Religious leaders in Cork: Christmas is ‘a chance for all to reset and recharge’

Christmas is a time of the year for reflection.

It is an opportunity to take stock of the year gone by, while also looking forward to what potentially lies in store for the 12 months ahead.

Religion is very much central to Christmas time for many families who are gathering together, as it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Echo spoke with religious leaders on Leeside to discuss their end-of-year messages and also their hopes for 2026.

In his message for the Christmas season, the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Fintan Gavin, outlined that the areas at the forefront of his mind include peace, homelessness, and a sense of belonging.

“If it is to make any sense, it is about something real and concrete in people’s lives,” said Bishop Gavin.

“I would take that message and prioritise peace in the world, but each of us being instruments of peace at a local level within our families and communities here in Cork.

“The whole challenge and the homelessness, that we become people who make sure that is not possible.

“The crib is that iconic symbol. But if you have children in
emergency accommodation, in many ways that is the opposite to what the Christmas message is.

“That sense of belonging is what the Christian community is really about.

“The hope for the year ahead is that our parishes and our communities will be places of belonging and friendship. For all people in our own community and the new Irish who are coming among us.”

Bishop Gavin said that regarding the current world outlook and conflicts taking place across the globe, the importance of the message of peace has never been more relevant.

“The angels came and talked about glory to God in the highest, peace to all those God’s favour rests on.

“When you look at the world today particularly, and the parts that are torn apart, the disunity in different parts when I think about the
Ukraine, the Holy Land, and parts of Africa.

“Even in our own world, we have seen a lot of violence here in Cork in recent months. That is not something that Cork people associate with and want to be part of.

“So it is just that kind of message, that Christ is reminding us of the
importance of peace.”

Bishop Gavin also touched upon the issue of isolation and loneliness being felt across the different age groups within society.

“I see an increase in that sense of isolation, both of old people and of younger people. The biggest thing that young people are looking for is connection, it is about community, and it is about belonging.

“The Christian message is really about Christ coming among us and building a community where everyone belongs.

“It is about finding ways to bringing that community to those hidden signs of loneliness, whether it is older people living alone or young people stuck in the world of social media, and not having an awful lot of connection with real people.”

In his message for the Christmas season, the Bishop of Cloyne,
William Crean, told The Echo one of the central themes on his mind is the message of forgiveness.

“From drawing the jubilee year of hope to a close at this time, a key
concept in that year of hope is the idea of forgiveness and reconciliation in our lives. Wonderful thoughts that would be strong for me is that Christmas time is usually a happy time.

“But sometimes it is old wounds or past hurts spoil the atmosphere. In this jubilee of hope, my thought is that it invites us to new beginnings and forgiveness.

“That we might think seriously about the possibility in our own lives of a new beginning that we can make for ourselves or for others. By our own forgiveness or maybe an apology. That life is too short not to do that.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Bishop Crean said his hope is for a more peaceful society.

“One of the things that has
shocked me is the level of domestic violence in families.

“The amount of fear and terror that women and children are
experiencing, it shouldn’t be like that. Something of that needs to be addressed more strongly.

“The other thing that I have
noticed is just the sheer level of
illegal drug use in the community. The destruction and havoc that it is creating in some families. At the end of the day, it is individual users who create the market.

“My hope is that in some way that people who are enjoying the benefit of this huge availability of drugs
realise the damage that is being done.”

This year was one of change for the Catholic Church, in which a new pope was elected in the form of Pope Leo XIV.

The Bishop Of Cloyne feels that the church is in very capable hands.

“The way I sense it is that the
challenges facing the church worldwide are huge.

“But Pope Leo XIV seems to face them with a real serene confidence that seems to be anchored by the guiding action of the holy spirit.

“He has made it clear his desire to be a bridge builder, to be an
instrument of peace.

“He has great experience in terms of his worldwide travels as an
Augustinian provincial general.

“So, he is very much aware of the difficulties across the world. But he brings a real sense of serenity and calm to things.

“I think that augers very well
both for the church and for his
engagement politically globally in the way that a Pope can.”

Fr Kyrillos Hanna of the Coptic
Orthodox community in Cork, said he hopes the festive season will
bring peace and joy to the lives of people.

“A chance for everyone to reset and recharge again. So, I hope for Christmas time that it will be a peaceful time and a good time.

“Even for those who have
difficulty, that they can reach out to
kindness at this moment.

“I know some people that they may have hard times and I wish for them to find kindness as well.

On his hopes for 2026, Fr Hanna said: “We hope that everyone here in Cork, in Ireland and in our community as well to have a joyful and a peaceful time.

“We hope as well that Christ brings us and everyone peace, confidence, and joy.”