A ‘new chapter’ in the life of St Mogue’s Church

- Róisín McManus -

The rededication of the newly renovated St Mogue’s Church in Bawnboy and the dedication of the new altar was celebrated by Bishop Martin Hayes last Sunday, June 7.

The celebration took place on the feast of Corpus Christi, and was followed by a Eucharistic Procession towards nearby St Aidan’s National School. A plaque commemorating the historic occasion was also unveiled at the front of the church.

Speaking at the mass, Bishop Hayes said that the rededication was a celebration of a “commitment” to faith and gathering for mass.

“It is appropriate to reopen this Church and dedicate the new altar on Corpus Christi, the celebration of the body and blood of Christ, that we gather around this altar, and celebrate belonging together as the body of Christ, as the wider parish of Corlough/Templeport,” said Bishop Hayes.

“The mission doesn’t end here, the mission continues. Our job is to build on our parish communities of faith. We rejoice in what we have achieved but we build on that and we continue to pray for God’s help in that regard,” he added.

The last time mass was celebrated in the church was to celebrate the Feast of St Mogue on January 31.

Works were completed across a four-month period by P. McGovern & Son, who was also the contractor for the original building in 1978; as well as Micheal Maguire Architects, Irish Contract Seating, Regan Cassin Painters, Armatile, Noone Carpets, Cavan Decor Centre, Kinsella Plumbing & Heating, KMS Electrical, Mountain View Garden Centre and Michael Shanley Brass Works.

A new altar was installed, which features a relic of St Oliver Plunkett, along with 12 Ash Pillars to represent the 12 Apostles, and a new ambo, presider’s chair, brass stand, railings, sanctuary lamp and flower stands. The stained glass windows on the former reredos were altered to fit above the internal doors.

The baptismal font was transferred from Holy Trinity Church, Kildoagh and the former baptismal font was changed into a holy water font. The statues were refurbished, including Our Lady of Grace that was donated to the Workhouse Chapel, and a new statue of St Mogue was commissioned from another statue that was in a state of disrepair in storage.

There was also new shelving installed, new wooden frames for the Stations of the Cross, and an engraved visitor panel placed around St Mogue’s Holy Water Font.

The candelabra were refurbished and the pews varnished and altered. Tiling, carpet and sacristy furniture was installed, doors were installed or refurbished and frameless windows, rooflights and radiators were put in.

Outside the church, there are new footpaths as well as new tarmac, landscaping, kerbing, drainage, and a new boiler, oil tank and garden shed were completed. The concrete canopy at the front was repaired and the walls were cleaned and re-pointed.

Thanking all those involved in the restoration of the church, including the St Mogue’s Church Restoration Committee, and church operations, parish priest Fr Sean Maguire said the day marked a “new chapter” in the life of St Mogue’s Church.

“We are eternally grateful to everybody who worked on site and spent so much of their energy and creativity on the project,” said Fr Sean.

“I pray that everybody who will walk through the doors of this Church in the future have their prayers answered and find peace and solace in this holy place.”