Young Adult Community 2025/26

The Cathedral Family of Parishes is now accepting applications for their Young Adult Community, from September 2026 to May 2027.

Now in its third year, this initiative offers young adults a unique opportunity to live in the heart of Cork City, deepen their Catholic faith in fellowship with others, and actively participate in parish and diocesan life.

A weekly community evening forms a central part of the programme, providing time for prayer, fellowship and ongoing faith formation. Each member will also undertake a regular pastoral placement, contributing to initiatives such as OCIA, the Mass animated by Young Adults, Alpha and other parish ministries.

More than simply a residential experience, this year is intended as a time for growing in personal prayer and learning how to share your faith with others.

You are warmly invited pray for Paul Ryan who will be ordained a Deacon on Sunday 21st June 2026 at 3.00pm in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Timoleague.

Paul, originally from Co. Clare, has lived for many years in Timoleague Parish with his wife Bríd. They have two adult children, Anne and Tomás.

Over the past number of years, Paul has been preparing for the Permanent Diaconate through formation, prayer and pastoral experience, including time spent in Kinsale Parish.
Paul will become the fourth person to serve as a permanent deacon in our diocese.

Please keep Paul in your prayers in these final days of preparation. We ask the Lord to bless Paul as he prepares to be ordained and to serve the people of the Diocese of Cork and Ross as a Permanent Deacon.

All are very welcome to attend the Ordination Mass in Timoleague Parish Church. Bishop Fintan Gavin will ordain Paul, priests will concelebrate the Mass and other permanent deacons will also minister.

Three choirs of Timoleague Parish are coming together to lead the liturgical music and song.

More about the Diaconate

At Kinsale Parish Church In 2024 when Paul was admitted to Candidacy for Ordination, Paul is seen with Bishop Fintan Gavin, along with Paul's wife Bríd, their daughter Anne and son Tomás. (Photo: Mariana Wirsam).

The Ordination Mass will be accessible from
3:00pm on Sunday 21 June 2026

Watch the Livestream

More than 5,000 people were estimated to have participated in the Eucharistic Procession

Thousands of people from across the Diocese of Cork and Ross gathered on Sunday to celebrate the 100th Cork Eucharistic Procession.

Despite the heavy rainfall, more than 5,000 people were estimated to have participated in the procession, with people of all ages coming together as a diocesan family in prayer and thanksgiving to honour Jesus in the Eucharist.

This year's procession marked 100 years since the first Cork Eucharistic Procession took place through the streets of the city in 1926, making it one of the longest-running traditions in the city.

The procession began at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne, making its way through the city before concluding with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at Grand Parade.

Tom Cassidy, Ellen's father, receives a blessing from Bishop Fintan ahead of the Marathon

Ss Peter and Paul’s Church was at full capacity for the 7am Mass this morning as runners, supporters and volunteers gathered for a special Mass ahead of the Cork City Marathon.

The Mass was offered for the repose of the soul of Ellen Cassidy, who died shortly after taking part in last year’s half marathon. Members of her family and friends were present for the Mass, alongside the Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Fergal Dennehy.

Those at the Mass also had the opportunity to venerate the relics of St Carlo Acutis and receive a blessing with the relic before making their way to the marathon start line.

Maura Whelton pictured with her extended family in the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Barryroe Photo: Paul Finn.

The recently retired sacristan of the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, in Barryroe, has received a papal award.

Maura Whelton was awarded the Benemerenti Medal by Pope Leo for her exceptional services to the Catholic Church and the local community. The presentation was made by Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross at the conclusion of Sunday Mass in Barryroe last week.

Maura’s work in the Barryroe church spanned some three decades and was in tandem with her association with local organisations including Community Alert, the Legion of Mary and St. Vincent de Paul.

Such dedication nowadays is a fading role as society continues to change. Maura's own assessment of the role as sacristan in her local church was “I did it for God, it's as simple as that really.”

When asked how she attained the role the response was: “I just glided in.” Perhaps, if Maura and her family were not living adjacent to the church, things could have been different. But for Maura and her late husband Willie, who married in 1970 and bought the local shop in Tirnanéan nine years later, it seemed the natural thing to do.