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Rededication of St.Fursey's Church, Haggardstown

Church Re-Dedication

Many people from the parish of Haggardstown and Blackrock and from across the diocese joined with Cardinal Brady in rededicating the Church of St. Fursey in Haggardstown on Saturday 7 June. Fr. Oliver Brennan, PP referred to the day as the most historic in living memory in the parish.

Fr Brennan said: Today is the most historic day in the Parish of Haggardstown and Blackrock in living memory. The occasion of the dedication of a church and an altar is considered among the most solemn liturgical services. This is the most important liturgical event to be celebrated in the parish since Saint Oliver Plunkett’s Church, Blackrock, was opened and dedicated in 1923. The work on the construction of the Haggardstown church probably began shortly after Catholic emancipation in 1829, as there is a record of a wedding being celebrated in 1833. However, the church was not consecrated until 1854. At the outset the church was named Saint Fursey’s. Saint Fursa was born in Ireland in the seventh century and became one of the great monastic missionaries aboard, first in East Anglia and later in France.


A church is a place where the Christian community is gathered to hear the word of God, to offer intercession and praise to God, and to celebrate the Eucharist. There is a sense in which we shape our buildings and then our building shape us. This is especially true in the case of a church. The sacred space of our church environment can mould us, shape us and form us spiritually.

The second Vatican Council’s constitution on the liturgy speaks of the noble beauty which is befitting to a place of worship. The people of God deserve an environment that speaks of mystery, wonder and awe in God’s presence. The Church renovation committee, the architect Brian Quinn, the contractor Michael Denaghy and the sub-contractors have played a very important part in creating the beautiful re-construction of this nineteen century church. To all of them I am deeply grateful.

May we leave this church, filled with hope, knowing that we have here, God’s continual Presence, his gift of unconditional love, and the opportunity to share with others, in this church of Saint Fursey’s, that is steeped in tradition.
 


Welcome to the website of the Archdiocese of Armagh.

Our diocese of sixty-one parishes, from four counties, North and South of the Border, is knitted together closely to form the historic local Church of Armagh. As a diocese we seek not only to be faithful to the message of Jesus Christ himself, but also to embrace the challenges of the present and to look forward with confidence to the opportunities of the future. We strive to do this primarily by reflecting the healing love of Christ and the Truth of his Gospel through the ministry of his Church in the various parishes and pastoral agencies you will find outlined in this website.

I pray that visitors to this site may find the information it contains, the aspirations and resources it promotes, useful in helping to understand the mission of the Archdiocese of Armagh in building up the Kingdom of God in the twenty-first century.

We place it under the protection of Mary, Mother of the Church, who advised us to do whatever her son, Jesus, tells us. We invoke the help of the Patron Saints of the diocese, Patrick  and  Brigid, Malachy and Moninne  and the martyrs, Oliver Plunkett and Patrick O'Loughran,  that this website may prove to be of great help to all who strive to follow Christ faithfully.
 
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