Diocesan News
![At the FOCUS gathering are with Bishop Fintan names are as follows: (L-R) Eva Conroy (FOCUS), Miriam Dunne (Presentation Brothers), Dylan Little (FOCUS), Fr Gerard Dunne (UCC Chaplain), Br Anthony (Presentation Brothers), Bishop Fintan Gavin, Aine Lee (FOCUS), Br Martin Kenneally (Presentation Brothers), Brendan & Alanna Keenan (FOCUS). At the FOCUS gathering are with Bishop Fintan names are as follows: (L-R) Eva Conroy (FOCUS), Miriam Dunne (Presentation Brothers), Dylan Little (FOCUS), Fr Gerard Dunne (UCC Chaplain), Br Anthony (Presentation Brothers), Bishop Fintan Gavin, Aine Lee (FOCUS), Br Martin Kenneally (Presentation Brothers), Brendan & Alanna Keenan (FOCUS).](https://corkandross.org/images/news/24-09-05/Focus_Chaplaincy_Presentation_Bros.jpg)
A group of young Catholics is preparing to spent a year on campus engaging with their peers about their faith.
FOCUS Missionaries are a Catholic organisation who evangelise on campuses in America and Europe. They have successfully completed one academic year in University College Cork working in collaboration with UCC Chaplaincy.
They invite students to enter more deeply into their faith while at university. They host bible study groups, discipleship groups, retreats and prayer groups as part of their outreach to students in UCC.
As part of their training and preparation for a second year on mission in UCC, they met for two days with the Chaplaincy Team and members of the Presentation Brothers LEAF project to reflect and plan for the year ahead in Mardyke House.
As part of the ongoing mission of evangelisation in the Diocese of Cork and Ross, FOCUS play a key role in the building up of young people of faith, and those exploring their faith. Bishop Fintan spent some time with this planning process and encouraged the FOCUS team and the UCC chaplaincy team in their outreach to third level students in UCC, reminding them that they are instruments of the Gospel in a world that yearns to hear the Good News.
“As you embark on a new year in UCC, you as chaplains and missionaries are invited, like Peter and his companions in today’s Gospel, to put out into deep water; to bring hope and know that the Lord has a plan and a purpose for each of you and the students you encounter,” Bishop Fintan said.
![Chaplaincy Focus Team who will be based at UCC for the coming year. Chaplaincy Focus Team who will be based at UCC for the coming year.](https://corkandross.org/images/news/24-09-05/Chaplaincy__Focus_Team.jpg)
The Care of Creation group in Kinsale are hosting an Environment Day as part of the Season of Creation celebrations
Bishop Fintan Gavin will be speaking at the opening of the day
Saturday 7 September
10:30am to 4:00pm
A Journey of Hope and Renewal for Funeral Ministry Teams
The Office of Mission and Ministry is offering an opportunity to gather for prayer, reflection and nourishment for new and existing Funeral Ministry Teams in two venues:
- Wed 11 Sep 2024: Visitors’ Centre of the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, Cork
- Tue, 17 Sep 2024: The Parkway Hotel, Dunmanway
Both events take place at 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Our guest speaker is Rev. Bruce Pierce, Former Director of Education at Northridge House Cork, who has a background in healthcare chaplaincy and counselling and has written and spoken extensively on caring for the carer, and on loss, death, dying and bereavement.
Please register your interest if you wish to attend as we will be providing light hospitality:
![Consoling and Being Consoled: A Journey of Hope and Renewal for Funeral Ministry Teams Consoling and Being Consoled: A Journey of Hope and Renewal for Funeral Ministry Teams](https://corkandross.org/images/mission-and-ministry/24-08-30/consoling-580.jpg)
A Journey of Hope and Renewal for Funeral Ministry Teams
![Bishop Fintan hearting Confessions at the Youth 2000 Retreat Bishop Fintan hearting Confessions at the Youth 2000 Retreat](https://corkandross.org/images/news/24-08-20/YK_Clongowes-2476.jpg)
Before being a disciple of Jesus in today’s world, young people need to come to know Jesus, bishop says..
This was the key message of Bishop Fintan Gavin who spoke to over 900 young people who were making a retreat last weekend.
The young people were taking part in a gathering organised by Youth 2000 and which was held at Clongowes Wood College, Clane, Co Kildare.
Bishop Fintan spoke of his own faith journey and how central it is to have an encounter with the living Jesus.
“How do we do this?, the bishop asked in his homily. “We have to trust and to build a relationship with Jesus in the same way as we do any other relationship.”
“Once we open our hearts to encounter Jesus then our faith and what Jesus has to offer is no longer seen as a burden or obligation but rather the greatest gift that our God offers us.”
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