Youth Ministry
Sheila KelleherCoordinator of Youth Ministry and Digital Communications
Sheila Kelleher
Coordinator of Youth Ministry and Digital Communications
Tel (021) 430 1717
Email:
Sheila is based at the Diocesan Offices in Redemption Road. She is from Clontead Parish and in recent years has worked with the Chaplaincy at UCC.
Youth Ministry is about supporting the outreach of families of parishes, colleges, and schools and “wherever two or three” young people gather, to bring the message of Christ to them in new ways.
Sheila is happy to work alongside those who are already involved in programmes for young people as well as helping those who wish to take first steps in this essential part of our mission.
The Diocese of Cork and Ross is excited to announce CONNECT 6, an event for young adults aged between 18-35 years, will take place on
Saturday 10 May 2025
from 2:00pm to 7:00pm
at the
Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne
We are very excited to announce that the Sisters of Life will be joining us for CONNECT 6, which will focus on the theme ‘Hope does not Disappoint’.
Our keynote speaker is Sr. Mary Grace, originally from Australia, a highly sought-after speaker at youth conferences attended by thousands, and a prominent figure on YouTube.
The day will feature insightful presentations and sharing, Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and the opportunity for Confession.
There is a registration fee of €10, which includes pizza.
CONNECT 6 (10 May 2025)The audience in a packed Cork City Hall were on their feet in praise of the almost 500 young people who keep them entertained and inspired at the first ever Maranatha concert
Students from more than 20 schools in the Diocese of Cork and Ross participated in Maranatha 2025 at Cork City Hall last night.
The concert is the first for the Diocese of what will become an annual music and faith-based day for post-primary school students across the city and county.
The event was created to bring young people together to celebrate faith and identity through music and have fun at the same time with students gathering for a full day of activities before the Maranatha 2025 concert in the evening.
An engaging workshop took place in the morning that touched on the fundamentals of faith and how they are loved by God. A full musical rehearsal followed in City Hall in the afternoon before the evening concert which was open to the general public.
Bishop Fintan on stage at Cork City Hall with the Maranatha choirYoung people, faith, happiness, music, song, learning from others, shared joy!
Some of the ingredients of this amazing event - the first of its kind in Cork.
Young people from parishes across the diocese attending Post-Primary Schools are rehearsing for a very exciting high-energy event on March 6th in Cork City Hall. The first part of the day provides time for young people to engage with one another about faith and life.
The day culminates in a concert of high energy faith-based music in City Hall, which will be filled with sound, light and music.
People of all ages are invited to support our young people and join us from parishes and schools throughout the Diocese on Thursday March 6th in Cork City Hall for what is shaping up to be a joy filled and wonderful celebration of our faith and young people.
Tickets are €15 at this link:
Maranatha -- an event to sing at, enjoy and boost faith
Bishop Fintan Gavin will lead a group of 50 young people (18 to 30 years) to Rome this summer.
Mark your diary from the 28th July to the 4th August for the Jubilee of Youth Pilgrimage! It is a once in a life-time opportunity for young people to not only meet the Pope and to experience the Eternal City, but also to be encouraged and inspired as they meet other young people of faith from all continents.
Hundreds of thousands of young people are expected to travel and to experience this Jubilee Celebration, which only happens every 25 years in the Church. The pilgrimage will cost €550 per person (plus fundraising) and will include seven nights half board at the Irish College, travel insurance, a 20kg bag, and a pilgrim kit.
Coome to the launch evening and learn more on Thursday 6th February at 7.30pm in Mardyke House, Cork (T12 W8RP).
Parishes are encouraged to promote this opportunity and support young pilgrims in their preparations for this extraordinary experience of the universal Church.
For more information, you can contact Sheila Kelleher at
or call 021 430 1717.
Young adults invited to travel to Rome for Holy Year pilgrimage
Br. Martin Kenneally led the group discussion and planning
The CONNECT coordinating group gathered on Sunday for an afternoon of reflection and prayer at Mardyke House
Lead by Br. Martin Kenneally, the group took time to pray and discern as they plan for future CONNECT events.
CONNECT events are organised in the diocese to support the faith lifeof young adults and often feature key-note speakers as well time for prayer and Mass.
This time of spiritual reflection allowed the group to pause and ensure our upcoming events align with the Holy Spirit's guidance for the young people in our Diocese.
Some of the participants on this Autumn's Sycamore & Foundations in Theology programmesTwo faith formation programmes for young adults in our diocese celebrate success
Over 60 young adults attended two programmes on faith formation and theology for young adults in the Diocese of Cork and Ross this Autumn.
The Sycamore series and Foundations into Theology programme ran concurrently for 10 weeks and were designed for young adults aged 18-35.
The collaboration between the Diocese of Cork and Ross, UCC Chaplaincy, and the Presentation Brothers LEAF Project offered an engaging opportunity for young people to deepen their understanding of the Christian faith.
Both groups met on Wednesday evenings from 6-8pm in Mardyke House. Each session began with pizza and fellowship, followed by programme-specific discussions on core topics of faith. The evening was brought to an end with both groups coming together for Compline in the Presentations Brothers Oratory at Mardyke House.
Over 160 young Catholics gathered on the grounds of UCC on Sunday to CONNECT about faith and meet with other young people from the Diocese of Cork and Ross
Fr Columba Jordan CFR, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal and Ms Katie Ascough, Founder of ‘Called to More’, were the guest speakers at CONNECT 5 to speak on this year’s CONNECT theme which was “In a troubled world, Dare to Hope”.
This was the fifth in a series of meetings of young people which were initiated by Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, to help young Catholics CONNECT with each other in a sociable and reflective atmosphere.
Speaking to the young people between 18 and 35 years, Fr Columba said “We don’t get hope by figuring out the problems of the world. We get hope from the Lord. Hope is based on what God has promised.”
CONNECT 5 Attendees
Attendees at the Launch of Maranatha which is set to take place in City Hall Thursday 6 March“O Lord shout for joy. Jesus is a-risen shout for joy.”
At the launch of Maranatha 2025, music, singing and laughter could be heard streaming from Mardyke House Cork on Wednesday last as teachers from Post-Primary Schools throughout the Diocese engaged in a workshop of liturgical and inspirational contemporary music.
Maranatha is the first of what will become an annual faith-based, high energy music event for young people from parishes throughout the Diocese attending post-primary schools. Almost half of the Post-Primary schools throughout the diocese will participate in this initiative.
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