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Our Lady Help of Christians Church | Church Ruins

Our Lady Help of Christians Church

Our Lady Help of Christians Church
© Our Lady Help of Christians Church

Building commenced on Our Lady Help of Christians' church in 1979. It was opened for worship on November 15 1981. The church was renovated in 1997 after severe flooding the previous year.

To the right of the church, there is a stone the inscription on which states that the church was dedicated to Mary and was opened by Bishop Newman and Fr Gerard O'Neill SDB P.P. Near this, is the foundation stone of the church, which was blessed by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Limerick on October 1 1979.

Statue of Mary  Statue of Saint Don Bosco
© Statues in Our Lady Help of Christians Church

There is a statue of St Don Bosco talking to a schoolchild at the back right of the church. Don Bosco is the founder of the Salesian Order. Also at the back of the church, there is a statue of Mary, Help of Christians. Between these two statues, there is a plaque to the memory of Fr John Doran SDB. Fr Doran was a curate in the parish from 1981 until his death on March 21 1995, at the age of 48. His parishioners and friends erected the plaque.

Christ's Baptism - A Painting by Anne Fitzgerald
© Christ's Baptism
A Painting by Anne Fitzgerald
Stations of the Cross - A Painting by Anne Fitzgerald
© Stations of the Cross
A Painting by Anne Fitzgerald

Limerick artist Anne Fitzgerald painted the Stations of the Cross, which are on the left wall of the church. These Stations of the Cross are unusual in that they include a fifteenth station, which shows the Risen Christ. Over the baptismal font, which is to the right of altar, there is a painting of Christ's baptism, also by Anne Fitzgerald.

Jubilee Tapestry
© Jubilee Tapestry
Stained Glass Windows in Our Lady Help of Christians Church
© Stained Glass Windows in Our Lady Help of Christians Church


In addition, on the left hand side of the church there is a crying chapel. The chapel contains a hand painted tapestry from Zimbabwe, which shows creatures of the land, air and water and serves as a reminder of the story of Creation in the Book of Genesis. Also, within the chapel there is a tapestry celebrating the Jubilee year of 2000. There is also a stained glass window of Mary in the chapel.

Main Altar in Our Lady Help of Christians Church
© Altar in Our Lady Help of Christians Church
Tabernacle
© Tabernacle

The tabernacle is to the left of the high altar. There is an icon of Pope John Paul II by Desmond M. Kyne to the right of the altar. Near the right side door, there is an icon of St Patrick. According to the parish priest, the stained glass windows on the right hand side of the church are based on the Franciscan theme of Brother Sun and Sister Moon.

Icon of Pope John Paul II  Icon of Saint Patrick
© Icons in Our Lady Help of Christians Church

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