News and Announcements from the Family of Parishes
Celebrating 50 years in Ireland
All married couples deserve a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend!
Next Weekend will be held 13-14-15 Oct 2023, in:
The Cork International Hotel.
The car needs a service
The house needs painting
Is it time to place your love relationship at the top of the list?
Worldwide Marriage Encounter in Ireland
Céilí Catholic Community 2023 - 2024
The Sycamore Series for those aged 18 – 35 is organised by UCC Chaplaincy and Presentation Brothers in collaboration with the Diocese of Cork and Ross.
Have you ever questioned why you are Catholic and wondered why we Catholics believe what we believe? The Sycamore Series is an informal course for those aged 18-35. Join us as we deepen our understanding and knowledge of the Catholic faith. Each session involves a short film and time for discussion, with a meal also included.
Everyone is welcome. Start date Wednesday October 4th 2023, 6pm-8pm at Presentation Brothers Mardyke House, Cork T12 W8RP. The course runs for 10 consecutive weeks. The course is free, but places are limited. Please email

The support of parishes in letting people know was invaluable to the success of this Series last year so your support will be much appreciated again this year.
Welcome to the Ballyphehane, the Lough and the Togher Parish website!
Dear Parishioners,
Welcome to our new Website which details the union of our family of parishes, Ballyphehane, The Lough and Togher. In creating this family we have also created a bond between our three churches in order to sustain their pastoral life.
Practically this means parishioners, lay people, clergy and religious communities sharing resources, responsibilities, and ministry, strengthening our unity as one Body of Christ.
Please email us any suggestions you have as we would be delighted to hear from you.
Welcome
There are several places on the Family of Parishes website where content from your Parish would be most welcome
News
Any announcements or newsworthy items relevant to all the parishes would be most welcome in this section. So for example any events in Ballyphehane that are open to all or The Lough has a new musical setting of the Mass. Any photos of people you send will of course need to have addressed the appropriate permissions.
Stories
See familyofparishes.ie/stories
This section of the website is new and the idea is to gradually add stories or a historical fact about any of the three parishes. Try to keep each article short and about one particular topic.
Reflect
See familyofparishes.ie/reflect
This is a place for videos for meditation, contemplation, prayer, worship and recharging the spirit. Send the link to the video. (e.g. YouTube or Vimeo)

Parishes
See familyofparishes.ie/parishes
Please check the information for your parish and send any updates or corrections
Five priests from around Ireland share how they followed their vocation in this 15 minute video
This video was made by the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother at the petition of the National Vocations Office (an office within the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference) for the Year for Vocations to the Diocesan Priesthood.
Diocese of Cork and Ross Mailing List
Did you know you can now receive website news and announcements from the diocese of Cork and Ross direct to your email?
How does it work?
Any new articles that are featured on the homepage of CorkandRoss.org will be compiled and sent to you in a single email no more than once a day.
You can also choose the options to receive the Bidding Prayers for each Sunday and/or a Reflection on Sunday's Readings from Fr. Silvester O'Flynn OFM. Cap.
Subscribe to the Diocesan Mailing List
For a Synodal Church: communion, participation and mission
In October 2021 the Catholic Church's synodal process on the theme of synodality began. This was the first time that a worldwide listening process and consultation with parishes and dioceses was attempted and many people in Ireland took part in a listening process during the early months of 2022.
Did you take part?
Have you been wondering what happened after that?
Much has happened since then. Your participation formed part of a national document that was sent to the Synod office in Rome in August 2022. It also formed part of a global document called Enlarge the Space of Your Tent, which was published last October and then formed part of a presentation given by the Irish delegation that travelled to Prague this February for the first ever Continental Assembly of the Catholic Church's synodal process.
Update Flyer for Parishes and Groups
A message to all Parishes from Bishop Fintan Gavin
The time has come, I believe, to remove the last remaining covid restrictions.
Wearing of Face Coverings No Longer Necessary
It is no longer required to wear a face covering while distributing Holy Communion for either priests or Ministers of the Eucharist. It is now possible for Ministers of the Eucharist to receive under both species at Mass. You might ensure to let your Ministers of the Eucharist know about this.