Blackrock Road Parish

Origin of St Joseph’s SMA Parish, Blackrock Road, Cork

The first establishment for the SMA in Ireland (April 1877) was Lough View on the Old Youghal Road, Cork. In October 1877 the SMA moved to a larger premises at Elm Grove, Mayfield, where a Secondary School for those who wanted to be missionary priests opened.

In June 1879 a property was purchased on the Blackrock Road from Madame Maria McCarthy who lived in France. She was the widow and executrix of John McCarthy (probably one of the McCarthy’s of the McCarthy Monument on the Blackrock Road, opposite the African Missions House). Fr Francois Devoucoux SMA began building a College and chapel, aided by a donation from a wealthy Yorkshire farmer, Mr Thomas Hinsworth.

The College cost £2,400 to build and was completed by April 1880. In 1881 the students were transferred from Elm Grove to the new College.

The Chapel – today known as St Joseph’s Church – was completed in 1881 at a cost of £1,499-3s-2d. The contractors were John Sisk & Sons.

The Church, which is intimate in scale and Victorian-Gothic in style, is cruciform in plan with a seating capacity of approximately 500. The walls are constructed in coursed square necked limestone blocks with clay bricked dressings around the doors and windows. The steep pitched slate-covered roof with ornate terra cotta ridge tiles is supported on exposed decorative trusses resting on the external walls and embossed corbelled pad stones. Gothic style porches give access to the building.

The design and painting of the stained glass windows was carried out by Cormac Mehegan in 1950 and the fabrication and installation by Tom Henley took four months. The windows portray St Joseph, Our Lady and St Therese.

The Church is Ireland’s National Shrine to St Therese of the Child Jesus, the Little Flower, Patroness of the Missions.

The Parish is created…St. Joseph’s SMA Church became a Parish Church on 6th September 1988. The present Parish Priest is Fr Alphonse Sekongo SMA, from the Ivory Coast, West Africa.

SUNDAY
Vigil Mass (Saturday): 7pm
Sunday Masses: 10am and 12noon

HOLY DAYS
Eve of Holydays: 7pm
Holyday: 7.15am, 10am and 12noon.

 
WEEKDAYS
Monday – Saturday: 7.15am, 10.00am
The Rosary is recited each morning before the 10am Mass.

During Lent: Mass at 6pm.
During Novena in honour of Our Lady (May): Novena Mass @ 7.30pm (except Saturday 7pm)
During Novena in honour of St Therese of Lisieux: Novena Mass @ 7.30pm (except Saturday 7pm)

 
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is available every Saturday at 10.30am and 6.15pm.
 
Parish Office phone numbers: 021-4616327 or 4616328
Fax number: 021-4292890     
Urgent Sick Calls: 086 8214709
E-Mail Address: [email protected]

PARISH SCHOOL

Baptisms – by appointment with Fr Alphonse. Three weeks notice required.
Weddings – by appointment with Fr Alphonse. A minimum of three months notice is required by Church and State. PreMarriage Course required.
 
Benediction & Devotions: Every Sunday evening at 5pm.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: Monday – Friday 1.30pm – 3pm.