Castleventry.
On retirement he went to live at the Presbytery in Ahiohill in Enniskeane Parish and continued to minister until recent years.
May he now rest in the peace of the Lord whom he served.
Fr Pat Walsh PP LR
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