Diocese of Limerick Home Page Heritage Project Home Page Index Search Help  

History   Corpus Christi   Priests
Churches

Corpus Christi Church

Corpus Christi Church
© Corpus Christi Church

The original Corpus Christi church was built in 1978 but it was destroyed in a fire on June 22, 1998 due to an electrical fault. Following the fire, a new church was built in its place. The architect was John MacMahon from Limerick. According to a plaque in the porch of the church, Bishop Donal Murray opened this church on the weekend of April 15/16, 2000.

Jesus healing the wounded man
© Jesus healing the wounded man

In the grounds of the church, on the left, there is a statue of the Virgin Mary. Four small windows in the porch of the church depict the Holy Spirit, the body and blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), chi and rho and the sacrament of Reconciliation. Chi and rho are the first two letters of Christ's name in Greek which are written as X and P with the P dissecting the center of the X. This is also called the Sacred Monogram.

Close up of the Altar in Corpus Christi Church

On the right of the church, there is a wood carving of Jesus healing the wounded man. The O'Shaughnessy family gave the Stations of the Cross, which are on both sides at the back of the church to the memory of Mary, Bridget and John O'Shaughnessy. They were designed by Fergus Costello.


Altar in Corpus Christi Church
© Altar in Corpus Christi Church

The baptismal font, the evangelarium and the ambo are to the left of the altar. The baptismal font depicts St John the Baptist baptizing Our Lord in the River Jordan. On the reverse side of the baptismal font, there is a carving of the descent of the Holy Spirit. The evangelarium is the shrine for the book of the Gospels.

The Evangelarium
© The Evangelarium
Baptismal font
© Baptismal font


At the top of the lectern is the ox, which is the symbol for Luke and underneath it is the lion, which is the symbol for Mark. Then there is the symbol of the eagle, which represents John, and finally the man is the biblical symbol for Matthew. The sedilia (the priest's chair) behind the ambo depicts the Good Shepherd.

Lectern in Corpus Christi Church   Sedilia (Priest's Chair) in Corpus Christi Church
© Lectern and Sedilia in Corpus Christi Church

A stained glass window on the left-hand side of the church shows children caring for each other with God's blessing. Also on the left wall of the church is the oumbry. Contained within the oumbry are the blessed oils for use in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and Anointing the Sick.

Stained Glass Window of the Holy Family
© Stained Glass Window
of the Holy Family

The O'Shaughnessy family also gave the sculpture of the Risen Christ that is behind the main altar. This piece was carved from a root system of bog pine, which has been extinct in Ireland for 1,700 years. The main altar is made from a combination of sycamore and ash. Facing the congregation, there is a carving of a pair of hands holding the bread of life. To the right of the altar, is the presidential chair.

Tabernacle in Corpus Christi Church
© Tabernacle in Corpus Christi Church

The tabernacle was also carved from a root system of bog pine. The outer door of the tabernacle contains a panel of stained glass that survived the fire in 1998. It is one of the few remaining artifacts from the old church. There is a small stained glass window on either side of the tabernacle.

On the right hand side of the tabernacle there is a statue of Mary and Child while on the left of the tabernacle there is a statue of St Joseph. The church pews were designed and produced by Nolan Products of Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick.

Cross in Moyross National School
© Cross in Moyross National School

A cross, given by the Redemptorists is in the local National School, which is situated beside the church.


Heritage Project Home | Corpus Christi Parish Home | Back to Top

History      Priests