WelCom May 2024
Three days of celebrations to mark the long-waited reopening of the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Wellington will take place over the weekend of Friday 7, Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June, 2024.
Archbishop Paul Martin says, ‘I know people will be really delighted when they see the work that has been done and for us to be able to come home again to the Mother Church of our archdiocese, which so many are looking forward to.’
The cathedral has been closed for a number of years for strengthening and refurbishment. This work is nearing an end, making the cathedral both safe and helping it to be a place of beauty and reverence as well as a place of community and worship.
The reopening celebrations will begin on Friday 7 June with an evening Mass of Thanksgiving at 7.30pm, during which the Cathedra (bishop’s chair) will be returned to its place, and the doors of the cathedral will be opened once again.
On Saturday 8 June there will be a morning Mass at 8.30am, followed by a day of Adoration. Groups, parishes and chaplaincies are invited to lead an hour of Adoration during the day. At 5pm there will be an Ecumenical celebration of Evening Prayer.
On Sunday 9 June the Cathedral Parish will celebrate the 10am Mass as a ‘homecoming’ followed by brunch. Tours of the cathedral will be offered during the Sunday afternoon. The 7pm evening Mass will bring the weekend of celebrations to its close.
Debbie Matheson, Lay Pastoral Leader for the Cathedral Parish, has been part of the cathedral restoration leadership team since the cathedral was closed in 2018 and project work began in 2020. She says the parish has a newfound camaraderie, resilience, and stronger identity. ‘I believe these are very tangible blessings of the parish community’s “exile” of nearly six years out of the cathedral. Every completed transformation in the cathedral brings added excitement for the return to worshipping and serving our fiercely committed community in new ways.’
Parish priest Fr Patrick Bridgman says, ‘It’s an exciting time for the archdiocese and for the parish as we all return home to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. It really is looking very beautiful. So many people have been creatively involved in enabling the Cathedral Church to again be fit for worship of God. And what an incredibly active and involved parish is Sacred Heart Thorndon, with everyone ready to welcome all who come!’
Reopening weekend of celebrations at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hill St, Wellington
Friday 7 June
- 7.30pm Mass of Thanksgiving.
- Cathedra (bishop’s chair) will be returned to its place.
- Cathedral doors will be opened again.
Saturday 8 June
- 8.30am Morning Mass.
- Day of Adoration follows Mass – groups, parishes and chaplaincies are invited to lead an hour.
- 5pmEcumenical celebration of Evening Prayer
Sunday 9 June
- 10am Cathedral Parish will celebrate ‘homecoming’ Mass.
- 11am Brunch follows morning Mass.
- Afternoon – Tours of the cathedral offered.
- 7pm Evening Mass will bring weekend to a close.
Last stage of Cathedral fundraising needs $950k
Overall, the Cathedral restoration project has cost around $13m and just under $1m is needed to be raised to finish the work. For example the chapel and some external work still need to be completed.
As at 31 March 2024, $50,000 had been donated towards this goal, with a remaining target of $950,000.
Archbishop Paul says, ‘donations towards this amount would be greatly appreciated and are a real contribution to the life of the whole archdiocese’.
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). Donate online at: cathedralcampaign.org.nz/donation-form