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As part of the recent diocesan changes announced by Bishop Fintan, three permanent deacons will take up new appointments in different Families of Parishes.
While they are appointed to a Families of Parishes, they will be anchored in one or two parishes within the Family of Parishes and work with a link priest there.
Recently Bishop Fintan met with Deacon John Guiry, Deacon David Lane and Deacon Frank McKevitt along with Fr. Bernard Cotter Co-PP, Coordinator of the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Cork and Ross as the deacons take up their new appointments in early August.
Fr. Liam Ó hÍcí, Deacon Frank McKevitt, Fr. Bernard Cotter Co-PP and Fr. James McSweeney Co-PP (front row) Deacon David Lane, Bishop Fintan Gavin, Deacon John Guiry and Fr. Pat Fogarty Co-PP (at back)
Bishop Fintan Gavin
Changes to the appointments of some priests, along with new appointments for permanent deacons, have been announced by Bishop Fintan Gavin.
The four remaining families of parishes in the diocese have also been announced.
This is Bishop Fintan's message announcing these changes:-
When 12 Families of Parishes were established in the Diocese last summer, I said at the time that ‘bringing parishes together in this way presents an opportunity for much greater lay participation and shared leadership of parishes’. Since last summer, we have seen great progress as priests and people have taken this opportunity to work together, united in mission. I am deeply grateful for the creativity, courage and faith of our parishes to embark on this new way of being church into the future.
At the end of May this year, we gathered as people and priests from existing Families of Parishes and those to be established this summer in two very successful diocesan gatherings. Eilís Casey has taken up the role of Parish Life Coordinator in the Office of Mission and Ministry to work with parishes. She will soon be joined by a Coordinator of Faith Development to support parishes and Families of Parishes as we continue to work together and witness to the Gospel in new ways.
This year we will establish four further Families of Parishes:
- Ballineaspaig, Curraheen Road, Sacred Heart and Wilton
- Ballinlough, Blackrock, Blackrock Road and Mahon
- Douglas/Rochestown, Frankfield/Grange and Turner’s Cross
- Mayfield (St. Joseph’s), Upper Mayfield and Pastoral Care of Holy Family Church, Military Hill
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
'Come and See' event for men considering the priesthood this weekend Sunday July 2nd, 2023, 2-5pm, Mardyke House, Cork cityHave 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.
Bishop Fintan pictured with Fr. Jilson Kokkandathil (L) and Bishop Jose Porunnedom (R)
Bishop Fintan with Fr. Tomás Walsh SMA Co-PP with parishioners after Mass in Gurranabraher.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.
"I give you a new commandment - love one another as I have loved you"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.
Bishop Fintan Blesses a restored Mass Path Cross. Pic. JJ Hurley
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
Fr. Marius O'Reilly (left) and Fr. Cian O'Sullivan, Diocese of Cork and Ross
Click to view video
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