Church of the Sacred Heart, Moneenroe
The
fine Church of the Sacred Heart in Moneenroe
which
celebrated 75 years of worship on Sunday 20th November '05
Moneenroe people turned out in big numbers on Sunday 20th November 2005 when they celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the Church of the Sacred Heart which was completed in 1930 replacing the dilapidated “Old Church” which in turn was completed in 1800. The special Jubilee Mass was celebrated by Dr. Laurence Forrestal, Bishop of Ossory.
There had been no church in Moneenroe until it was decided to change this situation in 1878. This Church was located at the back of the old graveyard and had direct access to the priests house. Also inside the gates stood the old two storey school which had one floor for boys and the other for girls.
The old church remained standing for seven years after the present bulding was finished, before it was demolished in 1937 by the well known Hetherington building family from Castlecomer. The stone cross which stood on top of the belfry was set in the boundary wall of the cemetery where it remains evident to this time.
The back wall of the garage at the priest's house contains a Holy Water Font which is believed to have come from the side annexe of the old church.
With the demolition of the old church began the building of the Community Hall and the piers and gates were re-erected as an entrance. The hall was completed in 1938 and officially openrd on May 29 th of that year.
Prior to the building of the old church, the nearest place of worship was at Kilpatrick which tradition suggests was the first church built in the Diocese of Ossory,dating back to the 13 th century.
The present parish was part of Castlecomer parish and Clogh Church, built in 1826, was the Parish Church for Castlecomer, the reason being that no church could be built anywhere on the Wandesford estate.
In 1831, the townslands of Aughatubrid (Chatsworth), Clogh, Cloneen, Kill, Tourtane and Moneenroe were formed into the distinct Parish of Clogh and separated from Castlecomer. Nine years later, Gurteen and Monteen, formerly part of Muckalee Parish were added.
The cost of building the new church in Moneenroe was quoted as £12,000 of which the working miners contributed £6,000 which had bee saved by the deduction of sixpence a week from their wages over the years prior to commencement of the building work. There were also some contributions from local farmers and non mining families.
A letter from the Bishop of Ossory, Dr.A. Brownrigg to the then Parish Priest, Fr. Charles Kavanagh is still on file which went : “It gives me great pleasure to hear that you are about to commence the building of the new Church for the mining district. Everyone who knows the hardships and limited circumstances of these people cannot but acknowledge that in undertaking this work, you are taking upon yourself a task of great anxiety, labour and difficulty. Yet you cannot draw back as the old edifice which dates back to the penal times, has been for years, in a state of ruin and dilapidation and is regarded dangerous for those using it for public worship... you have to make up £6,000 in the next few years before you will be out of debt, but it should be sure that there is no extravagance in material, useless additions or architectural outline, but rather a guarantee that it will be decent and becoming for it's purpose. As for procuring the £6,000 required, I will help in any way I can… To lead off your efforts, I enclose cheque for £100 to inaugerate your work and I will watch with deepest interest.”
Appeals went out to emigrants from the parish and a number of contributions came from different parts of the world.
The souvenir booklet contains reproductions of admission tickets to two fund raising events held in New York in 1929 and 1930, which were organised by people who had left the parish, some of whom never returned to their native land.
The foundation stone for the new church was laid on 4th November 1928 by the Bishop of Ossory, Most Rev. Dr. P. Collier. A procession was formed at Railyard Cross which escorted the Bishop to the old church, where Solemn High Mass was celebrated.
The procession was lead by Castlecomer Brass Band and Doonane Pipe Band. After the Mass, the Bishop was presented with a silver trowel by Architect Mr. W. H. Byrne, which was used to lay the foundation stone. Along with the foundation stone were placed two sealead glass containers. One carried a parchment containing the names of the Church, the Bishop, local clergy, the architect and builders, and the date.
The second contained six tiny bags of earth from the holy places of Jerusalem which were sent by a native of the parish living there.
Group of workers who played a part in the building of the new church - 1928
The main contractors were Messrs. Charles Doyle of Mullingar, who in taking regard to possible undermining of the site through the generations of coal extraction and following consultations with the architect and engineer, decided to construct one large concrete reinforced slab the full size of the church, on which the new building would be erected.
On the first Sunday of September 1930, the last Mass in the old church was celebrated by Fr. Rowe C.C. with a very emotive attendance. Many of the older people present openly wept at the demise of the building in which they had worshipped all their lives, where they were baptized, received their First Communion and Confirmation, were married and met every Sunday for Mass. One such member of the congregation was Jim Walsh who emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1949 and was home in September last to visit his family home on the Cretty Road. Jim recalled that emotional occasion and his most vivid recollection was of his grandmother crying for what he described as the only time.
The following Sunday – 14th September 1930 – Most Rev. Dr. Collier solemly dedicated the new church and it was named The Church of the Sacred Heart. Following the dedication ceremony, Solemn High Mass was celebrated by Rev. P. O'Farrell, a professor in St. Kieran's College, assisted by Rev. P. Rowe, Bursar at St.Kieran's College, Rev. M. Drea, C.C. St.Canice's Kilkenny, while the M.C. was Rev. C. McNamara, P.P. Castlecomer. The students choir of St.Kieran's under the conductorship of Herr Josef Koss, Professor of Music, rendered the sacred music during the Mass.
The sermon was preached by Most Rev. Dr. Staunton, President of St.Kieran's College.
An attractive booklet has been produced to augment the occasion and contains some interesting historical facts and photographs. It was compiled by Tom Fitzgearld, Chairman of the Jubilee Committee and will make a very good souvenir.