More than 5,000 people across the Diocese of Cork and Ross participated in the Eucharistic Procession on Sunday, celebrating 100 years of the long-standing diocesan tradition. Speaking ahead of the celebration to PJ Coogan on Cork’s 96fm Opinion Line podcast, Bishop Fintan Gavin, youth ministry coordinator Sheila Kelleher, and Canadian student Sophie Pettapiece, who is currently in Cork, spoke about the youth presence in the diocese.
Miss Pettapiece, one of 15 young Canadian missionaries who traveled to Cork for the procession, cited St Carlo Acutis as an inspiration for her generation of faithful, and spoke about the difficulties of maintaining a deep sense of faith when the online world often breeds scepticism. “I think the most important thing in terms of my faith is the concept of community,” she said. “It’s just a matter of reaching out and giving yourself the opportunity to talk about your faith with different people.”
Bishop Gavin noted that the Canadian missionaries were joined by 60 young people from the diocese who were involved in the diocesan mission leading up to the procession on Sunday. Youth coordinator Sheila Kelleher said she sees a “great openness to faith” in these young people, especially in their willingness to ask questions and engage in conversation with one another.
Bishop Gavin’s homily at the procession referenced the “living faith” that these young people exemplify, and how it will allow “Christ to carry Cork into tomorrow.”