Extract from homily by Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan of Waterford and Lismore, delivered on RTE Mass for Vocations Sunday:

For the sacraments we need priests and the priesthood has been part of the Church since the beginning, instituted by Christ Himself – one of the seven sacraments. We are officially finishing the Year for Vocation to Diocesan Priesthood. Our motto for this Year was “Take the Risk for Christ”. The purpose of the Year was to pray for and promote vocations to ordinary parish priesthood – to have men young and not so young who will baptise and absolve sin, who will celebrate the Eucharist, preach the Gospel and journey with their parishioners in good times and in bad, to lift up people’s gaze, to discover who and for what we are made, not to be mere consumers and economic units and the result of mere chance. But by God who in His great goodness wants us to find love and live in love and holiness, even if there is a cross, and to be a disciple of that love in the world. Everyone has a vocation from God – be it marriage, or religious life, the single life, a deacon or a priest. I am a very happy and thankful to be a priest of Jesus Christ, flawed though I am.

I pray that through the fog and haze of the culture in which we live, men will generously respond to God who is calling them to His priesthood. Maybe someone listening to me now.

Thinking about the Diocesan Priesthood?

There is a special Come and See afternoon for men aged between 18 and 40 who may be thinking about Priesthood for the Diocese of Cork and Ross. It will take place from 2-5pm today, Sunday April 28th, in Mardyke House, Cork City (T12 W8RP). For more information email vocations@corkandross.org

Confirmation Ceremony

Thirty four girls and boys from Bunscoil Chriost Ri received the sacrament of Confirmation on Wednesday. We congratulate them and their parents and hope the occasion mark an important stage in their faith journey, which began at baptism. We thank their teachers for preparing the children: Mr Kevin O’Donoghue and Ms Niamh Byrne.

In Confirmation we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They are: wisdom, understanding, good judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence and wonder and awe in God’s presence. But like all gifts they need to be opened up and used. A Christmas present which remains in the box just gathers dust. An important part of the preparation for Confirmation this week was the celebration of the sacrament of penance (Confession) on Monday morning last. We should all be encouraged to avail of this sacrament, at least at Christmas and Easter. Confession is available every Saturday evening after the Vigil Mass in Turner’s Cross.

Recent Deaths:

The deaths have occurred of Eileen O’Driscoll, Vernamount View; Nancy O’Mahony, Tower St. We pray for the repose of their souls and we sympathise with their families.