Photo of North Cathedral was taken by Fr. Tom Hayes
Thought on Sunday – July – 30/06/2019
“The challenge is starting again, into a new family, a new home, a new faith community and once I thought about that, prayed about it, I am really looking forward to that new beginning, that new challenge and getting to know a whole new community and group of people.” ~Bishop Elect Fintan Gavin
Today is a special day for Cork as Fr. Fintan Gavin will be ordained the new Bishop of Cork and Ross. He takes over from Bishop John Buckley who is a hugely popular man and much loved across Cork. He has been Bishop of the Cork Diocese since 1997 and fully deserves a happy and relaxed retirement. He is not too comfortable though using the word retirement. Recently he said: “I think the word retirement shouldn’t apply to priests and bishops because they’re always involved, whether it’s doing little things or praying for people in the community.” He hopes to continue to play an active role in our Cork community.
Originally from Dublin, Fr. Fintan has worked in many different parts of Dublin Diocese. Fintan is fluent in Italian and Spanish and also enjoys keeping fit, walking, cooking and gardening. He comes with a very impressive CV, with a very wide pastoral experience of working with people in different communities. He has worked closely with young adults through gospel choirs, World Youth Day and the ‘Second Chance Saturday’ initiative which encourages those who have drifted from the Church to give their faith a second chance, reaching out through street ministry and hospitality.
He believes strongly that young people have a vital role to play in the life of the Church. He says this can be achieved, “by being honest, fair, inclusive, sincere and by being yourself with them.” “It’s not easy being a young person today in Cork, Ireland or across the world,” he said ahead of his ordination today in the North Cathedral.
Speaking directly about the ordination he says: “I hope the ordination today will reflect the different groups within the Diocese, the different traditions of music, the different age groups and that we will be celebrating the faith life of a vibrant community here in Cork and Ross.”
There are few certainties in life as we know but one certainty for sure is that the new Bishop will be given a very warm welcome in Cork. He might be from Dublin but nobody in Cork will hold that against him even if the Dublin footballers win the 5 in a row this year! We wish him the very best tomorrow and pray God’s many blessings on him during his ordination and in his ministry ahead as Bishop of Cork and Ross. The ordination event will be available to see online at corkandross.org or corkcathedral.ie and it starts at 3pm.
