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On 2nd February, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, over 100 religious women and men from communities throughout the Diocese of Cork and Ross joined with Bishop Fintan to celebrate Evening Prayer in the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Ann to mark the World Day for Consecrated Life
The Poor Clare Sisters on College Road also participated via the Cathedral livestream in their monastery.
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is set aside in the Church as a special day to pray for women and men in consecrated life. Pope Saint John Paul II instituted the World Day for Consecrated Life in 1997.
The music and singing was provided by students from St. Aloysius Girls Secondary School Cork.
Br. Denis Aherne OFM and Br. Simon Fernandes Lead the Entrance Procession
Evening Prayer on Day for Consecrated Life
Day for Consecrated Life is Thursday Feb 2nd
To mark the Day for Consecrated Life, Bishop Fintan is inviting members of Religious Communities throughout the Diocese of Cork and Ross to join him in praying Evening Prayer on Thursday 2nd February at 5pm in the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne.
The celebration will involve school choirs and music groups as well as uplifting accounts of religious life and ministry.
All are welcome to this special diocesan celebration.
Bishop Fintan blesses new School Prayer Room
Incl, Fr. Noel O’Sullivan Turners Cross
Ms. Richel Long School Principal
Deputy Principals Francis Kerrigan & Dr. Caroline O’Sullivan Ryan
Sr. Mary Dineen PBVM
Mr. Paul Kelly Diocesan Co-ordinator for Post Primary Schools
On Thursday 26th January, during Catholic Schools Week, Bishop Fintan visited Christ King Secondary School, Turners Cross
In the course of his pastoral visit, he met with students and staff and blessed the recently opened Prayer Room at the school.
On arrival Bishop Fintan was greeted by student representatives from every year group and members of the Student Council. He was welcomed Ms. Richel Long Principal, Deputy Principals Francis Kerrigan and Dr. Caroline O'Sullivan Ryan as well as Head Girl, Kate Ahern and Deputy Head Girls Izabel Gough and Tara Lyons. He was then invited to join an assembly of Junior School students. Also present for the occasion was special guest, Sr. Mary Dineen PBVM.
During his address, Bishop Fintan urged the students to live out their faith in unison with the theme of Catholic Schools Week -‘Walking Together in Faith and Love’. He encouraged them not be afraid to step away from the crowd, to have courage and to believe in themselves. He suggested that students should embrace all the various educational opportunities the school provides and to enjoy the experience of being at the school. Concluding, Bishop Fintan asked students to allow Christ to develop a special relationship with them through their practice of daily prayer and reflection with him. He encouraged the students to believe in God’s love for each individual and to come to know Christ in a personal way. In doing so, he assured them that they would have a friend for life. His words were followed by a Prayer Service and an interactive Q&A session in which Bishop Fintan shared some of his personal journey of life as a student, as a Priest, as a teacher and as Bishop of Cork & Ross.
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.
Bishop Fintan is welcomed to Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh
Canon Tom KelleherDeath 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.
Catholic Schools Week 2023
In response to a call from young adults to be better formed in their Catholic Faith, UCC Chaplaincy, the Presentation Brothers, and the Diocese of Cork and Ross have come together to host a Sycamore Series
The Sycamore Series is an informal course for those aged 18-35 helping people to deepen their understanding and knowledge of the Catholic faith.
Each session involves a short film and time for discussion with a meal also included.
Everyone is welcome.
Start date Wednesday February 1st, 6:00pm to 7:30pm at Presentation Brothers' Mardyke House, Cork T12 W8RP - Location Map
The course runs for 10 consecutive weeks.
The course is free but places are limited.
Please email
Fr. Roma Biletskyy celebrated Mass for the Ukrainian Community in Cork on Christmas Eve in the Church of the Incarnation in Frankfield
Over 200 members of the Ukrainian Community were present for the Mass.
Bishop Fintan, who presided, warmly welcomed all those present in particular those who have been forced to leave Ukraine as a result of the war and have arrived in the Cork area. He also assured them of spiritual support and fervently prayed for an end to the war.
Rev. Alan Marley, Church of Ireland Chaplain to UCC was also in attendance.
The Ukrainian Community will again meet for the celebration of Christmas on Saturday 7th January at 3.30pm in the Church of the Incarnation, Frankfield. Fr. Roman and the Ukrainian community are very grateful to Fr. Kevin O’Regan PP and Frankfield Parish for their hospitality and welcome.
Cork Ukrainian Community celebrates Christmas
Canon Alan Marley, Chaplin, UCC, Church of Ireland, Bishop Fintan Gavin and Father Roman Biletskyy
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
Photos courtesy of David Creedon, Photography
Following the announcement that Pope Emeritus Benediict XVI has died, Bishop Fintan Gavin has sent the following message to parishes and to all Catholics in the diocese:
It is with deep sadness that we learned this morning of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. He will be remembered as one of the great theological minds of the 20th century. He combined this with a deeply prayerful spirituality and a great ability to teach and pastor sharing the words of the Gospel with such clarity and simplicity.
Personally, having met him on several occasions during my years of study in Rome, what struck me most about him was his gentleness, humility and his very personable style.
We join with Catholics from all over the world in praying for Pope Benedict as we give thanks for his fruitful life and witness and commend him to the mercy and love of God.
I ask that he be remembered in prayer at all Masses in the diocese this weekend.
May he rest in peace.
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