Bishop Fintan at a meeting of West Cork parishioners and clergy about planning for the future of parishes.Bishop Fintan at a meeting of West Cork parishioners and clergy about planning for the future of parishes.

Congregations in churches across the Diocese of Cork and Ross are set to hear the same message this weekend in all churches.

Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, published a pastoral letter earlier this month which outlines the context and vision for changes being made in parishes in the coming weeks.

Bishop Fintan has asked all the priests across the diocese to read a prepared summery of the pastoral letter at all Masses on the weekend of August 27th/28th.

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“Important questions have been set out for deeper reflection and pastoral action at every level of Church life and there will be many more opportunities for people to get involved and help shape this process” – Dr Nicola Brady

Today marks a significant milestone in the synodal process currently underway in the Catholic Church in Ireland with the publication of the national synthesis of the local listening that took place in dioceses and other contexts between October 2021 and May 2022.

This national synthesis has now been submitted to the Synod Secretariat in the Vatican as part of the global synodal process announced by Pope Francis for the Church, to run from 2021 to 2023.

Read the National Synthesis

Synthesis of the Consultation in Ireland for the Diocesan Stage of the Universal Synod 2021 - 2023Synthesis of the Consultation in Ireland for the Diocesan Stage of the Universal Synod 2021 - 2023

Bishop Fintan Gavin and Bishop Nowakowski the New Apostolic VisitorBishop Fintan Gavin and Bishop Nowakowski the New Apostolic Visitor

The migration of large numbers of Ukranian people to Ireland has prompted the Ukranian Catholic Church to conduct an assessment of their spiritual needs and how these may be met.

This has involved a visit to Ireland by Ukranian Catholic clergy and the appointment by Pope Francis of Reverend Kenneth Nowakowski, who is the Eparchial Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, as the Apostolic Visitor for Ukrainian Catholics in Ireland. (An eparchy is a term used for a diocese.)

Bishop Fintan Gavin of the Diocese of Cork and Ross recently hosted a visit to the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, Cork, by Bishop Nowakowski and other Ukranian clergy who also met other Irish bishops.

There is currently one Ukrainian Catholic parish in Ireland located in Dublin with Fr Vasyl Korentsky assigned to serving Ukrainian Catholics in the Archdiocese of Dublin.

At the time of his new appointment in July this year, Bishop Nowakowski said “With the recent arrival of thousands displaced Ukrainians fleeing harm’s way since the 24 February invasion of Ukraine by Russia, I hope to work very closely with the Roman Catholic Bishops of Ireland and Northern Ireland in seeking ways to respond in positive ways to the humanitarian and pastoral needs of the growing Ukrainian Community.”

Following on from the recent publication of Bishop Fintan’s pastoral letter Putting out into Deep Waters and the reconfiguration of the parishes of the diocese into families of parishes, two full-time vacancies arise for people to work in the diocese.

Applications are invited for the following posts

2022 08 recruit image 1

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Bishop Fintan at a recent diocesan meeting with parishioners and clergy to discuss Families of ParishesBishop Fintan at a recent diocesan meeting with parishioners and clergy to discuss Families of Parishes

How priests minister in the parishes of the Diocese of Cork and Ross will change significantly in September. The diocese will have 16 families of parishes and each will be ministered to by a team of priests. Each priest will be resident in a particular parish but ministering across the whole family of parishes.

Bringing parishes together as families of parishes presents an opportunity for much greater lay participation and shared leadership of parishes. Initially, the team will consist of priests but I hope that lay leadership and more involvement will grow in time.

It will involve parishes working much more closely together and sharing their gifts, talents and resources including their priests.

Read more …

Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, has published a pastoral letter which outlines the context and vision for changes being made this summer.

The pastoral letter entitled Putting Out into Deep Waters introduces a new model for the relationship between parishes and a new emphasis on teams of priests, deacons and lay people ministering together in families of parishes.

putting out into deep watersputting out into deep waters

Read the complete letter

Printed copies of the pastoral letter will be available in parishes in the coming weeks.

Bishop Fintan Gavin addressing a recent meeting of parishioners and clergy about planning for the future of parishesBishop Fintan Gavin addressing a recent meeting of parishioners and clergy about planning for the future of parishes

Fr Con CroninFr Con Cronin

Fr. Con Cronin's First Anniversary will be celebrated in St. Mary's Church, Passage West, on Sunday 7 August at 11:30am

The Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Chris O'Donovan Adm

The people of Blackpool, the Glen and Ballyvolane welcomed Bishop Fintan to the Parish on the weekend of 25th /26th June

He celebrated three Masses in the three churches of the parish beginning with Saturday 6pm mass in St. Oliver’s Church, Ballyvolane, and then on Sunday the 10.00am mass in St. Brendan’s Church, the Glen, and concluding in the Mother Church of the Parish at the 12noon mass in the Church of the Annunciation, Blackpool.

On behalf of the parishioners and priests, Bishop Fintan was welcomed at each of the Masses by Vincent Dower in Ballyvolane, a member of the Parish Finance Committee, by Anne O’Donovan in the Glen who is Chairperson of the Parish Assembly and finally by Geraldine O’Brien a member of the Parish Assembly in Blackpool.

Bishop's pastoral visit to Blackpool ParishBishop's pastoral visit to Blackpool Parish

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Fr. Tim O'Sullivan at the altar for his Platinum Jubilee of Ordination Mass. (Pic Peter Scanlan)Fr. Tim O'Sullivan at the altar for his Platinum Jubilee of Ordination Mass. (Pic Peter Scanlan)

Warm congratulations have been extended to a priest of the Diocese of Cork and Ross who is marking 70 years of priestly service.

Fr Tim O’Sullivan was ordained to the priesthood on June 8th, 1952 and was joined by family and friends for a special Mass to celebrate the milestone at Canovee Church in Kilmurry Parish.

A message of congratulations from Bishop Fintan Gavin was read by Monsignor Kevin O’Callaghan who deputised for the bishop who was unable to attend.

During his 70 years of ministry, Fr Tim has served in many parishes of the diocese including St. Patrick’s, Ardfield, Bandon, Mahon, Schull and Kilmurry.

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The retirement of Ann Roche as conductor of the Cathedral Choir was celebrated recently in the presence of Bishop Fintan Gavin, Canon John O Donovan, Fr. Sean Crowley and members of the choir.

Ann, who initially was asked to stand in as conductor for a six-week period, stayed on for 30 years and her commitment to music in the Cathedral throughout those years was recalled and celebrated.

Ann also taught in the North Presentation Convent School and is remembered with great fondness and deep affection by her many pupils. Her deep devotion to the choir was evident in all that she did. The Tuesday night rehearsals, while being occasions of happiness, companionship and joy, also demonstrated her profound respect for the liturgy and nothing short of excellence would suffice for the participation of the choir in the Mass.

Ann collaborated with her comrade in arms, organist Joe Higgins, to fill the Cathedral with music and song. She was also so adept at managing her choir, she insisted on quality engagement and her own faith and deep respect for the Liturgy was evident at all times.

She conducted her choir in times of sadness and happiness. She supported her choristers through the solemnity of Holy Week to the glory of Easter Sunday and the joy of Christmas Eve and was at all times so kind and caring.

Ann has now passed on the baton to one of her former choristers, Susan Ormond, who will continue to uphold the tradition of the choir and continue the work of supporting and enhancing the various liturgies in the Cathedral.

We thank Ann for her thirty years of diligence and commitment and wish her and her family every blessing for the future. Thank you for the music Ann.

Bishop Fintan Gavin with Anne Roche, former conductor of the North Cathedral Choir.Bishop Fintan Gavin with Anne Roche, former conductor of the North Cathedral Choir.

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