Bishop Fintan Gavin publishes pastoral letter transforming parishes in Cork & Ross into mission-centred faith communities

• Putting out into deep waters (Lk 5:4) Transforming parishes together into mission-centred faith communities – A pastoral letter from Bishop Fintan Gavin for the faithful of the Diocese of Cork and Ross
• See below the list of names of priest appointments to serve in the first phase of 12 ‘Family of Parishes’ to minister in the Diocese of Cork and Ross

Priest appointments and the introduction of Families of Parishes

Today, Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, published his new pastoral letter Putting out into deep waters (Lk 5:4) Transforming parishes together into mission-centred faith communities. 

Bishop Gavin said, “How priests minister in the parishes of the Diocese of Cork and Ross will change significantly from this September.  The diocese will have 16 ‘Families of Parishes’ and each will be ministered to by a team of priests.  Each priest will be resident in a particular parish but ministering across the whole family of parishes.  Bringing parishes together as families of parishes presents an opportunity for much greater lay participation and shared leadership of parishes.  Initially, the team will consist of priests but I hope that lay leadership and more involvement will grow in time.  It will involve parishes working much more closely together and sharing their gifts, talents and resources including their priests.  The collaboration in families of parishes presents a great opportunity for parishes to prepare together for Baptism, Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation and Marriage.  In time, parish funeral ministry teams can work together across each family of parishes.  It will allow for initiatives across a family of parishes for those who have become disconnected from our Church.  It will also provide opportunities for outreach to young people within the family of parishes.  It is hoped that there will be greater possibilities for formation and faith development.

“A more comprehensive presentation of how the family of parishes will work and, why they are being introduced at this time, is set out in my pastoral letter below, Putting out into deep waters.  In preparation for the introduction of the families of parishes, a summary of the main points of the pastoral letter will be read at all Masses in our diocese on the weekend of Saturday/Sunday, 27/28 August, 2022.  Printed versions of this will be available in churches that weekend.  A printed version of the full pastoral letter will also be available at that time in parishes.

“Many people, including parishioners, clergy, religious, diocesan staff and professional facilitators, have shared wisdom, insights, expertise and prayerful support as we have been preparing together for this new era in our diocese. The part that each person has played is much appreciated.

“I would like to thank all the priests who have accepted new appointments in recent weeks.  Priests appointed to the families of parishes have shown great generosity and openness in responding to this new way of ministering together.

“I also thank those priests who will step back from their responsibilities as parish priests, curates or assistant priests this summer.  I am grateful for their many years of dedicated and generous service to the diocese and wish them every blessing in this new stage of their life and ministry.  The ministry in the diocese by the priests who are returning to their religious orders after serving in the diocese is also much appreciated.

“Initially, we will begin with 12 families of parishes in the first phase and these are outlined below with the names of those priests serving in the families of parishes,” Bishop Gavin said.

Link to full article: https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2022/08/02/bishop-fintan-gavin-publishes-pastoral-letter-transforming-parishes-in-cork-ross-into-mission-centred-faith-communities/

Link to coverage of the story in the Irish Examiner: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-40931630.html