Please note that the information in the post was updated on 22nd December 2020 to take account of the new Government regulations in response to the CoronaVirus Pandemic. From 26th December all Services will once again be online only.
Christmas approaches and, more than ever this year, in Advent and beforehand, a lot of planning is going in to the practical arrangements for our joyful celebration of the nativity of our Lord.
In spite of the challenges we all face during the Coronavirus Pandemic, worship at Christmas remains the focus and at the heart of all the planning. In addition to the Church Services listed below, there are many opportunities to join acts of worship online from your home.
Online Services – live and recorded – from Cork, Cloyne and Ross, are listed HERE.
Listed below – Cathedrals first, and then parish by parish and chaplaincies – is the schedule of Services planned in the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the First Sunday of Christmas this year: 2020.
It is a challenging Christmas to organise as each local setting is obliged to take account of all the regulations published recently by the Government concerning Religious Services. You can read those regulations HERE
The HSE has issued detailed guidance and it is HERE
Numbers permitted in church buildings, with social distancing, are limited, and it is a requirement that the ‘numbers permitted to attend’ be displayed at the entrance of church buildings. Those numbers are publicised in relation to each church building in this list also for your information.
Consultations locally have resulted in decisions as to whether or not places should be on a first come basis, or if booking is possible or required.
Speaking about the arrangements, the Bishop, Dr Paul Colton said:
All of this is necessary in the context of the Coronavirus pandemic, but it is also heart-breaking for clergy and parishioners to have to limit the numbers attending Church. It goes totally against the grain. The instinct of our vocation and our approach is always open-armed and to say “All are welcome’ .
The Coronavirus is even thwarting that this year. It is new but it is not normal.
‘Booking’ for church also goes completely against the grain, but pragmatic approaches have had to be found locally by clergy in consultation with the people of the parishes about how best to face up to the limits that have been imposed by the Level 3 regulations.
I ask everyone to cooperate with the voluntary churchwardens and stewards without whom it would not be possible to hold public worship at all this Christmas. In thanking them I thank also all the volunteers in our parishes, not least those who will do the cleaning between the extra Services as required by the regulations.
I appeal to everyone, therefore, to understand and to work within the challenges faced by parishes and to see the practical dilemmas being worked through as part of our solidarity to ‘protect each other’ and to ‘stay safe’ as we continue to fight this virus together.
Unless otherwise stated the Service in each case below is a celebration of Holy Communion/The Holy Eucharist.
Where the Service is Holy Communion by Extension (the sacrament being brought to a church for distribution by a Deacon or licensed lay person from a previous celebration of Holy Communion) this too is indicated.
Cathedral Church of Saint Fin Barre, Cork
Contact details are HERE
All of the Christmas Services in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral are broadcast on both
the Cathedral Website by clicking HERE
and
the Cathedral page on Church Services TV by clicking HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
7 p.m. St Fin Barre’s Cathedral (50 maximum – booking required)
25th December, Christmas Day
9.15 a.m. St Fin Barre’s Cathedral (50 maximum at each – booking required)
11.15 a.m. St Fin Barre’s Cathedral (50 maximum at each – booking required)
26th December, St Stephen’s Day
12 noon – St Fin Barre’s Cathedral (50 maximum – no booking)
Cathedral Church of Saint Colman, Cloyne
Contact details are HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
11.30 p.m. Cloyne Cathedral (50 maximum – booking – from 14th December – required)
Cathedral Church of Saint Fachtna, Rosscarbery
Contact details are HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
5.00 p.m. – Ross Cathedral (43 maximum – booking required)
25th December, Christmas Day
11.30 a.m.. Ross Cathedral (43 maximum – booking required)
Abbeystrewry Union: Skibbereen, Castletownshend and Caheragh
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
Thursday 24th December ~ Christmas Eve
4.00 p.m. – Skibbereen (50 maximum – first come/no booking)
8.00 p.m. – Skibbereen (50 maximum – first come/n booking)
Friday, 25th December ~ Christmas Day
9.00 a.m. – Skibbereen (50 maximum – first come/no booking) This will be a Service of Holy Communion by Extension.
9.00 a.m. – Castletownshend (50 maximum – first come/no booking)
10.15 a.m. – Caheragh (38 maximum – first come/no booking)
11.30 a.m. – Skibbereen (50 maximum – first come/no booking)
Ballydehob Union – Ballydehob and Aughadown
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
In this parish a booking facility is offered, but it is not envisaged that will fill all places, so after that it will be on a first come basis.
24th December, Christmas Eve
4,00 p.m. – Ballydehob – Children’s Service (50 maximum)
11.30 p.m. – Ballydehob (50 maximum)
25th December, Christmas Day
10.00 a.m. – Aughadown (30 maximum)
11.30 a.m. – Ballydehob (50 maximum)
Bandon Union – Bandon, Ballinadee, Brinny, Innishannon and Rathclaren
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
11.30 a.m. – Innishannon (24 maximum -booking required)
7.30 p.m. – Rathclaren (20 maximum – booking required)
9.00 p.m. – Bandon – (50 maximum -booking required)
11.30 p.m. – Bandon – (50 maximum -booking required)
25th December, Christmas Day
9.00 a.m. – Ballinadee (18 maximum – booking required)
10.00 a.m. – Rathclaren (20 maximum – booking required)
10.30 a.m. – Brinny (25 maximum – booking required)
11.30 a.m. – Bandon – (50 maximum -booking required)
Carrigaline Union – Carrigaline and Monkstown
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
11.30 p.m. – Carrigaline (45 maximum – booking required)
25th December, Christmas Day
9.00 a.m. – Carrigaline (45 maximum – booking required)
10.00 a.m. St John’s Monkstown (27 maximum – booking required)
11.00 a.m. – Carrigaline (45 maximum – booking required)
12 noon – Monkstown (27 maximum – booking required)
1.00 p.m. Carrigaline (45 maximum – booking required)
Carrigrohane Union – Carrigrohane, Ballincollig, Blarney and Inniscarra
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
Christmas Eve
3.00 p.m. – Inniscarra (c.25 maximum) – booking Required
8.00 p.m. – Inniscarra – Festive Music and Readings (c.25 maximum) – booking Required
Christmas Day
11.00 a.m. – The Carraig Centre – (70 maximum – 50 + 2 areas of 10 – booking required)
Cloyne Union – Midleton, Cloyne, East Ferry and Corkbeg
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas I
11.30 p.m. Cloyne (50 maximum – booking – from 14th December – required)
25th December, Christmas Day
8.00 a.m. East Ferry (25 maximum – booking – from 14th December – required)
9.00 a.m. Corkbeg – (30 maximum – booking – from 14th December – required)
10.30 a.m. Midleton (50 maximum – booking – from 14th December – required)
Cobh and Glanmire Union – Rushbrooke, Little Island and Glanmire
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
8.00 p.m. – Glanmire (30 maximum) – Booking required
25th December, Christmas Day
8.30 a.m. – Rushbrooke. (45 maximum) – booking required
10.00 a.m. – Rushbrooke, (45 maximum) – booking required
11.30 a.m. – Little Island. (18 maximum) – booking required
Cork – Saint Anne, Shandon
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
7.00 p.m. – St Anne, Shandon – 36-50 maximum – booking required
25th December, Christmas Day
10.15 a.m. – Shandon – 36-50 maximum – booking required
Douglas Union with Frankfield: Douglas, Frankfield, Blackrock and Passage West
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
7.00 p.m. – Passage West (50 maximum on a first come basis)
9.00 p.m. – Frankfield (50 maximum on a first come basis)
25th December, Christmas Day
8.30 a.m. – Blackrock (50 maximum on first come basis)
10.00 a.m. – Frankfield (50 maximum on a first come basis)
11.15 a.m. – Douglas (50 maximum on first come basis)
Fanlobbus Union – Dunmanway, Drimoleague, Drinagh and Coolkelure
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
5.00 p.m. – Dunmanway – 50 maximum – booking – Crib service for children
9.00 p.m. – Drinagh – 48 maximum – booking
11.00 p.m. – Coolkelure – 46 maximum – booking
11.00 p.m. – Dunmanway – 50 maximum booking – Holy Communion by Extension.
25th December, Christmas Day
9.00 a.m. – Drimoleague – 50 maximum booking
11.00 a.m. – Dunmanway – 50 maximum booking
11.00 a.m. – Cox’s Hall Dunmanway – 50 maximum – booking – Holy Communion by Extension (If the capacity is required from the bookings and can not be facilitated elsewhere).
Fermoy Union – Fermoy, Glenville, Ballyhooly & Knockmourne
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
7.00 p.m. – Glenville (50 maximum – first come basis)
9.00 p.m. – Ballyhooly (45 maximum – first come basis)
25th December, Christmas Day
9.45 a.m. – Fermoy (50 maximum – first come basis)
11.15 a.m. – Knockmourne (30 maximum – first come basis)
Kilgariffe Union – Clonakilty and surrounding areas
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
3.00 p.m. – Kimalooda (50 maximum – booking required)
8.00 p.m. – Clonakilty (50 maximum – booking required)
10.30 p.m. – Clonakilty(50 maximum – booking required)
25th December, Christmas Day
9.00 a.m. – Kilmalooda (50 maximum – booking required)
10.00 a.m. – Timoleague (30 maximum – booking required)
11.30 a.m. – Clonakilty (50 maximum – booking required)
Kilmocomogue Union – Bantry and Durrus
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
8.00 p.m. – Bantry (30 maximum – booking required)
25th December, Christmas Day
10.00 a.m. – Bantry (30 maximum – booking required)
Kilmoe Union – Schull area
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
25th December, Christmas Day
11.30 a.m. – Schull (40 maximum – booking required)
Kingston College in Mitchelstown
Contact details and location of the church are available HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
9.00 p.m. – Kingston College Chapel (22 maximum – booking required)
25th December, Christmas Day
10.30am – Kingston College Chapel (22 maximum – booking required)
Kinneigh Union – Ballineen and Enniskeane areas
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
25th December, Christmas Day
10.00 a.m. – Kilmeen – 50 maximum – booking
11.30 a.m. – Castletown Kinneigh – 50 maximum – booking
Kinsale Union – Kinsale, Ballymartle and Templetrine
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th Decenmber, Christmas Eve
6.00 p.m. Ballymartle (40 maximum – booking required)
11.00 p.m. Kinsale (90 maximum in separate pods – booking required)
25th December, Christmas Day
8.30 a.m. Kinsale (90 maximum in separate pods – booking required)
10.00 a.m. Templetrine (40 maximum – booking required)
1130 a.m. Kinsale (90 maximum in separate pods – booking required)
Mallow Union – Mallow, Doneraile and Castletownroche
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
7.00 p.m. – Mallow (50 maximum – booking required)
11.30 p.m. – Doneraile (50 maximum – booking required)
25th December, Christmas Day
10.00 a.m. – Castletownroche (35 maximum – booking required)
11.45 a.m. – Mallow (50 maximum – booking required)
Moviddy Union – Aherla, Kilmurry and Templemartin
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
7.00 p.m. – Aherla (20 maximum – booking required)
11.00 p.m.- Aherla (20 maximum – booking required)
25th December, Christmas Day
9.45 a.m. – Templemartin (20 maximum – booking required)
11.30 a.m. – Kilmurry (20 maximum – booking required)
Ross Union – Rosscarbery, Leap, Union Hall and Castleventry
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
5.00 p.m. – Ross Cathedral (43 maximum – booking required)
11.00 p.m. – Castleventry (21 maximum – booking required)
25th December, Christmas Day
9.00 a.m. – Union Hall (13 maximum – booking required)
10.00 a.m. – Leap (22 maximum -booking required)
11.30 a.m.. Ross Cathedral (43 maximum – booking required)
Templebreedy Group – Crosshaven and Nohoval
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
8.00 p.m. – Nohoval (50 maximum. – booking required)
11.30 p.m. – Crosshaven (50 maximum. – booking required)
25th December, Christmas Day
10.00 a.m.- Nohoval (50 maximum. – booking required)
11.30 a.m. – Crosshaven (50 maximum. – booking required)
Youghal Union – Youghal and Castlemartyr
Contact details and location of churches are available for this parish HERE
24th December, Christmas Eve
9.00 p.m. – Castlemartyr (14 households maximum – booking required)
11.00 p.m. – Youghal (50 maximum – first come/no booking)
25th December, Christmas Day
10.00 a.m. – Castlemartyr (14 households maximum – booking required)
11.30 a.m. – Youghal (50 maximum – first come/no booking)
Online Recordings, Livestream and Broadcasts
For information about
Services online – live and recorded – see
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