Your pastoral area consists of the following p@shes:

Bandon, Enniskeane & Desertserges, Innishannon, Kilbrittain, Murragh & Templemartin.

The Pastoral Coordinator of your area is: Fr. John Kingston.

RECENT BAPTISM Ellie May Rose O'Sullivan-Sexton, I Radharc an Bhaile Knockbrogan, Sedn Edward Fitzpatrick, Moskeigh, Templemartin.

Cemetery Mass

Mass will be celebrated at 7.30 p.m. on Monday 30th June next at Ballymodan Cemetery, Bandon for all those buried in the cemetery.

Campa Samhraidh - Summer Camp

A 'Campa Samhraidh' / 'Summer Camp' will be held at the Naionra, located within the Bandon GAA grounds on Monday 30th June to Friday 4th July for boys & girls 4 - 7yrs.  Activities include: Painting Techniques/Tie-dyeing/Pottery/Paper Maiche/Mosaics/Story Telling/Gardening/Movement/Ceol/Damhsa/Sp6rt.  Places are limited so book early.  For Enrolment Form or further information please contact: Maureen (086) 1968790.  C@ad Mile F,4ilte Rombaibb Isteacb.

Murragh and Templemartin Parish Graveyard Masses

Farnivane, Friday, 4th July at 7:30pm.  Newcestown, Wednesday, 16th July at 8:00pm.

Another useful website: www.cyberfaith.com

This website is an excellent resource for those who work in teaching or prepare their children for the sacraments.  It explains the various aspects of each liturgical day in the churches calendar, explaining the significance of scripture for Sundays and major feast days.  Both children and adults can benefit from this website with useful reflections and discussions on religious matters.  Although the site looks slightly intimidating initially, a 5 minute wander will make you feel at home and you will settle into an interesting discovery very quickly.

Mid West Region P.T.A.A. Annual Outing to Kfllaloe, Cruise on the Shannon, leaving Kellehers Bandon at 9am on Wednesday 9th July.  Contact Bridie 021 488 8879.

Gaggin ICA Annual Outing, on July 3rd.  For further details contact Mgt Fitzgerald 023 42126 or Ann Walsh 023 39403 or any member of the guild.

We are all aware that we are living at a time of profound change in society.  In all areas of life today people are adapting to new situations and learning new skills.  At the beginning of the new millennium, Pope John Paul wrote an inspiring letter in which he asked parishioners, priests and religious to look for new ways of serving the people and of encouraging them to participate in the life of the church.  He said that our faith is strengthened when it is shared.

This diocese has responded generously to the Pope's invitation.  The many meetings that have taken place in recent years is our attempt to respond to the challenge that the Holy Father placed upon us.  Most parishes now have structures that are truly representative of the people.

I thank all who have participated in these meetings.  During the past year, the focus was on how best to help parishes support one another and cooperate in meeting their local needs.  During the consultations there was clear recognition that parishes cannot work effectively in isolation.  This cooperation is all the more urgent today because of the growing shortage of priests.  The scarcity of priests is taking hold and we have no option but to respond to it in practical ways.  Having listened to the working group that I established last year and having participated in all the recent meetings, I am now satisfied that there is a great goodwill for more cooperation between parishes.  I am, therefore, formally establishing 16 pastoral areas in the diocese.  It is important, however, to realise that the development of pastoral areas will evolve and grow over time.

To assist in the development of this co-operation between parishes, I have appointed a Pastoral Area Co-Ordinator in each area.  Initially, this Co-Ordinator is a priest serving in one of the parishes.  I thank them for taking on this extra responsibility.  The meetings will begin in September.

Finally, I am asking to pray that our work will bear much fruit.  Prayer is a vital part of our strategy.  "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain". We must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ whose "power working within us can od infinitely more than we can ask for or imagine" (St Paul). I entrust all our work to the care of Mary, MOther of the Church, who is a sign of sure hope and comfort for all of us on our pilgrim way.

I wish you all, priests and people, every joy and blessing and hopefully some relaxation during this summer period.

John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Ross