Gaelcoláiste Mhuire First Year Group with Bishop Fintan

First Year pupils from Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG recently attended the North Cathedral for Mass celebrated by Bishop Fintan Gavin to mark the start of their secondary school journey.

The readings and prayer of the faithful were read out by the pupils as gaeilge, as well as some beautiful music provided by members of the school choir and music group, under the guidance of Jack O’Rourke and Julie Ann Harrington of the Music Department.

The pupils’ participation in the Mass was coordinated by Jim Geaney and Cormac Lehane of the school Religion Department and the Mass was attended by School Principal Dónal Ó Buachalla as well as members of the teaching staff.

D’fhreastail daltaí na chéad bhliana ó Ghaelcholáiste Mhuire AG ar an Ardeaglais le déanaí le haghaidh Aifreann a bhí ceiliúrtha ag an tEaspag Fintan Gavin chun tús a dturas Meánscoile a chomóradh.

Catholic Schools Week - Bishop Fintan Visits Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh

On Tuesday 24 January, Bishop Fintan made a pastoral visit to Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh in Bishopstown to celebrate Catholic Schools Week with students and staff.

The visit began with a First Year Class in the School Prayer Room. Following this, in the library a range of students from different year groups shared something of their faith stories with Bishop Fintan.

The students reflected on how they are living out the theme of Catholic Schools Week -‘Walking Together in Faith and Love’. Students spoke of their positive experience of Religious Education in the school and the many creative ways the faith dimension of school is helping them in their lives. A past pupil shared on the life changing experience he had in fifth year, when he was part of the Cork & Ross Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Death of Canon Tom Kelleher, former PP of Courceys

The death has been announced of Canon Tom Kelleher, a retired priest of the diocese.

Canon Kelleher has served as a priest for 68 years since he was ordained in June 1954. He was a native of Kilmichael Parish and retired as Parish Priest of Courceys Parish in 2012 after serving there since 1985.

After ordination he served on temporary mission in New York where some of his classmates also served. On return to Ireland he served a number of chaplaincy appointments and was Diocesan Secretary from 1961 to 1969 when he volunteered to serve in the Diocesan Mission in Trujillo, Peru.

Following his return to Cork in 1975 he served as curate in the South Parish and then in St Joseph’s, Mayfield, before becoming Parish Priest of Courceys (Ballinspittle and Ballinadee).

When he retired, he moved to live at The Presbytery in Kinsale and also assisted in the parish.

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

Catholic Schools Week 2023 will be celebrated in the Diocese of Cork and Ross as well as in schools and parishes throughout Ireland from Sunday 22nd to Sunday 29th January 2023

The theme for the week of celebration this year is: ‘Walking Together in Faith & Love’ which incorporates three features of the Synodal Pathway, communion, participation and mission.

Through engagement with Catholic Schools Week 2023, our parish and school communities have an opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate the wonderful contribution made by our Catholic Schools at primary and post primary levels in Cork and Ross. Our Catholic schools support and give living witness to the Person of Christ in their ethos, values and characteristic spirit.

A link to a range of resources dedicated to celebrating the gift of Catholic education which reflect the Catholic Schools Week theme - ‘Walking Together in Faith & Love’ (in both Irish and English) are available from the Catholic Education Partnership (CEP) website:

Catholic Schools Week 2023 - Resources

Bain úsáid as an nasc atá luaite chun acmhainní as Gaeilge a fháil.

Bishop Fintan Gavin gives a sermon at the Church of the Incarnation, Frankfield, Cork

Father Roman Biletskyy saying mass at a special Ukrainian service on Christmas Eve

Bishop Fintan recently visited South Parish Old Folks Club in South Parish Community Centre, off Sawmill Street, for their Christmas party

The Lord Mayor, Cllr. Deirdre Forde and Fr. Eoin Whooley PP were also present.

South Parish Old Folks Club was founded fifty five years ago. Canon John K. O’Mahony PE was one of the founding members in 1967.

The Club continues to meet each Friday evening in South Parish Community Centre.