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

On Monday, 25th September 2023, the Rev. Martin Steele was ordained to the priesthood by the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Rev. Dr Paul Colton.

The cathedral was full for the occasion with visitors from all over Ireland, including clergy and lay people from Cork, Cloyne and Ross as well as from previous parishes in which Martin served.

The Bishop of Cork, Dr Paul Colton presided at the liturgy, and the former Archbishop of Armagh, the Right Rev. Dr Richard Clarke preached at the Service. The Lay Vicars Choral of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Choir sung under their Director of Music, Peter Stobart, and the Assistant Director of Music, Matthew Breen played the organ.

Bishop Paul welcomed everyone, local parishioners as well as those who had travelled great distances to be there, and the greatest welcome was extended to Martin. Bishop Paul said:

We are here to support you with our prayers and with our love. It is a day of rejoicing and celebration. We thank God for you, and we thank God that you have heard his call.

As part of his sermon, the Right Rev. Richard Clarke said:

Martin begins a priestly ministry today. He is given authority for this – the authority of the Church, but primarily the authority of God. An authority of love, of involvement, and of service. But in seeking to fulfil God’s ministry through us, we are still called to be authentic. Authentically what God has made us – real people rather than a parody of priesthood, just as God the Holy Trinity must not be a cardboard cut-out figure in our mind. Nor must the priest be a stylised stereotype of what we imagine clergy are meant to be like. God deserves better from us. So Martin, people can only believe you and trust you when they know you as you are.

The Ordination Service was part of the Commemoration Weekend for the 1400 Anniversary of the Death of St Fin Barre. “The events of the weekend were leading towards the ordination of Martin on Monday evening”, said the Bishop, “which, to me, emphasises the continuity of tradition stretching back to St Finn Barre, who brought Christianity to Cork.”

The Commemoration Weekend for the 1400th Anniversary of the death of St Fin Barre, the Patron Saint of Cork, came to a close on Monday, 25th September, the Saint’s Feast Day. Throughout the weekend a series of events were offered at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral to allow everyone to visit, pray, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Cathedral and its grounds.

Beginning on Friday morning at 11 am, the three local primary schools were presented with Wildlife Kits from the Cathedral’s Operations Manger, Eoin Murphy, and the Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Colette Finn. The cathedral also arranged for a drama to be performed for the pupils to learn about the history of Cork.

In the evening Choral Evensong officially opened Culture Night at the Cathedral, which over 800 people attended this year.

On Saturday 23rd September Bishop Paul Colton started the day with a Commemoration Service. Nearly 1,000 people visited the cathedral throughout the day, of which nearly 80 people were Finbarrs and 1 of which was a poodle named Finbarre! Bishop Paul Colton had a small present for each of them. In the afternoon members and champions of the St Finbarr’s GAA and St Fin Barre’s National Hurling and Football Club visited together with the Lord Mayor, Cllr Kieran McCarthy.

In the evening the Celebrity Organ Recital with the renowned organist and composer Naji Hakim took place and everyone celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Organ rebuild. Naji travelled from his home in the South of France especially to be with us for the weekend.

On Sunday, 24th September, a Festival Evensong for the Patronal Festival of Saint Fin Barre took place at the Cathedral. The preacher was the Dean of Ossory, the Very Rev. Stephen Farrell. As part of the Evensong a specially commissioned icon of Saint Fin Barre was consecrated by the Bishop

On Monday, a Quiet Day and Retreat for the clergy of the Diocese led by the former Archbishop of Armagh (and former Dean of Cork), the Right Reverend Dr Richard Clarke, took place at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral. Refreshments for the clergy were provided all day at the Bishop’s Palace.

The commemoration weekend culminated in the evening with the Ordination of the Rev. Martin Steele to the priesthood. You can read about it here.

Photos: Eoin Murphy

Based on the customary historical tradition, this year marks the 1400th anniversary of the death in 623 A.D. of Saint Fin Barre of Cork. Plans are well underway for the commemoration of the 1400th anniversary in the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork and in Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral.

Advance notice is now given of events marking the commemoration from Friday 22nd September to the Saint’s annual Patronal Festival Day on Monday 25th September.

Announcing the plans, Bishop Paul Colton said:

I was reading some historical material late last year and noticed the date and did the sums.  I said to myself “hang on a minute; next year (2023) will be the 1400th anniversary, according to the usually observed year of the death of St Fin Barre.”  On Saint Patrick’s Day last at the Civic Service in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, I announced that we would be commemorating the anniversary and, since then, the Dean of Cork, the  Very Reverend Nigel Dunne and I have been working on a modest programme.  I am especially delighted that the Dean and the Cathedral Select Vestry have responded positively to my suggestion that we should commission a sacred  icon of St Fin Barre to mark this anniversary. What we are really celebrating, of course, is the contemporary life of faith in this part of the world to which St Fin Barre brought the good news of Jesus Christ.

The programme announced is as follows:

Friday 22nd September:

11. a.m. Presentation of Wildlife kits to the children of 3 local Primary Schools (St Fin Barre’s St Maries of the Isle and Greenmount).

6.15 p.m. Choral Evensong at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral

7.30 p.m. to 9. 30 p.m. Culture Night with tour guide presentations at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. And short musical programmes at both 7.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m.

Saturday 23rd September

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. An open invitation to the people of Cork to visit the Cathedral 

• Simply to visit
• To make a pilgrimage
• To say a prayer or to light a candle

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is a special invitation to anyone named after the Saint (in whatever form, language  or spelling) to come to visit and for those who can confirm their name to the Cathedral staff there is a small limited edition gift to mark this anniversary.

7. 30 p.m. Organ recital by the internationally renowned Franco-Lebanese organist, Naji Hakim which will also coincide and mark the 10th anniversary of the restoration of the Cathedral Organ

Sunday 24th September

11.15 a.m. Choral Eucharist at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral

3.30 p.m. Choral Evensong: A Diocesan Service at which the Bishop will consecrate a new icon of St Fin Barre written by international iconographer Aidan Hart of London.  Afterwards the Dean of Cork will re-launch the ’Friends of Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral.’

Monday 25th September ~ the Feast of Saint Fin Barre of Cork

Special assemblies in schools in the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross. The Cathedral will be closed to visitors throughout the day until the Ordination at 7.30 p.m.

10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Quiet Day and Retreat for the clergy of the Diocese led by the former Archbishop of Armagh (a former Dean of Cork) the Right Reverend Dr Richard Clarke.

7.30 p.m. Ordination of a priest: the Reverend Martin Steele, currently a deacon at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral will be ordained to the priesthood.

The Dean of Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne, adds:

It is important that we mark significant anniversaries such as that of the death of our Patron Saint. Bishop Colton and I have been working out a programme of services and events at Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral and for our schools which will celebrate this important milestone by giving thanks for the rich heritage we have inherited as we strive to continue Saint Fin Barre’s work of Christian witness, teaching and welcome 1400 years after his death. It is important that we give thanks for Saint Fin Barre’s legacy on the site where our city was founded and where Christian worship has continued unbroken for so many centuries. It will be a busy weekend at the Cathedral and hopefully the wide variety of events will be of interest to people of all faiths and none across the city and county.