Latest News from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Popular Live Crib in Carrigaline Parish sets the Scene for Christmas in Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Posted on December 23, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

The Live Crib ‘Road to Bethlehem’ which took place in St Mary’s Churchyard in Carrigaline, Co. Cork on 9th and 10th December was one of the many events in parishes around the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross which set the scene for Christmas which begins tomorrow evening, Christmas Eve, 24th December.

At the centre of this popular event was an engaging pageant telling the story of the birth of Jesus. On their way to the live crib, there were choirs and music groups singing in the church, a moving Christmas Village, and seasonal refreshments in the Parish Hall. Animals in the crib included Billy the Donkey, Mother Sheep with twin Lambs and a 6 year old Turkey (!) plus an engaging Pageant telling the story of the birth of Jesus.

One of the large gatherings at one of the performances of the pageant

All the monies raised went to local charities: Cork Simon, St Vincent de Paul, and Charlie’s Equine Rescue.

The Rector, the Reverend Elaine Murray, keeps an eye on the sheep.

Billy the Donkey

Parishioner, John Andrew, has made a short video of parts of the weekend’s music and the Live Crib which you can see HERE.

Posted in Children's Ministry, Christmas, Church Music, Diocese, Live Crib, Parish News, Special Events | Comments Off

Joint Christmas Message from the Two Bishops of Cork

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Catholic Diocese of Cork and Ross

Church of Ireland – Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Joint Press Release

Joint Christmas Message from the Bishops of Cork:

The Most Reverend Dr John Buckley and

the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton

Christmas 2017

As the season of Christmas approaches, we pray that God will bless the people of Cork during the forthcoming Feast and during the year ahead. Christmas this year takes place against the backdrop of a threatened peace in so many parts of the world. The mass migration of our brothers and sisters, many of whom are Christian, from Syria, the plight of Rohingya refugees, the grave escalation in tensions with North Korea, and the increasing nervousness in relation to isolated but severe acts of terrorism throughout Europe and beyond serve as a reminder that our world still awaits the peace which the ‘Prince of Peace’ offers. This Christmas may we all have the gift of peace in our own hearts, homes, families and communities, and may it also serve as a reminder that we who profess faith in Christ have an obligation to work towards and for that peace.

Nearer to home, the past year has brought an ever-increasing awareness of the problem of homelessness in our society. As well as the plight of those who are forced to live on our streets, we think too of those who live in hostels and hotels, and those who are finding it impossible to pay the ever rising cost of rent. Given the plight of the Holy Family on that first Christmas night and their difficulty in finding accommodation, surely our celebration of Christmas must acknowledge those who, in our own time, are in the same situation?

In that regard, the people of Cork owe an enduring debt of gratitude to those who work tirelessly and selflessly in our City for the homeless and underprivileged. At this time, one thinks of SHARE, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Cork Simon Community and Cork Penny Dinners. There are many more who do what they can and more.

One happy feature of the Christmas season is that of family reunions. Given the large number of people who left Cork to find work in recent years, our airports, ferry ports, train stations and motorways will be very busy as people travel to celebrate the birth of Christ with their family. We pray that all our families will experience the warmth and joy of the Christmas celebration.

As Bishops of Cork, we appeal once again to all believers to keep Christ at the heart of Christmas. For the believer, the holiday is only happy because of the birth of the Saviour. Christmas literally means the feast of Christ. Let’s keep Christ in Christmas. This Christmas may be a time when people might reflect on and rediscover that Christmas offers us more than a commercial mid-winter festival.

We wish you peace, joy, warmth and happiness for the celebration of our Saviour’s birth. We will remember in prayer those who have lost loved ones during the past year. We pray particularly for those who have been touched by the tragedy of suicide. May the star which lit up the sky at the birth of Christ shine the light of hope and peace on all those who are suffering. We pray that 2018 will be a time of happiness for our families, a time of blessing for our city, county and country, and a time of peace for our world.

May Christ find a welcome when He comes, and a Happy Christmas to you all.

+Paul Colton, +John Buckley,

Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross Bishop of Cork and Ross.

Bishop Paul Colton and Bishop John Buckley at an event in Cork recently.

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Bishop Paul Colton joins in Official Opening of Nano Nagle Place in Cork

Posted on December 21, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

On Monday, 18th December, the official opening was performed by Dr Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland, of the newly developed Nano Nagle Place in Cork. The Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton (Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross), joined the Most Reverend Dr John Buckley (Bishop of Cork and Ross), and the Most Reverend Dr William Crean (Bishop of Cloyne) in the blessing of the new complex prior to the official opening.

Nano Nagle Place is a complex of beautifully regenerated 18th century convent buildings, including a formal school, on a 3.5 acre site where the Presentation Congregation was founded by Nano Nagle in 1775. It is described as:

… an unexpected oasis in the centre of bustling Cork City, a place that celebrates Nano Nagle’s vision of empowerment through education, community inclusion and spiritual engagement for a contemporary world. The complex houses a heritage centre, gardens, a café (opening Autumn 2017), and shop

It is also home to several educational charities. The regeneration project cost €10.5 million, and ‘…has been described as a living showcase of one of Ireland’s greatest social justice pioneers.’

At the official opening of Nano Nagle Place were (l-r) Bishop Paul Colton, Mr Jim Corr (Chairman of the Trust), Sister Mary Deane (Congregational Leader of the Presentation Sisters), Bishop William Crean, Cllr Tony Fitzgerald (Lord Mayor of Cork), Dr Mary McAleese, and Bishop John Buckley.

Nano Nagle (christened Honora) was born in 1718 of a long-standing Catholic family at Ballygriffin near Mallow in North Cork. Her home lay in the beautiful valley of the Blackwater backed by the Nagle Mountains to the south. She sensed a special vocation to care for the poor and for their education.

By the time of her death in 1784 she had set up a whole network of schools in Cork, with over four hundred pupils in seven parishes. With an eye to the practical, she introduced classes in needlework, lace-making, and other crafts, designed to enable pupils to learn their livelihood and to gain a foothold in society. To a large extent, in the absence of models for this kind of education in Ireland, Nano had to become an educator in her own right. Her abiding conviction: “We must prefer the schools to all others.” To put her schools on a more lasting and more professional basis, she decided to bring Ursuline Sisters from France to teach in Cork. But, for various reasons, the experiment as it materialised did not fit in with Nano’s vision.

This led to her setting up her own congregation of religious sisters under a constitution suited to their special vocation of educating the poor. Thus was established, on Christmas Eve 1775, what was at first entitled ‘The Sisters of Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Nano’s preferred title, which was later to become the ‘Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary’ (PBVM), as they are still called. Nano was the Order’s first superior. Today the Order works in more than 20 countries around the world.

A full video of the official opening is available on the Nago Nagle Place website HERE

Posted in Bishop, Church in Society, Community Involvement, Ecumenism, Official Opening, People from Cork | Comments Off

Advent and Christmas at Bandon Grammar School, Co. Cork

Posted on December 21, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

The new whole-time chaplain at Bandon Grammar School, the Reverend Anne Skuse, has been busy mobilising and supporting the school community during Advent and as Christmas approaches:

first, an early morning Eucharist in the School Chapel to mark the start of Advent
A candlelit carol Service, and
A food appeal for the Aid Bandon Children charity