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At the first of a series of workshops with primary school teachers and priests are Triona Murphy and Maria Daly, teachers at Kealkill NS and Fr. Ben Hodnett CC of the family of parishes around Bantry.Primary school teachers from schools in our diocese are attending workshops dealing with the celebration of Confirmation.
The three gatherings organised by the diocese are taking place this week in Bantry, Ballincollig and Rochestown.
Bishop Fintan Gavin said that the meetings follow discussions in the diocese with a focus group set up to review how the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated.
The workshops intend to guide and support priests, principals and Confirmation class teachers who together organise the liturgies across the diocese.
The programme of ceremonies begins on February 20th and concludes on May 3rd.
See more about preparing for Confirmation and access resources here.
The first lay person to be Diocesan Secretary has been appointed by the diocese
As part of an ongoing re-organisation of diocesan resources to serve the needs of the local faith communities, the Diocese of Cork and Ross has for the first time appointed a lay woman to serve as Diocesan Secretary.
Sheila Lewis, who is from Kilworth, in north Cork, has a background in industry and the voluntary sector, and will commence her full-time role in the Diocesan Office on Feb 1st.
Fr Michael Keohane, Co-PP, who has served until now as Diocesan Secretary and as Diocesan Education Secretary will continue as Diocesan Education Secretary.
Mons. Gearóid Dullea, Co-PP, continues as Diocesan Chancellor, whose role includes matters relating to marriage documentation and the granting of faculties to priests including religious and visiting priests and other related matters.
Sheila Lewis, Diocesan Secretary, with Bishop Fintan Gavin
Presentation Brothers Leadership Team Visit to Bishop Fintan. Photo – L to R: Br. Rupert O’Sullivan; Br. Alban Besigrinee; Bishop Fintan; Br. Barry Noel (Congregation Leader); Br. Martin Kenneally; Br. Joseph Mukasa.The Congregation Leadership Team of the Presentation Brothers recently visited Bishop Fintan at the Cork and Ross Diocesan Offices
The Presentation Brothers have a long and historic connection with the Diocese of Cork and Ross.
Several schools in Cork City are in the Presentation Brothers tradition and now form part of the Presentation Brothers Schools Trust (PBST).
The Mardyke House Community is home to the L.E.A.F. PROJECT and is now a hub for adult youth ministry, faith leadership programmes and many diocesan meetings.
The international headquarters of the Presentation Brothers is located at Mount St. Joseph, Blarney Street.
The Congregation is very happy to be part of the renewal which is taking place in the Diocese of Cork and Ross at this time.
The Diocesan Office has annouinced that the death has occurred of Fr. John Galvin in Cork University Hospital this morning.
Bishop Fintan extends his prayerful support to Fr. John’s family and former parishioners at this time.
Fr. John a native of Uibh Laoire Parish was ordained to the priesthood on 9th June 1962 and began his ministry on temporary mission in the Archdiocese of Bermingham.
On returning to Cork and Ross, he ministered as Curate pro tem in Ahiohill and Cape Clear, as Chaplain in Schull and as Chaplain pro tem in Dunmanway.
He then ministered as Curate in the Parishes of Ovens and Farran, St. Joseph’s Mayfield and Curraheen Road, as Parish Priest in Frankfield and Passage West and then as Assistant Priest in the Harbour Parishes.
May he now rest in the peace of the Lord.
Fr John Galvin RIPBishop 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.
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November 2025
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October 2025
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September 2025
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August 2025
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