This Article is taken from REGINA MAGAZINE
The Institute of Christ The King Sovereign Priest.
How The Light Of The Gospel Is Returning To Limerick.
The Institute of Christ The King Sovereign Priest is a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right, whose goal is “the honour of God and the Sanctification of Priests in the Service of The Church and Souls.” Its specific aim is to spread The Reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ in all spheres of human life, under the Patronage of The Immaculate Conception, to Whom The Institute is Consecrated.
In 1990, Monsignor Gilles Wach and Father Philippe Mora founded The Institute, in Gabon, on the West Coast of Central Africa, where they still have Missions. Today, the Mother House and International Seminary of The Institute is located in Gricigliano, in The Archdiocese of Florence, Italy.
The Sacred Heart Church,
Limerick, Ireland.
The Restoration Project.
By ACP Productions.
Available on YouTube at
The mechanism of the Telford Organ was so well constructed that The Institute was able make the Organ playable again, with minor repairs, thanks to the restoration work of Padraig O’Donovan, a young Organ builder from Cork.
Photo: Michael O’Brien.
To answer this question fully, I must recount to you the details of this beautiful story written by hand of Divine Providence.
The Institute of Christ The King has had the joy to serve Ireland since early 2006. At the request of certain Faithful, I began coming, monthly, then bi-monthly, to offer The Extraordinary Form of The Mass on The Emerald Isle. The process of acquiring Sacred Heart Church began then, when I first learned that The Jesuits were selling it. You can imagine what the sight of the closure of this magnificent Church would do to a Catholic Priest coming to Ireland for the first time.
Q. In what condition did you find the complex at that time ?
When the Jesuit Fathers sold the buildings, they sold everything in it. All the furniture and Liturgical items, even the Altar and Tabernacle, the Stations of The Cross, and the Pews. Most distressing was the removal of the Statue of The Sacred Heart, overlooking the main doors of the Church. This feature of the Church façade always had been illuminated at night, and was cherished by the people of Limerick for many decades.
Photo: Michael O’Brien.
Several years passed, and the property fell more and more into decrepitude, under the assault of Ireland’s often-unforgiving climate. Divine Providence, though, is not without irony and had special plans for this once-Venerated edifice. Thanks to many local benefactors, and important loans from the United States, as well as Germany, The Institute of Christ The King was able to purchase the property (a rare feat for our relatively new and small Institute). This allowed for the first Church in Ireland ever Dedicated to The Sacred Heart of Jesus to be reopened for His greater Glory and Honour.
Photo: Michael O’Brien.
How has the renovation progressed ?
Our first step was to replace the Statue of The Sacred Heart above the entrance. We then had the water turned on again and tried to clean up a bit. Next, we repaired the major leaks of the roofs and the gutters, for stopping any further damage was crucial to our restoration plans.
Photo: Michael O’Brien.
Finally, by the Fall of 2013, the old radiators in the Church were reconnected with a new temporary boiler, providing much welcomed warmth for the Liturgies and visits to Sacred Heart Church this past Winter. Now, we have also completely restored the Sacristy, fabricated a laundry room in the residence, replaced several copper gutters, and redone the pointing on the brick exterior.
Photo: Michael O’Brien.
Currently, our project is to install two Marble Adoring Angels on each side of The High Altar, as well as a beautiful Marble Pulpit, saved from another closed Church. In the end, we are not here simply to fix windows and boilers, but to integrally restore this Church to its former nobility, beginning with the Liturgy and ending in Contemplation of Our Lord.
Below are photographs of the Church, prior to the purchase by The Institute of Christ The King Sovereign Priest. The Photographs were taken by Michael O’Brien.
Photos by Michael O’Brien.
The closure of the Church was profoundly discouraging to the local community. It seemed to them that The Light of The Gospel was being overcome by The Darkness of The World.
Today, the Church’s resurrection has become a source of great hope and renewal for the Faith of the local Community, so sorely tried by the increasing antagonism of the Modern Culture and Materialism.
After we had opened daily, we Solemnly Prayed The Rosary before The Blessed Sacrament exposed for the month of October. The people were impressed by the reverence and beauty of the ceremonies, even if the condition of the Church was dilapidated.
Many visitors, who step into the Church for the first time after several years, are moved to tears to see such a young and vibrant Community totally dedicated to the Service of Souls and The Church. For some, it is like a passage to a bygone era from their youth. People often share stories and happy memories with us about their receiving the Sacraments or attending Mass as students, singing in the Choir, or listening to the Organ play. To witness some of this again is a true source of inspiration for them, and their subsequent Charity has been a grand consolation and motivation for us.
Photo: Michael O’Brien.
In the Winter of 2013, we decided to move permanently into the Church residence, despite its condition. On 29 January 2013, The Feast of Saint Francis de Sales, the Community moved into the residence. As the first act in our new home, we sang the Vespers of our Patron and Doctor of Charity. The building was without heat and the conditions rough. It would be more accurate to say we camped in the building for several months before it could be considered habitable. Even today, we still live with very basic bathrooms, the entire living quarters lack heat, and what we call a kitchen, more nearly resembles a campsite, with a sink and propane gas stove.
Photo: Michael O’Brien.
We work and Pray, gently and without haste, transforming the residence and Church. Personal sacrifices are necessary in reviving a dead building, and making the Church truly suitable for Divine Worship.
Despite the ever-present cold and damp of the residence and Church, we keep and maintain as much as possible the Order of our daily Community Life. Our days are rooted in The Sacred Liturgy: Lauds, Meditation, Holy Mass, Studies, Sext, work in the Church or residence, Vespers, Adoration, and Devotions to The Sacred Heart on Friday. Likewise, we have Mass, not only here in Limerick, but also in Galway City every Sunday and, occasionally, Masses elsewhere in Ireland – sometimes as far as Belfast.
Photo: Michael O’Brien.
We have received possible Vocations that have come to Limerick in discernment. Two of these may go to The United States in September as part of the Pre-Formation Programme for our Seminary. The Institute is Blessed with an Irish Religious Sister who has been with us for four years. She received the Habit from Cardinal Canizares, and now is preparing for her Final Vows.
Considering the much larger spectrum of Irish heritage, the picture is more interesting. The Institute has a number of Canons, Seminarians, Oblates, and Sisters, of Irish ancestry. Ireland, in former times a “model nation” sent out Priests and Missionaries across the World. Now, many Members of the Institute are thrilled to be able to give back to a Country that has given the world so much.
Q. As Choir-Master for The Institute, what can you tell us about the Sacred Music programme at the Irish Apostolate ?
In spite of the many urgent and pressing restoration needs, one of the very first things we did last year was to restore the Organ, considered by experts as one of the finest in Ireland.
Photo: Michael O’Brien.
Photo: Michael O’Brien.
(Editor’s Note: To support the restoration of Sacred Heart Church, go to their website to make a donation or download the “Trifolium Romanum” their monthly Newsletter. You can also follow the Institute in Ireland on Facebook and Twitter!)
