The New Oratory

We might begin in 1970 to find the seeds that led to the eventual growth of a Catholic place of worship on the Main Street. The old primary schools (boys and girls were separate) were replaced by St Patrick's PS (Dublin Street) and the building renovated to accommodate about 100 people for Weekday Mass and devotions.

On his appointment Fr Kearney began discussions with parish groups of parishioners and professional building advisors. It was apparent that there had to be an alternative to the proposed plan for a large modern Church at Moyle Road. The Oratory site in the Main street was very attractive and he concentrated on getting some movement that would further this idea.

From the outset, it was intended to construct a practical, yet worthy structure, that would be attractive without being pretentious or over-elaborate. Conscious of a recent history of repair bills to new Churches throughout the Diocese, demands were made for the use of proven building materials and techniques. At the same time the building needed to have a distinct character, a place of spirituality, different from the domestic and commercial buildings that would surround it. A guiding, though not absolute factor was cost. Our consultants, especially James Sammon ensured that the Parish got "Quality within Budget."

The last act of worship in our old Oratory (31st December 1999) was night prayer and Benediction a most fitting way to see out the 20th Century.. There was a very palpable sense of "the hand of history" as the Sanctuary lamp was blown out for the last time in the building that had come to the end of it's useful life. For all of us the wistful thoughts of what we were leaving behind were being replaced with a hope for what might come.

McMahon’s construction team arrived on site in mid Jaunary 2000. The chief architect Mr Gerry Loughrey personally invested himself in this dream for a garden of tranquillity, and was well served by his team of engineers, surveyors, draughtsmen and above all the building team of JJ McMahon and their sub contractors. They just about got it finished on time for the Official opening on 12th Nov 2000.

The stone that was Blessed and put in place by Bishop Hegarty on 2nd April after Confirmation, bears the inscription AD 2000. For centuries it lay on a ditch in Glenroan, no different from countless others around it, a cumbersome nuisance with no apparent use. Hopefully, for countless years from now it will direct generations to enter and give thanks to God for the graces He sends, and for those whose vision, sacrifices and skills made the building come to be.

The Old and the New

In a conscious effort to keep some of the sense of history that probably means more to most of the parish than we care to admit, even to ourselves, the Crucifix, which had hung in the old Oratory has been kept for the new building. The old stone Baptismal Font (unknown origin), that lay unused in the porch at St. Eugene's has been cleaned up to provide a Holy Water font.

Though, at the time of writing, it is in its ninth year, the Oratory as it is known despite its prober title “Church of Mary Mother of God” still has the feel and atmosphere of a new modern building. It is already established as that sacred place of peace and prayer, welcoming the visitor and parishioner into its own warm subdued atmosphere of calm and reverence. If St. Eugene’s comes from an area of an “impoverished under-privileged people” then the Oratory bears witness to a more confident, community, rooted in history and tradition but forward looking and welcoming of ideas, people and change. Their’s is a millennium project worth doing, and having away beyond any fixed date or whim of culture or fashion.