January 2010 ‘Put out int Altum o t he deep ’

NEWSLETTER OF THE PASTORAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE DIOCESE OF AND ROSS Young adults discuss connection with ‘young church’

he most often asked question by members of new parish assemblies and pastoral councils is: “How do we get young people involved in Church?” TTo explore the question further, the Pastoral Development Of - fice invited a cross-section of young people who are members of parish assemblies and pastoral councils to two meetings. Meetings in Turner’s Cross Parish Centre and in Bandon Parish Centre heard a range of views and ideas. Participants shared the view that most of their peers do have faith but are disconnected from the Church and its rituals. As one person said “We still believe and we want our views to be heard.” For some of the young adults who are involved in parish, this experience can be rewarding but also lonely – there’s a sense that one is alone among a typically older group. Being involved also brings many positives including getting to know new people, understanding the priest and his life better, op - portunities to join new groups and organisations and to go on pil - grimage with other younger people. Some participants also felt that there may be tension between the kind of church experience that would work for younger peo - ple and the experience of the customary Sunday Mass which older people value and which they will be slow to change. Among the suggestions offered as starting points were organis - ing a pilgrimage to WorldYouth Day in 2011 in Madrid, or provid - ing a young person’s section on the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes. -- At the Bandon Parish Centre, attending one of the meetings to discuss the Meanwhile, the Irish Church recently published a document on church's outreach to young people, were (seated) Dan Twomey, Tracton youth ministry in Ireland. CalledTogether. Making the Difference was Abbey Parish; Paul Finn, Eileen Collins and Lorraine Whelton, all from Bar - compiled by the National Committee of DiocesanYouth Direc - ryroe Parish; (standing) Orla Hurley, Innishannon, Padraig O’Donovan, tors and the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. The full text is Murragh and Templemartin Parish and Helena Fleming, Kilbrittain Parish. available fromVeritas; a synopsis is available for download at All are members of the pastoral council or parish assembly in their respective http://www.catholicbishops.ie/publications/56/1405 parishes. Church’s future is in co-responsibility of parishioners and clergy

Uncertainties give us all food for thought. Sadly, for many peo - is not new. e call from parishioners to be given a meaningful voice ple, the thought of being without a secure income has become re - in the life of the Church is not new either. Neither voice has been ality. Many people have had to change their plans, postpone dreams heard adequately. is requires a coming together of the Church in and lower expectations. Ireland which has not yet happened. e past year has also ended with many people questioning how In a largely unreported address to a meeting in his diocese in our Church is organized and administered. e Report of Judge Rome in May 2009, Pope Benedict called for a radical re-examina - Murphy’s Commission of Inquiry used direct language to describe tion of the role of all the baptised. atrocities committed by priests and to criticise failures by bishops “is will require a change of mentality, especially regarding lay and administrators. people -- to move from considering them to be the clergy's collab - In their statement at the recent December meeting, the Irish orators to recognizing them as truly sharing responsibility for the Bishops said that “e Report raises very important issues for the existence and action of the church,” the pope said. Church in Ireland, including the functioning of the Bishops’ Con - e faith and commitment already evident in the vitality of parish ference, and, how the lay faithful can be more effectively involved leadership groups in our diocese are evidence of how the Lord can in the life of the Church. We will give further detailed considera - breathe new life into his people. tion to these issues.” at life challenges all of us to truly discover the Lord at work in e call for involvement of parishioners in the life of the Church one another. May you have a hope-9lled New Year. ( –TH) aggie Mulpeter is a member of ena Twomey is a member of the the Parish Assembly for the Har - parish assembly in Knockna - bMour Parishes (Monkstown and Passage Mheeny/Hollyhill Parish and is a member of fromtheheart… West) and has been involved in running a the Liturgy Group. “Faith and Fun*” programme for families The most positive thing about being Our hopes and fears and children. She is chairperson of the part of the assembly, she says, is that she Youth subgroup of the assembly, based in knows she has a voice, along with other Passage West. parishioners, and a place to say how she In this and in future newsletters, we “The most positive aspect of being would like to see the parish community will dip into the lives of some of the peo - part of the Faith & Fun programme is develop. ple across the diocese who are involved seeing the children engaged in their faith “There is great commitment and spirit in the development of their parishes. on a level that they can relate to. “ within our church, dedicated membership They will be chosen more or less at ran - Getting the opportunity to tell them along with great spiritual mentors.” dom and asked a few questions! about the wonders of the Lord through As secretary of the Liturgy Group she The intention is not to canonise peo - nature, sports, art, games and simple bible has also discovered that there is more ple but to acknowledge the movement of stories in a fun atmosphere is very pow - than talk involved! people who make up parish life in all its erful, she said. “I didn’t realise how much work is in - richness and to acknowledge the many The most challenging part is liaising volved in being in a parish group,” she others they represent as well. with the schools and parents to get the says. children to the sessions and to comply Her hopes for the future of the parish idan O’Shea is a member of the with all the recommendations of child and of the assembly are high. A Baptism Team in Upper Mayfield protection. “There are lots of young people in - Parish, in Cork Her group hopes to have at least two volved in our parish group, I hope that by city. more faith and fun sessions one of which our setting an example all the young peo - “I enjoy being they hope will be outdoors in the spring. ple would continue to get involved in the able to contribute church.” through voluntary * See the Handbook on “And I also hope that the people cur - effort to the www.corkandross.org/pastoral for details rently involved would get as much out of practical and spiri - of the Faith and Fun programme. it as they put in,” she says. tual life of the parish and of the wider community. “In return, I have made friend - ships and re - ceived many A new book by Fr. Brendan McConvery C.Ss.R insights from TheYearofGod’sFavour other volunteers,” he says. This is a new publication for the Year of Luke When asked about the most challeng - (Advent 2009 to Christ the King 2010) written in an ing aspect of being involved in parish, he easy to use style with user-friendly language. It named one that faces the entire church. gives a short explanation of the Gospel for each “The most challenging aspect of active Sunday of the year. lay involvement is maintaining faith and The book is presented in sections following the hope despite the massive failures in the Church’s year and includes some beautiful artwork, church’s moral and legal obligations to contemporary and traditional, which adds to the reflections offered by Brendan the victims of abuse.” McConvery. On his hopes for the Baptism Team in The book is aimed at individuals (perhaps Ministers of the Word) who wish to Our Lady Crowned, he says he hopes it prepare themselves for Sunday Mass, families who might like to spend some time will grow in numbers and in the standard in prayer and reflection together or parish lectio divina groups who are looking for of its service to faith families. a resource to assist in their prayerful reading of the Gospel. “Initiatives are also needed to reach Fr Brendan offers insights and background to the text to help us understand the out to Catholics who have lost contact meaning of the Sunday texts and invites us to reflect on what the words mean for us today and who/what we might pray for and think about during the week. with the parish for whatever reason,” he The book is published by Redemptorist Publications and is available from says. [email protected] or visit www.redcoms.org

is a publication of the Pastoral PASTORAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICE CONTACTS : Altum Director of Pastoral Planning Development Office of the Diocese of Fr. Tom Hayes [email protected] 021-4537603 087-2629154 Cork and Ross. Pastoral Development Coordinators (The phrase ‘put out into the deep’ is Sr. Karen Kent osu [email protected] 021-4537601 087-9161792 taken from the Gospel and was used by Fr. Charlie Kiely CC [email protected] 021-4313103 Pope John Paul II as a theme for the new Pat Sheehan [email protected] 021-4537602 087-2630810 Liturgy Office millennium. In Latin it is ‘ duc in altum ’.) Editor: Fr. Tom Hayes Fr. Christy Fitzgerald [email protected] 021-4537600 087-2675275 EDITORIAL ADDRESS :- Printing and distribution of this newsletter is made possible by a donation to the work of the Pastoral Development Office Pastoral Development Office by a generous donor. Parochial House, Ballyphehane, Cork A copy of this newsletter is sent to all the clergy of the diocese, members of religious orders and Tel 021 –4537474 missionary societies ministering in the diocese, parish sisters, members of parish pastoral coun - Email: [email protected] cils, parish assemblies and parish finance committees, as well as members of parish steering Website: www.corkandross.org/pastoral groups. It is sent to almost 2,000 people. It is also available on the website. OArounndgthoepianrisghesd… evelopment of parish leadership groups and pastoral areas

here has been significant progress in recent months in the two-fold work of the Pastoral DTevelopment Office to support the de - velopment of pastoral leadership groups in parishes and to support the work of the pastoral areas. There is an expanding number of gen - erously committed parishioners now in - volved in parish assemblies, parish finance committees and parish pastoral councils. Pictured are members of the third parish assembly for Drimoleague Parish at their planning day in Myross They number several thousand at this Wood Retreat Centre in November. The day was facilitated by Fr Tom Hayes. point. “Lay people are called not simply to this year. and maintaining effective child protection help their priests run their parishes, but Several thousand more parishioners measures. to share fully in the responsibility of are building up the church by being in - Here we give an overview of recent building up the church,” Pope Benedict volved in a wide range of ministries and pastoral development happenings in indi - XVI told delegates to the annual conven - activities in their parishes, including the vidual parishes and in the 16 pastoral tion of the Diocese of Rome in May of important challenge of putting in place areas of the diocese. It is not a compre - hensive summary – just an overview of recent updates. Almost all the parishes now have ei - ther a parish assembly or a parish pas - toral council in place or have a process in place to lead to the nomination of one. The development of the pastoral areas is linked to the growth and development of the groups in individual parishes.

Carrigaline, Crosshaven, Monkstown, PasstsoargaelAWreeas1 t and Tracton Abbey (Minane Bridge). The Coordinator is Fr Bertie O’Mahony, PP Carrigaline. The Pastoral Area Coordinating Group met for its first meeting in October in Carrigaline. Pictured are members of the newly formed parish assembly for Clontead Parish at their first meeting. The In the next few months Carrigaline meeting was facilitated by Sr. Karen Kent. Parish is preparing to renew its parish as - sembly membership.

firstpastoralareameeting…

At an inter-parish pastoral area meeting in the Carmelite Friary, Kinsale, were clergy, parish finance committees and parish assembly members from the four parishes of Ballinhassig, Clontead, Courceys and Kinsale who make up Pastoral Area 2. Ballinhassig, Clontead (Belgooly/River - Aughadown, Caheragh, Castlehaven, Drimoleague, Dunmanway, Kilmichael, sPtaisctkor),alCAoreuarc2 eys (/), PKaislmtoraaclaAbreeaa (4 Leap/Glandore), Rath & the PUaisbthoraLlaAorierae.6 The Coordinator is Fr Ted Kinsale (Parish and Friary). The Coordina - Islands (Baltimore), Skibbereen. The Co - Collins PP Dunmanway. tor is Fr RobertYoung, PP Kinsale. ordinator is Fr Pat O’Sullivan MSC PP DRIMOLEAGUE has recently nominated Clontead parish have renewed their Kilmacabea. its third parish assembly, chaired by Pat long serving pastoral council and now Recent developments in this area in - Keohane, with Hannah McCarthy as Sec - have a parish assembly and its first parish clude the first meeting of steering groups retary. finance committee. Thanks go to the in SKIBBEREEN and RATH & THE ISLANDS DUNMANWAY steering group, chaired by parishioners who served on the council. who will work to arrange the nomination Denis O’Mahony is progressing towards The new assembly has nominated Sean of pastoral leadership groups in the two the parish nominating a parish assembly Scully as its chairperson and Liz Murphy parishes. in the spring. as its secretary. CAHERAGH parish is planning to nomi - Thereafter, it will be possible to de - Courceys parish is currently beginning nate new members for its assembly in velop plans to have representatives of preparations to renew their assembly in the spring. each parish assembly form a pastoral the spring of 2010. Parish assemblies or pastoral councils area coordinating group. In the pastoral area, an open meeting are already in place in the other parishes was held for all members of the four and representatives will meet in the parish assemblies and each parish’s fi - spring to plan for the area’s coordinating nance committee to help in moving to - group. Bandon, Enniskeane & Dessertserges, wards establishing the Pastoral Area PInanstiosrhaalnAnroean,7 Kilbrittain, Murragh & Tem - Coordinating Group in January. Online Theology plemartin (Newcestown/Farnivane). The The meeting was hosted at the Coordinator is Fr John Kingston PP Innis - Carmelite Friary in Kinsale. Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, has launched its first ac - hannon. credited online theology course so that The Pastoral Area Coordinating Group people can study at home or wherever held its first meeting in December. they have access to the internet. To The term of office of Bandon’s Pastoral overcome the isolation felt by some Council is up and plans are being devel - people in online learning the partici - oped for a new pastoral leadership group pants meet on two occasions during the for the parish. course to enhance their learning. Ardfield/Rathbarry, Barryroe, Clon - For more information see aPkasilttoyr,aKlAilrmeae3en & Castleventry (Ross - www.nostra.ie/steponline.html more), Rosscarbery and Timoleague. The Coordinator is Fr John McCarthy PP Baptism preparation Rosscarbery. Each parish in this pastoral area has ei - Bantry, Goleen, Muintir Bháire (Dur - teams in parishes ther a parish assembly or a parish pas - Pruast)o,rSacl hAurella. T5 he Coordinator is Fr toral council (the pastoral councils for Robert Brophy PP Bantry. Kilmeen and Rosscarbery are due to There is one parish pastoral council in renew their membership). this area at present – in SCHULL – and its The Pastoral Area Coordinating Group term of office is complete. The outgoing will meet in January with representatives pastoral council is working with new PP of each parish nominated. (Out-going Fr. Alan O’Leary and Fr. Joe Spillane to pastoral councils will nominate one have nominations in Schull in March. member from their group and the new A pastoral area coordinating group groups, when nominated, will nominate cannot materialise until pastoral leader - the second representative from the ship groups representative of the parish - parish. ioners are formed in the other parishes.

Following contact from a number of parishes about setting up new teams, or introducing new members to exist - ing teams, the spring training pro - gramme will be offered on Wednesdays 20 January, 27 January and 3 February at the Turner’s Cross Parish Centre. Parishes who wish to participate should contact Sr. Karen Kent or Fr Charlie Kiely to reserve places. The programme introduces people to a way of helping the parish to wel - come and support parents who pres - Pictured are members of the second parish assembly for Ovens / Farran Parish at their planning day in ent children for baptism. Oriel House, Ballincollig. The day was facilitated by Pat Sheehan. Pastoral Area 8 is comprised of the This pastoral area takes in the parishes Carraig na bhFear, Glanmire, Gloun - PpasrtiosrhaelsAroefaB8 allincollig, Kilmurry and PoafstthorealCAartehae1d1 ral, Blackpool and StVin - Pthaastuonrael,AWreaat1e3 rgrasshill. The Coordinator Ovens. The Coordinator is Fr George cent’s (Sundays Well). The Coordinator is is Fr Noel O’Sullivan PP Glanmire. O'Mahony PP Ballincollig. Fr John O’Donovan PP Blackpool. The Pastoral Area Coordinating Group The first meeting of nominated parish - Chairpersons from the parish groups held its first meeting in November and ioners to the pastoral area’s coordinating have had introductory meetings with has planned four meetings for 2010. group will be in early February. clergy to establish the parishes’ coordi - Carraig na bhFear parish has estab - OVENS /F ARRAN PARISH has elected the nating groups. lished its third parish assembly and has second parish assembly with John BLACKPOOL and CATHEDRAL Parishes nominated Liam Ring as the Chairperson O’Leary from Coachford as chairperson will renew their parish assemblies in late and Marian Murphy as the secretary. and Mary O’Callaghan from Ovens as summer or early autumn 2010. Watergrasshill have plans in place to - secretary. Jerry Kelleher from Coachford wards their third parish assembly and has been re-elected as vice chair. Al - Glanmire will be following this pattern in though smaller in number, but building on the spring time. the excellent work of the previous as - sembly, they hope to concentrate their St. Joseph’s, St. Patrick’s, Upper Mayfield. energies on three areas: liturgy and faith The Coordinator is Fr Aidan O’Driscoll development, community care and wel - PastoralArea12 PP Upper Mayfield. Pictured below are members of the new parish as - come, and youth and children. The Pastoral Area Coordinating Group sembly for Carraig na bhFear Parish at their KILMURRY PARISH are putting plans in held its first meeting in October and has Planning Day in Vienna Woods Hotel, Glan - place for the renewal of their parish as - planned 4 meetings for the coming year. mire.The day was facilitated by Fr Charlie Kiely. sembly. They hope to use their parish mission in early Spring as a springboard to launch the process of electing a new parish assembly.

Pastoral Area 9 includes the parishes of PBaasltlionrealasApreaaig9 , Ballinora, Curraheen, Sacred Heart Parish, and St Joseph's Parish, Wilton. The Coordinator is Mgr. Kevin O’Callaghan PPVG, Ballineaspaig. Parish leadership groups are currently involved in a discernment process to se - lect their members to serve on the PACG. The first meeting of the newly elected members for the pastoral area is scheduled to take place on Thursday Jan - uary 21, 2010. BALLINEASPAIG Parish Elected their new Parish Pastoral Council in October with David Clifford as chairperson and Tom O’Donovan as secretary. Plans are being prepared for the Parish to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2010. Who is my Neighbour? WILTON parish is due to renew its A resource evening was held in Oc - parish assembly in the spring. tober last in the Sacred Heart Centre, IPunblitcrLeoctudreuSecriets ion to Western Road, Cork, to support the work of parish assemblies and pas - toral councils. John’s Gospel The Coordinator is Fr Pat Fogarty, PP The evening entitled Who is my KPansotocrkalnAarheeae1n0 y. The parishes of Neighbour? was presented by Pat These talks are on Thursday nights Clogheen, Farranree, Gurranbraher and Sheehan from the Pastoral Develop - from 7 pm to 8 pm in Mardyke Knocknaheeny/Hollyhill, have had intro - ment Office. House, Cork. (behind the former Er - ductory meetings to establish the coordi - A number of issues were briefly ex - inville Hospital) nating group for the pastoral area. plored including; what is community? K 21st January -11th March 2010. The first meeting of the pastoral area How can communities build on their K coordinating group is scheduled for the existing assets? Cost: €10 per lecture. start of the year. Attendees discussed five elements K Students taking this module as FARRANREE Parish will begin the process of good Christian community, and part of an accredited NOSTRA pro - of re-electing a new parish assembly early how connecting people with each gramme are required to attend a in the NewYear. other through relationships can en - seminar each night from 8.00 pm to Welcome to Fr Jack Harris CM, the hance the community building new Parish Priest of St.Vincent’s, Sunday’s process. 9.30 pm following each lecture. Well. Fr. Harris is from Portadown and Resource materials were given out Full details of lecturers, costs and has previously ministered in England also. on the evening to help parishes ex - registration requirements for accred - Fr Harris replaces Fr Colm McAdam plore further ideas in creating more ited students available at who has been assigned to a Dublin welcoming and vibrant communities. parish. www.nostra.ie/public_cork2010.html Discussing families and faith Ballinlough, Blackrock, Blackrock Road, MPaasthooranl. TArheea1C4 oordinator is Fr Jim Ten parents of young children met with faith and fun programme; can we offer a O’Donovan PP Ballinlough. Fr Charlie and Sr Karen to respond to programme for parents about handing on Nominated members from Ballinlough, the broad question “how do we hand on faith; internet resources that parents can Blackrock Road (SMA), Blackrock Parish faith to our children?” use at home with their children; summer and Mahon Parish are due to hold their The discussion was lively and thought camps – faith based; Sunday school and first meeting of the PACG on Thursday provoking for all who might be seeking much more… 28th of January, 2010. answers to this question often raised in Offering parents a choice about the MAHON Parish Assembly members are parishes. Having discussed what helps sacraments of First Holy Communion working hard to have a new Parish As - and what are the challenges facing par - and Confirmation was a major topic of sembly in place sometime early in the ents of children under 12 today the discussion. Could the preparation be NewYear. They recently held a day of re - group offered a number of ideas to us solely parish based to take away the pres - viewing and reflecting to look at the ex - that will need further planning and dis - sure to conform as part of the classroom perience of the current members of the cussion but are a basis from which we activities? This would mean families hav - parish assembly. can develop further resources for ing a choice to participate and receive BALLINLOUGH Parish will also begin the parishes and parents. the sacraments as active members of the process of re-electing a new parish as - Some parents spoke of the children’s faith community. sembly early in the NewYear. liturgies, faith and fun programme and The bigger question raised was – what “Do this in memory” offered currently in is offered for the age group 12 upwards some parishes. The need to build on by the church/parish/diocese? This one is Douglas and Frankfield-Grange these is essential for parents and chil - for another day and another discussion. PpasrtiosrhaelsA. rTehae15 Coordinator is Fr John dren. Some ideas raised: can we offer a (A similar conversation planned for the Walsh PP Frankfield. resource session to help other parishes west of the diocese had to be cancelled In late September/early October a establish children’s liturgy groups and the due to flooding in Bandon.) training programme was held to establish Baptism preparation teams in Douglas and Rochestown and to renew the team in Frankfield parish. SJouhrnoeyringtwitnhLtukreo: duction to Luke’s Gospel for small The parishes have also begun to pub - lish a joint weekly newsletter as one parish groups move towards closer collaboration be - tween the communities. Would you be interested in creating an or opportunity for a small group in 10.00 am to 4.00 pm on Satur - your parish to come together to day 23rd January 2010 in St The parishes are Ballyphehane, St. Fin - learn about the Gospel of Luke, Michael's Parish Centre, Blackrock, Pbasrtro’rsaSloAuretah,16Ss. Peter and Paul’s, The which is the gospel that we will . Lough, Togher, and Turner’s Cross. The hear read at Sunday Mass over No cost for taking part. Lunch Coordinator is Canon Kerry Murphy- the coming year? and all resources needed for the O’Connor, PP Turner’s Cross. If so, why not come along to a workshop will be provided free of The Pastoral Area Coordinating Group workshop on how you might go charge. met in November for the first time and about it on either of the following Please register by calling Fr. has planned four meetings for next year. dates: Sean O’Sullivan at the Adult Reli - Togher parish assembly are beginning 10.00 am - 4.00 pm Saturday 16th Jan - gious Education Office at 021-7336053 the process towards nominating the uary 2010 in Myross Wood Retreat or emailing [email protected] before parish’s second parish assembly. House, Leap, Co. Cork. 10th January 2010.

Members of the Pastoral Area Coordinating Group for Pastoral Area 7 at their first meeting in the Parish Centre, Bandon, on Dec 3rd, 2009. CHURCH MUSIC WLiturogy rkshops will mark launch of new Diocesan SUMMER SCHOOL Funeral Documents 2010 There are new booklets, published by prayerful way. the Diocesan Liturgy Commission and Workshops to explain their content Christopher Walker is an in - approved by the Bishop, which deal with and how they will be used are scheduled ternationally known lecturer, the celebration of Catholic funeral rites. for January. They seek to take the rites and to place composer and conductor whose DATES OF WORKSHOPS: things in an appropriate way during our works encompass children’s Q funeral celebrations. Cork City - Rochestown Park music for liturgy and catechetics Hotel, Monday, 11th January, 2010. Our Funeral Rites are sacred. They plus a wealth of material for all Funeral Directors: 11am – 12.30 help us as a people of faith to share in liturgical celebrations. the ministry of consolation of those who Clergy, Sacristans, Liturgy Group Rep: He will be the guest director are bereaved. 3 – 4.30 pm Q They help us to grieve and they help us West Cork - Quality Hotel, Clon - for this year’s Church Music to do ritually what we ourselves, some - akilty, Tuesday, 19th January, 2010. Summer School. It will take Funeral Directors: 11am – 12.30 times, cannot express. place in Maynooth 5th – 9th July. Clergy, Sacristans, Liturgy Group Rep.: These booklets for parishes and for For more details email the bereaved families will help to ensure 2.30 – 4pm Please contact Fr. Christy at 021-4537600, [email protected] that the funeral ceremony is conducted 087-2675275 or [email protected] with in a dignified, personal, meaningful and details of those attending.

Training for Ministry Courses for Ministers of the Eucharist will be run in Castlehaven, Crosshaven & Kinsale in late January and February by the Team of Trainers. During Lent, Fr. Christy and Eamonn Nash will be running courses for Minis - ters of the Word for parishioners from Ballinhassig, Crosshaven, The Lough, and Frankfield. Why Pastoral Areas? “The grouping together of parishes in Pastoral Areas is another change for the diocese and for parishes. It is rooted in two pressing needs: firstly, our commitment to a renewed spirit of cooperation among the entire church as People of God and, secondly, from the need to plan for the rapidly de - creasing numbers of priests and reli - Fr. Liam Lawton pictured with members of the choir of St. Patrick's Church, Rochestown, when he pre - gious ministering in our diocese. sented a workshop for choir members in the diocese at the Rochestown Church. Below are more attendees. These two strands of our mission are complementary. Nonetheless, it is understandable that the concern and energy of people in parishes is concen - trated on the urgent need to address the shortage of priests for parishes. Our tasks for the future in the dio - cese include helping each parishioner to live out their baptismal calling in a life of prayer, lived in communion with others; strengthening collaboration be - tween priests and parishioners; coordi - nating more efficient use of resources between parishes; discerning ways of encouraging more people to serve in priestly and religious ministry and then managing how we deploy resources to these tasks.” — from Guidelines for Pastoral Area Coordinating Groups in the Diocese of Cork & Ross. Full text online at www.corkandross.org/pastoral Dates, Resources and Events to Lookingaheadforpastoralopportunities… aid planning by your parish

20 January from across the globe – why not join Trócaire Parish and Liturgy resource this global day of prayer this year. 16 May pack for Lent now available (sent to Ice cream Sunday – host an ice cream parish clergy) it includes new Stations 9 March party after Mass today to support the of the Cross: “From Ireland around the First of the Confirmation ceremonies in Downs Syndrome Society of Ireland. world” in the same style as our Cork the diocese for 2010. The full schedule www.downssyndrome.ie Stations of the Cross of last year – is available online at composed by Sr Karen. www.corkandross.org/confirmation 23 May See www.trócaire.ie Pentecost Sunday – why not invite the 14 March children who received Confirmation 18 -25 January Mother’s Day – include a special prayer this year to Mass today and offer a spe - Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and blessing for all mothers at Mass cial prayer and blessing for them Theme for 2010: You are witnesses today. See last year’s resources. Why not gather to pray with other local Christians? And enjoy a social time 14 March Second collection for the 6 June afterwards. Bishop’s commissions. Corpus Christi Resources sent to all clergy and avail - Procession in the city 3pm from the able at www.ctbi.org.uk/weekofprayer 17 March Saint Patrick Cathedral to Daunt Square. The Order of Service will be posted to priests as usual. The central Ecumenical 26 March Daffodil Day www.cancer.ie 11-16 June Service will be held on Friday 22nd Jan - Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes – why uary, 2010 at 7.30pm in the Church of 27 Priesthood Information Day not gather a group from your parish to the Resurrection, Farranree. St. Dominic’s, Ennismore, Cork join this pilgrimage? 10.30am to 4pm 31 January For those seeking information about 27 June Second collection for Peter’s Catholic Schools Week – resource pack being a priest in the Diocese of Cork Pence distributed to schools and parishes and Ross. 2010 theme: Catholic schools – a light Info: [email protected] 25-27 June for every generation. KnockYouth Festival for over 18s. 28 March www.knock-shrine.ie/youthfestival 1 February Saint Brigid Palm Sunday – Holy Week begins. 10/11 July 2 February 1 April Know your neighbour weekend - organ - Candlemas - blessing of candles. Holy Thursday – Chrism Mass in the ise one of the activities suggested in the Cathedral at 10am organisers pack available from Macra at 3 February The Bishop and priests will bless the www.knowyourneighbour.ie Saint Blaise – blessing of throats. oils that will be used during the coming year for the celebration of the sacra - 14-21 August 11 February ments in your parish. Why not join in Knockadoon liturgy and folk music Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and this diocesan celebration and bring the summer camp for young people in East World Day of the Sick oils in procession at the opening of Cork. Why not invite and arrange transport your Evening Mass of the Last Supper. www.knockadoon.net for the sick and housebound of your parish and their carers to come to a 2 April 12-16 August special Mass today. Include the Anoint - Good Friday – look back to last year’s Youth 2000 summer festival in Clon - ing of the Sick and a cuppa and a chat resources for Prayer around the Cross macnoise for young people of 16 years afterwards. led by young people and see the Tró - and older. caire pack for Stations of the Cross 14 February Second collection for Copies available in the office. End of August Lourdes pilgrimage fund. Mission Alive resources available to 2 April Collection for the Holy Places download for October – Mission 17 February of Jerusalem. Month. Ash Wednesday – Lent begins. www.imu.ie 4 April Easter Sunday 22-23 February Developing Parish Seminar at All Hal - 25 April lows College, Dublin, on collaborative Vocations Sunday - see our web site ministry, with Br Loughlan Sofield. for resources and ideas. www.allhallows.ie Many more ideas and helps on the 6 May Mdioorceeosnatnhewweebbs…ite at 5 March The Big Brew – hold a tea party to sup - www.corkandross.org/pastoral Women’s World Day of Prayer - port the Alzheimers Society of Ireland. In particular, browse the Handbook www.worlddayofprayer.net www.teaday.ie of Ideas for parish groups. It has lots Gather to pray and celebrate with of useful resources which parish women from other Christian churches. 9 May Second collection for Pastoral groups can work with in their local Prayer service is prepared by women Development Office and services. parish.