In the summer of 2021 Bishop Fintan Gavin visited the West Cork area encouraging us to face some new realities and challenges.
He restated his commitment to the formation of “Families of Parishes” in the Diocese or Cork & Ross including a re-configuration of the parishes for mission.
What is the “Family of Parishes”?
It describes the creation of a bond between a group of parishes 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.
Our particular Family of Parishes at onefaith.ie includes the six Parishes of:
- Ardfield & Rathbarry
- Barryroe
- Clonakilty
- Kilmeen & Castleventry
- Rosscarbery
- Timoleague
This includes the 13 churches (locations shown in the interactive map below). Priests are few in number and our particular Family of Parishes has recently reduced from seven to six with two further retirements due in the summer of 2022. While keeping the identity and uniqueness of each of the six Parishes a timetable and rota has been created that involves changes to times, days and locations ensuring that every weekend there will be a Mass in each and every Parish.
This rota began on Saturday the 4th of September 2021. Although priests are resident in a particular parish they flexibly minister to any of the six parishes - for example where there is no resident priest or when a priest is away or not available. The aim of the rota is to share ministry as a team and ensure wherever possible that Masses and other ministries continue to be offered.
The six parishes are colour coded throughout the website as follows:
Using a simple memorable domain onefaith.ie the website also includes information about each of the Parishes and Priests as well as publishing Notices relevant to the Family of Parishes.
Did you spot a bug or correction?
This website has been developed by Denis O'Regan (Barryroe Parish).
If you have discovered a fault with the website or an error that needs correcting Contact Denis