Youth Ministry

The Diocese of Cork and Ross invites you to Light Fever in St. Augustine’s Church, Washington Street on Friday 27th March from 6pm.

Light Fever is an initiative where churches open their doors at night for Eucharistic adoration, candlelight, and gentle music. Young volunteers invite passersby to come inside, light a candle, and take a moment for prayer. 

The evening will begin with Mass at 6pm. Afterwards, for a couple of hours, young people will go out in pairs to gently invite passers-by from the busy city streets into the quiet, prayerful atmosphere of the church. Others will remain inside in prayer for all who enter. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will also be available on the night.

This event offers a wonderful opportunity to give witness to our faith and to share a welcoming, uplifting experience of the Church with others.

All help is greatly appreciated! If you’d like to get involved, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Are you aged 18-30 and interested in serving others while deepening your faith?

The Diocese of Cork and Ross invites young adults to consider travelling to Lourdes as a Young Adult Helper from the 18th-23rd September 2026.

Young Adult Helpers play an important role in the pilgrimage, supporting pilgrims who need assistance, both in the hospital and by accompanying them to liturgies and other pilgrimage events. They also help with various aspects of the pilgrimage, including supporting and helping to animate the liturgies.

For the young adults themselves, the pilgrimage can be a very meaningful experience in their faith and life journey, with opportunities for formation, prayer, and reflection included as part of the pilgrimage.

To learn more, come along to our Information Evening on

Thursday 20 March
at 7pm
Mardyke House, Cork (T12 W8RP)

This evening will give you a chance to hear more about what the pilgrimage involves, what it’s like to be a Young Adult Helper, and how you can get involved.

Register for the information evening here

For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cork City Hall was filled with energy and applause as almost 500 young people lit up the stage with a concert.

The Maranatha 2026 concert featured post-primary school students from parishes throughout the Diocese of Cork and Ross. Twenty-three schools came together for the celebration, transforming the historic venue into a powerful showcase of talent and conviction.

Maranatha blends music, faith and fun — creating a space where students can express who they are, celebrate their identity and build lasting connections and friendships in an atmosphere of joy and community.

Watch our promotion video here

Please join us for Maranatha on Thursday 26th February in Cork City Hall.

Maranatha is a high-energy, faith-based concert that celebrates young people, joy, belonging, and faith.

Young people from parishes across the diocese attending post-primary schools have been preparing for Maranatha 2026.

The full day event cumulates in a concert in Cork City Hall on Thursday 26th February with over 500 young people singing together.

Maranatha was created to bring young people together to celebrate their faith through music and have fun at the same time.

The Diocese of Cork and Ross, in collaboration with UCC Chaplaincy and the Presentation Brothers LEAF Project, is delighted to offer a new Formation in Faith programme for young adults (18–35 years).

‘Formation in Faith’ begins on Wednesday, 28 January 2026. The programme will run for 9 weeks from 5.45–8.00pm in Mardyke House, Cork (T12 W8RP).

Participants can choose between two concurrent pathways:

• Sycamore Formation Series: A video-based programme with guided group discussion on Catholic formation.
• Foundations in Theology: A lecture-based introduction to Catholic theology.

Each session begins with food and refreshments, and provide participants with an opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion.

To sign-up or for more information, email Sheila at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

More than 120 young people gathered for Connect 7, which focused on the theme “Finding Purpose - God’s Plan for My Life.”

Lorraine Buckley and Fr Conor McGrath were the keynote speakers at Connect 7, which saw over 120 young people gather in St Mary and St Anne’s Cathedral, Cork.

The theme for this Connect gathering was, “Finding Purpose - God’s Plan for My Life”, which centered around what God is inviting us to do with our lives, whether married, a priest, a religious or single.

Both speakers offered insights and personal reflections on discerning God’s call and finding meaning in one’s life.

The full keynote talk from Connect 7 is now available to watch on the Cork and Ross YouTube channel.

Watch Lorraine Buckley and Fr Conor McGrath's key note talk here

Despite the wet Sunday evening, Ss. Peter and Paul’s Church in Cork City Centre was filled for a special Mass animated by young people.

Hosted by the City Centre Family of Parishes, the young adults took charge of every ministry for the celebration, including welcoming, singing, serving, and reading, while also organizing the hospitality that followed after Mass.

Bishop Fintan Gavin was the principal celebrant of the first Mass, joined by Fr Marius O’Reilly from the Family of Parishes, and Fr Laurence from Holy Trinity Church.

The Young Adult Mass will now take place on the second Sunday of each month — with the next celebration on Sunday, 14th December.

The Young Adult Mass will now take place on the second Sunday of each month in Ss Peter and Paul's Church at 7pm

The Youth Ministry Special Collection will be taken up this weekend (November 8th and 9th) in all parishes across the diocese.

The Youth Ministry Special Collection will be taken up this weekend (November 8th and 9th) in all parishes across the diocese.

It is important for us to support and encourage our young people in every way we can and encourage them to take part in their local Parish. This collection directly supports the work of Sheila Kelleher, our Diocesan Youth Ministry Coordinator, and the many volunteers dedicated to nurturing faith among our youth.

Over the past year, new initiatives have taken root, including Altar Server Workshops, Alpha Youth (fostering collaboration between schools and parishes), Maranatha (a faith-based high-energy music event for Post-Primary school students), the continuation of the Sycamore & Foundations in Theology programmes, Lourdes pilgrimage, the Jubilee of Youth and Connect (for young adults).