Year of Prayer, Listening and Discernment

Meeting of parishioners in West Cork

Next steps in Year of Prayer, Listening and Discernment about to begin

Gatherings in each Family of Parishes across the diocese are the next steps in the Year of Prayer, Listening and Discernment which was annoiunced by Bishop Fintan Gavin last autumn.

Over the next four months, all the Parishes and Families of Parishes of our Diocese will be involved. Representatives of each Parish Leadership Team along with the local priests will participate in three meetings over three weeks reflecting on the questions posed in Bishop Fintan’s invitation in September.

Since September, people individually and in Parishes, have been praying the Diocesan Prayer from the Boat. As we continue to pray this prayer together, we pray for the success of these gatherings and we pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us as together we try to pray, listen, and discern God’s future for our Church.

Plans being made for vital meetings in early 2025 about parishes and faith

The early days of 2025 will see a lot of energy going into planned meetings about the future shape of the Catholic Church in the diocese.

Between February and May 2025, 15 Families of Parishes in the diocese will host three 1 hour 30 minute sessions centred on these key themes:

1. Baptism – Gateway to the Faith Community
2. Eucharist – Nourishment for Mission
3. Review of the Families of Parishes

The meetings in each family of parishes will include the priests and deacons, the members of the parish leadership group (either a parish pastoral council or a parish assembly) and the members of the parish finance committee from each parish in the family of parishes. 

Representatives of over 28 parishes gather for final diocesan information meeting in Cork

Over 200 people, including priests, parish leadership teams and chaplaincies gathered for the third and final information meeting for the year of prayer, listening and discernment. 

The three meetings have outlined the context for a time of prayer, listening and discerning in our Diocese as we discern where the Holy Spirit is calling us in each family of parishes to contribute to the future life of our faith communities. 

The third meeting was held in Rochestown, Cork, and was addressed by Bishop Fintan Gavin and personnel from the Office for Mission and Ministry. A time of prayer was led by young adults.

An outline was given of the process for the year of prayer, listening, and discernment which will be rolled-out across the Diocese of Cork and Ross in the new year in each family of parishes.  

Parishioners also attended a special time of guided prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in St. Columba’s Church, Douglas, before Sunday's meeting began. 

Discussion at the diocesan meeting

Room filled to over capacity for West Cork gathering 

There was great energy on Sunday as parishes from all over West Cork gathered for the second of three information meetings with priests and parish leadership teams. Over 170 people heard Bishop Fintan Gavin outline the context for a time of prayer, listening and discerning.

Eilis Casey and Lorraine Buckley from the Office for Mission and Ministry outlined in detail the steps being taken in each family of parishes of the diocese during next Spring. A set of three meetings will see parishioners and clergy in each family of parishes meeting to contribute to the future life of their faith communities.  

Parishioners also attended a special time of guided prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Clonakilty before Sunday's meeting began.

The process for the year of prayer, listening, and discernment will be rolled-out across the Diocese of Cork and Ross in the new year.

Please keep the last information meeting for the Year of Prayer, Listening, and Discernment in your prayers as it takes place next Sunday in the City. There will be a special time of guided prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in St. Columba’s Church, Douglas next Sunday 1^st December from 12:30pm to 2:00pm.

Storm didn’t put information meeting for Year of Prayer, Listening, and Discernment off course

There was energy and a positive atmosphere, despite the weather, at the first of three Information Meetings for the Year of Prayer, Listening, and Discernment in the diocese.

A series of three information meetings for priests, parish leadership teams and chaplaincies are being held this weekend and next.  

The afternoon in Cork was proceeded by a time of prayer and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Our Lady Crowned Church, Mayfield.

The meetings set the context for the year ahead and outline the next steps for Parishes and Families of Parishes which will be taken in the Spring.

The Year of Prayer, Listening, and Discernment, which was launched by Bishop Fintan on Gougane Barra Sunday, enters a new phase this week

Three key information meetings are planned for Priests, Parish Leadership Teams and chaplaincies on Saturday 23 November, Sunday 24 November and Sunday 1 December.

These meetings will set the context for the Year ahead and outline the next steps for Parishes and Families of Parishes. The process for prayer, listening, and discernment has been piloted in one Family of Parishes and is being fine-tuned based on the feedback to be rolled out across the Diocese in the new year.

The Holy Spirit is guiding us to be faithful and courageous in new ways so that we can carry on the mission of the Church. In addition to reciting ‘Our Prayer from the Boat,’ you are invited to participate in special times of guided prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in the following Parish churches:

• Saturday 23 November - Our Lady Crowned, Mayfield (12:30pm to 2:00pm)
• Sunday 24 November - Church of the Immaculate Conception, Clonakilty (1:00pm to 2:00pm)
• Sunday 1 December - St. Columba’s Church, Douglas (12:30pm to 2:00pm)

Bishop of Cork and Ross invites people to respond to Church changes with a time of prayer, listening and discernment

On a weekend when heavy rain and winds had blown across his diocese, it seems more than coincidence that a new pastoral message from the Bishop of Cork and Ross should begin with a scripture quote: “Even the wind and the seas obey Him”.

Bishop Fintan Gavin read his message on Sunday to pilgrims attending the annual Mass at St. Finbarr’s Oratory, Gougane Barra.

Bishop Fintan’s message is a call to the people of the diocese to commit to a year-long time of prayer, listening and discernment about the future of the Catholic Church in the parishes and chaplaincies of the diocese.

In a time of unprecedented change in society and the Catholic Church in Ireland, people are understandably concerned about their parish’s future, he said.