News and Announcements from the Family of Parishes
Jubilee Pilgrimage of 7 Altars of Repose | Cork City | Holy Thursday Evening
There will be a special walking Jubilee Year Pilgrimage of seven Cork City Churches on Holy Thursday Evening led by Bishop Fintan.
This will begin after the 7.30pm Mass in The Cathedral with a brief period of adoration at the altar of repose. The pilgrim walk will then proceed to St Mary's, Holy Trinity, the South Parish, St Augustine's, St Francis', and finish with Night Prayer at Ss Peter and Paul's at 10pm.
People are also welcome to make their own pilgrimage starting at any of the churches on the pilgrim route.
This is a special way to mark the Jubilee year and as part of this there will be a plenary indulgence granted to those who participate in the Night Prayer in Ss Peter and Paul's at 10pm, whilst meeting the usual necessary conditions (see corkandross.org for more details).
CHRISM MASS
Bishop Fintan invites parishioners to join in the celebration of the Mass of Chrism on Holy Thursday (April 17th) at 10am at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, Cork.
At this Mass with priests and parishioners from the diocese, the Oils of Baptism and the Sick will be blessed, and Bishop Fintan will consecrate the Oil of Chrism, which will be used in parishes during the year. Bishop Fintan and our priests will also renew their priestly promises.
People from throughout the diocese are invited to join us in the Cathedral.
It would be wonderful to see people from every parish there, especially those involved in ministry.
Cork and Ross Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2025
The diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes this year will take place from Friday 19th September to Wednesday 24th September. We will fly from Cork to Lourdes. Bookings are now open with Joe Walsh Tours on 01 2410 800 for anyone wishing to travel as a pilgrim.
Volunteers are also required: Doctors, Nurses, Care Assistants and Helpers (Adults and Young Adults aged between 18 to 25 years). For General Enquiries contact 085 2525 040 or Email:
PLEASE NOTE - A special Reunion Mass for those who travelled to Lourdes last September will be on Friday, February 28th at 7.30pm in the Church of the Incarnation, Frankfield, followed by a social afterwards. This will officially launch this year’s Pilgrimage, and all are invited to attend this Mass.
Altar servers are a really important ministry in each of our Parishes
Since Covid some Parishes have struggled to reengage Altar Servers. The Office for Mission and Ministry and the Coordinator for Youth Ministry are looking at ways of supporting Parishes to develop or introduce Altar Servers.
A first step is to gather with all of our Altar Servers and those priests and adult volunteers who look after them to celebrate Altar Serving in a fun atmosphere and to look at how we can together develop this ministry. We are gathering on
Saturday 25 January 2025
2:30pm to 4:00pm
(venue to be confirmed)

The Greater Chernobyl Christmas Fair
Sunday 8 December
The Greater Chernobyl Christmas Fair
Sunday 8th of December
11am - 5.00pm
Marian Hall Ballinhassig Co Cork T12 PN2X
Voting in Elections
‘To be a people of hope! Bishops’ statement for Election 2024 and questions for candidates
Key takeaways:
- All eligible to vote should exercise their right to maximise the common good
- Homelessness is unacceptable. The inability to acquire a home affects social cohesion and is a scandal
- Politicians should lead by welcoming all immigrants who come with a willingness to contribute to our society
- The deliberate taking of human life undermines civilised society
- Political parties must urgently address pollution, climate change and loss of biodiversity
- The war in Gaza and the Middle East must stop now. Enough is Enough!
- Church-State structured dialogue is not functioning and in need of review
Trócaire Christmas Gifts of Change bring real hope and opportunity to families and communities living with poverty and injustice across our world, and a chance to create lasting and positive change from Somalia to Guatemala, from Sudan to Palestine.
There are gifts for everyone starting at 5 euro for the Gift of Soap. You can support the gifts by buying them online at:
by phone 1800 408 408 / 021-427 5622
by post or in person to
Trócaire
9 Cook Street
Cork. T12 F583
Bishop of Cork and Ross invites people to respond to Church changes with a time of prayer, listening and discernment
On a weekend when heavy rain and winds had blown across his diocese, it seems more than coincidence that a new pastoral message from the Bishop of Cork and Ross should begin with a scripture quote: “Even the wind and the seas obey Him”.
Bishop Fintan Gavin read his message on Sunday to pilgrims attending the annual Mass at St. Finbarr’s Oratory, Gougane Barra.
Bishop Fintan’s message is a call to the people of the diocese to commit to a year-long time of prayer, listening and discernment about the future of the Catholic Church in the parishes and chaplaincies of the diocese.
In a time of unprecedented change in society and the Catholic Church in Ireland, people are understandably concerned about their parish’s future, he said.
St Bernadette’s Relics Pilgrimage to Cork & Ross
For the first time, the Relics of St Bernadette are visiting Ireland, and we will have the privilege of welcoming them to the Diocese of Cork and Ross at the end of this month. The Diocese have put a full programme together to try and recreate something of the experience that Lourdes offers here at home.
The Relics will be displayed in the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne (North Cathedral) on Wednesday October 30th from 4pm, and then on the following day, Thursday October 31st, they will travel to the Church of the Immaculate Conception Clonakilty for veneration starting at 2pm. Full programme of events available on the Diocesan website, www.corkandross.org.
Emergency Phone (urgent calls)
Ballyphehane
085 727 8677
The Lough
087 609 3424
Togher
087 249 5075
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