Diocesan News
During our Year of Prayer, Listening and Discernment, people shared a desire for a deeper and more united experience of worship during the Sunday Eucharist.
In responding to this desire, we’re introducing the use of common postures at Mass, as outlined in the Missal, starting on the First Sunday of Advent. It is hoped that this will help make people feel even more welcome and at home in whatever church in our diocese that they attend the celebration of the Eucharist.
We have designed a poster and pew card outlining these postures with a brief explanation of why we stand, kneel and sit at Mass. These simple aids are meant to help our communities worship as one body, united in prayer before the Lord.
Watch the short video of common postures at Mass here
Alongside these printed materials, a short video is also available to help understand the meaning behind the postures at different parts of the celebration of the Eucharist and how they reflect our shared faith.
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
Bishop Fintan Gavin has made his first pastoral visits to the two post-primary schools in Clonakilty and was warmly welcomed by students, staff and the school communities
Sacred Heart Secondary School and Clonakilty Community College serve the post-primary educational needs of a large community in the parishes in and around Clonakilty. Sacred Heart Secondary School is an all-girls school established by the Sisters of Mercy and now in the trusteeship of CEIST. Clonakilty Community College is co-educational and its trustees are the Cork Education and Training Board.
The bishop’s visits were coordinated by Paul Kelly, the Diocesan Coordinator for Post-Primary Schools who accompanied the bishop on his visits. Bishop Fintan took part in a prayer service in both schools during which representative students and staff also took part and led singing.
Bishop Fintan visits Clonakilty Community College
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).
The annual Cork and Ross Post Primary Religious Education Teachers’ In-Service gathering took place today at Innishannon House Hotel.
This year’s event was very well supported, with 65 teachers registered from 40 post-primary schools across Cork City and County.
The keynote speaker for the day was Fr. Hugh Lagan SMA, who delivered an engaging presentation titled Leaning into the Light – Reclaiming Meaning, Purpose and Passion in Religious Education. Fr. Hugh, a member of the Society of African Missions and a chartered clinical psychologist, offered rich insights into nurturing purpose and hope in both teaching and faith life.
65 teachers from 40 post-primary schools across Cork City and County attended the in-service day