Priest of the archdiocese
WelCom April 2023
Fr James Lyons,
Priest of the archdiocese
Anna Geremia-Young sells houses. She is also a wife and mother, has an Italian background and is a parishioner of Te Awakairangi (formerly Lower Hutt) Parish.
Her monthly advertisement in WelCom promises a donation of $400 to the Cathedral Restoration Fund for every parishioner who sells their house through her.
And she doesn’t mean only Lower Hutt parishioners. A sale through Anna from any parish in the Greater Wellington area will benefit the Cathedral.
What has prompted Anna to make this offer?
Her own home is not in the Cathedral Parish. She has very rarely been to Mass there and has little to do with the Thorndon part of the city.
‘The Cathedral belongs to all of us,’ she says. ‘For Catholics living in the Wellington region, the Archdiocese, the Cathedral is our mother church. We all have a stake in it and should welcome a chance to help its preservation.’
Sacred Heart Cathedral also reminds Anna of her Italian heritage.
‘The Basilica architecture is beautiful and so much like I remember from home.’
She is also concerned that, because there are not many examples of this architectural style in New Zealand, we can easily undervalue the little we have.
Anna reflects the message Cardinal John Dew and others have been stressing during the funding campaign.
As an architectural gem, the Cathedral has both a social and cultural claim to life. But primarily, it represents the foundation stone of Catholicism in the Archdiocese. It is the starting point of all our parishes.
Anna is right. We do all ‘have a stake’ in its preservation.
Can you help close the gap? If you are planning to sell your house, call Anna!
Every little bit helps
The old adage rings true: Every little bit helps! Donations, of whatever amount, will help and will be gratefully acknowledged.
You can donate to the Cathedral Restoration Fund by Internet Banking to:
Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish A/c: 02-0506-0138488-025
Particulars (your surname and initials)
Code (your phone no) Reference (reopen)
As an architectural gem, the Cathedral has both a social and cultural claim to life. But primarily, it represents the foundation stone of Catholicism in the Archdiocese. It is the starting point of all our parishes.