Cross linked to Mother Teresa installed at Newtown church

A RESTORED ornate cross with a rich history, including being prayed before by Mother Teresa, is celebrating its golden jubilee by moving to its brand new home in Newtownstewart.

Unveiled at the Oratory of Mary Mother of God, Newtownstewart, on Tuesday, the 50-year-old mahogany crucifix, which was hand-carved in Italy, has been widened to fit the upright beam of the build, and features a 63-inch figure of Christ.

Kindly donated to the church by Belfast parishioner, Brendan Rodgers, the majestic 54kg artifact is now illuminated by two spotlights to show off its fantastic artistic and devotional beauty.

It was restored free-of-charge by Specialist Joinery Group, Maghera and, installed at the Newtownstewart oratory, also free-of-charge, by the talented tradesmen of the parish, Steven Canning; Steven Moore; Kevin Kerrigan; Barry McIvor; and Kevin McNulty,

Fr Roland Colhoun of Oratory of Mary Mother of God, Parish of Ardstraw East, describes the cross as a part of Belfast’s ‘ecclesiastical history’, and hopes it will become a tourist attraction for Newtownstewart.

“The restored crucifix is significant,” Fr Colhoun described. “It began life in Corpus Christi Church, Ballymurphy, Belfast.

“Corpus Christi hosted the funerals of the Ballymurphy Massacre victims in August 1971.

“There are photos online of the coffin of Fr Hugh Mullan in the main aisle, the first priest to lose his life in the Troubles.”

On Sunday, October 3, 1971, Mother Teresa of Calcutta attended Mass in Corpus Christi – the beginning of a two-year assignment by the Missionaries of Charity in Ballymurphy.

“She, along with her nuns, set up a mini convent in two Corporation houses on Springhill Avenue,” Fr Colhoun continued. “Accordingly, any time she was in Belfast, Mother Teresa attended Corpus Christi Church and prayed before this crucifix.”

In the early years of the new millennium, the 1971 church was demolished to make way for a smaller building, opened in 2005.

“The big cross from the demolished church was surplus to need, and a parishioner, Brendan Rogers, became its custodian for many years,” he explained.

However, when the parishioner learned in 2020 that Fr Roland Colhoun in Newtownstewart was in need of a new crucifix for the parish oratory, Mr Rogers very kindly delivered it as a gift.

“We now hope that it will become a little tourist attraction for Newtownstewart,” Fr Colhoun said.