Michael Galvin and Carmel Drinan receive their Benemerenti Awards from Bishop Fintan along with representatives from Group 126 of Irish Pilgrimages Trust. Also included, Fr. John Collins AP, Fr. Jack Twomey OFM. Cap (Chaplain Bons Secours Hospital) and Fr. Alan O’Leary Co-PP with Bishop Fintan. (Photos: Brian Lougheed)

On Sunday 17th September, Bishop Fintan presented Benemerenti Medals to Carmel Drinan and Michael Galvin both from Ballinora Parish at 10am Mass in St. James Church.

Carmel has travelled to Lourdes with the Irish Pilgrimages Trust Group 126 for the past thirty years. She travelled as a volunteer carer with a group of children and more recently, as deputy group leader.

Michael Galvin has also given over 30 years of volunteering with the Irish Pilgrimages Trust. Indeed, Michael will be travelling as a volunteer carer for his thirty second time in Easter 2024.

Both Carmel and Michael are very involved in their parish and community in Ballinora.

Carmel Drinan and Family members with Bishop Fintan

Michael and Angela Galvin and family members with Bishop Fintan

On Sunday 10th September, Rev. Darren Wallace was ordained as a Deacon in the Carmelite Friary in Kinsale.

Rev. Darren, who has strong Kinsale connections, was ordained as a Deacon for the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ. On the day, he was joined by family members and fellow members of the Congregation.

There was a large gathering in the Carmelite Church for the ceremony and music was provided by the Carmelite Church Choir.

Deacon Frank, Deacon David and Deacon John, our Cork & Ross deacons, recently spent a weekend on retreat in Glenstal Abbey, Co Limerick.

Their retreat director was Fr Columba McCann, who shared his insights into the prayer life of the Christian minister, with particular regard to the ministry of deacons and their place in the life of the Church.

They were joined in Glenstal by Bishop Fintan, and by Fr Bernard, the coordinator of this ministry.

Deacon David Lane, Deacon Frank McKevitt, Bishop Fintan, Fr. Columba McCann OSB, Fr. Bernard Cotter and Deacon John Guiry in Glenstal Abbey.

Bishop Fintan and the UCC Chaplaincy team welcomed a team of four FOCUS Missionaries to UCC campus this week.

FOCUS, which stands for Fellowship of Catholic University Students, is a ministry group that aim to encounter students in friendship, inviting them into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and accompanying them in their university journey.

The FOCUS Missionaries and the Chaplaincy team, along with Bishop Fintan undertook a two-day orientation, facilitated by Br. Martin Kenneally from the Presentation Brothers. This was an opportunity for the teams to get to know each other and discuss their goals and mission for the year ahead.

Br. Martin Kenneally (Presentation Brothers), Miriam Goulding (UCC Chaplaincy), Fr. Gerard Dunne (UCC Chaplaincy), Aine Lee (FOCUS), Eva Conroy (FOCUS), Bishop Fintan Gavin, Sheila Kelleher (UCC Chaplaincy), Brendan Keenan (FOCUS) and Alanna Keenan (FOCUS).

Applications are invited for the role of Diocesan Secretary in the Diocese of Cork and Ross

The Diocese of Cork and Ross is a faith community of 68 parishes and other religious communities, 175 primary schools under the patronage of the Bishop of the diocese and post primary schools.

The person in this role will

• Co-ordinate the general management and administrative duties of the Diocesan Office under the direction of the Bishop of the Diocese
• Oversee the day to day running of the Diocesan Office
• Serve as executive secretary to the Bishop and various diocesan governance bodies
• Collaborate, as appropriate with priests, religious, parishes and Families of Parishes, representative bodies and other diocesan groups
• Build relationships with parishes and Families of Parishes
• Line Manager to all diocesan office personnel
• Oversee Bishop’s diary engagements, correspondence, phone and e-mail communication.

The successful applicant will have:

• A third-level qualification in a discipline adjudged relevant to the post or work experience of a kind, level and duration adjudged equivalent by CRSS
• Competency in the use of IT, including online communication platforms, website and data control management
• A current driving licence and use of a car
• At least five year’s experience in a senior management/administration role involving responsibility for:
  • Financial and property planning and management
  • Strategic Planning
  • Establishing and maintaining harmonious working relations with staff

Job Application

Closing date for receipt of completed Applications for this post is:

12 noon on Monday 25 September 2023

The Employer is CRSS CLG, a registered charity whose mission is to support certain agencies providing services to the Catholic Diocese of Cork and Ross

Information for candidates

Job Description

Application Form

Pilgrimage places still available on the Cork and Ross Pilgrimage to Lourdes

Pilgrimage places still available on the Cork and Ross Pilgrimage to Lourdes, from Friday 22nd September to Wednesday 27th September.

Return flights from Cork Airport. Booking from Joe Walsh Tours 01-2410800.

A great crowd turned out for the 72nd Annual Mass for the Solemnity of the Assumption which took place at the Lee Road Grotto.

Bishop Emeritus John Buckley was the Main Celebrant, and he was joined by Fr Cian O'Sullivan, Fr Aidan Vaughan OFM Cap, Fr Tom Mulcahy MSC, Fr Damian O'Mahony, Fr Marius O'Reilly, Fr Greg Howard, Fr Seán O'Sullivan, and Msgr Kevin O'Callaghan.

Servers for the Mass were Alan McNamara and Emmanuel Onyedikachukuwu, seminarians for the Diocese.

A big thank you to the organising committee for their great work in organising this annual Mass.

As part of the recent diocesan changes announced by Bishop Fintan, three permanent deacons will take up new appointments in different Families of Parishes.

While they are appointed to a Families of Parishes, they will be anchored in one or two parishes within the Family of Parishes and work with a link priest there.

Recently Bishop Fintan met with Deacon John Guiry, Deacon David Lane and Deacon Frank McKevitt along with Fr. Bernard Cotter Co-PP, Coordinator of the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Cork and Ross as the deacons take up their new appointments in early August.