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At the Blessing of Easter Food witht he Polish Community at Clonakilty Parish Church are Fr Rafal Zielonka, Curate of the Family of Parish around Duunmanway, with Natalia Makowska and Robert Szymial and their family Nicolas (altar server in Clonakilty parish), Olivia and Adam.
Members of the Polish community across the diocese have come to church today with their family for the traditional blessing of food baskets for Easter.
Swieconka (sh-vee-en-soon-kah) is one of the most enduring and beloved Polish traditions.
Baskets containing a sampling of Easter foods are brought to church to be blessed on Holy Saturday. The basket is traditionally lined with a white linen or lace napkin and decorated with sprigs of boxwood (bukszpan), the typical Easter evergreen.
Polish people take special pride in preparing a decorative and tasteful basket with crisp linens, occasionally embroidered for the occasion, and just enough boxwood and ribbon woven through the handle.
The blessing has three parts — for three groups of items in the baskets: breads and pastries, sausages and meats, and eggs.
The blessing of food across the diocese today was celebrated by the three Polish priests who minister in our diocese on loan from Poland: Fr. Kamil Bachara, Fr. Rafal Zielonka and Fr. Bartlomiej Dziedzic.
The diocesan office has announced that one of the retired priests of the diocese has died on today Good Friday.
Fr. Denis Cashman, former Parish Priest of Watergrasshill, died following an illness.
A native of Glanmire parish, Fr. Denis was ordained a priest at St. Mary & St. Anne’s Cathedral, Cork on June 13th, 1968.
He was a brother of the late Fr. Eoghan Cashman, PP Rath and the Islands.
Fr. Denis began his priestly ministry on temporary mission in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Camberwell, in the Archdiocese of Southwark, England.
On his return to Cork and Ross he served as Curate in Gurranabraher Parish until 1975 when he joined the Cork and Ross South American Mission until 1981.
He then served as curate in the parishes of Ballincollig, Bandon and Clonakilty and as parish priest in Goleen Parish (1995 - 1999) and Watergrasshill/Glenville (1999 – 2013).
Following his retirement in 2013, Fr. Denis resided in Ballincollig and continued to help out in many parishes.
May he be united to the risen Lord whom he served.
Fr Denis Cashman, P.E.Cork's Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne will feature on this evening's Nationwide programme on RTE1 television.
It will pay particular attention to the restoration of the nine bells and tower as well as recounting the Cathedral's history.
It will be broadcast on RTE Nationwide on this Good Friday evening at 7pm.
This feature piece will also be available on playback from RTE Player afterwards.
Cathedral interior
The Oil of the Sick was brought to the altar by Bon Secours Hospital staff members Trish Hegarty and Nora Espatero. The Oil of Catechumens was presented by Phelim and Kathleen McCormack, members of the RCIA group in Carrigaline Parish.
Every Catholic is called to take an active part in the life of the local church, Bishop Fintan Gavin told all who attended the Mass of Chrism at the Cathedral in Cork on Holy Thursday morning
“This means not just priests and deacons and religious but all the people baptised and anointed with chrism in confirmation.“ he said.
Bishop Gavin was preaching the homily at the annual Mass at which priests renew the promises they made at ordination. The three holy oils which are used in the sacraments across the diocese during the year were blessed by the bishop during the Mass.
More than 60 priests concelebrated the Mass in which people from many parishes were in the congregation at the Cathedral. Addressing the priests, Bishop Fintan thanked them for their openess to the many changes that are happening in the diocese.
Holy Thursday - falling on April 6th this year - is the beginning of the Christian calendar's most sacred days
At the Mass of Chrism celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, Cork, Bishop Fintan Gavin will be the principal celebrant and most of the priests of the diocese will concelebrate.
The 10am Mass includes a renewal of the promises made at ordination by all the priests. Lay people from across the diocese also attend and participate.
The Holy Oil used at Baptism (Catechumens) and the Oil of the Sick (Infirmorum) are blessed and Chrism which is used at Baptism, Confirmation and Ordination is also consecrated by the bishop.
The holy oils are then taken to the parishes, hospitals and other chapels in the diocese where they are used throughout the year.
Holy Oils used in sacraments throughout the year
The Mass of Chrism will also be available via livestream at www.corkcathedral.ie/live-stream
Bishop Fintan is welcomed by members of the Student Council in Mayfield Community School and School Principal, Mr. Kieran Golden
On Friday March 24th Bishop Fintan made a pastoral visit to Mayfield Community School
He was warmly greeted on arrival by Kieran Golden (principal), Ms. Kathleen Daly (deputy principal), representatives of the Student Council, Parents’ Association and School Board of Management.
Bishop Fintan was then invited to join a school assembly for a Prayer Service followed by an interactive dialogue with students.
In his words of welcome, Mr. Golden said that in 2023 the school was celebrating its 50th Anniversary as a school within the Mayfield community. He said that Bishop Fintan’s visit provides an opportunity to celebrate and to recognise the role of the Bishop of Cork & Ross as co-trustee of the school.
He went on to state that provision of Religious Education, religious worship and the work of the Chaplain all combine to reflect the founding intention of Mayfield Community School.
On Sunday 2nd April, Palm Sunday, Bishop Fintan presented John Paul 11 Gold Medal Awards in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Skibbereen
The recipients were Rachel Crowley (Skibbereen), Ciara Dennehy Castlehaven Parish), Molly Gregory Long (Skibbereen) and sisters Megan and Kassey Collins (Rath& The Islands Parish) represented by their mother Anne. James O’Connor from Douglas Parish was also awarded a Gold medal which he will receive it at a later date.
The journey for all recipients commenced a few months before the start of the Covid pandemic. Their efforts during this stressful time was truly exemplary, involving local community service to the elderly, helping out in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Rath and the Islands and Castlehaven Parishes by welcoming parishioners, cleaning and sanitising the pews after Mass, proclaiming the Word of God at Mass, visiting residents in retirement homes and hospitals whilst assisting staff, and contributing their time to charities, and other good works, working tirelessly throughout Covid.
The parishes involved are very proud of the recipients in that there are six Gold recipients from the Diocese of Cork and Ross this year.
Due to prior commitments the awards for Kassey and Megan were accepted by their mother, Mrs Anne Collins
Fr. John Heinhold Co-PP, Mrs. Anne Collins (mother of Kassey and Megan Collins), Molly Gregory Long, Rachel Crowley, Bishop Fintan & Ciara Dennehy
The Sycamore formation group with Bishop Fintan Gavin at Mardyke House
The Sycamore Formation group were delighted to welcome Bishop Fintan Gavin to last Wednesday's session at Mardyke House
The Presentation Brothers, UCC Chaplaincy and the Cork and Ross Diocese have come together to host the Sycamore Series in response to a call from young adults to be better formed in their Catholic Faith. Over 20 young adults from the Cork and Ross Diocese have been attending the 10-week course, which is set to finish this Wednesday 5th April.
Sycamore will be running again in the Autumn at Mardyke House. Any group or individual looking to learn more about the Sycamore Series should contact UCC Chaplaincy by email at
On Sunday 19th March Bishop Fintan visited the Syro Malabar Church Community in St. Joseph’s Church Wilton and at the adjoining Parish Centre
In the course of his visit Bishop Fintan met different groups including the Parish Committee members (Pradhinidhiyogam), catechism children and their teachers and the Church Community Kaikars before the celebration of Mass. During his homily at Mass, Bishop Fintan said how the Syro Malabar Church Community enriches the Diocese of Cork and Ross with their passion to share faith with their children. He also spoke of the importance of the Syro Malabar Rite retaining its identity as one of the Eastern Rites within the Diocese of Cork and Ross.
Bishop Fintan with Syro Malabar youth
Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Colette Finn planting a crab apple tree in the new wildflower garden in the grounds of the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Dennehy's Cross, Cork Present were Bishop Fintan Gavin; Fr. Donal Cotter, P.P.; Theresa Lynch, Faith in Action Group; Eamonn Moynihan, chairperson, parish Pastoral Council; student Angela Jaison, Mount Mercy College; Caroline Jaison, Sarah Moynihan and Ria Ashwin of St. Catherine's N.S.
After Mass, there was a tree-planting ceremony in the wildflower garden, followed by a social gathering where parishioners had plenty of opportunity to meet and chat with the Bishop and Deputy Lord Mayor.
Ballineaspaig Parish, Dennehy’s Cross, was delighted to welcome Bishop Fintan to celebrate 11.00 Mass on Sunday, 12th March, and to make a presentation to the parish on behalf of EcoCongregation Ireland (ECI) of an Eco Gold Award
The Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Colette Finn, was in attendance.
The parish Faith in Action group applied to ECI for recognition as an eco parish in 2015 and became the first Catholic parish in the diocese to receive an Eco Award.
“This coincided with the publication of Laudato Si by Pope Francis, which gave us the stimulus to intensify our promotion of environmental awareness and responsibility for planet Earth, our commitment to social inclusion, and our connection with the developing world,” the Faith in Action Group explained.
In 2021, they successfully applied to ECI for their newly-introduced Gold Award. see full application here
At that time, parishioners were promised a joyous celebration of this wonderful achievement as soon as the pandemic’s waning would permit.
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