Monday, January 03, 2011

Carmelite church in Moate reopens after refurbishment

The bishop of Meath, Dr Michael Smith, has rededicated the Carmelite Church in Moate, Co. Westmeath, following the completion of an extensive refurbishment project.

The church, which dates from 1868, had been closed for almost twelve months to allow builders proceed with renovating both the interior and exterior of the building.  

A new altar, shrines and floor have been installed as well as under-floor heating, a new sound system, carpets and lights.

The stonework on the building was re-pointed and it was totally re-decorated.

Bishop Smith paid tribute to the Carmelites’ work in the Moate community and in particular to Fr John Aidan Mulcahy, who died during the year and for whose funeral the church was re-opened.

The attendance also included the Carmelite provincial, Fr Martin Kilmurray, who thanked all involved in bringing the project to completion.  

Masses continued to be held in the Pastoral Centre while the renovations were in progress.

The small Carmelite community in Moate runs a weekly Eucharistic adoration on Thursdays and Triduums of Prayer in July and September annually to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Thérèse of Lisieux.

The community’s pastoral centre hosts an Active Retirement Group for older residents of Moate.

The Carmelites arrived in Ireland around 1271 and established foundations in Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow, and Whitefriar Street in Dublin.  

Around 1770, the site of the present church and priory in Moate was acquired for the Carmelites by a local benefactor, and after Catholic Emancipation, Carmelite communities generally established schools where they had friaries.

In 1845 the Prior of Moate set up a boy’s school and a girl’s school and the community subsequently set up St. Kyran’s Academy for second level pupils, which lasted until 1880 and then a secondary Carmelite College in 1949. 

Carmelite College was amalgamated in 1996 with the Convent of Mercy and Moate Vocational School to form Moate Community School, while the Carmelite Boys’ School closed in 1974.

In recent years, the Carmelites have collaborated with the Sophia Housing Trust Association to provide social housing and a crèche.

SIC: CIN/IE