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The Diocese of Cork and Ross is set to host this year’s Eucharistic Procession - a tradition that has spanned over nine decades in Cork heritage

The idea of taking the Procession through the streets of Cork emerged in the years after the War of Independence and the Civil War in a bid to heal division. The first Procession through the City streets took place on June 6th, 1926, with tens of thousands of people participating.

The 2025 Eucharistic Procession will be officially launched on Wednesday, May 14th at 6.00pm in the Visitors Centre in the Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Anne - the North Cathedral.

Bishop Fintan Gavin has extended a warm invitation to representatives from parishes and faith community groups to come together at the launch. Music will be provided by 20 youth singers.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Bishop Fintan Gavin said; “The Eucharistic Procession is of huge significance to the people of Cork City and beyond. It’s 99 years since the first Procession which brings our communities together through faith. It was wonderful to see such remarkable numbers participating last year despite the challenging weather.

“This year, to accommodate the growing numbers, we are taking the prayers and benediction back out onto the streets with a specially constructed platform on Grand Parade. I’d like to invite individuals and groups from across the city and county to be part of the celebration. I look forward to welcoming you to the launch at the North Cathedral.”

The Eucharistic Procession, which will take place on Sunday, June 22nd, 2025. The procession will commence at 3 p.m. from the Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Anne. Last year, almost 4,000 people participated in the Procession with attendees spilling out onto the streets. This year is set to be even greater.

To facilitate the increasing numbers taking part each year, the liturgy and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will take place on a specifically erected stage and altar on the Grand Parade.

99th Cork Eucharistic Procession99th Cork Eucharistic Procession

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Mass in Cork for Pope FrancisMass in Cork for Pope Francis

Cork’s Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne drew people from across the city and beyond to pray at Mass for Pope Francis.

The special solemn Mass was held on Friday evening and was celebrated by Bishop Fintan Gavin and concelebrated by priests from parishes, religious orders and chaplaincies.

The Mayor of Cork City Councillor Dan Boyle and the Mayor of County Cork Councillor Joe Carroll were present and brought forward the offertory gifts during the Mass.

Bishop Fintan said that he was fortunate to have met Pope Francis several times.

“Reflecting on this in recent days I am struck by the fact that Pope Francis always finished those encounters with the same request “Prega per me”, “Pregate per me” -- Pray for me, Pray for me.

“That is exactly what we are doing here this evening – we are praying for Pope Francis as he goes home to the house of the Father.  We pray for the repose of his soul and commend him to the mercy of God which was such a central theme during his pontificate.”

The Mass at the Cathedral was one of several Masses in churches across the diocese for Pope Francis. 

 

A Solemn Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne, Cork, on Friday evening 25th April at 7.30pm.

The principal celebrant will be Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, who has issued an open invitation to all.  

Parishioners, priests, deacons and religious from across the diocese will gather to give thanks for the life of Pope Francis and to entrust him to God’s mercy on the evening before his funeral takes place in Rome. 

Parking will be available at the Cathedral and nearby at St Anthony’s Convent / St Vincents.

Let us entrust Pope Francis to God’s mercy and continue to pray for the Church as she prepares to elect a new successor of St. Peter.

Mass for Pope FrancisMass for Pope Francis

Online Book of Condolence is openOnline Book of Condolence is open

Following the announcement by the Holy See that Pope Francis has ‘returned to the House of the Lord’, Bishop Fintan Gavin invites the people of the Diocese of Cork and Ross to unite in prayer to God at this time.

“I invite the parishioners, priests, deacons and religious of our diocese to join as one with the faithful across the globe as we commend Pope Francis to the Lord.

We give thanks to Almighty God for the gift of Pope Francis as shepherd of the people of God and we thank God for his selfless service and dedication to the end of his earthly life. 

We remember Pope Francis as one who challenged us to reach out to those on the margins and to bring God’s mercy to all those we encounter.

We pray together that Pope Francis’ call to all of us to make this Jubilee Year a Year of Hope may be fulfilled. 

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There was standing room only at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne on Thursday as Bishop Fintan presided at the Mass of Chrism

Parishioners travelled from across the diocese to join in the only Mass celebrated in the diocese on Holy Thursday morning.

The Mass was concelebrated by dozens of priests from the parishes, chaplaincies, religious orders and missionary societies in the diocese.

Deacon Frank McKevitt also ministered at the Mass along with Ministers of the Word and Eucharist, the Cathedral Choir directed by John Casey and altar servers from Cork and Barryroe.

Fr. Christy Fitzgerald and Fr Fergus Ryan were Masters of Ceremonies.

Mass of Chrism, Holy Thursday, Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Ann.Pic: Brian LougheedMass of Chrism, Holy Thursday, Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Ann
Picture: Brian Lougheed

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The Holy Thursday Mass of Chrism will be celebrated at Cork's Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne this Thursday morning

Bishop Fintan Gavin welcomes parishioners, priests, deacons and religious from across the diocese.

The Mass of Chrism begins at 10.00am. 

The Mass gets its name from the fact that it includes the:

  • Renewal of Priestly Promises
  • Blessing of the Oil of the Sick
  • Blessing of the Oil of Catechumens
  • and the Consecration of the Chrism

These blessed oils are taken to each of the parishes, hospitals, and faith communities of the diocese for use in the sacraments throughout the year.

This is the only Mass celebrated in the diocese on Holy Thursday morning. This highlights our unity as one diocese and our membership of the one family of God.

Later on Holy Thursday evening, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is celebrated in parishes and faith communities to mark the start of the Easter Triduum.

Each parish takes three sets of holy oils back to the parishEach parish takes three sets of holy oils back to the parish

 

The annual Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession is scheduled to take place on

Sunday 22 June 2025

This year marks the 99th anniversary of the inaugural Procession.

Change to the Route

There is one significant change to the Procession for 2025. To accommodate the large gathering, the Procession will conclude at a specially constructed Altar near the monument on the Grand Parade

Invitation to All

Bishop Fintan Gavin warmly invites everyone to participate in this cherished tradition and important expression of our faith. Please mark this date in your diary.

Corpus Christi Procession 2025Corpus Christi Procession 2025

The church choirs from the six parishes around Clonakilty were together for the first time to reflect on the place of music and singing in Catholic worship

The workshop was led by Fr. Fergus Ryan OP CC who is based in Barryroe and ministers in the parishes.

Eighty choir members and priests from Barryroe in the east to Rosscarbery in the west and from most churches in between attended.

The gathering was held at Clonakilty Parish Centre.

Family of Parishes choirs join in workshop on liturgical musicFamily of Parishes choirs join in workshop on liturgical music

Canon John O'Donovan, Co-PP; Bishop Fintan Gavin, Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Dan Boyle, Brian Geaney, Assistant Chief Executive, Cork City Council [Pic: Brian Lougheed]Canon John O'Donovan, Co-PP; Bishop Fintan Gavin, Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Dan Boyle, Brian Geaney, Assistant Chief Executive, Cork City Council [Pic: Brian Lougheed]

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Dan Boyle, paid a courtesy visit to Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, Cork

Cllr. Dan Boyle was born in Chicago, Illinois, to emigrant Irish parents. He has lived in his mother's native city of Cork since he was eight years of age, in the Turners Cross area of the city.

He was educated at local schools; Scoil Chríost Rí and Coláiste Chríost Rí, and at the Cork Regional Technical College (now MTU), where he studied Business Studies and Child Care. He received an MBS in Government from University College Cork in 2015.

The Lord Mayor was accompanied by Brian Geaney, Assistant Chief Executive, Cork City Council.

Also present was Canon John O'Donovan, Co-PP and Moderator of the Cathedral Family of Parishes.

As we begin the month of April, a question arises: What did you promise for Lent?

It's been 26 days since the holy season of Lent started on Ash Wednesday. In every church, people had the blessed ashes placed on their foreheads and they undertook commitments to grow closer to the Lord during the 40 days.

Bishop Fintan made his annual pastoral visit to University College Cork that and celebrated three Ash Wednesday Masses in the Honan Chapel. In his homilies during these Masses, Bishop Fintan encouraged the congregations to enter into the season of Lent with open hearts and to rely on the God's mercy to carry them throughout the weeks ahead.

Now there are two weeks to go! So, perhaps it's a time for a review and maybe a restart!

Lent ends on the Wednesday of Holy Week. It's followed by three sacred days (The Triduum): Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, leading then to the celebration of Easter.

This year, Easter Sunday is on April 20th.

 

Bishop Fintan placed blessed ashes on students at the Honan Chapel in UCC on Ash WednesdayBishop Fintan placed blessed ashes on students at the Honan Chapel in UCC on Ash Wednesday

 

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