St. Ignatius

Introduction

Saint Ignatius Church in Wishaw, within the Diocese of Motherwell, opened for worship on Sunday 21st May 1865.

History

The tower of Saint Ignatius was completed in December 1883. Bruce and Hay of Glasgow added the south aisle to Saint Ignatius in 1906. The original chancel of Saint Ignatius was remodelled following changes in the order of mass. Saint Ignatius was upgraded from B to A listed in July 2001. The original vestibule underneath the tower of Saint Ignatius was converted into a baptistery, with a stained glass window emblematic of Baptism.

Architecture and furnishings

Saint Ignatius has a square 3-stage bell-tower with spire, lean-to aisles and apse, built of squared and tooled yellow sandstone. The interior of Saint Ignatius has a 4-bay nave with pointed arch arcading to aisles, a wooden gallery to the west end, and a mosaic floor with cross motif.

The bell is 4 feet 2 inches across the mouth, with a total swinging weight of almost 2 tons (37 hundredweights). The bell was rung for the first time on Christmas Eve 1883 as part of the re-opening ceremony.

The sanctuary was remodelled with a new floor of Canadian Maple and walls panelled with Sapele Mahogany, and a new altar carved with the Last Supper, wheat and grapes was placed. The church has a collection of Dutch religious sculpture, some dating from the seventeenth century.

The stained glass windows flanking the sanctuary show Saints Brigid, Patrick, Margaret and Andrew. The church has diamond leaded glass and lilies pattern stained glass to the N chapel, and modern stained glass to the E end.

The church has a statue of Saint Patrick facing the entrance. The church has a fine oil painting of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the patron saint. The church has a small shrine to St Anthony and a statue of the Little Flower of Jesus. The church has a picture of the Divine Mercy. The church has a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Music and liturgy

The Rosary is recited half an hour before Weekday Mass. The pipe organ was replaced by an electric organ during the church's history, and that electric organ was later replaced by another electric organ.

The church holds Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. Divine Mercy Services are held before the Blessed Sacrament.

Parish life

The parish has a Home Visitation Group visiting the sick and lonely, a Bereavement Befriending Group for the bereaved, and a Pro Life Cell supporting single parents. The parish runs an R.C.I.A. programme for adults who wish to become members of the Roman Catholic Church, including those not baptised or baptised in another Christian faith.

The parish has organised pilgrimages to places such as Saint Andrew's, Tuscany, Rome, Lindisfarne, Venice and Portugal. The parish has a group of parishioners who gather each Friday after Mass to clean the church. The parish has a group of Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist who help with the distribution of Holy Communion at Mass and minister to the sick and housebound of the Parish on Sundays after Mass. The parish has a group of Welcomers who greet people at the main services, offer a Bulletin and Missalette, find seats, and assist with the Offertory gifts.

The parish has a group of Ministers of the Word responsible for proclaiming the Holy Scriptures on Sundays and weekdays and leading the Intercessions at all Masses. The parish has a group that provides religious objects, books, cards and calendars in the appropriate seasons.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish assists those seeking entry through the R.C.I.A. programme and parents seeking Baptism for their children. At the end of the Catechumenate, participants are invited to the Rite of Election in the Cathedral in Motherwell. Weddings and Baptisms are by arrangement with the parish priest.

Notable people and events

Rev. Father John Black served as parish priest of Saint Ignatius from 1859 to 1860. Very Rev. John Canon Mc Cay served as parish priest of Saint Ignatius from 1860 to 1893. Rev. Joseph Van Hecke served as parish priest of Saint Ignatius from 1893 to 1927.