Centenary of Holy Cross, Ardoyne, Belfast

--- Page 1 --- centenary Holy Cross , Ardoyne Belfast of --- Page 2 --- PRAC-CHRIST-CHURO --- Page 3 --- His Holiness Pope Paul VI His Holiness Pope Paul VI --- Page 4 --- September 14th , 1969 # Seniorism . Reverend Columb humbly bag of Your holiness the The Community Rector , ex Audibus Valicaris , - Die 11' Julii 1969 . O"Donnell ,C.P.P.P.P.P.P.P. on the occasion of the Centenary of the Parish , of Holy Cross , Ardoyne , Belfast 1961 62m. # the Very and the Parishioners Archief . Avenue . 1934 # Benedictionem Apostolicam concedir Blessing Apostolic SSMUS DOMINUS . SSMUS DOMING BONEDICTIONem Apostolicam conceedi , 1930s b 1961 62m. fishing . Apostolic Blessing 1940 # --- Page 5 --- His Lordship most Rev. William Philbin , D.D. Bishop of Down and Connor --- Page 6 --- Passionist Church , Holy Cross , Ardoyne , Belfast --- Page 7 --- ment at all times the parish of Holy Cross is ever indebted . must thank God for this century that has passed . Our grateful expression must include not only our immediate parishioners , past and present , but also the Bishops , priests and people of the Diocese of Down and Connor and the many benefactors of the Passionists throughout the country . For their generous help and encourage- Centenary Souvenir . and loyal to the Church of Christ . the pioneers who laid the foundations of parish life in Ardoyne . From them came and expansion of the Parish from the humble origins of 1869 to the achievements Parish , Ardoyne . Looking back over the years that have seen the development Monastery and their's the credit for a tradition of Catholic life that is vigorous of the present age , one cannot but admire the courage and resourcefulness of piration that prompted the building of our magnificent Church and fulfilment of their heavenly vocation . will be met with the same courage and faith in God that has been distinctive of the age must occupy our thoughts . No longer can we depend on tradition , no longer can we remain isolated . The renewal of Catholic life as set forth in the teachings of the Vatican Council demands our attention . It is a challenge that the Holy spirit to direct , inspire and lead priests and people towards a deeper what of the future ? The changing condition of and present . As we thank God for these benefits , may we likewise implore The past is now history . Centenary Message from the Rector very Rev. Father Columbia O'Donnell , C.P. --- Page 8 --- a view of monastery church . grounds . from the Holy cross . holy cross . ardoyne . monastery --- Page 9 --- and sorely tried , but they continued , knowing Passionists , Fr. Eugene Martorelli , C.P. who the moon . ' The task facing the Passionist of the place , but we may guess rightly that to build a new Parish . With typical faith and pleased with the wild and commanding thatir parish extended from the Courthouse beauty of Ardoyne and the surrounding and gardens against the well-known back- gether the Catholic families and with them people of the district . They must have been and the possibility of another foundation was care of this new Parish in Belfast ? Later in parishioners could say humourously that ground of Divis Mountain . Later , the first house ? Could the Passionists take adequate of elegant trees surrounding the neat cottage pioneers was a mighty one - to bring to- countryside . They would have noted the lines the year , the decision was made the record exists to record their first impressions establishment in Ireland , at Mount Argus , confidence in God they faced the challenge . Brother were appointed to Ardoyne . No Many times that resolve would be attacked an attractive one . However , there were other before , the Passionists had made their first they received a warm welcome from the good there sufficient Religious to staff " this new welcomed the invitation . Only twelve years to the mountains and from the Shankill to considerations to receive thought-were Passionists would accept the new foundation in Ardoyne . Within a short time , two Fathers and a Centenary Souvenir . Ardoyne 1869-1969 --- Page 10 --- parish of Ardoyne had come to life and would remain . title was The Church of the Holy Cross . On who had performed the ceremony , expressed that occasion . Most Reverend Dr. Dorrian his delight and confidence that the new Centenary Souvenir . to be completely renovated and one of the extensive repairs had to be made . It is on Church took place in January , 1869 , and its chosen , plans were quickly drawn up and and they set to work at once . A site was finished and ready for use in the short period Christian community . It was an urgent task record that in 1890 , the whole structure had and women alike , the small structure was from this humble structure . Of necessity , worship that would be the heart of the new work begun . With willing help from men three years , the people of Ardoyne war- shipped , had their young baptised , solem- their arrival was to provide a place of of twelve weeks . The dedication of this nised their nuptials and buried their dead , In later years , additions were made to population continued to increase . For thirty- this stone and wood structure as the View of the First Church at Holy Cross with the --- Page 11 --- of us who pause on our way to the present place on Sunday , 18th May , 1902 . Present who worshipped there and whose noble honoured place for many years to come . Of parishioners , the joy of the day was tuged a hall and meeting place but eventually it on this occasion were Bishop Henry and His efforts and generously set the pattern for the stands the statue of the Sacred Heart , resting the small Church had been a part of Ardoyne front lawn of the present Retreat , where sufficiently completed to be used for Divine on the site of the original sanctuary . To those Eminence Cardinal Logue . For many of the mains to-day is the memory , enshrined in the in the old Church for the last time . For them had to be demolished in 1907 . All that re- Church , let us remember a prayer for those with sadness as they had assisted at Mass and in the hearts of many it would retain an Services and the solemn Dedication took course , it was not the end of the old Church ; for several years afterwards , it was used as Within two years , the work had been future of the Parish of Ardoyne . begged for their new Church . priests and people , prayed , foreboding was soon dispelled . Together , priests and people , prayed , worked and worked and --- Page 12 --- building . It was damp and in bad repair and will reflect the glory that is ours and will first beginnings were made . It may surprise able place for the Passionist way of life and tion of one of the Brothers in the Community established . Inevitably , years of hesitation funds for the building - a very difficult able and for a stretch of thirteen years it was for themselves . From their arrival in the newed their efforts far and wide in collecting energetic efforts the house was made habit- scious of the efforts that had already been they turned to the task of building a home made in building the small Church , the to be their home . At no stage was it a suit- arisen . A house had been rented , called dilapidated state in which they found the Edenderry Lodge , but the name believed the through voluntary labour , under the direc- district , problems of accommodation had us that the new Monastery was commenced in no fit state for residence . However , with Community were slow to make further de- constant efforts were being made to establish ment on the increase with every passing mands on the parishioners , though these task when wages were small and unemploy- passed and it was not until 1875 that the were anxious that the new Monastery , be At the same time , the other members re- week . Let us remember that trade unions did Most Rev. Dr. Dorrigan , who spoke of the not exist at this time and the threat of un- employment and poverty was a real one . Once again the main problem was how on the new Retreat was blessed and laid by a more permanent and suitable building . stand as a fitting monument of the faith of enormity of the task and encouraged every- the new venture could be financed . Con- Cross had erected their Church in Ardoyne , On 16th July , 1877 , the foundation stone past generations of parishioners . Holy Cross the retreat of the When the pioneer Community of Holy --- Page 13 --- The finished Retreat was built in the ure was that it was as yet not completed . The open portico supported by granite columns . freestone , relieved by bands of red stone , Romanesque style of architecture , of white The only unsatisfactory aspect of the struct- top storey was a temporary one with former the lives of priests and people who have live their lives to build an exciting future . except before God himself . To them and to God for them . It is permissible to look back , of our Parish we pay our tribute . Ardovne possibility to complete the work , but in 1931 , windows , not on the original plans . Whilst spiration : we must repeat their deeds and has been fashioned by them and we thank and the lesson to be learned is one of in- this was completed as it is to-day . all who have contributed to the vigorous life the heavy debt remained . there was no This brief history can only touch on the main events of the century and never reveal Centenary Souvenir . View of the Interior of Holy Cross Church from the High Altar --- Page 14 --- remember one very well . She was a great half a day and then worked in the big Mill alive , who gropingly try to recall the far-off " It stood in the grounds up there beyond The story covers a century . There are blanks in the memories of those few . still Half-timers , pupils who came to school for gaps in this story ; but so , too , are there days when there was only one school in the Parish of Holy Cross , Ardoyne . down the Crumlin Road . Teachers ? I the Monastery door ... . I remember the Centenary Souvenir . at Holy Cross , 1869 - 1969 Development of Catholic Education Holy Cross Girls' Primary School --- Page 15 --- immediately . " Could one of these ladies have School , Roll No. 10339 , on 8th November , the imagination of a tiny scholar ? It is cer- 1869 , are directed to draw up a Time-table Kate Gleeson and Catherine Boyle , ap- From this perturbed lady of ninety-four we was it ? Why can't I remember her name ? ' story-teller . Her name ? Let me think , what Victorian fashion , had been busy controlling tain that both teachers , dressed in sedate had hoped to get background information on Observation Book . In faded ink is written pointed Teachers in Holy Cross National that first school built by Father Ignatius old lady was one of those which appeared in the first entry in the District Inspector's of the School on the Feast of the Immaculate been the story-teller whose tales had gripped their pupils on the occasion of the Blessing in school development was reached . On the Conception , 1869 . Paoli in 1869 . Perhaps , the name that eluded the little Thirty-three years later , a further stage Centenary Souvenir . Saint Gabriel's Intermediate School 0 0 --- Page 16 --- in their hundreds , moved into the present needed in the Parish . The cost imposed a opened its doors to the boys of the Eleven- Nissen Hats appeared in all play-grounds ; an industrial area and accommodation had requirements of the growing Parish of Holy Belfast . It looked then as if the educational and with the passing of time , temporary class- Chief Street and the boys in Woodvale : and who had to pay 35% of the total amount : Huts , and still the Waiting List grew . to be provided for the rapidly increasing en- when Saint Gabriel's Secondary School Cross had been satisfied : the girls were in rooms became permanent fixtures . A whole rolment . Thus began the era of the Huts . School was vacated by the Junior Boys who . Wars . Holy Cross Parish , however , was in children . Modern School-buildings were but their generosity was rewarded in 1956 so the pattern remained during two World Plus age group . Three years later Woodvale heavy financial burden on the Parishioners Primary School in Butler Street . No school . provide free Secondary Education for all generation received their education in the The Education Act of 1947 sought to Centenary Souvenir . Holy Cross Boys' Primary School --- Page 17 --- Rev. Father Finbar Haughey , C.P. Rev. Father Conleth O'Reilly , C.P. Rev. Father Stephen Lafferty , C.P. Rev. Father Daniel M'Closkey , C.P. Rev. Father Conrad Haller , C.P. Rev. Father Jerome Maguire , C.P. Rev. Father Timothy O'Regan , C.P. Rev. Father Marcellus Gillespie , C.P. Rev. Father Aquinas McCarthy , C.P. Rev. Father Philip Moclair , C.P. Rev. Father Honorius Kelly , C.P. Rev. Father Martin Claffey , C.P. Rev. Father Ultran Devine , C.P. Rev. Father Fergus Loughrey , C.P. Rev. Brother Pashal Ross , C.P. Rev. Brother Angelo M. Donald , C.P. Rev. Father Dominic Poland , C.P. Rev. Father Aidan O'Reilly , C.P. , Vice-Rector Rev. Brother Denis M'Laughlin , C.P. Rev. Father Ailbe Delaney , C.P. at Holy Cross : Very Rev. Father Columb O'Donnell , C.P. , Rector The following are members of the present Community Community of Holy Cross , Ardoyne External statements .000 000 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 printed by : P. Quinn and Co. Ltd. 36-38 Church Street Belfast BTI 1