A short history of numbers 35 and 37 Dominic Street (formerly Queen Street) have been now converted into the Lectio Centre. On the 7th of March 1871 the very Rev. Bishop John Pius Leahy introduced the Dominican Order to Newry, and the original four Fathers for a short time lived in a house in Hyde Market, before moving to a house in Chapel Street, where they had the use of St. Mary’s Chapel until 1875. On moving to Newry a Mr. John Quinn of Margaret Street was a great benefactor of the Dominicans. He owned a quarry field in Ballybot and this he offered to the Order as a Site for their new Church and Priory.
On moving to Newry a Mr. John Quinn of Margaret Street was a great benefactor of the Dominicans. He owned a quarry field in Ballybot and this he offered to the Order as a Site for their new Church and Priory. The foundation stone for the new church was laid in 1875 and for the new Priory in 1881. During these early years, while waiting for the completion of the building of the new Priory the Dominican Priests lived community life, studied, prayed and worked in No.35 and 37 Dominic Street.
Photographs of John Quinn and His Sisters and also the two houses. These are prints from the Book of the Golden Jubilee of the Dominican Church printed in 1928 and it is remarkable that the houses donated to the Dominicans by the Quinn family look exactly the same ninety years later! The original names Queen Street now Dominic Street and King Street now Francis Street were changed in the late 1950’s.
The Red Post Box which has been part of this Building for over ninety years and has during this time served the people of Queen Street and then Dominic Street will remain in its present position as part of the new Centre.
Completed the Lectio Centre has proven to be a valuable asset to the growth of lectio divina in Newry and further afield, providing a new space to hear and encounter the Word of God, and it was fitting that was opened during the Celebrations of 800 years of the Order of Preachers.
Father Ralph was and is most grateful for all whose donations make this Project possible.
(With thanks to John Fox initial editor)
The Renovations of the Old houses to make a new Lectio Centre
Images of the renovation of the buildings to establish the Lectio Centre, it was a major project which entailed completely removing the entire internals of both houses as well as the need for a complete new roof.
The finished Centre has three floor levels, the ground floor will consists of a Reception, Library, Kitchen, Toilets and a Lift, the first floor now has two Lectio Community rooms and the second floor has two ensuite Bed Rooms for Dominican guests.
Photos of the Celebration of the Opening of the New Lectio centre
