Friday, September 6, 2013
A Query
I've asked this before, but here goes again...do any readers know of any churches in the Dublin area that are open outside Mass times? I am more interested in suburban churches than city centre churches. I am especially interested in chapels and oratories. (I know "phone ahead" is a good idea, but not for me as I hate using the phone and will avoid using it as far as I possibly can.)
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Pardon my ignorance, but are churches normally locked up outside mass times in Dublin? In Galway they are open all day, usually up to around 8 or 9 o'clock.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience they are mostly closed, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this is any use to you, but I believe the Church of the Holy Child, Whitehall has masses at 7 on Tuesday and Wednesday (at least) and I believe the Church is open for an hour before that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that! I do know that church and I attended the Mass you refer to for a few weeks. I think it's one of the ugliest churches I've ever seen though!
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, its website makes this claim for it, which is rather ambiguous:
"In October 1978 the first European T.V. Mass was broadcast from the Church. The Chieftains together with the Parish Choir provided the music."
What does "European T.V. Mass mean", I wonder? Could it really mean the first Mass broadcast on TV in Europe? I find it hard to believe that could have happened as late as 1978. Maybe it means something else.
I'm not really sure what it means, aside from what you suggested it might mean. If you think it's one of the ugliest churches you've ever seen then I guess we must be doing pretty poorly around here as the Blessed Margaret Ball church is even worse, complimented with acoustic church band and everything.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it about the church you think is ugly? I'm just asking by the way. I'm not offended.
Well, it's so enormous, for one thing...it somehow seems OUTSIZE, as though it was built for giants. I find something very alienating in its size and scale. The Last Supper altar-scene is too photographic for my taste. There are too many geometric patterns that don't seem to have any Christian significance, making it seem a bit like a mosque that was converted into a Church...those enormous space heaters...the fact that you can't see it all in one view...the colours are so muted and subdued and dull...the walkways are so narrow, leading to traffic jams when it comes to Communion...and (though it might be rather unfair to include this), a general feeling of melancholy that seems to pervade it.
ReplyDeleteOf course I could be completely wrong. I have been told by a commenter on this blog that I need my head examined for my taste in churches. But I know I always came away from Mass there feeling strangely depressed. It might, however, be its location as well, and the fact that I attended evening Mass.
I've never been in the Margaret Ball chapel, it only seems open on Wednesday, that's really weird!
Ha ha. Okay, so it's personal taste. I got a laugh out of your space heater comment though. Maybe you would like Blessed Margaret Ball then? I think BMB is really ugly though. Very protestanty looking. It's a weird round shape, the colours aren't much better, there is a ton of free space around the altar, and the tabernacle isn't in the centre of the church but buried in a wall off to the side. In fact, it's almost like a stage.
ReplyDeleteI do have rather Protestant tastes in church architecture but even given that, BMB chapel sounds awful from your description! Still, I'd like to see inside.
DeleteThe tabernacle off to the side is just unforgivable.
I actually think I am going to attend the Blessed Margaret Ball chapel on Sunday. I didn't realize it had Sunday Mass until I checked just now. Curious to see inside it since I have walked past it so often. Do you know if it has much of a congregation? I don't want that awful sinking feeling you get when you walk into a "regulars only" pub...
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I forgot to mention the times. Both Church of the Holy Child and BMB used to have 10 and 11 masses, but now BMB does the 10 mass. It's been about a year since I was there, but last time I was there a lot of people were attending (I'd say most of the pews are filled up, though there is still enough room for newcomers).
DeleteYou don't need to worry about being new to the place. I consider myself quite shy, but I never felt embarrassed about being there the odd occasion I attended. I'm not sure if it's a really close knit community. I'm sure there are a few people who talk after Mass, but a lot of people just leave. Most people don't leave as soon as communion has been offered which is a plus, though that may be due to the pews being closer to the altar.
Thanks for that. I'll check it out this Sunday. I've always been so curious every time I walked past it (which is quite often).
ReplyDeleteIf you don't like big churches, then you might not want to visit Mount Argus, but it is open every day from before 8.00 am until the evening Mass which is at 6.15, except on Sundays when the last Mass is at 4.00 pm. However, it is also worth a visit so as to pray at the tomb of St Charles of Mount Argus, the only canonised saint who died in Ireland!
ReplyDeleteThanks for that, Father. It's a bit out of my way but I will bear it in mind for whenever I might be passing that way! I'm glad to know it's open so early.
ReplyDelete