Diocesan News
Bishop Fintan Gavin initiated a Year of Prayer, Listening and Discernment in the Diocese of Cork and Ross at the annual pilgrimage at St. Finbarr’s Oratory in Gougane Barra in September 2024
At that time, Bishop Fintan published a “Prayer from the Boat” and asked people across the diocese to pray it at Mass, for personal prayer and various liturgical gatherings during the year.
Bishop Fintan also published a pastoral message which was also read at Masses in the diocese and widely circulated in print and online
A series of gatherings was also to be held in each family of parishes across the diocese and with other faith communities, including the Catholic communities of people who have migrated to live in the diocese. The meetings in families of parishes were attended by members of each parish’s parish assembly or pastoral council, members of the parish finance committees as well as clergy. The focus of the gatherings was to be the principal questions posed by Bishop Fintan in his pastoral – on Baptism, the Eucharist and Families of Parishes. These gatherings were convened by the Office for Mission and Ministry. The template for the gatherings was piloted in Autumn 2024 with the family of parishes which includes Carraig na bhFear, Glanmire, Glounthaune and Watergrasshill.
year of prayer, listening and discernment
At a lunch hosted by Bishop Fintan Gavin for priests marking jubilees of ordination to priesthood in 2025.
Just over a week ago, Bishop Fintan Gavin hosted a lunch for priests marking jubilees of ordination to priesthood in 2025 and who minister in the Diocese of Cork and Ross.
The priests who attended included priests who were ordained to the priesthood between 15 and 60 years ago and included Emeritus Bishop of Cork and Ross, Bishop John Buckley who was ordained a priest in 1965.
The attendance also included Fr. Oscar O’Leary OFM who was also ordained 60 years ago as a Franciscan priest. Regrettably, Fr. Oscar returned to the Lord on Sunday June 29th at the Franciscan Friary in Cork.
Among Fr. Oscar’s long years of ministry were many years spent devoted to the pastoral care and support of the Traveller Community in Cork.
The photo shows: Back row: Fr. Fergus Ryan OP CC (15 years), Fr. Declan Brennan OSA (45 years), Fr. Pat O’Donovan Co-PP (30 years), Fr. Dwayne Gavin (25 years).
Thousands of people walked through the streets of Cork City on Sunday participating in the Eucharistic Procession - a tradition in the city that dates back to the 1920’s
The Procession was led by the Butter Exchange Band and Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, from the Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Anne with the final prayers and Benediction taking place at the National Monument on Grand Parade on a specially constructed platform.
Individuals and groups from across the city and county were part of the celebration including First Holy Communion children, Catholic Girl Guides, The Guides and Scouts of Europe, Youth 2000, Parish Eucharistic groups throughout the Diocese and the Indian Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, Brazilian, African, Polish, Croatian, Ukrainian, and Brazilian communities.
The newly-elected Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Fergal Dennehy, was accompanied by other members of Cork City Council and Rebecca Loughry. Director of Services, Community, Culture & Placemaking, Cork City Council.
Bishop Fintan Gavin imparts Benediction of Blessed Sacrament on a specially erected pplatform on the Grand Parade.40 young adults from Cork and Ross joined hundreds of other young adults from around the country in Knock for a day of events to mark the Jubilee Year of Hope.
The Dare to Hope event, hosted by the Irish Bishops’ Conference in collaboration with Knock Shrine, brought together young people for a day of prayer, participation and possibilities.
The day included a keynote address by Fr Conor McDonough O.P., engaging workshops, a panel discussion, and the official launch and blessing of the new Youth Village at Knock. The evening concluded with Mass in the Parish Church, celebrated by Bishop Fintan Gavin.
Young adults from Cork and Ross at ‘Dare to Hope’ in Knock
Bishop Fintan with pilgrims Tessie Scanlon, Sheila Scanlon, Ethan Novarro and Matthew Novarro.
Young adults preparing for this summer’s Jubilee of Youth pilgrimage to Rome gathered once again at Mardyke House in Cork City for an evening of fellowship and formation.
This second meeting brought the group deeper into connection and gave an introduction to Lectio Divina as a prayer tool, as the pilgrims continue to prepare for the pilgrimage ahead.
