Holy Thursday
Mass of the Lord’s Supper @ 5.30pm.
Good Friday
Stations of the Cross @ 12 noon.
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion @ 3pm.
Holy Saturday
Mass of Resurrection @ 6pm.
Easter Sunday
Masses at 9am and 11.30am.
8am and 10am. Ashes distributed during both Masses.
A 55 Seater Bus has been booked again this year for our annual pilgrimage to Knock on Saturday, 1st June.
The bus will leave the Church at 7.30am and return at 10.00pm.
Last year there was a huge demand for seats on the bus so we ask you to book early.
We do not know the exact price of the bus, but we hope it will be around the same as last year – €55.
As part of an ongoing re-organisation of diocesan resources to serve the needs of the local faith communities, the Diocese of Cork and Ross has for the first time appointed a lay woman to serve as Diocesan Secretary. Sheila Lewis, who is from Kilworth, in north Cork, has a background in industry and the voluntary sector, and will commence her full-time role in the Diocesan Office on Feb 1st.
In announcing this appointment, Bishop Fintan has said that he is grateful for the selfless and generous service provided by Fr Michael Keohane since his appointment as Diocesan Secretary.
“I also warmly welcome Sheila and I am confident that she will receive support and kindness from the whole diocese as she begins this work which is a historic moment for our diocese,” Bishop Fintan said.
We were greatly saddened to learn of the death of legendary shop-owner and lifelong friend of Ascension Church, Mr. Con O’Leary. Con, who lost his wife Anne in 2020, is mourned by his daughters Lorraine, Tina, Deborah and Aisling. “Con’s Shop” has been a feature of Gurranabraher for over 50 years, and after his retirement the business has continued to flourish through his children.
Con was very active in Cork Corporation and represented his constituents with much passion regularly speaking up on several social issues. A native of Gurranabraher, Con was a member of the Southern Health Board, served as a director of EACD (European Cities against Drugs), was involved in Churchfield/Gurranabraher youth club, St Anthony’s over 60s club, the local Meals on Wheels, Ógra Corcaigh, Gurranabraher Credit Union, and the North Infirmary hospital action group. His involvement in the community led him in to local politics in 1991.
Con was honoured with a well-deserved civic reception by Cork City Council in 2023 and will be greatly missed by Ascension Parish and the people of Cork.
As 2023 draws to a close we would like to remind everyone that on New Year’s Eve we will have a Mass of Thanksgiving. We will dedicate this Mass to our Lord for the blessings He gives us. We thank our parishioners for their unwavering support. We thank our volunteers who do so much for the church, Anna, Christy, Ed, Eithne, Eugene, Eliz, Jerry, Michelle, Michael, Martin, Roger, and Willie. We thank our readers, our Ministers of the Eucharist and all those who help us during Mass. We thank Eily Morris and friends who continue to raise funds for the
Church through difficult times for many. We thank Mary and Betty for their monthly Baptism Instruction course. We thank Con’s Shop and Blarney Street Post Office, and their patrons, for donating to the Ascension Church Building Fund. We thank our priests, Fr. Tomás, Fr. Aidan, Fr. Cian and Fr. Seán. We offer this Mass for you all and hope many of you will come and pray with us as we welcome a New Year under the guidance and love of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Ms. Sinéad Elliffe, presently Vice Principal of Scoil Padre Pio, has been chosen to succeed Mr. Ken Foley as Principal. Ms. Elliffe has a wealth of experience from her time in Scoil Padre Pio and has a beautiful way with school children and parents. We pray that she will continue the fine traditions and excellent academic standards inherited from former Principals and teachers. We will thank Mr. Ken Foley for his huge contribution in a future newsletter.
