Fr. Shinu Varghese (second left), Fr. Cherian Thazhamon (on the right from Dublin) with members of the Syro Malankara Community, Sini, Shijin and Anish being welcomed by Bishop Fintan

Recently, Bishop Fintan welcomed Fr. Shinu Varghese to the Diocese of Cork and Ross

Fr. Varghese is from Kerala in India.

Bishop Fintan said that he was delighted to welcome Fr. Varghese to the Diocese to serve in parish ministry while at the same time allowing him time to look after the pastoral needs of the Syro-Malankara Catholics in Cork and Ross.

Fr. Varghese will initially assist in the parishes of The Cathedral and Blackpool/The Glen/Ballyvolane until the summer after which he will take up a parish appointment as part of the summer priests appointments.

Bishop Fintan said how the Syro-Malankara Community with Fr. Varghese will enrich the Diocese of Cork and Ross. He also spoke of the importance of the Syro-Malankara Rite retaining its identity as one of the Eastern Rites within the Diocese.

Diocese invites candidates to be deacons

Posters have been sent to all parishes in the diocese, containing an invitation to those who feel a call to be deacons. They are to make contact with its Coordinator of the Permanent Diaconate.

As well as preaching during the Mass, deacons baptise and officiate at funerals and weddings.  A deacon also helps with pastoral work in parishes and is called to minister to the poor and serve at the altar.

Contact Fr Bernard Cotter

Find our more about the role of deacons

Please pray that those called to this ministry may respond positively.

Permanent Deacons in Cork and Ross

Jesus said: "I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you" (John 13:15)

On Monday April 17th, Bishop Fintan Gavin accompanied the UCC Chaplaincy team on a visit to St. Stephen's Chaplaincy, University College Dublin

Bishop Fintan celebrated Mass in Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel along with Fr. Gerard Dunne (UCC Chaplain), Fr. Eamonn Bourke (UCD Chaplain) and Fr. Brendan Ludlow (UCD Chaplain).

The Cork visitors were also introduced to the UCD FOCUS missionaries which work with the chaplains in UCD. These missionaries work to encounter students in friendship where they are, inviting them into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and accompanying them as they pursue lives of virtue and excellence.

Finally, the Cork visitors attended the UCD Newman Catholic Society's weekly meeting, which is a meeting run by Catholic students to learn and grow in their faith in university.

It was a blessed visit to St. Stephen's Chaplaincy.

Diocese of Cork and Ross Mailing List

Did you know you can now receive website news and announcements direct to your email?

How does it work?

Any new articles that are featured on the homepage of this website will be compiled and sent to you in a single email no more than once a day.

You can also choose the options to receive the Bidding Prayers for each Sunday and/or a Reflection on Sunday's Readings from Fr. Silvester O'Flynn OFM. Cap.

Subscribe to the Diocesan Mailing List

Bishop Fintan Gavin at the Divine Mercy Sunday Mass in Curraheen Church in Cork City on Sunday the 16th of April 2023 (Pic. Cillian Kelly)

Easter celebrates God’s radical faithfulness, Bishop Fintan Gavin has said in his Divine Mercy Sunday homily

“The risen Lord is the living sign of God’s enduring love, mercy and forgiveness.”

Bishop Fintan joined over 900 people in the Church of the Real Presence, Curraheen Road, Bishopstown, Cork, to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday.

It was a great celebration of God's love and mercy.

Bishop Fintan encouraged those in attendance to become missionary disciples and to share the Good News with others.

“Those of us fortunate enough to have received and nurtured the gift of faith now have the responsibility of passing it on to another generation.” he said.

“People and priests together, through our common baptism are called to share that faith. To be missionary disciples of God’s mercy, particularly on this day celebrating the divine mercy of God.”

He also asked people to pray in a special way for vocations to the diocesan priesthood over the next twelve months. The Irish Bishops will launch a special year of prayer for diocesan vocations at the end of April.

For a Synodal Church: communion, participation and mission

In October 2021 the Catholic Church's synodal process on the theme of synodality began. This was the first time that a worldwide listening process and consultation with parishes and dioceses was attempted and many people in Ireland took part in a listening process during the early months of 2022.

Did you take part?

Have you been wondering what happened after that?

Much has happened since then. Your participation formed part of a national document that was sent to the Synod office in Rome in August 2022. It also formed part of a global document called Enlarge the Space of Your Tent, which was published last October and then formed part of a presentation given by the Irish delegation that travelled to Prague this February for the first ever Continental Assembly of the Catholic Church's synodal process.

Update Flyer for Parishes and Groups

Synod 2021 2024

Please visit www.synod.ie/2023update to find out more.

The Oil of the Sick was brought to the altar by Bon Secours Hospital staff members Trish Hegarty and Nora Espatero. The Oil of Catechumens was presented by Phelim and Kathleen McCormack, members of the RCIA group in Carrigaline Parish.

Every Catholic is called to take an active part in the life of the local church, Bishop Fintan Gavin told all who attended the Mass of Chrism at the Cathedral in Cork on Holy Thursday morning

“This means not just priests and deacons and religious but all the people baptised and anointed with chrism in confirmation.“ he said.

Bishop Gavin was preaching the homily at the annual Mass at which priests renew the promises they made at ordination. The three holy oils which are used in the sacraments across the diocese during the year were blessed by the bishop during the Mass.

More than 60 priests concelebrated the Mass in which people from many parishes were in the congregation at the Cathedral. Addressing the priests, Bishop Fintan thanked them for their openess to the many changes that are happening in the diocese.