Bishop Fintan Gavin announces new appointments of priests and a deacon in the diocese.

The diocese has published the details of the new appointments which will be effective on July 25th 2026.

Bishop Fintan has said that he is grateful to the priests who are undertaking new appointments this year and to those who retire from a fulltime appointment.

"I continue to be grateful to all of you for your ministry and your commitment to serve the people of the diocese.

I also extend a warm welcome to the priests who are coming from abroad to minister in our diocese. We are deeply appreciative of their generosity in responding to the needs of our local Church here in Cork and Ross and we look forward to the gifts, experience and richness they will bring to our faith communities."

Retirement

Fr Pat Nugent CC in the Family of Parishes of Carrig na bhFear, Glanmire, Glounthane, Watergrasshill and Glenville retires from this full-time appointment, though his priestly ministry will continue.

Appointments:

Bishop Fintan Gavin

Click here to watch the promo video. Fifty young adults from the Diocese will travel to Dublin next Monday to attend the Parables Tour with Fr Mike Schmitz

Fifty young adults from the Diocese of Cork and Ross will travel to Dublin next Monday to attend the Parables Tour with Fr Mike Schmitz at the National Stadium on the South Circular Road.

They will join hundreds of young people from across Ireland for a special Mass in St Kevin's Church, Harrington Street. Bishop Fintan Gavin will be the principal celebrant, with Fr Mike Schmitz preaching. The liturgy will be led by young people from across Ireland through music, ministry and prayer.

Speaking ahead of the gathering, Bishop Fintan said, “Father Mike is a gifted communicator, and would already be known to many in Ireland for his popular podcast The Bible in a Year. This is a wonderful opportunity for people from across the island to come together, deepen their faith, and to hear the message of the Gospel presented in a novel, energetic and engaging style that speaks into our lives today.”

Closure of St. Augustine’s Church in Cork is a poignant milestone in the continuing faith-life of the city centre

• The final Mass at St. Augustine’s Church, Washington St., Cork, was celebrated on Sunday July 12th, 2026 at 11.30am.
• The principal celebrant of the Mass was Fr. Paddy O’Reilly, Provincial of the Augustinian Order in Ireland.

These are the Words of Appreciation spoken by Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross at the beginning of the Mass.

St Augustines Church, Cork

Priests who are ministering in the Diocese of Cork and Ross are celebrating jubilees of their ordination as priests

Some of the priest jubilarians in 2026 with Bishop Fintan: Fr. Bartolomiej Dziedzic, Mgr Aidan O'Driscoll, Fr. Kieron O'Driscoll, Canon Martin O'Driscoll, Fr. Gerard Dunne OP, Bishop Fintan Gavin, Fr Michael Forde, Fr. Emmanuel Ihomon, Fr Padraig Corkery, Fr Liam Crowley and Fr. Joyel Cletus.

Bishop Fintan Gavin hosted a celebratory lunch with priests who are marking significant milestones in their priesthood and were free to attend.

The jubilations include Fr Tom Clancy who was ordained 65 years ago, Canon Tadhg Ó Mathúna who was ordained 60 years ago and An tAthair Seosamh Ó Cochláin who was ordained 55 years ago. All three are are retired.

Golden jubilations include Canon Robert Brophy, Fr Liam Crowley and Fr. Noel O'Sullivan who were all ordained in 1976.

Fr Padraig Corkery, Mgr Aidan O'Driscoll and Fr. Fergus Tuohy SMA were ordained 45 years in 1981.

Fr. Kieron O'Driscoll, Canon Martin O'Driscoll and Fr. Patrick Walsh were ordained 40 years ago in 1986.

Fr Myles McSweeney, Fr. Gerard Dunne OP and Fr Michael Forde C.Ss.R. were ordained 30 years ago in 1996.

Fr. Michael Anthony Buckley, Fr. Bartolomiej Dziedzic, Fr. Joyel John Michael Cletus IC and Fr. Emmanuel Ihomon were all ordained in 2011 and are 15 years in the priesthood.

Fr. Pat Nugent and Fr. Vineesh K Ulahannan MI are both marking the tenth anniversary of their ordination in 2016.

A deacon stands at the meeting point between the altar and the world

This was Bishop Fintan’s message to the newest permanent deacon in our diocese who was ordained last Sunday.

Paul Ryan was ordained in his parish church in Timoleague by Bishop Fintan at a concelebrated Mass attended by Paul’s family and friends, other deacons and priests, along with parishioners from Timoleague and across the diocese.

“A deacon brings the needs of people to the altar, and he carries the charity of Christ from the altar back to the people,” Bishop Fintan said in his homily.”

Paul grew up in west Co Clare but has been living in Timoleague for over 20 years.

Addressing Paul during the Mass, Bishop Fintan acknowledged that a vocation grows and is nourished during a person’s own growth.

Pictured are Tomás Ryan, Deacon Paul Ryan and his wife Bríd, Bishop Fintan Gavin and Anne Ryan. (Photo BGM Media)