The celebration of the Easter Vigil in the Cathedral was marked with joy, hope, and renewal as 25 adults were welcomed into the life of the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation

Some were baptised, confirmed, and received the Eucharist for the first time, while others were confirmed and welcomed more fully into the Catholic Church.

In his homily, Bishop Fintan reflected on the profound significance of this moment, highlighting the visible signs of new hope.

Tonight, we see new life before our eyes as these men and women come forward for the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist - they are a powerful sign for all of us. In a world that can so often seem tired or discouraged, they remind us that Christ is alive, that he is still calling people, that he is still giving new life.”

Bishop Fintan noted the diversity of those coming forward, pointing out that while some are from Ireland, others have come from across Europe and beyond, yet all now call Cork home. This, he said, reflects the universal nature of the Church, rooted in the local community while open to the wider world.

The presence of these new members of the Church brought a strong sense of hope to the celebration, highlighting the continuing call of faith and the renewal at the heart of Easter.

There was only one Mass celebrated in the Diocese on the morning of Holy Thursday 2nd April 2026. The Chrism Mass took place at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne.

Priests of the diocese left their own parishes and places of ministry to travel with deacons, religious and lay people to the Cathedral in Cork for Mass celebrated by Bishop Fintan and concelebrated by the priests.

This Mass is known as the Mass of Chrism - after one of the holy oils which are blessed during this Mass each year.

Referring to the oils in his homily, Bishop said the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of Chrism and the Oil of the Sick flow out as streams of grace to all parts of the diocese.
“They will touch the lives of our people in Baptism and Confirmation, in the Anointing of the Sick, in moments of joy and moments of great vulnerability” he said.

“They remind us that God’s grace does not remain here in the Cathedral. It goes out. It reaches people where they are.”

During the Mass of Chrism the bishops and priests renewed the promises they made at their ordination. Addressing the priests, Bishop Fintan invites people to support their priests.

“And I want to take this moment, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of this diocese, to say simply: thank you.
Thank you for your faithful and generous service: for the many hidden and unseen ways you serve your people - baptising new members into the Church, celebrating the Eucharist, preaching the Word, accompanying families, visiting the sick, burying the dead, walking with people in moments of joy and moments of sorrow.”

“Much of what you do is not noticed publicly. But it matters deeply. And it is valued. And it is loved.”

The Mass was also concelebrated by Emeritus Bishop John Buckley and Emeritus Bishop Noel O’Regan S

When we celebrate Easter we hold holy the memory of God’s great act in raising Jesus from the dead. We believe that God’s graciousness will be extended to ourselves and that our own death will not be the final word. Our faith educates our hope that we will participate in Jesus’ resurrection on the last day. But a question raises itself: is our faith in the resurrection limited to remembering Jesus’ resurrection and hoping of our own on the last day? What happens between times? What about today?

When we look at our world today we have to go close our eyes and ears not to see and hear how suffering and violence continue to disfigure so many people here today who can feel their wounds.

What does the resurrection of Jesus say to all this today? The challenge of Easter today is to understand the history of human suffering in the light of Jesus’ resurrection. This means that we have to take God’s part in protesting against the violence and the suffering that are accepted so readily as inevitable. As Christians we have to make our protest against death in the midst of life.

Death is not just a fate that we meet at the end of life. We see death all around us in the midst of life. This point was made movingly by the German theologian Jurgen Moltmann in an Easter sermon when he said: Death is an evil power now, in life’s very midst. It is the economic people who are oppressed; the social death of the handicapped; the noisy death that strikes through bombs and torture, and the soundless death of the apathetic soul.

To accept this litany of death as inevitable is to empty the resurrections of its power for today. A resurrection faith faces the cross and protests against the finality of that violence. It educates us to see as God sees; to act as so many of God’s chosen do act today when with enormous courage they refuse to genuflect to the powers of darkness that use suffering and death as their tools to keep power.

The resurrection of Jesus is a proclamation that this outcast from Galilee is the beloved of God who cannot be held in the keep of death because someone else takes action. Jesus did not raise himself; he was raised by all those who want that miracle repeated in the midst of life. They believe that God’s work continues – not least because they believe Jesus’ words: “I am the resurrection and the life”.

We can all catch something of the reality of the resurrection when we experience new life in the midst of hopelessness. We see it in hospital wards, when tired nurses hug people back from death. We see it in the men and women who risk their lives protesting against the mindless violence inflicted on their fellow human beings. We can see it in the beloved disciples who see in the dark what no one else sees. For all this we rejoice. It is Easter in our midst; it is the refusal to accept that anyone should be left for dead.

The Priests of the Parishes would like to wish everyone a Holy and Happy Easter. 

If you wish to join us online for the Easter Vigil you may do so at the following link https://www.churchservices.tv/

To follow the ceremony to the Baptismal Font please click on the tab for the second camera entitled ‘Second’

Bishop Fintan invites all parishioners to the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday (April 2nd) at 10am in the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne.

This special celebration of the diocesan family of faith includes the blessing of oils and renewal of priestly promises. Overflow parking is available at St. Anthony’s Convent, with refreshments afterwards in the Cathedral Visitors’ Centre. All are welcome.

Holy Thursday

 

Chrism Mass

Cathedral 10:00am

 

Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Cathedral 7:30pm
South Parish 7:00pm
St Patrick’s 6:00pm
Ss Peter & Paul’s 5:00pm English & 7:00pm Latin

Blackpool 4:00pm

 

 

Good Friday

Stations of the Cross

Cathedral 12 noon
South Parish 12 noon
St Patrick’s 11:00am
Ss Peter & Paul’s 12 noon
Blackpool 12 noon
The Glen 5:00pm
Ballyvolane 11:00am

 

Solemn Celebration of the Lord’s Passion

Cathedral 3:00pm
South Parish 2:30pm
St Patrick’s 6:00pm
Ss Peter & Paul’s 3:00pm English & 6:00pm Latin
Ballyvolane 6:00pm

 

Prayers at the Tomb of the Dead Christ

South Parish 7:30pm

 

 

Holy Saturday

Solemn Easter Vigil and Mass of the Resurrection

Cathedral 9:00pm
South Parish 5:00pm
St Patrick’s 6:00pm
Ss Peter & Paul’s 4:00pm English & 8:00pm Latin
Blackpool 4:00pm

Ballyvolane 6:00pm

 

 

Easter Sunday

Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection

Cathedral 9:00am & 11:30am
South Parish 11:00am
St Patrick’s 12 noon
Ss Peter & Paul’s 10:00am Irish, 12 noon Latin & 7:00pm English
Blackpool 12 noon
The Glen 10:00am
Ballyvolane 11:00am

 

Dawn Mass

South Parish Nano Nagle Centre
6:00am