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WA’s only Catholic weekly newspaper Perth: 11 December 2003 Price: $1
Finishing it
More priests By Debbie Warrier
H
St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth showing the considerable difference between the 1865 building on the right and the 1929/30 building on the left. A new design Picture: courtesy archdiocesan archives is planned to give the archdiocese a complete cathedral.
Archbishop announces design decision is imminent
A
rchbishop Barry Hickey announced on Monday that the choice of the design for the completion of the Cathedral is imminent. The Archbishop’s full statement is on pages 8 and 9, together with illustrations of the four possible designs. The Dean of the Cathedral and Chair of the Cathedral Project Committee Monsignor Thomas McDonald said St Mary’s Cathedral was likely to be completed in 2006, a little under 150 years after it was started. He said the completion project would cost about $10 million, of which $2 million had been received through a generous bequest from the estate of Jim and Alice Hassell. “Cathedrals are meant to be a thing of beauty, to inspire, uplift and strengthen the faith of those who enter them. St Mary’s
Cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese, and this is a monumental undertaking,” the Dean said. Earlier this year, four local architects had been invited to submit concept designs by the end of November. They would be displayed in the Cathedral over the Christmas period and in some other parishes in the Archdiocese in January so that the public would have an opportunity to comment. The other parishes were yet to be decided. A choice of design and architect could be made by the end of February when the architect would be commissioned to prepare the final design and specifications. These would be submitted to the Perth City Council, the Heritage Council and other interested parties such as Royal Perth
Hospital. Depending on the time needed for the necessary approvals, work towards the historic completion of St Mary’s Cathedral could begin before the end of 2004, said Monsignor McDonald. The four architects chosen to prepare concept designs had all done considerable work for the Church and were given a comprehensive brief prepared by a Cathedral Project Committee. The stated objectives were to create a cathedral that served the contemporary liturgical needs of the Roman Catholic Church and the Archdiocese of Perth, and to reflect local architectural and building traditions including local materials and local craftsmanship and industry. Physical requirements included a spacious nave, clear sight lines to the sanctuary from all seating positions, wide aisles, no columns, seating increased to 1200, and improved acoustics. Innovations were to include a crypt, parking for a minimum of
100 cars, incorporation of a Parish Centre either underground or as a separate building on the site, and an adequate area off the narthex for a small holy shop/information/welcome area. The building is to integrate the three eras of building on the site: the 1865 Cathedral built under the supervision of the Benedictines; the 1929-30 building according to architect Michael Cavanagh’s design which is now the eastern end of the Cathedral but which was not completed because of financial problems as the Depression struck; and the new building which will overcome the problems created by the inability to complete the Cathedral in 1930. Historically, the first Cathedral in Perth is what is now known as the Pro-Cathedral of St John the Evangelist in Victoria Ave. This is the true heritage building of the Church in Perth. The foundation Continued Page 9
undreds gathered in St Mary’s cathedral to watch Neo Catechumenal seminarians Milton Arias and Clesio Mendes ordained to the priesthood, on Saturday December 6. Father Arias has been appointed Assistant Priest at St Mary’s Cathedral, in Perth from January 30 2004. Father Mendes has been appointed Assistant Priest at Good Shepherd Church, in Kelmscott from January 30 2004. The two new priests bring the total of ordinations from the archdiocesan Redemptoris Mater missionary seminary since its foundation in 1994 to 18 and the total of ordinations for the Archdiocese by the Archbishop to seven for this year. Archbishop Barry Hickey concelebrated the Mass with approximately 40 other clergy from around the Archdiocese. He welcomed those who had travelled from Fr Arias’ native Colombia and Fr Mendes’ native Brazil to be present for the special Mass. He told the congregation the 2003 ordinations of Richard Smith, Michael Merrifield, John Daly, Brandon Crawford, Thi Lam, Milton Arias and Clesio Mendes were cause for great celebration. “We should give thanks to God for providing for his people,” the Archbishop said. He described Fr Arias’ and Fr Mendes’ preparation for their ordination as a journey in their own personal formation, one that would continue throughout the rest of their lives. “Holy Orders is an invitation to be closer to God, to be another Christ amongst the people. It requires humility and the confidence that God will give us what we need to serve,” he said. Archbishop Hickey told those assembled the work of a priest was the continuation of God’s work. He defined that role in three specific areas sacramental, pastoral and a ministry of words. “As representatives of the coming of the Kingdom of God you will minister to those who need the care of the Good Shepherd and salvation,” he told the priests. The Archbishop then spoke of the current state of the world. Continued - Page 2 Photos - Pages 4 & 5