Our new Parish of the Resurrection was
launched in 1987 by Fr. Ralph Lawless OFM who was appointed Parish Priest.
Before that we had Fr. Paddy Toher ministering to the parish without a church,
school or presbytery. The initial gathering place for the community was 74
Tirellan Heights, which became known as St. Mary's Hall. It was there that
people gathered for mass and community events. Fr. Paddy Toher was replaced in
1982 by Fr. Sean Foy who did trojan work in building up the parish and
overseeing the building of the church itself, which was opened in 1984 - The
Church of the Resurrection - our church.
Over the next number of years Fr. Ralph
Lawless OFM with curates Fr. Tadhg Quinn (1986-1993) and Fr. Tommy Marrinan
(1994-1996) worked very closely with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, who
lived at 16 Tirellan Heights and who had a great input into the charism and
life of the parish. (See below the history of the Sisters).
September 2000 was a significant date for the parish as it was handed over to the custody of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and Fr. Sean Laffan MSC became the Parish Priest with Eamon Donohue MSC as curate. In 2005 during Fr. Sean’s time as PP an additional room was added, over the sacristy, for meetings and other events. This ‘Upper Room’ as it is now known, was blessed by, the then bishop of Galway, James McLoughlin DD. This room facilitated the newly formed groups that became a big part of the life of the parish. Such groups as Liturgy, Hospitality, Communications, Care/Maintenance, Active Retirements, Faith Formation, Prayer Groups, Youth, Finance, First Communion, Confirmation, Pastoral Council.
Fr. Sean Laffan’s term as Parish Priest came to an end in 2008 after which Fr. Gus O’Brien MSC became Parish Priest up to 2010 and Fr. Gerry Thornton MSC was Parish Priest 2010-2011. Fr. Kevin Blade MSC became Parish Priest in 2011 and remained so up to 2017. Other Missionaries of the Sacred Heart who worked in the parish during this time were: Fr. Pat Coakley MSC 2003-2004, Fr. John Finn MSC 2004-2007, Fr. Thomas Plower MSC 2011-2015.
In 2017 Fr. Tony Horgan MSC took over as Parish Priest as Fr. Kevin Blade’s term of office came to an end.
FRANCISCAN SISTERS’ PRESENCE IN
TIRELLAN HEIGHTS
'Our next house must be Galway' insisted Sr. Anne Marie Daly, Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, (FMM's), at an Irish Regional Council meeting.
A Galway insertion was first mooted thirty seven years earlier when negotiations began between Dr. Michael Browne the then Bishop of Galway and the FMM's to have the sisters secure a house in Galway.
Then in the early eighties a new, stronger, call for a Foundation in Galway was heard. An 'ad hoc' commission was set up and Bishop Eamon Casey when approached asked us to make a Foundation where we could render service Tirellan Heights, St. Joseph's Parish or Mervue Parish.
Tirellan Heights was chosen because: there were no other religious here, the parish priest Fr. Toher was 'longing for us to come and help him;' and the Franciscan Abbey's parish priest, Fr. Ralph Lawless ofm, advised us to go to Tirellan Heights.' Fr. Lawless, himself became parish priest of Tirellan Heights and Ballinfoyle.
We are getting ahead of ourselves an FMM Foundation in Galway finally became a reality on August 16th 1982 when CNOC MHUIRE (Hill of Mary) 16, Tirellan Heights, Headford Road, Galway was opened. The first community members were Sr. Bernadette Maxwell, Superior, Sr. Sheila Burke, Sr. May McDonald and Sr. Anne Marie Daly and their role was 'to help in any way they could in the parish. ' Fr. Toher, PP, was very keen that the sisters visit the people and try to create a community spirit as the houses of the new estate on the outskirts of Galway were only five years in existence.
To counter loneliness and isolation the sisters hosted a weekly coffee morning attended mostly by young mothers and their toddlers. The sisters also arranged a relevant lecture series finding the Western Health Board most amenable in providing lecturers free of charge and a free crèche. The sisters also started the Legion of Mary, a legendary yearly Sale of Work, arranged to have Readers for mass, held Gospel sharing during Advent and Lent, acted as Eucharistic Ministers, prepared parents for the Baptism of their Children: so the work grew and grew with certain numbers of houses being allocated for each sister to visit.
As the parish grew so did the sisters involvement.
The Church of the Resurrection was opened on May 12th, 1984 and Sr. Margaret O'Riordan joined the community in June. In 1985 Fr. Foy (PP) started asking Galway Corporation for a house in Ballinfoyle hoping it would include a Playschool, Home Management courses etc. - 'Number 60' became such a place with Sr. Teresa O'Flynn FMM running the Home Management Courses.
The sisters celebrated many jubilees and other feasts during their time here and had warm happy memories of the people and their generous responses to all they tried to do.
In November 1996 Sr. Catherine O'Beirne inaugurated her 'Junior Mission Circle' with about eighteen young girls who are enthusiastic about working for the missions.
Sr. Bernadette Maxwell left for Malta in 1987 and Sr. Teresa O'Flynn was appointed superior on May 1st.
Sr. Eileen O'Shea joined the community and worked with the Mercy Sisters who ran a hostel for children in Ballybane. In 1988,
Sr. Eileen also got involved with the Apostolic Workers.
Sr. Cathi joined the community in May 1990 and left for Kenya in October having learned English in Galway. Sr. Carmel joined the community. Sr. Carmel left for Belfast in October..
Sr. Anne Freyne arrived from Loughglynn to take over the work of the Resource House (No. 60), Ballinfoyle from Sr. Teresa O'Flynn whose time as Superior was complete and who left for our community in Brixton.
On March 28th 1993 Monsignor McLaughlin was consecrated Bishop of Galway in a beautiful ceremony attended by three of the sisters. July 23rd saw Sr. Monica Fields come to Galway where she was appointed Superior. Sr. Shiela Burke was transferred out of Galway in July 1993. On October 28th the Sale of Work realised 12,000 pounds! Sr. Catherine O'Beirne joined the community in December. The community remained unchanged in 1994.
In 1996 Sr. Anne Freyne left for the USA while Sr. Nora McDonald arrived in her stead. In September 1996 Sr. Anne Marie left for Rush and sadly her health continued to decline. Sr. Sheila Burke who lived in Galway for eleven years died in Clontarf in October 1996.
On November fifteenth Sr. Angela Hurley joined the community and in August 1997 Sr. Monica Fields left for Dublin and Sr. Carina Lee arrived in early September. In October 1999 Sr. Angela Hurley left Galway for a new assignment in Canning Town, London.
Sr. Ann Freyne returned to our community in December 2000. According to our records the first Parish Council meeting took place in March 2001. Sr. Sheila Stewart came in November 21st 2001 and there were now five FMM's in the parish.
Sr. Margaret O'Riordan moved to Rush in December and sadly died on February 6th 2002 the sisters were inundated by mass cards and well-wishers.
Sr. Monica Field returned to Galway on October 23rd, 2003. While Sr. Christine Burns joined in early 2004 and Sr. Sheila Stewart left for London. Sr. Catherine O'Beirne settled very happily in Rush.
Sr. Mary McGowan joined Galway community on January 16th, 2005 and Sr. Monica left for England on Easter Monday 2005. While on April 18th 2005 Sr. Bernadette Maxwell came to Galway as animator. May 14th, saw Sr. Valerie Malone arrive from Rush.
On August 20th Sr. Nora McDonell went to Rush amongst many expressions of thanks for the ten years she spent in Galway. Sr. Anne Freyne was assigned to the Scottish mission for which she left later in the year.
Sr. Bernadette Maxwell left at the end of April 2011 and Sr. Doreen O'Connor arrived on Monday, May 9th. Sadly, Sr. Bernadette Maxwell died on January 30th 2012 RIP. Although Sr. Doreen O'Connor was Superior, she was very unwell and left in March 2012 to live with the community in Rush. The following April saw Sr. Anne Freyne enjoy a farewell celebration in the Upper Room before leaving for Rush.
Sr. Joan Doyle was assigned here in April 2013 but never actually got to come.
Sr. Christine Burns’ health deteriorated somewhat and she left in February for Rush.
Sr. Mary Donnelly arrived in June 2014 and was studying until December when she joined the community full time.
Srs. Mary Donnelly, Mary McGowan and Valerie Malone continued to keep the community house going and were involved in the parish as much as they could. A thanksgiving Mass for the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, Tirellan Heights, Galway (who served in the parish of Ballinfoyle for over 34 years) was celebrated on August 23rd, 2015.
Back row left to right:Fr. Gerry Thornton MSC, Fr. Tom Plower MSC, Fr. Ralph Lawless OFM, Fr. Gus O’Brien MSC, Fr. Kevin Blade MSC.
Front row left to right: Sr.Peggy Finnian FMM, Sr. Carina Lee FMM, Sr. Teresa O’Flynn FMM, Sr. Marie Therese Chambers (Provincial), Sr. Mary McGowan FMM, Sr.Valerie Malone FMM, Sr. Eileen O’Neill FMM, Sr. Mary Donnelly FMM.