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

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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

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.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

The 95-year-old Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away on Saturday at 9:34 AM in his residence at the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery.

The Holy See Press Office announced today that the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died at 9:34 AM on Saturday morning in his residence at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, which the 95-year-old Pope emeritus had chosen as his residence after resigning from the Petrine ministry in 2013.

“With sorrow, I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 AM in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican. Further information will be provided as soon as possible. As of Monday morning, 2 January 2023, the body of the Pope Emeritus will be in Saint Peter's Basilica so the faithful can bid farewell."

May Pope Benedict rest in the peace of the Lord whom he served.

For updates see https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city.html

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.

Bishop Fintan visits South Parish Old Folks Club for Christmas

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In one of his last official engagements before the role of Taoiseach was rotated Deputy Micheál Martin officially opened a refurbished centre of education in Cork.

The Leadership Education and Formation Project is located at the Edmund Rice Centre, Mardyke House, adjacent to UCC and is a project of the Presentation Brothers.

After extensive refurbishment, the Centre was blessed by Bishop Fintan Gavin and officially opened by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin T.D. on 3 December 2022.

The L.E.A.F. Project offers leadership workshops, training, seminars, and retreats to young adults on their faith journey.
In a wide-ranging address, the Taoiseach encouraged young people to engage in service with their community and the wider society. He also highlighted the importance of time for reflection and retreat when trying to lead in a fast-moving world.

Miriam Goulding, UCC Chaplain, shared on her own faith journey and the central importance of a personal relationship with Christ.

“We are very happy that the L.E.A.F. Project is collaborating with and supporting the wider renewal taking place in our Diocese” said Bishop Fintan, “Many diocesan groups use Mardyke House as a venue for meetings and gatherings. What makes this place different is that we are coming to a living community of prayer and hospitality. We hope and pray that this newly refurbished Centre and the work of the L.E.A.F. Project will continue to develop and flourish into the future. It is a sign of hope in our Diocese”.

Munster Konkans celebrated their first Christmas celebrations on 9th December 2022 last

Mangalorean Catholics celebrate Christmas in Cork

This was the first such gathering of the group since its formation. Celebrations took place in Midleton GAA complex. Bishop Dr Fintan Gavin celebrated Mass at the beginning of the gathering.

This group is made of Mangalorean Catholics, an ethno-religious community who are Latin-rite Catholics from the Diocese of Mangalore on the southwestern coast of present-day Karnataka, India. All of those in attendance currently reside in Cork city or county and the wider Munster area.

Bishop Fintan was joined by Fr. Suresh Babu, a Camilian priest, currently chaplain in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin and Fr. Patrick McCarthy, chaplain in MUH, Cork.