Receive diocesan news and announcements direct to your email
Since July 2022 when he was appointed as Diocesan Coordinator for Post Primary Schools, Paul Kelly has visited over half of the 48 post primary schools throughout Cork and Ross.
In his role as Diocesan Coordinator for Post Primary Schools, Paul attends to the Bishop’s responsibilities and obligations in community schools and designated community colleges and provides support and encouragement to faith communities in each school setting through fostering faith development, leadership and faith formation initiatives.
Paul has also arranged many successful pastoral visits to post primary schools for Bishop Fintan during the last academic year. Paul will be engaging with all post primary schools in Cork and Ross throughout the coming school year.
Bishop Fintan and Paul Kelly Diocesan Coordinator for Post Primary Schools

Have you considered being a priest?
The Diocese of Cork and Ross will host a special "Come and See" event for men considering the priesthood.
It’s on Sunday, July 2nd in Cork city. It will take place in Mardyke House (T12 W8RP) from 2pm to 5pm.
It is an opportunity to take a gentle initial step and to pray, share and explore if the Lord might be calling you to the priesthood.
To register please send an email to
Bishop Fintan welcomes Bishop Jose Porunnedom from the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Mananthavady in Kerala to Cork.
Fr. Jilson Kokkandathil CC in the Family of Parishes of South Parish, Ss Peter and Paul’s and St. Patrick’s and chaplain to the Syro-Malabar Church Community in Cork and Ross is a priest of the Diocese of Mananthavady, and Bishop Jose has generously made Fr. Jilson available to Cork and Ross.
Bishop Fintan expressed his gratitude for this and said how the Syro-Malabar Church Community enriches Cork and Ross by their presence. He also spoke of the importance of the Syro-Malabar Rite retaining its own identity as one of the Eastern Rites within the Diocese.


This weekend, (24th/25th June) Bishop Fintan Gavin visited Gurranabraher Parish where he met parishioners and viewed the administration of the parish.
He celebrated the 5.30pm Mass on the Saturday and the 11.30am on the Sunday. In his homily at both Masses he mentioned “declining numbers attending worship and the shortage of priests” necessitating the creation of ‘Families of Parishes’. It is hoped that with the collaboration of priests and parishioners from surrounding parishes working together a new springtime would arise for the Church.
The Diocese of Cork and Ross announces a vacancy for a diocesan advisor for faith development in primary schools
The Diocese of Cork and Ross is a faith community of 68 parishes and 175 primary schools under the patronage of the Bishop of Cork and Ross. The diocese wishes to sustain and develop its commitment to assist primary school communities, parishes and families of parishes by appointing a fulltime Diocesan Advisor to support and guide Religious Education and Faith Development.
The person in this role will support Religious Education and Faith Formation in primary schools under the patronage of the bishop through a range of activities including school visits to advise, resource and support teachers regarding the “Grow In Love” programme and similarly support parents, priests, parishes and families of parishes in faith development.
This will be for a fulltime three-year fixed-term contract.
Salary is commensurate with experience. Candidates will be selected following an interview process.
Closing date for receipt of completed Applications for this post is: 12 noon on Friday, 21st. July,
The employer is CRSS CLG, a registered charity whose mission is to support certain agencies providing services to the Catholic Diocese of Cork and Ross
A wonderful celebration of the bicentenary of the Church of the Sacred Heart, Ballyheada, took place during the vigil Mass on Saturday 17th June 2023. The principal celebrant was Bishop Fintan Gavin, assisted by Fr. Danny Pyburn Co-PP and Deacon John Guirey.
This was the final of three consecutive bicentenaries in Ballinhassig parish, with Goggin’s Hill and Ballygarvan churches having celebrated similar milestones in 2021 and 2022 respectively.Much appreciation is owed to the many that helped with the celebrations of all three bicentenaries, especially the parish secretary, Mary O’Halloran, and the Parish Assembly.
People came together to clean and paint the outsides and insides of all three churches in recent years. They also helped to put up bunting, to erect banners and memorial plaques.The church bell systems have now been restored in both Ballygarvan and Ballyheada churches.
Fr. Colin Doocey (30 years), An tAth Tomás Ó Murchú (60 years) and Archdeacon Kerry Murphy-O'Connor (60 years). (Picture Brian Lougheed)
Three priests of the Diocese are marking 150 years of Priestly Ministry between them.
At 12 noon Mass at the Church of our Lady Crowned in Mayfield on Sunday last, three priests who were ordained in the church marked the anniversary of their ordination.
An tAth Tomás Ó Murchú and Archdeacon Kerry Murphy-O'Connor were ordained 60 years ago, in 1963. Fr. Colin Doocey, a native of the parish was ordained 30 years ago and also celebrated his First Mass in the church.
The Mass was celebrated by Bishop John Buckley, Bishop Emeritus of Cork & Ross and was concelebrated by Fr. Charles Kiely PP and and Fr. Dwayne Gavin. Deacon David Lane assisted at the Mass.
Have you considered being a priest?
The Diocese of Cork and Ross will host a special "Come and See" event for men considering the priesthood.
It’s on Sunday, July 2nd in Cork city. It will take place in Mardyke House (T12 W8RP) from 2pm to 5pm.
It is an opportunity to take a gentle initial step and to pray, share and explore if the Lord might be calling you to the priesthood.
To register please send an email to
Bishop Fintan Gavin carried the Blessed Sacrament during the Corpus Christi procession in the city of Cork
Photo Peter Pietrzak
"All Catholics are called to be signs and instruments of hope, blessing and unity to all - even in a changing and diverse culture", according to Bishop Fintan Gavin
Bishop Gavin was preaching on Sunday at Ss Peter and Paul’s Church, Cork, at the conclusion of the city’s 97th Corpus Christi Procession - and the bishop’s first.
Thousands of people took part in the procession which began at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne and followed a new route across the Christy Ring Bridge and onto Patrick Street and into the city centre church.
Bishop Fintan carried the Blessed Sacrament in the procession accompanied by a crowd of people from across the city and beyond.
Cork City's Procession with the Blessed Sacrament on Sunday June 11th, 2023, will follow a new route
The 97th Eucharistic Procession, leaves the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne at 3pm and crosses the Christy Ring Bridge, before turning down Half Moon Street (at the Opera House), through Academy Street onto Patrick Street and concludes at Ss Peter and Paul’s Church.
Bishop Fintan Gavin will deliver a Homily and will impart Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament.
The entire Procession will be viewable on video screens at Ss. Peter and Paul's Church and on the street outside the church.
Let's make this year's procession unforgettable as we look forward to its 100th anniversary in 2026
#EucharisticProcession #CorkCity
Latest News
News
-
January 2025
- Over 50 young adults partake in two faith formation programmes
- Boys' post-primary school in Cork welcomes bishop for his first visit
- Bicentenary celebrations of Bon Secours Sisters in Ireland close in Cork
- Vacancy: Diocesan Director of Safeguarding
- Bishop Fintan visits Coláiste Muire in Crosshaven for Catholic Schools Week
- Resource published for Catholic Schools Week 2025 in Cork and Ross
- Teachers and priests meet to plan Confirmation Masses
- Poor Clares Vocations Afternoon - Sat 22 Feb 2025
-
December 2024
- Death of Conor Gavin RIP
- Cork's two bishops issue joint Christmas message
- Bishop’s Message for Christmas seen in primary schools across the diocese
- Glanmire Community College was the location for a recent visit by Bishop Fintan Gavin.
- Bishopstown school celebrates installation of new Christmas crib
- Dunmanway post-primary school hosts visit by bishop
- Primary school teachers in the Diocese attend a Day of Reflection
- Death of Fr. Seamus Mac Ginneá
- Bishop Fintan visits Edmund Rice College Carrigaline
- Bishop Fintan’s Pastoral Visit to Scoil Bernadette
- Brazilian Community in Cork celebrates as 14 members are Confirmed at the Cathedral
-
November 2024