By Kate Heaney
SAINT Patrick’s Church, Murlog, Lifford is gearing up for major celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Clonleigh Parish Church on May 5.
At the heart of the community it is, and has been, a place of prayer, celebrations and farewells for the past sixty years.
It’s unusual design is the work of renowned architect, the late Liam McCormick, famed for his seven Donegal churches including Burt Chapel which was named Building of the Century.
To mark the milestone anniversary of St Patrick’s Church, Bishop of Derry, Rev Donal McKeown DD, will celebrate Mass there on May 5.
Speaking to the Donegal News this week Parish Priest Fr Colm O’Doherty, who has ministered at St Patrick’s since 2019, explained how the well-known architect had wanted to engage up and coming architects and artists to collaborate on the design and finish.
“Mr McCormick worked with then Parish Priest Fr Anthony McFeely who went on to become the Bishop of the Raphoe Diocese from 1965 to 1982. He had begun the project as far back as 1959 and travelled to Europe along with Liam McCormack and another architect, Frank Corr, to visit new churches being built in France, Switzerland and Germany.
“This helped to give a sense of the appropriateness of modern architecture as a solution of design of new churches in Ireland and their spiritual quality, which Fr McFeely always kept at the centre of his plans for the new church,” he said.
The stained glass windows were designed by Patrick Pollan and the Madonna and Child by Nell Pollan. Oisin Kelly was commissioned to create a work about St Patrick and he also created the four evangelists in mosaic which adorn the building.
The very large cross inside is the work of artist Imogen Stuart.
In 1964 the church was consecrated by the then Bishop of Derry, Dr Neil Farren, and dedicated to our national saint, Saint Patrick. Just ten years later the Parish of Clonleigh became an independent parish of the Derry Diocese. It had previously been part of the Parish of Camus (Strabane).
St Patrick’s replaced the original church which stood nearby from 1828 and its original tower still stands in the graveyard.
The church at Murlog replaced the former church which had stood there since 1828 but was now deemed to be too small to accommodate the growing catholic population of the area.
The 1828 building had itself replaced another church building, the first, which had been built in 1760 on the site which had been donated by the local landlord, The Earl of Erne.
Fr O’Doherty has seen congregations reduce, same as in every other church around the country, and the interior was revamped to reduce capacity which now stands at around 800.
“We have good attendances at weekends and we are all looking forward to the year of celebrations starting on May 5,” he said.
Other planned events include A Mass of the anointing of the sick on June 24; Family of Families Fun Day and Barbecue on July 31.
August 25 will see the visit of Arch-Bishop Eamon Martin and Primate of All Ireland, to celebrate Mass on the 50th anniversary of the Parish of Clonleigh becoming an independent parish in the Derry Diocese.
On December 15 a Christmas Concert will feature Queen’s University Concert Choir and Orchestra, local schools and special guests.
“As a parish community, the people of Clonleigh have one of the most beautiful church buildings in Ireland and it continues to be a place of great celebration and prayer,” Fr O’Doherty said.
“As we mark our jubilee this year, we hope that our church will always inspire people to be true to the faith that has been handed down to them over the centuries. Also for the generations to come, Saint Patrick’s Church, Murlog, will continue to be at the centre of parish life and a place where the faith will grow and flourish.”
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