Well known Kildare church closed for renovations will reopen in July
The second church in Naas is staying open with enhanced services
The parish church in Naas will reopen on July 17.
The Church of Our Lady and St David, on Sallins Road, closed at the end of May for upgrade works to be undertaken.
And in the meantime the Church of the Irish Martyrs at Ballycane in the town is open as normal.
It has a new schedule, with masses taking place twice daily from Monday to Saturday and five times on Sundays.
The parish church is undergoing essential upkeep and maintenance works and parishioners have been thanked for their understanding, co-operation and encouragement.
According to the parish office the closure of the church requires “a certain flexibility and accommodation from all of us.”
And the temporary mass schedule which has been arranged “draws upon the flexibility of our sacristans, choirs, organists and all involved in the ministries of reader, eucharistic minister, altar servers, collectors and powerpoint operators.”
During the closure, parishioners are asked, if possible, to offer a lift to a friend or neighbour who otherwise might have difficulty attending mass as usual.
For those who can’t attend these services at the church in Ballycane can be attended “remotely” because a webcam has been installed there.
Meanwhile the work at Sallins Road includes the painting of the sanctuary, gallery, window frames and lower sections of walls - but the project is not a complete painting of the church. Independent advice suggests that the ceilings and walls are deemed to be in good shape.
All kneelers in the downstairs of the church will be removed and individually re-covered in new fabric at the ICS church furnishers factory in Dromod, County Leitrim before being returned and reinstated.
New shrines will be installed to the rear and front of the building.
Existing statues will be temporarily housed in the back porch of the church and thenc mounted upon the new shrines.
The statues of Our Lady and of St. David, currently in the left and right-hand corners respectively at the front of the church, will find new positions on each side of the sanctuary. The car park upgrade will see the resurfacing of the area immediately surrounding the church itself to include tarmac, creation of designated spaces for blue badge holders and clearly defined walkways for pedestrians.
There will be a significant reduction in space available for parking in this inner area.
These changes within the car park will ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. The organ has been due a significant overhaul for some time and, because the organ is heavily used, this work was held over until the church was closed.