# Fintan Gavin

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Irish Roman Catholic prelate (born 1966)

The Most Reverend, Dr. Fintan Gavin HDip DCL Bishop of Cork and Ross Bishop Fintan Gavin Church Roman Catholic Diocese Cork and Ross Appointed 8 April 2019 Predecessor John Buckley Previous posts Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Dublin Parish chaplain in Our Lady of Victories parish, Ballymun Road Teacher at Killinarden Community School and St Thomas' Community College Orders Ordination 7 June 1991 by Desmond Connell Consecration 30 June 2019 by John Buckley Personal details Born (1966-01-01) 1 January 1966 (age 60) Dublin, Ireland Alma mater Pontifical Gregorian University University College Dublin Holy Cross College, Clonliffe

Styles of Fintan Gavin Reference style The Most Reverend Spoken style Your Grace Religious style Bishop

**Fintan Gavin** (born (1966-01-01)1 January 1966) is an [Irish](/source/Republic_of_Ireland) [Roman Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church) [prelate](/source/Prelate) who has served as [Bishop of Cork and Ross](/source/Bishop_of_Cork_and_Ross) since 2019.

## Early life and education

Gavin was born in [Dublin](/source/Dublin) on 1 January 1966, to Michael and Angela Gavin,[1] and baptised in [St Andrew's Church](/source/St_Andrew's_Church%2C_Westland_Row%2C_Dublin), [Westland Row](/source/Westland_Row) on 5 January. He grew up in [Marino](/source/Marino%2C_Dublin), where he played [hurling](/source/Hurling) and [football](/source/Gaelic_football) with [St Vincent's GAA](/source/St_Vincents_GAA) and was a member of Marino Athletic Club.[2]

Prior to his seminary formation in [Holy Cross College](/source/Holy_Cross_College_(Dublin)), Gavin had begun training as a residential [social worker](/source/Social_work) in Our Lady's Hostel, [Eccles Street](/source/Eccles_Street), from September 1983 to August 1984. During his seminary formation, he trained at [Liberty Hall](/source/Liberty_Hall), the Northlands addiction treatment counselling centre in Derry, and [St Patrick's University Hospital](/source/St_Patrick's_University_Hospital).

Gavin was [ordained](/source/Holy_orders_in_the_Catholic_Church) a [deacon](/source/Deacon) for the [Archdiocese of Dublin](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Dublin) by the [Archbishop of Dublin](/source/Archbishop_of_Dublin_(Catholic_Church)), [Desmond Connell](/source/Desmond_Connell), in the Church of the Holy Cross, [Clonliffe](/source/Clonliffe), on 11 March 1990, and gained summer parish experience at [Brentwood Cathedral](/source/Brentwood_Cathedral), [Essex](/source/Essex). He was subsequently ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Dublin by [Auxiliary Bishop](/source/Auxiliary_bishop) of Dublin, [Éamonn Walsh](/source/%C3%89amonn_Walsh_(bishop)), in St Vincent de Paul Church, Marino, on 7 June 1991.[2]

## Presbyteral ministry

Following ordination, Gavin's first pastoral assignment was as [curate](/source/Curate) in [Holy Redeemer parish](/source/Holy_Redeemer_Church%2C_Bray), [Bray](/source/Bray%2C_County_Wicklow), where he also served as a teacher at St Thomas' Community College and chaplain to [St Gerard's Junior and Senior School](/source/St_Gerard's_School%2C_Bray), and completed a [higher diploma](/source/Higher_diploma) in [education](/source/Pedagogy) from [University College Dublin](/source/University_College_Dublin). Gavin was appointed curate in Sacred Heart parish, Killinarden, [Tallaght](/source/Tallaght), in 1994, where he also served as a teacher at the local [community school](/source/Community_school_(Ireland)), while also gaining summer pastoral experience in [Coram, New York](/source/Coram%2C_New_York) between 1992 and 1995.[2]

Gavin moved to Rome in 1996 to complete a [licentiate](/source/Licentiate_(degree)) in [canon law](/source/Canon_law_of_the_Catholic_Church) from the [Pontifical Gregorian University](/source/Pontifical_Gregorian_University) in 1999, and subsequently a [doctorate](/source/Doctor_of_Canon_Law_(Catholic_Church)) in 2002, with a specialisation in rotal jurisprudence. His published dissertation was taken in large part from uncredited sources, according to plagiarism researcher Michael Dougherty. In his 2024 book about plagiarism at the Gregorian University, a chapter is devoted to Gavin's "renovation plagiarism", which reportedly includes text copied from a dissertation on canon law submitted at [Catholic University of America](/source/Catholic_University_of_America) in Washintgton, DC in 1938.[3] During his time in Rome, he resided at the [Pontifício Colégio Português](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pontif%C3%ADcio_Col%C3%A9gio_Portugu%C3%AAs&action=edit&redlink=1) [[pt](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontif%C3%ADcio_Col%C3%A9gio_Portugu%C3%AAs)]. During his postgraduate studies, Gavin assisted at parishes in [Florence](/source/Florence) and [Benidorm](/source/Benidorm) through both summer and migrant ministries. Gavin also participated in the ministry of [Community of Sant'Egidio](/source/Community_of_Sant'Egidio) and collaborated with the community of [Missionarie di Cristo Risorto](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Missionarie_di_Cristo_Risorto&action=edit&redlink=1) [[it](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionarie_di_Cristo_Risorto)] and ministries led by local university students. He also gained summer pastoral experience in [Argentina](/source/Argentina), working with an [indigenous community](/source/Indigenous_peoples) in [Patagonia](/source/Patagonia) and accompanying a group of Italian university students on a mission experience in the [Diocese of San Miguel](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_San_Miguel_(Argentina)).[2]

Gavin returned to Dublin in 2002, where he was appointed curate in [St Andrew's Church](/source/St_Andrew's_Church%2C_Westland_Row%2C_Dublin), [Westland Row](/source/Westland_Row). During his time in Westland Row, he collaborated in a pastoral initiative centred around inviting and encouraging those who had drifted away to return to the church.[4]

Gavin was appointed vice-chancellor of the [Archdiocese of Dublin](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Dublin) in 2003.[2]

He was appointed parish chaplain in Our Lady of Victories parish, Ballymun Road, in 2010, serving as part of the [parish grouping](/source/List_of_parishes_in_the_Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Dublin#Fingal_South_West) centred around [Ballygall](/source/Ballygall), [Drumcondra](/source/Drumcondra%2C_Dublin) and [Glasnevin](/source/Glasnevin). During his time in Our Lady of Victories parish, Gavin developed the parish gospel choir to lead a Sunday evening Mass in the parish that was aimed at young people.[2][5]

Gavin was subsequently appointed chaplain to the Italian-speaking community in the archdiocese in 2015 and [chancellor](/source/Chancellor_(ecclesiastical)) in 2017. He also served as chaplain to the archdiocesan children's pilgrimage to Lourdes each Easter.[2]

## Episcopal ministry

Gavin was appointed [Bishop-elect of Cork and Ross](/source/Bishop_of_Cork_and_Ross) by [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis) on 8 April 2019.[6][7][8][9][10] His appointment was seen as historic, as he was the first bishop not to have previously served as [auxiliary](/source/Auxiliary_bishop) or [coadjutor bishop](/source/Coadjutor_bishop) since 1847, and the first bishop to be born outside the diocese since 1763.[11]

Gavin was consecrated by his predecessor, [John Buckley](/source/John_Buckley_(bishop)), on 30 June in the [Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne](/source/Cathedral_of_St_Mary_and_St_Anne), [Cork](/source/Cork_(city)).[12][1]

He became the first bishop of the diocese to say a "station Mass" in November 2019.[13]

Ahead of the publication of a pastoral letter in August 2022 which outlined a restructuring of diocesan structures, Gavin stated in an interview with *[The Echo](/source/The_Echo_(Cork_newspaper))* that while the Catholic Church had served Ireland well in some aspects, its previously dominant role in Irish society had led to corruption and a loss of focus on mission. He also emphasised the importance of greater [lay involvement](/source/Catholic_laity) over a focus on the priesthood in the process of renewal.[14][15]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_1-1) Roche, Barry (30 June 2019). ["Church must reach out to those on the margins, says new Cork bishop"](https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/church-must-reach-out-to-those-on-the-margins-says-new-cork-bishop-1.3942300). *The Irish Times*. Retrieved 27 February 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:0_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-:0_2-6) ["Pope Francis appoints Father Fintan Gavin as the new Bishop of Cork & Ross"](https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2019/04/08/pope-francis-appoints-father-fintan-gavin-as-the-new-bishop-of-cork-ross-2/). *Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference*. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Dougherty, Michael V. (21 May 2024). [*New Techniques for Proving Plagiarism: Case Studies from the Sacred Disciplines at the Pontifical Gregorian University*](https://brill.com/view/title/70376). Brill. pp. 73–104. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1163/9789004699854_004](https://doi.org/10.1163%2F9789004699854_004). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-04-69985-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-69985-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Buckley, Dan (8 April 2019). ["Father Gavin to become fourth bishop appointed by the Vatican to join Diocese of Cork and Ross"](https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30916294.html). *Irish Examiner*. Retrieved 16 November 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Bermingham, Darragh (26 June 2019). ["Cork's new Bishop: 'Honesty is needed to bring young people back to the church'"](https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-40145690.html). *[The Echo](/source/Evening_Echo)*. Retrieved 12 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-vatican20192_6-0)** ["Resignations and Appointments, 08.04.2019"](http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2019/04/08/190408b.html) (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Pope appoints new Bishop for Cork, Ireland"](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-appoints-new-bishop-for-cork-ireland.html). *Vatican News*. Dicasterium pro communicatione. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** English, Eoin (8 April 2019). ["Fr Fintan Gavin appointed as new Bishop of Cork and Ross"](https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/fr-fintan-gavin-appointed-as-new-bishop-of-cork-and-ross-916152.html). *Irish Examiner*. Retrieved 9 April 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Daly, Greg (8 April 2019). ["New beginning for Cork as Dublin priest takes the reins"](https://www.irishcatholic.com/new-beginning-for-cork-as-dublin-priest-takes-the-reins/). *The Irish Catholic*. Retrieved 9 April 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** MacDonald, Sarah (8 April 2019). ["Fr Fintan Gavin to be next Bishop of Cork and Ross"](https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/11565/fr-fintan-gavin-to-be-next-bishop-of-cork-and-ross). *The Tablet*. Retrieved 9 April 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** O'Donovan, Diarmuid (28 June 2019). ["The fascinating history of Cork's bishops"](https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-40147868.html). *The Echo*. Retrieved 27 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-rte20192_12-0)** O'Sullivan, Jennie (30 June 2019). ["Cork diocese ordains first non-Cork bishop in 300 years"](https://www.rte.ie/news/munster/2019/0630/1059267-dublin-priest-cork/). RTÉ. Retrieved 4 July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** O'Mahony, Kieran (11 November 2019). ["Bishop surprises parish to say 'station mass'"](https://www.southernstar.ie/news/bishop-surprises-parish-to-say-station-mass-4182083). *[The Southern Star](/source/The_Southern_Star_(County_Cork))*. Retrieved 16 November 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** O'Keeffe, Donal (27 August 2022). ["Bishop Fintan Gavin: Church 'paying price' for allowing its power to corrupt"](https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-40948934.html). *The Echo*. Retrieved 27 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** O'Keeffe, Donal (27 August 2022). ["More power to laity, less focus on priesthood, says Cork Bishop"](https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-40948688.html). *The Echo*. Retrieved 27 February 2023.

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Fintan Gavin](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Fintan_Gavin)***.

- [Bishop Fintan Gavin](https://catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop//bgavinf.html) on [Catholic-Hierarchy.org](/source/Catholic-Hierarchy.org)

- [Bishop Fintan Gavin](https://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/cork0.htm?focus=62618&tab=bishops) on GCatholic

v t e Catholic Church in Ireland Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference Dioceses Province of Armagh: Archdiocese of Armagh Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Diocese of Clogher Diocese of Derry Diocese of Down and Connor Diocese of Dromore Diocese of Kilmore Diocese of Meath Diocese of Raphoe Province of Cashel: Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly Diocese of Cloyne Cork and Ross Diocese of Kerry Diocese of Killaloe Diocese of Limerick Diocese of Waterford and Lismore Diocese of Kilfenora Province of Dublin: Archdiocese of Dublin Diocese of Ferns Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin Diocese of Ossory Province of Tuam: Archdiocese of Tuam Diocese of Achonry Diocese of Clonfert Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh Diocese of Elphin Diocese of Killala Bishops Archbishop of Armagh (Eamon Martin) Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise (Paul Connell) Bishop of Clogher (Lawrence Duffy) Bishop of Derry (Donal McKeown) Bishop of Down and Connor (Noel Treanor) Bishop of Dromore (sede vacante) Bishop of Kilmore (Martin Hayes) Bishop of Meath (Thomas Deenihan) Bishop of Raphoe (Alan McGuckian) Archbishop of Cashel and Emly (Kieran O'Reilly) Bishop of Cloyne (William Crean) Bishop of Cork and Ross (Fintan Gavin) Bishop of Kerry (Raymond Browne) Bishop of Killaloe (Fintan Monahan) Bishop of Limerick (Brendan Leahy) Bishop of Waterford and Lismore (Alphonsus Cullinan) Archbishop of Dublin (Dermot Farrell) Bishop of Ferns (Gerard Nash) Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin (Denis Nulty) Bishop of Ossory (Niall Coll) Archbishop of Tuam and Bishop of Killala (Francis Duffy) Bishop of Clonfert and Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora (Michael Duignan) Bishop of Achonry and Bishop of Elphin (Kevin Doran) Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Apostolic Visitor (Kenneth Nowakowski) Churches Armagh Cathedral Belfast Cathedral Cavan Cathedral Derry Cathedral Letterkenny Cathedral Longford Cathedral Monaghan Cathedral Mullingar Cathedral Newry Cathedral Cobh Cathedral Cork Cathedral Ennis Cathedral Killarney Cathedral Limerick Cathedral Skibbereen Cathedral Thurles Cathedral Waterford Cathedral Carlow Cathedral Dublin Cathedral Enniscorthy Cathedral Kilkenny Cathedral Ballaghaderreen Cathedral Ballina Cathedral Galway Cathedral Loughrea Cathedral Sligo Cathedral Tuam Cathedral List of Catholic churches in Ireland See also Knock Shrine St Patrick's Purgatory St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth List of monastic houses in Ireland List of Catholic schools in Ireland by religious order List of saints of Ireland Apostolic Nunciature to Ireland Holy See–Ireland relations Catholicism portal Ireland portal

v t e Roman Catholic bishops of Cork or Cloyne or of Ross 1540–1693 Cork and Cloyne Lewis Macnamara John O'Heyne Dominic Tirrey Roger Skiddy Nicholas Landes Edmund Tanner Dermot McCraghe James Miagh Robert Miagh William Tirry Robert Barry Peter Creagh Ross Maurice O'Hea Thomas O'Herlahy Bonaventura Naughton Eugene Egan Florence MacCarthy Robert Barry Boetius MacEgan Eugene Egan 1693–1747 Cork and Cloyne† John Sleyne Donagh MacCarthy Thaddeus McCarthy 1747–1850 Cork Richard Walsh John Butler Francis Moylan John Murphy William Delany Cloyne and Ross John O'Brien Matthew McKenna William Coppinger Michael Collins Bartholomew Crotty David Walsh Timothy Murphy 1850–1958 Cork William Delany Thomas Alphonsus O'Callaghan Daniel Cohalan Cornelius Lucey Cloyne Timothy Murphy William Keane John McCarthy Robert Browne James Roche John Ahern Ross William Keane Micheal O'Hea William Fitzgerald Denis Kelly James Roche Patrick Casey Denis Moynihan Cornelius Lucey 1958–present Cloyne John Ahern John Magee William Crean Cork and Ross Cornelius Lucey Michael Murphy John Buckley Fintan Gavin †During this period the bishops were also apostolic administrators of Ross

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[Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals):
- [Biography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Biography)
- [Catholicism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Catholicism)
- [Ireland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Ireland)

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