Dear Friends,

I write to encourage you to support generously the appeal for the Cathedral at Rosscarbery, dedicated to my predecessor, Fachtna, Bishop of Ross in the 6th Century.

That, I, a Bishop of the 21st Century write of one in the 6th Century with such a sense of closeness, gives us not only the historial perspective but also makes us aware of the faithfulness of Christians down through the ages.

Our ancestors in the faith gave us beautiful buildings set in the midst of our human communities to point us to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to invite us to worship, and to encourage us to lean on him on our journey through life.

Restoration projects like this are not, then, mere exercises in the preservation of heritage: they are about providing a useful focus and springboard for the life and work of the people of God, who are trying to make their faithful contribution in their own time.

This is the truth we learnt when we were young - the Church is not a building, it is people. The purpose of this restoration work is to help the people of this Parish and Diocese to fulfil their Christian calling, summed up by Saint Peter when he said:

" Come to Christ, a living stone,...and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house" (1 Peter 2.4f).

Yours support and help would be greatly appreciated.

+ Paul Cork: