Bonnybrook parish blessed to receive Papal altar 

THE altar used by Pope Francis when he celebrated mass in the Phoenix Park has found a permanent home in a Northside parish.  

Parishioners in Bonnybrook, Coolock, are now worshipping at the altar used at the Papal Mass in August 2018 after it was unveiled when their newly refurbished parish church reopened earlier this month.

The timing could not be better as St Joseph the Artisan Church, first opened in 1969, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. 

The church was closed for five months to allow for significant work to take place on the building.

The Specialist Joinery Group, based in County Derry, created the ambo (stand where the priest gives the homily) and altar for the closing mass of the World Meeting of Families.  

John Bosco O'Hagan said that without doubt creating the ambo and altar was the most important project of his company's lifetime.

To celebrate the refurbished church, a special Mass was held on March 9 which drew a huge crowd from the local community. Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin celebrated the Mass, and Father Joe Jones, Moderator of the parish, concelebrated.