Eucharistic Procession is opportunity to celebrate faith says Bishop of Cork and Ross

Bishop of Cork and Ross Fintan Gavin has said that the Eucharistic Procession is an opportunity to gather and celebrate in a very respectful way.

The 2025 Cork Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession will take place this Sunday, June 22. This year marks the 99th anniversary of the inaugural procession.

The procession will commence at 3pm from the Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Anne, concluding at a specially constructed stage and altar on the Grand Parade.

Speaking to The Echo, Bishop Gavin said the procession was a significant event. “It is really important moment for me as Bishop, for the Diocese and for the city, where we gather together and we celebrate our faith.

“People from our parishes throughout the city and beyond, but also the new communities that have come to make their homes in Ireland and who will join us.

“The Eucharistic Procession celebrates the unity in faith that abounds in Cork.”

Communication

Bishop Gavin also noted that social media has become a key element of communication within the church community at large.

He said the Cork and Ross Diocese is taking steps in to engage with young people in Cork.

“One of the things we have done is to engage with young people. We have a young woman who works with us as our digital communications co-ordinator. There is an intentional desire on our part to engage, using things like our own Instagram page and growing that."

Bishop Gavin added that there is, of course, no substitute for the personal encounter. “But in terms of bringing people towards that, both with Christ and with the church, social media can be very useful as a first base and as a safe space for young people to engage.

“The church, by its nature, is about community and relationships. So you can’t substitute that. But you can use social media and the digital world to help us to try and find initial engagement.”

Giving his thoughts on how the recently-elected Pope Leo XIV will do as the new leader of the Catholic Church globally, Bishop Gavin said: “I think that he is somebody who brings a huge amount of experience to the role, having been the leader of the Augustinians, which is a worldwide religious congregation.

“He seems to be a man who is very anxious to listen, to dialogue and to work with unity. I think that is really important.”

More on the Cork Eucharistic Procession is available here.