The Irish Times reports on the sale of the Sacred Heart Church, Limerick, to developer John O'Dolan for 4 million euros. (Roman baths: new plan for former Jesuit church). An application for purchase was also lodged by a tradionalist group who wished to use the Church as a centre for the Traditional Latin Mass.
The article outlines Architect John Kennedy's plans for the Church. They will involve "very little alteration to the church" and "virtually all of the fabric of the existing structure" will be retained, including all five altars. The nave of the Church will become a swimming pool surrounded by a glass wall so that people can still see the High Altar. also at ground level will be a restaurant and juice bar. The gym itself will be on a new floor, five metres above ground level. Here is a photo of the interior of the Church so that you can picture it all in your mind's eye:
O'Dolan apparently thought that it would be a nice idea to ask the Latin Mass Society of Ireland (LMSI) to come and say Mass from time to time. Their press release in response to the plans for the Church is headed Limerick group condemns grotesque O'Dolan plan Vicky Nestor, Chair of the LMSI, said "It's grotesque to think that we could fit the most sacred ceremonies of our religion around a swimming pool."Gillibrand has a brief parish history with a detailed description of the Church (Grotesque decision by Jesuits turns Church into swimming pool). It is heartbreaking to read it.
O'Dolan may be sincere in his desire to retain the altars but this is wrong because they contain relics of the saints and have been the resting place of the Sacred Body and Blood of the Lord. The altars, statues and other sacred artefacts from the Church should be removed and given to people who will be glad to take proper care of them.
The Irish Jesuit weekly newsletter, AMDG Express, has a two DVD set for sale. The first DVD has the "Closing Mass" and the second has memories of the Church from Jesuits and local people.
12 comments:
"They've closed the chapel at Brideshead, Bridey and the Bishop; Mummy's requiem was the last Mass said there. After she was buried the priest came in -- I was there alone. I don't think he saw me -- and took out the altar stone and put it in his bag; then he burned the wads of wool with the holy oil on them and threw the ash outside; he emptied the holy water stoup and blew out the lamp in the sanctuary and left the tabernacle open and empty, as though from now on it was always to be Good Friday. I suppose none of this makes any sense to you, Charles, poor agnostic. I stayed there till he was gone, and then, suddenly, there wasn't any chapel there any more, just an oddly decorated room. I can't tell you what it felt like. You've never been to Tenebrae, I suppose?"
"Never."
"Well, if you had you'd know what the Jews felt about their temple. Quomodo sedet sola civitas ... it's a beautiful chant. You ought to go once, just to hear it."
Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited
Father there is another story here:-
Architect John Kennedy of Waterford-based Elliot Design said the proposed scheme will involve "very little alteration to the church" and "virtually all of the fabric of the existing structure" will be retained, including all five altars.
One wonders if a re-ordering modernist British Bishop would have accorded the same respect to a similar architectural gem in this country? Presumably, under the directions of John Kennedy the post-VII altar will be removed to enhance the visual sweep of the interior? Given the beauty of the sanctuary, will the athletes all train ad orientem?
Fr Tim,
I followed the link to the Irish Jesuit website and I noticed that the priests featured on it are wearing civvies, melting into the background of secular society. Rather like the church which is about to become a spa, don't you think?
I know that priests in Ireland have to deal with above-average levels of public animosity for reasons we all know about. But even so, to me there's something cowardly about this deliberate avoidance of bearing witness. And this sort of "laicization of the clergy" must be contributing to the vicious circle of de-Catholicization in Ireland.
With apologies to fans of my favourite UK police series of the 1970s, "The Sweeney," I am tempted to say to full-time open-necked priests: "Get your dog-collar on, you're nicked."
Dear Francis, I follow your point. Before joining "Traditionalist ranks I used to go to Jesuit masses... and well, one thing is a jesuit at the Altar and quite a different one is a Jesuit after mass.
Anyway, I think too they should be wearing a collar, at least. Most of the times, it depends of the Prior, that might go "Relax", or might impose the collar, but no one would go beyond that...
Oh and Fr. Tim, keep up the good job! I've just been given the address to this blog and I love it!
Thanks to Paulinus for the evocative quote from "Brideshead Revisited".
Waugh really seems to have understood these things.
I would have thought all sacred objects, altar stones, etc., have to be removed from a redundant church to prevent their being desecrated.
What a pity the traditionalist group failed to buy this church.
I was going to look at the sunny side of this make a small joke at what would be the mother of all baptismal fonts...but, no, this is just really really sad.
What do you expect? They're Jesuits, after all... I thought they were into all that holistic healing and Reiki stuff, so having a swimming pool and spa in a church is pretty much par for the course...
What to do if I want the altars?
One point: I predict that the new owner will find it difficult to get planning permission to do anything radical with the interior.
How sad.
Paulinus, I was thinking the same thing. But don't forget the ending to Brideshead. If only real life came out as good. Better not to have had the tragedy in the first place though.
Karen
[not often one gets to trade BR quotes!]
The Dutch bishops, I understand, have a policy that no church may be sold for use for any other purpose. Superfluous churches must be demolished. The land may then be sold. I believe it is an excellent policy, and should be adopted everywhere before the Catholic church as a building loses all its symbolic value, as has already happened with churches of other denominations.
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