V. Rev. Alan Hilliard cuts
a cake with a photo of
City Quay Church on top, following the final Mass of the quayside church ahead of its closure for refurbishment. Photo: City Quay Church.
Parishioners of the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, City Quay, said a temporary goodbye to their beloved church on Sunday, November 8 at the final Mass before the quayside church closes for 10-12 months for refurbishment.
Parish administrator V. Rev. Alan Hilliard celebrated the final Mass on Sunday, praising the community for their help in advocating for the church’s refurbishment, and encouraging a continued sense of togetherness for the year ahead.
Mass will continue at the community centre owned by the parish, a few doors down from City Quay Church, and events during the Advent season will continue online, said Fr Hilliard. “It won’t be an easy year, it will be frustrating at times, but sometimes that will bring us back to the light of God even more.”
The renovations will aim to “brighten up the space” and make it “more prayerful”, said Fr Hilliard, speaking to The Irish Catholic after Mass. He noted that City Quay, the only church on the quays to be open all day, not just for Mass, is consistently busy with visitors and parishioners coming in for prayer.
Parishioner Bernadette Scully, who crosses the river from the Northside to attend Mass, said to The Irish Catholic that City Quay is her favourite church, with a “nice community”. Asked about maintaining community during the year ahead, without the physical gathering place of the church, she said, “the people will make it work.” Similarly, parishioner Bianca, who has attended City Quay for a year after moving from Brazil three years ago, said she loves the environment of the parish community, and will continue to attend Mass at the community centre during the year.