On Saturday 4th March, over 80 people attended a very successful workshop for cantors, choir members and those who lead congregations in singing

On behalf of the Advisory Committee on Church Music to the Irish Bishop's Conference, the workshop facilitators were Fr. Columba McCann OSB, Karen Donovan and Gerard Lillis.

Music on the day included psalms, music for the seasons of Lent and Easter as well as new pieces by Irish composers.

Bishop Fintan with Mary Fitzgibbon, chairperson of the Mater Dei Academy Parents Council

Mater Dei Academy recently marked three years since its foundation on the Feast of Epiphany, January 6th 2020

To mark this milestone, as well as to launch its Strategic Plan for 2023-2026, Bishop Fintan celebrated Mass with students, staff, parents and friends. Mater Dei Academy which is located in Farranferris Training and Educational Campus is grateful to all who attended and made for such a wonderful evening.

Details about Mater Dei Academy are available from its website www.materdeiacademy.ie

The Annual Matt Talbot Novena take place in the Church of the Way of the Cross Togher on each Monday evening during Lent

The first Mass and Novena Prayers was celebrated on Monday 27th February by Fr. Marius O’Reilly.

Celebrants on the following Monday nights will be Fr. Greg Howard, Fr. John Walsh, Fr. Ger Dunne OP, Fr. Con Doherty MSC and Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan of Waterford and Lismore on the concluding evening.

James Leonard (Two Norries) will speak at the Novena on Monday 13th March.

Primary Diocesan Advisors Meeting

On Tuesday, February 21st, the Primary Diocesan Advisors met with Bishop Fintan at Presentation Brothers, Mardyke House.

The purpose of the meeting was to look to the future and examine how the Diocese could continue to support the great work taking place in faith formation in our primary school communities.

Bishop Fintan thanked the Diocesan Advisors for their many years of generous and committed service. Their work is held in the highest esteem in primary schools throughout the Diocese.

Following a process of discussion, discernment and prayer, the meeting agreed that, given the rapid changes taking place in society and in education, the Diocese of Cork and Ross would now need to design a new structure for supporting faith formation with a full-time person or persons at the centre of this.

The wisdom, advice and experience of the present diocesan advisors would be invaluable during the transition period and in the on-going support of the person or persons appointed to this new role.

SEEK23 Conference – Cork and Ross Profiles

In January, Bishop Fintan Gavin accompanied a group of Cork and Ross youth to the SEEK23 Conference is St. Louis, Missouri, USA. This conference is hosted by the ministry group ’FOCUS’, which stands for Fellowship of Catholic University Students. The conference was a 5-day gathering of 17,000 students, parishioners and religious, in which, through prayer, sacraments, inspiring keynotes and more, the attendees are given an opportunity to encounter the Gospel anew and to be revived, equipped and encouraged for the life of faith Christ is calling us to lead. The group got to meet world famous Catholic speakers such as Emily Wilson, Fr. Mike Schmitz, Sr. Miriam James Heidland and Paul J. Kim. The group was hosted by Irish FOCUS missionaries from both Dublin and Belfast. The Cork and Ross youth in attendance found it to be an inspiring experience, take a look at what the attendees had to say;

To celebrate the beginning of the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday, Bishop Fintan visited University College Cork

He was the principal celebrant at the three Masses in the Honan Chapel. In his homilies, he encouraged those attending to make conscious choices for Lent using the tools of the Gospel for Ash Wednesday to enter more fully into a deeper relationship with Christ.

During his day long visit to the university, Bishop Fintan was warmly welcomed by students and staff. He took the opportunity to meet the chaplaincy team (Fr Gerard Dunne, Sheila Kelleher, Miriam Goulding, Rev Alan Marley and Geraldine McAllister). Bishop Fintan also had meetings with student groups, staff from across the university and held meetings with senior officials.

The Catholic Bishop of Cork and Ross has called for prayers for Cork-born bishop who has died in Los Angeles

Bishop Fintan’s statement:-

The news of the tragic death of Bishop David O’Connell in Los Angeles has sent shockwaves across his native Diocese of Cork and Ross. 
 
On behalf of the people, priests and religious of the Diocese of Cork and Ross, and on my own behalf, I wish to express my sympathies and prayerful support to the O’Connell Family here in Cork, to Archbishop José H. Gomez and the people, priests and religious of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Since his ordination in 1979 Bishop David has served as a priest in L.A. but has always maintained his connection with family and friends in Cork where has been a regular visitor.

On Tuesday February 7th, Bishop Fintan made a Pastoral Visit to St. Angela’s College, St. Patrick’s Hill; a Catholic School for girls located in the heart of the city.

He was warmly greeted on arrival by School Principal Mr. Pat Curran and Deputy Principal Ms. Edel O’Donovan before being invited to join a Junior School Assembly for a Prayer Service followed by an interactive dialogue with students.

The Service was student-led and began with a musical recital followed by scripture readings and prayers.

Bishop Fintan with students of St. Angela’s College