Diocesan News
Over 120 young adults gathered for Connect 7
Last Saturday, over 120 young adults gathered at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne in Cork for CONNECT 7, an event organised by the Diocese of Cork and Ross
CONNECT has become a much-anticipated occasion for young adults across the diocese to come together, combining faith, friendship and fun.
The theme for this Connect gathering was, “Finding Purpose - God’s Plan for My Life”, which centred around what God is inviting us to do with our lives, whether married, a priest, a religious or single.
Lorraine Buckley, Faith Development Coordinator with the Diocese of Cork and Ross, and Fr Conor McGrath, Vocations Director with the Diocese of Down and Connor, were the keynote speakers. Both offered insights and personal reflections on discerning God’s call and finding meaning in one’s life.
This week Bishop Fintan Gavin celebrated two Masses for the beginning of the new school year for the primary schools in the Diocese of Cork and Ross; on Monday 13th October at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Clonakilty and on Tuesday 14th October at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, Cork.
Those involved in supporting our primary schools throughout the diocese gathered together to call on God’s blessings for their school communities. To mark the Jubilee Year of Hope, the theme was Our Catholic Schools: Communities of Hope.
Bishop Fintan paid tribute to the enormous voluntary contribution of Boards of Management which are part of the Irish primary education system since 1975 and thanked members, past and present, for their service.
Mass for the beginning of the New Primary School Year celebrated in the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne
Connect 7 is taking place on Saturday 18th October in the Cathedral of St Mary at St Anne’s
Young people aged 18-35 are warmly invited to CONNECT 7
Connect 7 is taking place on Saturday 18th October in the Cathedral of St Mary at St Anne’s, Cork City from 2-7pm.
The theme of this Connect is ‘Finding purpose – God’s plan for my life’, which will centre around what God is inviting us to do with our lives, whether married, a priest, a religious or single.
Our keynote speakers are Fr. Conor McGrath, Vocations Director in the Diocese of Down and Connor, and Lorraine Buckley, Faith Development Coordinator in the Diocese of Cork and Ross.
The day will include a presentation by the two guest speakers, Mass, Adoration, time for a panel discussion and an opportunity for Confession.
There is a registration fee of €10, which includes pizza.
Sacrament of Confirmation in Parishes 2026
Bishop Fintan has announced arrangements for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation in parishes for 2026. These arrangements have been made available to parishes and schools involved.
In announcing these arrangements, Bishop Fintan added that he hopes to visit a significant number of parishes himself for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation next year as well as delegating some retired bishops, the Vicars General and a number of other priests when more than one parish is celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation on the same day
Sealed with the gift of the Holy SpiritHere is the Confirmation Schedule for 2026 throughout the Diocese
Record numbers gathered as the sun shone for Gougane Barra Sunday (Connie Cronin Photography)
Record numbers gathered in Gougane as the sun shone for Gougane Barra Sunday.
Large numbers of pilgrims representing all ages, from parishes, new Irish faith communities and movements, gathered yesterday around St Finbarr’s oratory to celebrate Gougane Sunday in this Jubilee Year of Hope.
In his homily, Bishop Fintan reflected on the feedback from the year of prayer, listening and discernment, and invited those gathered to take home three invitations, where the Holy Spirit is encouraging us to go forward in our parishes:
1. Baptism as a Path, not an Event – Walking with families from birth through the early years, ensuring a genuine welcome at Sunday Mass, and creating spaces where families and children are truly welcome.
Search
Latest Notices
-
October 2025
-
June 2025
-
April 2025
-
January 2025
