Altum Newsletter Spring /Summer 2014 Newsletter of the Pastoral Development Office of Cork and Ross

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1 Altum Newsletter Spring /Summer 2014 Newsletter of the Pastoral Development Office of Cork and Ross In the diocese During the Year of Faith which concluded last November we undertook a number of initiatives including: an afternoon with Fr Conall O Cuinn SJ keeping alive the flame of faith in which 130 of you participated. Following on from this gathering, in March we invited Fr Kevin O Gorman SMA to speak to us on The Joy of the Gospel, the Apostolic Exhortation from Pope Francis, at which we were delighted to meet over 250 of you across the two venues we hope many of you have undertaken the suggested discussion sessions in your parishes. The clergy gathered in May to hear Fr Seamus O Connell, Professor of Sacred Scripture in Maynooth, speak to them on the theme: Reading Luke in the Year of Faith. We hope to offer a similar afternoon in the autumn for the forthcoming Year of Mark. Many of you went on pilgrimage to Gougane Barra for the Feast of St Finbarr when Archbishop Dermot Clifford gave the homily and in the city we welcomed Archbishop Charles Browne, Papal Nuncio to Ireland, to give the homily at our Corpus Christi Procession a great witness to the faith in the streets of Cork. On the second Sunday of Lent in the Cathedral 19 people participated in the Rite of Election as part of the RCIA programme towards joining the Catholic Church during the Easter ceremonies in their local parishes. The Feast of St Brigid, 1 st February 2014, saw 35 people begin the training programme towards becoming Catechists in our parishes. We ask you to continue holding them in your prayers as they undertake this study. Around the parishes Since our last newsletter 20 parishes have participated in the formation sessions facilitated by the Pastoral Development Office these are: Douglas/Rochestown, Togher, Caheragh, Courceys, Kilbrittain, Mayfield OLC, St Patrick s, Skibbereen, Rath & The Islands, Frankfield/Grange, Kinsale, Turner s Cross, Glounthaune, Bandon, Crosshaven, Watergrasshill; while Pastoral Area 11 (Blackpool, Cathedral & Sunday s Well) broke new ground when all three parishes came together for their formation sessions. We are currently working with parishes towards summer and autumn formation sessions as well as meeting groups for review sessions. Farewell & Thanks At the end of 2013 we said farewell to Anne Francis as her contract with the diocese came to its term. We thank Anne for her dedicated ministry to the parishes in our diocese in the area of Adult Faith Development and we wish her well in the future.

2 TeenSpirit 2013 Last November saw over 50 teenagers participate in the two concerts for the Year of Faith led by over 20 volunteers. It was a great success and wonderful to see so many young people engage in a project of faith and music. A sincere thank you to all the great volunteers who gave so much time, so willingly and with such enthusiasm! We are currently looking at ways to take forward this initiative in our diocese in 2014 and the Pastoral Development Office will be in contact with all parishes during the coming months. Lourdes 2014 We are delighted that so many of you are inviting and supporting Young Adults to join our diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes. We have 42 in the group for June this year from the parishes of: Enniskeane/Desertserges, Turner s Cross, Clontead, Frankfield/Grange, Carrig na bhfear; Douglas/Rochestown, Timoleague, Bandon, Drimoleague/Drinagh, Mahon, Blackpool/The Glen, Glounthaune, Courceys, Innishannon/Knockavilla, Dunmanway, Ballinlough, Mayfield OLC, Clonakilty, Sunday s Well and UCC Chaplaincy. We thank you for your support and encouragement in responding to our Lourdes challenge. Our group will light a candle for all the young people of the diocese at the grotto in Lourdes. Parish Baptism Preparation Teams Last autumn we facilitated two training programmes in the City and in West Cork to train parishioners to undertake this ministry with parents. At our ongoing formation evening for teams Br Richard Hendricks OFMCap gave us a very inspiring talk The 2014 annual gathering for the parish teams will be on Thursday 15 th May at 8:00pm in St Finbarr s Hospital Chapel. We will begin with a time of prayer and reflection followed by a talk by Br Kevin Kiernan OFMCap taking as our theme: if only you knew what it is you are asking for from the Gospel encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP: Being the Body of Christ We are pleased to welcome internationally renowned speaker Fr Timothy Radcliffe to our diocese in May to speak to us on this theme. He is the author of many books including: Why Go to Church?; Taking the Plunge; What is the point of being a Christian?; I call you friends - to name but a few. The talk is for everyone who is interested on Sunday 18 th May 3:00pm to 5:00pm in Christ the King Church, Turner s Cross and there is no cost a donation would be welcome to cover necessary costs. Most recently he is noted as being one whom Pope Francis contacted to invite to Rome to talk to him about the Church today! On Monday 19 th May Fr Timothy will give a one day conference for the Priests of the diocese on the theme: Priesthood an abundant way of life.

3 Ordinations Rev Fr. Sean Crowley, Enniskeane & Desertserges Parish was ordained to the priesthood in June 2013, Rev Ben Hodnett of the Cathedral Parish will be ordained on 7 th June this year. We also congratulate Rev Marius O Reilly of Douglas Parish who was ordained a deacon by Bishop Buckley at the Irish Pontifical College in Rome on Easter Monday and who will be ordained to the priesthood in the summer of At this time there are four other students preparing for the priesthood for our diocese. Those who feel they may have a vocation and are unsure what to do next can contact Fr Tom Deenihan on Permanent Diaconate In April 2013 Bishop John Buckley introduced the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Cork and Ross. Permanent Deacons have recently been ordained in the Diocese of Elphin and the Archdiocese of Dublin. In our diocese a number of candidates are presently undertaking the Introductory Year under the guidance of the Diocesan Director for the Permanent Diaconate Fr Bertie O Mahony. The next Introductory Year will commence in September Those interested should contact their local priest or Fr. Bertie O Mahony at Parochial House, Model Farm Road, Cork. Tel: / or from Cork and Ross Diocesan Office, Redemption Road, Cork. Tel: or log on to www. corkandross.org. Vocations Sunday Sunday 11 th May 2014 Theme: Vocations, Witness to the Truth Parishes interested in promoting vocations or gathering to pray for vocations can receive resources and assistance from the Pastoral Development Office. Year of Consecrated Life Beginning in October of this year and continuing through to November 2015 Pope Francis has announced a special year to give thanks for and to pray for the gift of Consecrated Life in our Church. We have been blessed in our diocese with so many dedicated religious sisters, brothers and priests over the years this year offers a unique opportunity to share with them in their life and ministry. Discuss ways to mark this year in your parish community Website To access all information about Pastoral Development see: and use the quick link Pastoral Development to all our pages. The resources handbook for parish groups is now uploaded in five chapters under the headings: Celebrating Special Moments; Family & Children; Welcome & Communication; Young People; Community Building. Have a look and find hundreds of ideas for your group!

4 National Conferences 2014 On Saturday 10 th May in All hallows College, Dublin this year s Developing Parish seminar will focus on Young Adult Faith Formation. The Bishop s Conference are hosting a one day conference on Saturday 14 th June in Holy Cross Diocesan College, Clonliffe, Dublin entitled Marriage and the Family. In September the bi-annual national pastoral Conference will be held in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone from 25 th to 27 th. The speakers this year are: Fr Robert Schreiter (USA) and Fr Gareth Byrne (Dublin) the theme this year is: Growing in Faith Together as Local Church Community. The third day of this gathering is a stand-alone day for members of parish groups who wish to have the experience in sharing in a national event. Details & booking forms have been sent to all parishes about these events. Second Collection for Pastoral Development Services Sunday 11 th May 2014 This collection is taken up in all churches on the weekend of 10 th and 11 th May 2014, this part-funds staff salaries and expenses and funds the training of Parish Assemblies and Parish Pastoral Councils as well as on-going support programmes such as Liturgy, Faith Development, RCIA, TeenSpirit, Youth Ministry, Baptism Team Training and other resources for parishes provided through the Pastoral Development Office. Requiescat in Pace We offer our sympathies to the families, colleagues and parishioners of Fr Sean O Driscoll (PP Farrnaree) who died on 3rd August 2013, Canon Diarmuid Linehan (former PP Clogheen) who died on 29th September 2013, Fr Cornelius White (former PP Carrignavar) who died on 13th October 2013 and Fr Dan Burns (former PP Clontead - Belgooly/Riverstick) who died on 9 th April May they now rest from their labours for their good deeds go with them. Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord. Contact Details for the Pastoral Development Team Fr. Charles Kiely Director of Pastoral Development charles.kiely@corkandross.org or charliekiely@gmail.com Fr. Christy Fitzgerald Liturgy & Ecumenism liturgy@corkandross.org Sr. Karen Kent Pastoral Development karen.kent@corkandross.org The Pastoral Development Office, Parochial House, Ballyphehane, Cork Telephone: pdo@corkandross.org

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