Cork diocese announces plans to sell bishop's palace to build new pastoral centre

The Diocese of Cork and Ross has announced plans to sell its existing office and former ‘bishop’s palace’ off Redemption Road to fund the construction of a new pastoral centre.

The Cork and Ross Pastoral Centre would be used to help train volunteers for leadership and ministry in the families of parishes in the years and decades ahead, the diocese said. 

It would bring all diocesan functions under the one roof, including education, mission and ministry, youth ministry, safeguarding, communications and administrative functions including the bishop’s office and diocesan secretariat.

The diocese has also identified the "urgent need" to create a secure archive space which can be used to store important records from across the diocese into the future.

"As a community, we need to address the reality that more and more lay people will be engaged to meet the pastoral needs of our diocese in the years ahead," Bishop of Cork and Ross, Most Reverend Fintan Gavin, said. 

"As of now, we do not have suitable premises in which to train and support people, who will be vital to the provision of ministry and outreach. 

"The new pastoral centre will be used by the community and priests, and ensure a more efficient use of resources under one roof for both the priests and laity."

The diocese said an assessment of the existing diocesan office off Redemption Road has determined that it "no longer remains fit for purpose, and too significant an investment would be required to renovate and extend what is a listed building".

To that end, the diocese has made the decision to instead offer the site of the diocesan office for sale, with the intention that it could be included in the wider Farranferris campus. 

The redevelopment of the site, it said, would allow for the provision of additional much needed homes on the northside of the city and its sale would help fund the construction of a purpose-built facility at a different location.

The Diocese of Cork and Ross is engaging with Cork City Council with a view to agreeing a master plan in conjunction with the remaining lands at Farranferris.

Separately, a site in Dennehy’s Cross next to the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit is being considered as one of the potential sites for the new pastoral centre.

Bishop Gavin said he has begun a wider consultation process on these potential developments. 

“The seat of the Bishop of Cork and Ross will always remain on the northside at the North Cathedral. 

“However, we feel the time is right to move all training, support and administrative functions to one location.

“This will help us to secure the future for the diocese to continue supporting our parishes as we plan better for the future. 

“Funds from the sale of the Diocesan Office will be used to meet the costs of the new centre. 

“I look forward to engaging widely throughout this process, and would ask anyone who has questions about the plans to contact me or the diocesan office at their convenience," he said.