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.

Post-primary students were presented with awards which commemorate the life of a pope and acknowledges their faith and service in their parishes.

Students from Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty, had engaged in a host of faith-based activities and a range of social awareness activities within the parishes of Barryroe, Timoleague & Clonakilty.

They were presented with their Pope John Paul II  awards by Bishop Fintan Gavin at Mass in Clonakilty on Sunday May 12^th 2024.

The recipients were Sinead Walsh (Timoleague Parish), Ciara Collins (Clonakilty Parish), Lauren Eady (Clonakilty Parish), Saoirse Whelton (Barryroe Parish, (Caoimhe Ní Bhuachalla (Barryroe Parish), Sara O’Sullivan (Clonakilty Parish) and Sinead Crowley (Clonakilty Parish).

Students from Coláiste Éamann Rís in Cork were also presented with their Pope John Paul II Awards by Bishop Fintan on Saturday last, May 11^th in St. Finbarr’s South Parish, Cork.

The photo includes Ms. Anne Marie Nolan, their Awards Mentor, and Fr. Kevin O'Regan, Co-PP..

The six students in the photograph are: Matthew Keder, Beatriz Amieiro, Laura Pason, Michaela Madankova, Katie O’Leary Luke Aibangbee. Two presentations in adstentia were to Conor Mc Carthy & Antonio Garcia-Cervigon Moreno.

Bishop Fintan at Mass to begin 24-hour adoration

Bishop Fintan was the principal celebrant at Mass on Friday, May 10th, in Saints Peter and Paul's Church, to officially launch perpetual Eucharistic Adoration 24/7 in the heart of Cork City. 

To enable this to happen over 500 people have made a commitment to pray for one hour each week.  Hundreds of those turned up for the special Mass.

The adoration will happen during the day from 8am in the morning until 8pm in Saints Peter and Paul's Church (just off Patrick's Street) and then it will continue during the night at the Dominican Church, St Mary's on Pope's Quay.

The death has occurred of Canon Michael Riordan in Cork University Hospital, on 6^th May 2024.  

Canon Michael, a native of Kilmichael Parish, was ordained to the Priesthood on 23rd May 1959 in the Church of the Resurrection, Farranree, and began his ministry on temporary mission in the Archdiocese of Calabar, Nigeria for two years.  On returning to the diocese, he ministered as Assistant Curate in Ballingeary, Curate in Muintir Bháire and Passage West.

He then served in the Cork and Ross South American Mission in El Porvenir, Trujillo, Peru, from 1965 – 1971.  On his return home, he ministered as Curate in Watergrasshill, Carrigaline and St. Patrick’s Parish.  

Canon Michael returned to Peru to again serve with the Cork and Ross South American Mission in La Esperenza, Trujillo, from 1985 – 1991.

He then ministered as Parish Priest in Togher Parish from 1991 – 2011.

May he rest in the peace of the Lord whom he served.