Tuesday, August 02, 2022

Bishop Fintan Gavin publishes pastoral letter transforming parishes in Cork & Ross into mission-centred faith communities

 Our Bishop and Our Diocese | Parish of Douglas and Rochestown

Priest appointments and the introduction of Families of Parishes

Today, Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, published his new pastoral letter Putting out into deep waters (Lk 5:4) Transforming parishes together into mission-centred faith communities

Bishop Gavin said, “How priests minister in the parishes of the Diocese of Cork and Ross will change significantly from this September.  The diocese will have 16 ‘Families of Parishes’ and each will be ministered to by a team of priests.  Each priest will be resident in a particular parish but ministering across the whole family of parishes.  Bringing parishes together as families of parishes presents an opportunity for much greater lay participation and shared leadership of parishes.  Initially, the team will consist of priests but I hope that lay leadership and more involvement will grow in time.  It will involve parishes working much more closely together and sharing their gifts, talents and resources including their priests.  The collaboration in families of parishes presents a great opportunity for parishes to prepare together for Baptism, Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation and Marriage.  In time, parish funeral ministry teams can work together across each family of parishes.  It will allow for initiatives across a family of parishes for those who have become disconnected from our Church.  It will also provide opportunities for outreach to young people within the family of parishes.  It is hoped that there will be greater possibilities for formation and faith development.

“A more comprehensive presentation of how the family of parishes will work and, why they are being introduced at this time, is set out in my pastoral letter below, Putting out into deep waters.  In preparation for the introduction of the families of parishes, a summary of the main points of the pastoral letter will be read at all Masses in our diocese on the weekend of Saturday/Sunday, 27/28 August, 2022.  Printed versions of this will be available in churches that weekend.  A printed version of the full pastoral letter will also be available at that time in parishes.

“Many people, including parishioners, clergy, religious, diocesan staff and professional facilitators, have shared wisdom, insights, expertise and prayerful support as we have been preparing together for this new era in our diocese. The part that each person has played is much appreciated.

“I would like to thank all the priests who have accepted new appointments in recent weeks.  Priests appointed to the families of parishes have shown great generosity and openness in responding to this new way of ministering together.

“I also thank those priests who will step back from their responsibilities as parish priests, curates or assistant priests this summer.  I am grateful for their many years of dedicated and generous service to the diocese and wish them every blessing in this new stage of their life and ministry.  The ministry in the diocese by the priests who are returning to their religious orders after serving in the diocese is also much appreciated.

“Initially, we will begin with 12 families of parishes in the first phase and these are outlined below with the names of those priests serving in the families of parishes,” Bishop Gavin said.

  • Names of the priests to minister in the initial 12 Families of Parishes.  These appointments will take effect on Saturday, 10 September 2022.


Family of Parishes of Aughadown, Castlehaven, Kilmacabea, Rath and the Islands and Skibbereen

Father Bernard Cotter Co-PP resident in Castlehaven Parish

Father John Heinhold SPS Co-PP resident in Skibbereen Parish

Father Terry O’Brien MSC Co-PP resident in Kilmacabea Parish

Father Evin O’Brien CC resident in Skibbereen Parish

Father John Heinhold SPS Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator.

 

Family of Parishes of Ardfield and Rathbarry, Barryroe, Clonakilty, Kilmeen and Castleventry, Rosscarbery and Timoleague

Father Tom Hayes Co-PP resident in Clonakilty Parish

Canon John Kingston Co-PP resident in Timoleague Parish

Father John McCarthy Co-PP resident in Rosscarbery Parish

Father David O’Connell Co-PP resident in Barryroe Parish

Father Fergus Tuohy SMA CC resident in Clonakilty Parish

Father Ted Collins AP resident in Clonakilty Parish

Father Tom Hayes Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator

 

Family of Parishes of Ballincollig, Ballinora, and Ovens and Farran

Father Liam Ó hIcí Co-PP resident in Ovens and Farran Parish

Father Alan O’Leary Co-PP resident in Ballincollig Parish

Father Kamil Bachara CC resident in Ballincollig Parish

Father John Collins AP resident in Ballinora Parish

Father Alan O’Leary Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator

 

Family of Parishes of Ballinhassig, Clontead, Courceys and Kinsale

Father Michael O’Mahony Co-PP resident in Courceys Parish

Father Daniel Pyburn Co-PP resident in Ballinhassig Parish

Father Michael Regan Co-PP resident in Kinsale Parish

Father Robert Young Co-PP resident in Kinsale Parish

Father Robert Young Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator 

 

Family of Parishes of Ballyphehane, The Lough and Togher

Canon John Paul Hegarty Co-PP resident in The Lough Parish

Father Greg Howard Co-PP resident in Ballyphehane Parish

Father John Walsh Co-PP resident in Togher Parish

Canon Jim O’Donovan AP resident in The Lough Parish

Father Greg Howard Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator

 

Family of Parishes of Bandon, Enniskeane and Desertserges, Innishannon and Knockavilla, Kilbrittain, Kilmurry, and Murragh and Templemartin

Father Jerry Cremin Co-PP resident in Kilbrittain Parish

Father Finbarr Crowley Co-PP resident in Innishannon and Knockavilla Parish

Canon Bernard Donovan Co-PP resident in Kilmurry Parish

Father Michael Kelleher Co-PP resident in Enniskeane and Desertserges Parish

Father John Newman Co-PP resident in Bandon Parish

Father Bartlomiej Dziedzic CC resident in Bandon Parish

Canon Bertie O’Mahony AP resident in Bandon Parish

Father John Newman Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator

 

Family of Parishes of Bantry, Caheragh, Goleen, Muintir Bháire and Schull

Father Myles McSweeney Co-PP resident in Schull Parish

Canon Martin O’Driscoll Co-PP resident in Bantry Parish

Father Michael Anthony Buckley CC resident in Goleen Parish

Father Ben Hodnett CC resident in Bantry Parish

Father John C. O’Donovan AP resident in Caheragh Parish

Father Myles McSweeney Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator

 

Family of Parishes of Carrigaline, Crosshaven, Harbour Parishes (Monkstown and Passage West) and Tracton Abbey

Father James McSweeney Co-PP resident in Carrigaline Parish

Father Chris O’Donovan Co-PP resident in Harbour Parishes

Monsignor Aidan O’Driscoll Co-PP resident in Carrigaline Parish

Father Pat Stevenson Co-PP resident in Crosshaven Parish

Father Aidan Cremin CC resident in Carrigaline Parish

Monsignor Aidan O’Driscoll Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator

 

Family of Parishes of Carrignavar, Glanmire, Glounthaune and Watergrasshill and Glenville

Father Christopher Fitzgerald Co-PP resident in Watergrasshill and Glenville Parish

Father Pat Fogarty Co-PP resident in Glanmire Parish

Canon Martin Keohane Co-PP resident in Carrignavar Parish

Father Damian O’Mahony Co-PP resident in Glounthaune Parish

Father Pat Nugent CC resident in Glanmire Parish

Father Christopher Fitzgerald Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator

 

Family of Parishes of Clogheen/Kerry Pike, Farranree, Gurranabraher and Knocknaheeny/Hollyhill

Father Cian O’Sullivan Co-PP resident in Knocknaheeny/Hollyhill Parish

Father Seán O’Sullivan Co-PP resident in Farranree Parish

Father Tomás Walsh SMA Co-PP resident in Gurranabraher Parish

Father Aidan Vaughan OFM Cap CC resident in Gurranabraher Parish

Father Seán O’Sullivan Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator

 

Family of Parishes of Drimoleague, Dunmanway, Kilmichael and Uibh Laoire

Father Liam Crowley Co-PP resident in Drimoleague Parish

Father Pat O’Donovan Co-PP resident in Dunmanway Parish

Father Anthony O’Mahony Co-PP resident in Uibh Laoire Parish

Father Rafal Zielonka CC resident in Dunmanway Parish

Father Pat O’Donovan Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator

 

Family of Parishes of South Parish, Saint Patrick’s and Saints Peter and Paul’s

Father Joseph E. Whooley PP resident in South Parish

Father Jilson Kokkandathil CC resident in South Parish

Father Marius O’Reilly CC resident in SS Peter and Paul’s Parish

Father Joseph E Whooley PP will fulfil the role of Moderator

 

Priests appointed to parishes which will be in Families of Parishes in 2023

Father Donal Cotter to be Administrator of Ballineaspaig Parish

Father Con Doherty MSC to be Parish Priest in Sacred Heart Parish

Father Des Farren MSC to be Curate in Sacred Heart Parish

Canon Michael Murphy to be Assistant Priest in Ballinlough Parish

Father Gus O’Driscoll SMA to be Father-in-Charge pro-tem in Blackrock Road Parish

Father Noel O’Sullivan to be Administrator of Turner’s Cross Parish

Father Jerome Sassou SMA to be Curate in Blackrock Road Parish

 

The remaining four families of parishes will be established in 2023

Family of Parishes of Ballineaspaig, Curraheen Road, Sacred Heart and Wilton

Family of Parishes of Ballinlough, Blackrock, Blackrock Road and Mahon

Family of Parishes of Blackpool/The Glen/Ballyvolane, St. Joseph’s Mayfield, St. Vincent’s, Upper Mayfield and The Cathedral

Family of Parishes of Douglas, Frankfield/Grange and Turner’s Cross

 

Appointments to healthcare chaplaincies

Father Declan Mansfield to be Chaplain in Marymount University Hospice

Father Patrick McCarthy to be Chaplain in Mercy University Hospital

Father Jerry Thornton MSC to be Chaplain in Saint Stephen’s Hospital, Sarsfield’s Court

 

Retirements

Bishop Gavin said, “I am deeply grateful to Father Donal Cahill, Father Tom Clancy, Father Patrick Hickey, Father Charlie Nyhan, Canon George Murphy, Monsignor Kevin O’Callaghan, Canon Tadhg Ó Mathúna and Father Billy O’Sullivan, who will retire from full-time ministry, for their service and commitment over many years in their diocesan appointments throughout their dedicated priestly ministry.”

The following priests are returning to their religious orders: Father JP O’Riordan CSsR, Father Tom Mulcahy MSC, and Fr Alphonse Sekongo SMA.

✠ Fintan Gavin

Bishop of Cork and Ross