St. Colman's Cathedral, Cobh on St. Colman's Day 24th November 2025

Picture taken by V. Rev. Liam Kelleher PE

Homily for the Feast of St. Colman of Cloyne 

24th November 2025

Today we gather to celebrate the feast of St. Colman of Cloyne, one of the remarkable saints who helped weave the fabric of our Christian heritage here in Ireland. His life, marked by conversion, courage, and pastoral zeal, offers us an inspiring example as we strive to live out our faith in 2025 and beyond.

We are also celebrating this year - The Jubilee Year of Hope. 

The logo shows four stylized figures, representing all of humanity, coming from the four corners of the earth. They embrace each other to indicate the solidarity and fraternity which should unite all peoples.

The figure at the front is holding onto the cross. It is not only the sign of the faith which this lead figure embraces, but also of hope, which can never be abandoned, because we are always in need of hope, especially in our moments of greatest need.

There are the rough waves under the figures, symbolising the fact that life’s pilgrimage does not always go smoothly in calm waters. Often the circumstances of daily life and events in the wider world require a greater call to hope. As a Diocese and as a church we are in a time of great change and enormous challenges. The waters are not smooth but choppy.

Monday November 24th we celebrate the Feast of St. Colman of Cloyne - Our Patron Saint.

We invite you to join Bishop William Crean and the Cathedral Chapter in prayer for 10am Mass Monday morning, in St. Colman’s Cathedral, to mark this very special day for the parish of Cobh and our Diocese.

Early records agree that date marks the date of his death in 602AD. Blessings on our Diocese and Cathedral and on our Bishop William Crean - successor of St. Colman.

New members of the Council of Priests in the Diocese of Cloyne

• Rt. Rev. Msgr Jim Killeen P.P.,V.G - Ex Officio
• Rt. Rev. Msgr Anthony O'Brien P.P.,V.G - Ex Officio
• V. Rev. Canon James Moore - Ex Officio
• V. Rev. Paul Bennett P.P
• V. Rev. Canon Bill Bermingham P.P
• V. Rev. CanonToby Bluitt P.P., V.F
• Rev. Gabriel Burke C.C
• V. Rev. John Cogan P.E
• V. Rev. Gerard Coleman P.P (Glantane)
• V. Rev. Gerard Condon P.P
• V. Rev. Canon Donal Leahy
• V. Rev. Canon Michael Leamy P.P., V.F
• V. Rev. Canon Patrick Linehan P.P
• V. Rev. John McCarthy SP
• Archdeacon Cornelius O'Donnell PE
• Rev. Pat O'Donoghue CC
• V. Rev. Canon Donal O'Mahony P.P
• V. Rev Joseph O'Mahony Adm
• V. Rev. Frank O'Neill P.P

A Rosary Week will take place on

Tuesday 7th October 2025

Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

to Monday 13th October 2025

Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.

Rosary will be prayed each evening at 7pm

Bishop William Crean meets Pope Leo on recent pilgrimage to Rome

Watch this short video clip

February
Aghada - Tuesday 10th
Midleton - Wednesday 11th
Ballymacoda - Thursday 12th
Cloyne - Wednesday 25th
Cobh - Thursday 26th

March
Imogeela - Thursday 5th
Castlelyons - Thursday 5th
Youghal - Tuesday 10th
Killeagh - Wednesday 11th
Kanturk - Thursday 12th
Castlemagner - Wednesday 18th
Glantane - Thursday 19th
Newmarket - Tuesday 24th
Aghabullogue - Wednesday 25th
Aghinagh - Thursday 26th

Pastoral letter from Bishop William Crean

on pastoral planning for the future

My dear people,

To live is to change, is a pearl of wisdom from St. John Henry Newman, a convert to the Catholic faith in the 19th Century. To live in the 21st Century is an experience of constant change, social, cultural and technological. Viewing “Reeling in the Years,” the television series depicting life in former times is a dramatic reminder of the extent of the change we have experienced.

The Church whose life and presence within our communities and parish has had to adjust to and
manage the change taking place in society. One particular pattern has been evident for some years
now is the decline both in profession of Christian faith and its practice through the attendance at Holy Mass,
which, for the believer, is an obligation in faith. The consequence of this generational shift from family and
parish community attendance has seen a similar decline in responding to the call to Priesthood and Religious life. Despite this pattern in the Diocese of Cloyne, in all the parishes there are faithful practicing prayer congregations who witness to and support one another in faith.

Vocations afternoon with the Poor Clare Sisters, Cork 

Saturday 27th September 2 - 4pm

Are you considering a religious vocation?

The Poor Clare Sisters Monastry, College Road, Cork will be hosting a vocations afternoon for young women considering a contemplative vocation

For further information please contact the Poor Clare Sisters here or by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Vocations afternoon with the Poor Clare Sisters - Sat 27th September 2025

New Book Club - starting end of September

Do you have questions about the Catholic Faith?
Let's find answers together

Small groups: approx 10 people

Reading Plan: 2 chapters a month (book supplied)

Where: Adoration Chapel at back of St. Patrick's Church, Fermoy

When: First and Last Saturday of every month, 10:45am - 11:45am

For more details contact Fiona Kiely 086 876 0058 or Margaret Heskin 086 158 5446