In recent weeks Bishop Fintan visited the West Cork area encouraging us to face some new realities and challenges. He restated his commitment to the formation of “Families of Parishes” in the Diocese including a re-configuration of the parishes for mission.
Bishop Fintan said that this is going to involve change - radical change - re-configuring our Parish Faith Communities for mission so that we can live and share the good news of Jesus Christ reaching out to those on the margins of our church community, those who may have drifted away, our young people and those hurt by the Church.
What is a “Family of Parishes”?
It describes the creation of a bond between a group of parishes in order to sustain their pastoral life. Practically this means parishioners, lay people, clergy and religious communities sharing resources, responsibilities, and ministry, strengthening our unity as one Body of Christ.
Our particular Family of Parishes includes the six Parishes of Ardfield / Rathbarry, Kilmeen, Rosscarbery, Clonakilty, Timoleague, and Barryroe. Priests are few in number and this Family of Parishes has recently reduced from seven to six with two further retirements due next summer. While keeping the identity and uniqueness of each of the six Parishes a timetable and roster has been created that involves changes to times, days and locations ensuring that every weekend there will be a Mass in each and every Parish.
From Saturday the 4th of September onwards a new four-week (28-day) pattern will be implemented. The priests of the six Parishes will minister to their own parishes for three weeks and then serve one of the other Parishes on the fourth week.
In order to facilitate this here in the Parish of Barryroe, Mass times will be as follows as from Saturday 4 September:
| Saturday | 9:30am | Barryroe - Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea |
| Saturday | 7:30pm | Courtmacsherry - Sacred Heart Church |
| Sunday | 10:00am | Barryroe - Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea |
| Monday | 9:30am | Barryroe - Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea |
| Tuesday | 9:30am | Courtmacsherry - Sacred Heart Church |
| Wednesday | 9:30am | Barryroe - Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea |
Livestream Mass for the Parish of Barryroe will continue to be available once a week via the website at barryroe.ie
I look forward to being invigorated by visiting other Parishes and celebrating Mass and our faith in new ways in the years ahead.
Yours sincerely in Christ
Father Dave O’Connell
