The First Year Students of Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG enjoyed a wonderful Mass with Bishop Gavin recently.

As part of their preparations for Catholic Schools Week, the students attended the daily celebration of Mass in the North Cathedral.

This is the second year of this event and it offers a wonderful opportunity to join with the regular congregation in their daily worship.

It strengthens the ties between the school and the local community, and also continues a long-standing relationship between the AG and the Diocese - we hope that this new tradition continues for many years to come.

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. 

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 9^th 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.

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.