Nuns based in Nashville, Tennessee have come to the rescue of the Dominican Church in Limerick, which they are to keep open, despite the fact that the Order announced it was withdrawing from the city. The religious tide has been turned and St Saviour’s Church, Glentworth Street, will remain open and keep an 800-year association with Limerick intact, thanks to the Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia, who will take over the priory in the city and breathe new life into the church. Four sisters will arrive in Limerick from Tennessee in August 2016 and begin their work of prayer and community outreach. It has been confirmed that priests will continue to say Mass in the church. The Dominican Friars in Ireland announced it had embarked on a process of reorganising its commitments in Ireland in view of falling numbers and would be withdrawing from Limerick. Then in stepped Bishop Brendan Leahy. He made a speculative invite to the sisters asking if they would set up in Limerick. “I knew I would be in a long line of bishops making such requests but I decided at least I’d put my name down on the list,” he explained. “To my surprise,” he continued, “I got an immediate reply as the sisters came back to say they were interested in exploring the possibility. Two sisters came last summer and were very taken with Limerick where they received and hosted by the Mercy Sisters in Westbourne.”
Photo: The Limerick Leader
And today we celebrate...