More than 120 young people gathered for Connect 7, which focused on the theme “Finding Purpose - God’s Plan for My Life.”

Lorraine Buckley and Fr Conor McGrath were the keynote speakers at Connect 7, which saw over 120 young people gather in St Mary and St Anne’s Cathedral, Cork.

The theme for this Connect gathering was, “Finding Purpose - God’s Plan for My Life”, which centered around what God is inviting us to do with our lives, whether married, a priest, a religious or single.

Both speakers offered insights and personal reflections on discerning God’s call and finding meaning in one’s life.

The full keynote talk from Connect 7 is now available to watch on the Cork and Ross YouTube channel.

Watch Lorraine Buckley and Fr Conor McGrath's key note talk here

The Diocese of Cork and Ross invites you to join us for Light Fever in Ss. Peter and Paul's Church, Cork on Sunday 7th December form 2.30pm-5pm.

Throughout the afternoon, young people will go out in pairs to gently invite passers-by to step away from the busy city streets and into the quiet, prayerful atmosphere of the church, while others remain inside praying for all who enter.

The blessed sacrament will be exposed and the church will be lit up with candles, with gentle praise and worship music playing. Confession will be available and a prayer-intention box will be placed near the altar.

This event offers a wonderful opportunity to give witness to our faith and to share a welcoming, uplifting experience of the Church with others.

All help is greatly appreciated! If you’d like to get involved, please email connect@corkandross.org

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 this weekend, 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.

Advent invites us to renewed attentiveness, hope, and preparation for the coming of Christ. In that same spirit of renewal, adopting unified postures – standing, sitting, and kneeling together at the appropriate times – helps us express more visibly that we are one community in faith.

Posters and pew cards will be available in our churches with a with a brief explanation of why we stand, kneel and sit at Mass.

Pdf of poster    Pdf of pew cards