Diocesan News
Detail from a stained glass window in Skibbereen's St. Patrick's CathedralThe people and clergy of the Diocese of Cork and Ross responded with 111,193 words to questions posed by Bishop Fintan Gavin across the diocese.
That’s 291 pages on standard paper. It’s the feedback from a series of meetings held by the Office for Mission and Ministry of the Diocese as part of what Bishop Fintan had called a year of “Prayer, Listening and Discernment”.
Now the content of these conversations has been collated and analysed and the summaries have been made available online.
No! You won’t need to read 291 pages of text because as Bishop Fintan noted in his pastoral response “There was a remarkable unity across the diocese as to what God is challenging us to do, to work towards and to prioritise for this time.”
You can read all the documents, including thematic summaries for each family of parishes, by clicking on this link:
Appointment of Diocesan Director of Safeguarding for Diocese of Cork and Ross
Bishop Fintan Gavin has announced the appointment of Des Bell as Diocesan Director of Safeguarding in the Diocese of Cork and Ross. Des is based at the Diocesan Offices in Redemption Road.
Des joins the diocese following his recent retirement from An Garda Síochána. He brings with him extensive experience and numerous qualifications in the areas of child protection, welfare, risk assessment and intervention, psychology, and governance. His academic background includes a Masters in Social Policy, Child Protection and Welfare from University College Cork (UCC), and an MSc in Cybercrime from the University of Portsmouth. He is also an active volunteer in sports coaching and other community organisations.
As Diocesan Director of Safeguarding, Des is responsible for planning and managing the diocesan safeguarding service, with a particular focus on developing, maintaining, and monitoring a safe environment for children and vulnerable adults in all aspects of Church life and ministry. He will oversee all safeguarding training and ensure the safeguarding message is effectively communicated across the diocese, promoting best practice in every parish and ministry.
Des Bell, Director of Safeguarding
Bishop Fintan GavinBishop Fintan Gavin has announced the following changes to priest appointments in the diocese
Retirement:
Fr John Collins AP in the Family of Parishes of Ballincollig, Ballinora, Kilmurry, Ovens and Farran retires from this full-time appointment, though his priestly ministry will continue.
Priests taking up appointments in Families of Parishes in July 2025:
Canon John Kingston Co-PP in the Family of Parishes of Ardfield & Rathbarry, Barryroe, Clonakilty, Kilmeen & Castleventry, Rosscarbery & Lisavaird and Timoleague to become Assistant Priest (AP) in the same Family of Parishes.
Fr Noel O’Sullivan Co-PP in the Family of Parishes of Douglas & Rochestown, Frankfield & Grange and Turner’s Cross to become Assistant Priest (AP) in the same Family of Parishes.
Fr Michael Regan Co-PP in the Family of Parishes of Ballinhassig, Clontead, Courceys and Kinsale to become Assistant Priest (AP) in the same Family of Parishes.
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).
