Five Franciscan friars who have set up a mission in Limerick's Moyross housing estate had a simple message for their new neighbours at the weekend: "We are staying."
Hundreds of people gathered in Corpus Christi Church in Moyross on Saturday afternoon for a special celebratory Mass to mark the official opening of the new Franciscan Friary in Delmege Park.
Addressing the large congregation, Brother Shawn O'Connor, local servant (superior) of the community, said he had been asked many times in recent days "how long are you going to stay?" "All I want to say in response to all these questions is: we are staying," said Brother O'Connor, whose comments were received with rapturous applause.
Bishop of Limerick Dr Donal Murray was the chief celebrant at Saturday's mass, which attracted more than 20 other priests from parishes across the Limerick diocese. Speaking after the Mass, Bishop Murray said he could not remember the last time a new religious order had set up in Limerick.
He added that he was delighted that the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal had chosen Limerick as the location for their first Irish friary.
The bishop acknowledged that the friars' presence in Moyross would remind many locals who have suffered as a result of recent violent incidents, that they have not been forgotten and that "these are people who care about them".
"Everybody needs a feeling that they count and that they matter. A lot of people here may be in danger of feeling that nobody really cares about their situation but thanks be to God things are changing, particularly with the likes of the John Fitzgerald report," said Dr Murray.
The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal were founded by eight Capuchin friars in New York in 1987 with a primary mission of serving the poor. Every member of the community is personally and directly involved in "hands on" work with the poor and all service is given completely free.
The order has bases in the Bronx, Harlem, New York, London, Honduras and Albuquerique.
A native of New York, Brother Shawn arrived in Limerick a month ago, and has worked in the South Bronx and the East End of London in recent years.
"We've had a great reaction since we arrived in Moyross. The neighbours have been so generous in particular one couple who stayed up until 2.30 in the morning to put tiles down on our kitchen floor. We didn't even ask them, they just came in and offered!" he said.
The new friary in Delmege Park, is called St Patrick's and consists of three basic council houses which have been interconnected by Limerick City Council.