Clergy and lay representatives from across the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross gathered in St Fachtna’s Cathedral, Rosscarbery, on Maundy Thursday, 2 April 2026, for the annual Chrism Eucharist.
Picture: Andy Gibson.
The Chrism Eucharist is a central moment in the life of the diocese during Holy Week. It is a time when clergy renew their ordination vows and reaffirm their shared ministry, while the bishop blesses the oils used in baptism, confirmation, ordination, and the ministry of healing throughout the coming year. This year’s service held particular significance as it marked Bishop Paul Colton’s final Chrism Eucharist before his retirement at the end of April.
During the service, Bishop Paul led the gathered clergy and lay ministers in the renewal of their vows, a moment that reflects both the continuity and the shared commitment of ordained ministry across the diocese. The blessing of the oils, presented and received during the service, serves as a visible expression of unity between parishes and the cathedral, and of the pastoral and sacramental life that connects communities throughout Cork, Cloyne and Ross.
The service brought together clergy from across the dioceses, along with readers and parishioners, in a shared act of worship at the beginning of the Triduum. The choir of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral sang the Grayston Ives Missa Brevis and Anton Bruckner’s Christus factus est under the direction of Peter Stobart and with Matthew Breen on the organ. As in previous years, the Dean of Ross and members of his parish prepared a large spread for lunch in the narthex of the cathedral after the service.
In his sermon, Bishop Paul reflected on the deep connection between ministry and a genuine love for the people and places we are called to serve, drawing on both personal experience and the example of Christ as the Good Shepherd. He encouraged those gathered to continue their ministry with that same spirit of faithful, self-giving love, rooted in belonging and service. His words carried added resonance as this occasion marked the final time he would preside at the Chrism Eucharist as bishop of the diocese.
Sermon preached by the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross
at the annual Chrism Eucharist on Maundy Thursday, 2nd April 2026
in the Cathedral Church of Saint Fachtna, Rosscarbery
Bishop Paul Colton arrives at the Cathedral Church of Saint Fachtna, Rosscarbery on Maundy Thursday, to preside and preach for the last time as Bishop of the Diocese. (Photograph; Andy Gibson)
During the summer Olympics in Tokyo, postponed to the summer of 2021, I was asked to write an article for the annual Journal of the Castlehaven and Myross History Society. I gave my article the title ‘A Love Affair with West Cork.’ In it I asked the question ‘How do you come to love a place as deeply as this, to the point that you feel you yourself belong?’ I hope I answered my own question in that article.
And, incidentally, as an aside, I have always believed that wherever you are in ministry, if you do not come to love the place and the people where you are serving in God’s name, then perhaps you are not in the place God means you to be. It is very basic – Jesus loved the people he moved among, taught and healed – not unquestioningly, not uncritically, not without a prophetic edge, of course. We model our ministry on him, the Good Shepherd, who said ‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.’ (John 10.14-15). That profound and sacrificial love of people and place is our calling too.
Bishop William Lyon, the first Protestant bishop of Ross appointed by Queen Elizabeth I in 1582 seems not to have loved this place. He called it ‘the wildest part of Munster.’ He referred to Ireland in general as ‘this barbarous country.’ He became a vigorous and doctrinaire proponent of the Reformation. In fact he advocated the extermination – yes, something, with hindsight, that we must acknowledge and confess in our tradition – the extermination of all Catholic clergy. Fortunately, for whatever reason, the Government of the day did not take his advice, otherwise our shame would be even greater. He wasn’t all bad. Far from it. He did have his good points and was highly regarded by many. There are accounts of 1000s attending his Church Services. He was impressive to many,
However, as to Ross (this place) he didn’t think it was good enough for him. He said that it was ‘…in so desolate and barbarous a place as it is not fit…’ for him to live in. All the same, we do have to give him credit for building a cathedral here, as well as a house, a school and a bridge. In a short time he had made a name for himself and so George Goold, the Mayor of Cork, petitioned the famous and zealously Protestant Secretary to the Queen – Sir Francis Walsingham – to have him made the Bishop of Cork a mere two years later. Walsingham was famously known as Queen Elizabeth I’s spymaster. Lots of intrigue in those days – I suppose there’s just as much these days in different ways, especially coming up to an episcopal election! And so it was that Cork, Cloyne and Ross were united for the first time. – temporarily in 1584, and then permanently in 1586. Cork and Cloyne separated again in 1678 and remained separated until 1835, but Cork and Ross have been together in our ecclesiastical setup since the time of William Lyon.
Because of both wars and neglect, by the time of the Royal Visitation of these parts in 1615, two years before William Lyon died, the church was in a bad state. Again and again in that report the phrase is repeated ‘church and chancell down’, indicating either the deliberate destruction of the church during, as I say, the wars under Elizabeth I, or simple neglect by the incumbent minister and the parishioners. I hope when you look back, my time as bishop won’t be characterised in that way.
However, that was then. Thinking about my own times as bishop, memories of this place was a theme I had addressed, in part, when I came here on 28th May 1999 – five days after Pentecost that year – to be installed as bishop and enthroned. And so it is that I come here once more – one last time as your Bishop in this Diocese – to celebrate with you this, now annual, Chrism Eucharist. Right now my mind is flooded with those same memories and with countless new ones infused in my psyche over the past 27 years. For all of those I thank you. My life, Susan’s life – our family’s life – has been shaped in many ways by this place – particularly the parishes all along this coast, and by you, the people of this place.
The Gospel that night in May 1999 was that of Pentecost and I took as my text:
‘As the Father has sent me, so I send you…’ (John 20.21)
That was the last of the three enthronement Sermons I had preached and, in each one, in different ways I had set out the sort of Church I prayed and hoped that we would continue to be and to become. On this day, when we come here each year to renew our commitment to ministry, I thank you for your faithful discipleship, commitment and generosity in being that sort of Church.
Today, we heard again the call of God to Samuel and we witnessed Samuel’s readiness to respond: ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ (I Samuel 3.10). I am always inspired by part of that story which refers to the lamp in the Temple – ‘The lamp of God had not yet gone out…’ (I Samuel 3.3). There are far too many people, in society and also in the Church, in our time, who, faced with the challenges and changes of these times, have given up and are even minded to think that the ‘lamp of faith’, ‘the lamp of God’ has gone out. I don’t accept that at all and I see , on the contrary, in these times countless ways in which we can be witnesses to the reality that ‘The lamp of God [has] not yet gone out …’ I remember well the first clergy clerical meeting I ever attended. It was in the late 1970s, in the Metropole Hotel in Cork, and I was a potential ordinand. As some clergy often do when they meet, there was moaning. But a priest from this part of the Diocese was having none of it. ‘ You are full of doom and gloom,’ he said ‘but I am full of boom and bloom.’ The way of ‘boom and bloom” has been my preferred approach ever since.
Today’s Psalm is a call to unity. And, on this occasion when I preach to all the ministers of the Diocese – lay and ordained – one last time, I thank you for the countless ways in which, in this place, with all our diversity, you have worked to make that togetherness a spiritual and practical reality. In this Service we are reminded, as we heard in the second reading, that God has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father…’ (Revelation 1.6) and our calling is to bring him ‘glory and power for ever and ever!’
This ministry of service and proclamation is exemplified in the woman in this afternoon’s Gospel reading – the woman whose name we do not even know, but who gave everything, generously and extravagantly, to Jesus, facing great public scrutiny and criticism for doing so.
Even more powerfully, later on in this evening’s Gospel, Jesus will put his money where his mouth has been himself. He will wash their feet:
So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. (John 13.14-17)
As I say, 27 years ago, I took as my text John 20.21 – ‘As the Father has sent me, so I send you…’ – a message, not unconnected to the call we hear today, and the commitment and intent that we are renewing here and now in this Service.
And as I developed that theme I asked you all throughout the Diocese to treasure and take seriously the opportunity to be an apostolic Church. These were the characteristics I set out that evening of that catholic apostolicity:
I said that the Church is truly apostolic:
when we all realise that we share this responsibility and mission together. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you…” said Jesus. He sends all of us who have been baptised in his name, who believe in him and who call themselves Christian.
when the people of God live and work together for the Gospel as a community.
When we pool and use together, in the words of Saint Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, “…for the common good” the rich variety of gifts which we have been given: when the diversity of gifts is pooled to build up the unity of the Body of Christ.
when we hand on to others the life-changing stories of Jesus – the good news of his birth, his death, his resurrection, and of the strengthening and energising presence among us today of God the Holy Spirit.
when the scriptures are faithfully read and freshly interpreted in our times.
when we say, pray and live the ancient creeds of the Church.
when the sacraments given to us by Jesus as a means of remembering him and receiving God’s grace are faithfully celebrated.
when the people of God worship together and express their faith through worship – worship built on the scriptures, made real year by year our living remembrance of the charter events of our faith, and seeking ever to find ways of being relevant to the place and time in which we live.
when, today through our caring we are sent by Jesus, in partnership with other ministries, disciplines and science, to be the sign and instrument of God’s presence, care and healing.
when there is care and discipline in the handing on of order and ministry in the life of the Church, when its pattern of ministry and oversight allows orderly and faithful continuity in the handing on of what we have received. In our case, this is a threefold order of bishop, priest and deacon.
when the people of God seek to challenge and shape society, to confront the local and global issues of the day, when rather than being obsessed with self-preservation it offers itself to the life of the world.
when with openness and a spirit of tolerant acceptance we seek to hold opposites together.
Quite simply today, I thank you for your faithful response to that challenge and call – not mine, but God’s. Thank you for all you have been and are; and may God bless you all as you journey on.
Jesus said: ‘As the Father has sent me, so I send you…’ (John 20.21)
St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Choir will perform John Stainer’s The Crucifixion on Good Friday, 3rd April at 8pm. The work will form the evening liturgy that day in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and all are welcome to attend, free of charge. The soloists will be Conor Prendiville (tenor) and Dominic Bowe (bass) and the organ will be played by Assistant Director of Music, Matthew Breen.
Director of Music Peter Stobart writes:
Like the Bach Passions, Stainer wrote this work with the congregation in mind, and there are several familiar hymns for everyone to sing, such as Cross of Jesus, cross of sorrow, and the final hymn All for Jesus. At the centre of the piece is the famous anthem God so loved the world which is very familiar to us, nearly 140 years after it was first written.
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Holy Week invites us to walk once again through the central days of the Christian story: from quiet reflection and prayer, through the solemnity of Good Friday, to the joy and light of Easter morning. Across the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, this journey is marked in many places and forms, in parish churches, cathedrals, villages and coastal communities. This year, more than 150 services will be held throughout the diocese during Holy Week and Easter, reflecting the richness, depth and shared life of worship across our communities.
Abbeystrewry Union
Monday, 30 March 10.00, Morning Prayer, Abbeystrewry Church, Skibbereen
Tuesday, 31 March 10.00, Morning Prayer, Abbeystrewry Church, Skibbereen
Wednesday, 1 April 10.30, Eucharist, Abbeystrewry Church, Skibbereen
Maundy Thursday, 2 April 10.00, Morning Prayer, Abbeystrewry Church, Skibbereen 20.00, Eucharist, St Mary’s Church, Caheragh
Good Friday, 3 April 10.00, Morning Prayer, Abbeystrewry Church, Skibbereen 12.00, Proclamation of the Cross, Abbeystrewry Church, Skibbereen
Easter Eve, Saturday 4 April 20.30, Easter Vigil (First Eucharist of Easter), St Matthew’s Church, Baltimore
Easter Day, Sunday 5 April 09.00, Eucharist, St Barrahane’s Church, Castletownshend 10.15, Eucharist, St Mary’s Church, Caheragh 11.30, Eucharist, Abbeystrewry Church, Skibbereen
Ballydehob Union
Maundy Thursday, 2 April 12.00, Chrism Holy Communion, Cathedral Church of St Fachtna, Rosscarbery 20.30, Holy Communion with stripping of the altar, St Matthew’s Church, Aughadown
Good Friday, 3 April 14.00, Journey to the Cross, St Matthias Church, Ballydehob
Easter Sunday, 5 April 10.00, Holy Communion, St Matthew’s Church, Aughadown 11.30, Holy Communion, St Matthias Church, Ballydehob
Bandon Union
Wednesday, 1 April 20.00, Evening Prayer, St Peter’s Church, Bandon
Maundy Thursday, 2 April 10.00, Maundy Eucharist, Holy Trinity Church, Rathclaren 20.00, Maundy Eucharist, St Peter’s Church, Bandon
Good Friday, 3 April 12.00, Good Friday Prayers, Christ Church, Innishannon 12.00, Good Friday Prayers, St Peter’s Church, Bandon
Monday, 30 March 10.30, Holy Communion, St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline
Tuesday, 31 March 10.30, Holy Communion, St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline
Wednesday, 1 April 10.30, Holy Communion, St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline
Maundy Thursday, 2 April 19.30, Maundy Thursday Eucharist, St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline
Good Friday, 3 April 10.30, Morning Prayer with Litany, St John’s Church, Monkstown 14.00, Stations of the Cross, St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline 19.30, Tenebrae Service, St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline
Holy Saturday, 4 April 21.00, Easter Vigil Service, St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline
Easter Day, 5 April 09.30, Easter Eucharist, St John’s Church, Monkstown 11.00, Easter Eucharist, St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline
Carrigrohane Union
Wednesday, 1 April 19.30, Service of the Word, Blarney
Maundy Thursday, 2 April 19.30, Holy Communion, St Peter’s Church
Good Friday, 3 April 19.30, Tenebrae Service, St Senan’s Church, Inniscarra
Easter Sunday, 5 April 10.00, Holy Communion, St Peter’s Church 11.00, Sunday AM service, Carraig Centre 11.30, Holy Communion, Blarney 11.30, Holy Communion, St Senan’s Church, Inniscarra
Cloyne Union
Maundy Thursday, 2 April 19.30, Eucharist of the Last Supper with stripping of the altar, East Ferry
Good Friday, 3 April 19.30, Tenebrae with Clerks Choral, Cloyne Cathedral
Holy Saturday, 4 April 19.00 Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Vigil, and Paschal Fire, Corkbeg
Easter Sunday, 5 April 09.15, Holy Communion, East Ferry 10.30, Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Midleton 12.00, Holy Communion, St Colman’s Cathedral Cloyne
Cobh and Glanmire Union
Monday, 30 March 10.30, Holy Eucharist, St Lappan’s Church, Little Island
Tuesday, 31 March 10.30, Holy Eucharist, St Lappan’s Church, Little Island
Wednesday, 1 April 10.30, Holy Eucharist, St Lappan’s Church, Little Island 20.00, Service of Tenebrae, Christ Church, Cobh
Maundy Thursday, 2 April 20.00, Holy Eucharist with stripping of the altar, Christ Church, Cobh
Good Friday, 3 April 15.00, Good Friday Service for Children, Youth and Families, St Lappan’s Church, Little Island 20.00, Service for Good Friday, Christ Church, Cobh
Holy Saturday, 4 April 10.30, Morning Prayer, St Lappan’s Church, Little Island 10.30, Morning Prayer, Christ Church, Cobh
Easter Sunday, 5 April 10.00, Holy Eucharist, Christ Church, Cobh 11.30, Holy Eucharist, St Lappan’s Church, Little Island
Cork – St Anne’s Shandon / St Luke’s Home
Holy Wednesday, 1 April 11.45, Service (no communion), St Luke’s Home
Maundy Thursday, 2 April 19.30, Holy Communion and stripping of the altar, St Anne’s Church, Shandon
Good Friday, 3 April 11.45, Service (no communion), St Luke’s Home 14.00, Service (no communion), St Anne’s Church, Shandon 14.30, Stations of the Cross, St Anne’s Church, Shandon
Easter Sunday, 5 April 10.15, Holy Communion, St Anne’s Church, Shandon 12.00, Holy Communion, St Luke’s Home
Cork – St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Monday, 30 March 12.00, Eucharist, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Tuesday, 31 March 12.00, Eucharist, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Wednesday, 1 April 12.00, Eucharist, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Maundy Thursday, 2 April 12.00, Midday Prayers, Deans’ Chapel 20.00, Choral Eucharist with stripping of the altars, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Good Friday, 3 April 12.00, Sung Passion Gospel and Solemn Proclamation of the Cross, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral 20.00, Liturgical Performance: Crucifixion, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Easter Eve, 4 April 12.00, Eucharist of the Pre-Sanctified, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral 20.00, Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Easter Day, 5 April 11.15, Festal Choral Eucharist, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral 15.30, Festal Choral Evensong, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Monday, 30 March 20.00, Compline, St Martin’s Church, Templemartin
Tuesday, 31 March 20.00, Compline, St Andrew’s Church, Kilmurry
Wednesday, 1 April 20.00, Compline, St Mark’s Church, Kilbonane
Maundy Thursday, 2 April 20.00, Holy Communion, St Martin’s Church, Templemartin
Good Friday, 3 April 20.00, Celebrating Good Friday, St Andrew’s Church, Kilmurry
Easter Eve, Saturday 4 April 21.00, Lighting of the New Fire / Holy Communion, St Mark’s Church, Kilbonane
Easter Day, Sunday 5 April 09.45, Holy Communion, St Martin’s Church, Templemartin 11.30, Holy Communion, St Andrew’s Church, Kilmurry
Ross Union
Wednesday, 1 April 20.00, Holy Week service, St Fachtna’s Cathedral, Rosscarbery
Maundy Thursday, 2 April 12.00, Chrism Eucharist, St Fachtna’s Cathedral, Rosscarbery 20.00, Holy Communion, Leap Church
Good Friday, 3 April 12.00, Reflections on the Cross, Castleventry 14.00, Messy Church, Cathedral Hall 17.30, Walk of Witness, Union Hall 20.00, Holy Week service, St Fachtna’s Cathedral, Rosscarbery
Easter Eve, 4 April 18.00, Holy Communion, Warren Beach 21.00, Easter Vigil Service, Leap Church
Easter Day, 5 April 09.00, Service, Myross Church, Union Hall 10.15, Service, Castleventry Church 11.30, Service, St Fachtna’s Cathedral, Rosscarbery
Templebreedy Group of Parishes
Monday, 30 March 09.00, Morning Prayer, Litany and Eucharist, Crosshaven 19.00, Compline, Crosshaven
Tuesday, 31 March 09.00, Morning Prayer, Litany and Eucharist, Crosshaven 19.00, Compline, Nohoval
Wednesday, 1 April 09.00, Morning Prayer, Litany and Eucharist, Crosshaven 19.00, Tenebrae, Crosshaven
Maundy Thursday, 2 April 09.00, Morning Prayer, Crosshaven 19.00, Eucharist of the Last Supper, Nohoval
Good Friday, 3 April 09.00, Morning Prayer and Litany, Crosshaven 12.00, Family Service, Crosshaven 15.00, Walk of Witness, Nohoval
Holy Saturday, 4 April 19.30, Easter Vigil, Crosshaven
Easter Day, 5 April 06.45, Dawn Service, St Matthew’s Church 08.30, Eucharist, Crosshaven 10.00, Eucharist, Nohoval 11.30, Eucharist, Crosshaven
Youghal Union
Wednesday, 1 April 20.00, Holy Week service, St Mary’s Collegiate Church, Youghal
Maundy Thursday, 2 April 20.00, Eucharist of the Last Supper and Stripping of the Altar, St Anne’s Church, Castlemartyr
Good Friday, 3 April 20.00, Holy Week service, St Mary’s Collegiate Church, Youghal
Easter Sunday, 5 April 10.00, Service, St Anne’s Church, Castlemartyr 11.30, Service, St Mary’s Collegiate Church, Youghal
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On Wednesday evening, 25 March, the Feast of the Annunciation was marked with a special service at Cloyne Cathedral, drawing together clergy, lay readers, and members of parishes from across the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.
The service included the commissioning of a new Diocesan President of the Mothers’ Union Deirdre Whitley, who is taking on the role from the outgoing President, Hilary Dring. Many present had travelled from across the Diocese to mark the occasion and to offer their congratulations and support to Deirdre as she begins her term of office.
The Right Reverend Paul Colton preached at the service and presided at the Eucharist. Dr Ian Sexton accompanied the hymns on the organ, and the Cloyne Parish Choir from the local Roman Catholic Church attended and contributed musically. The date held a particular personal significance for the Bishop, as it marked the anniversary of his consecration as bishop, 28 years earlier. It was Bishop Colton’s final service at Cloyne Cathedral before his retirement in April, giving the gathering an added sense of occasion.
Following the service, refreshments were served, with tea, coffee, and a selection of cakes provided. Many remained afterwards, taking the opportunity to gather informally, share conversation, and enjoy time together. The reception offered a relaxed and welcoming conclusion to the evening, allowing those present to mark the occasion in a social setting.
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