By Robert Hiini
Parish Reporter
Archbishop Barry Hickey says that in his years of visiting cities and holy sites throughout the world, there is no building quite like Perth’s newly refurbished and completed Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or St Mary’s for short.
The restored and completed Cathedral consists of three sections from three different centuries: The western end from the original Cathedral built in 1865; the eastern, gothic end completed in 1930; and a new central section consisting of 10-metre high glass windows behind a façade of precast concrete columns.
From the Western, Murray Street entrance to the freshly landscaped grounds, a new processional forecourt complete with an Aboriginal mosaic lame designed by local artist Laurel Nannup gives way to the Cathedral’s redesigned entrance.
The original southwest tower of the 1865 frontage has been repaired and restored while a new, north-west tower has been added in a style that makes it distinct from the original in compliance with stringent heritage requirements.
What was previously the southern door to the porch has been moved to face the Murray Street entrance, housing the Cathedral’s new front door of iron and glass depicting the Good Shepherd as produced by Herne Hill blacksmith, Antonio Battistessa (the Cathedral’s fully restored tabernacle also features a depiction of the Good Shepherd).
Passing through the porch into the Cathedral, visitors are greeted to their right by statues of Mary MacKillop and St Joseph carved from a single piece of Jarrah by local artist Mehdi Rasulle.
A new "aumbry" sits alongside with three inset glass cabinets displaying the Holy Oils of Catechumens, Chrism and Viaticum for the Sacraments of Baptisim, Confirmation and Holy Orders as well as the Sacrament of the Sick.
Perth glass artist Peter Bowles designed almost all of the Cathedral’s new glasswork including the new Baptistery consiting of a Baptismal font of blue-glass on a Jarrah base mounted next to a pool that will accomodate baptisms of full immersion, with a new glass mural on the adjacent wall.
Floorboards that were removed from the Cathedral during the refurbishment have been reused along with some of the 200 year old Jarrah of the original pews which have been transformed by Glen Holst of Bridgetown into new seating designed to be more comfortable and ergonomic.
Looking straight down the middle of Cathedral, a new Jarrah altar sits in the middle of a new centralised sanctuary.
At the left-hand side of the rear of the sanctuary, the Archbishop’s "Cathedra" or throne has been installed, signifying the teaching authority of the bishop and St Mary’s status as the Seat of the Bishop.
A new Jarrah and glass ambo (lecturn) bears the insignia of the four Evangelists – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John with new seats placed immediately behind it for concelebrating priests and servers.
New Sacred Vessels and a new crozier were commissioned, with the resulting items being designed by Dan Flynn of Melbourne.
Pews surround the new sanctuary on three sides, providing seating for about 1100 people with the option opening-out the glass windows of the new section to ad hoc seating in the surrounding courtyards.
The old sanctuary in the 1930 structure makes way for the new Blessed Sacrament Chapel where the original tabernacle from the 1865 building sits in the centre in front of a Peter Bowles-designed glass screen, which will be lit according to the liturgical season.
The Celtic mosaics on the floor of the original sanctuary which were damaged in the 1968 Meckering Earthquake have been painstakingly repaired and restored.
A new Hobday organ has been installed in the adjacent Sacred Heart Chapel, which along with the 1930 section’s other two chapels, have been restored to their former glory.
The Cathedral’s original Dodd organ and choir loft have been relocated from the southern side of the 1930 building to their original location in the 1865 section, immediately above the entrance.
Stations of the Cross sculpted by Roleystone resident, Gerry Darwin were mounted on two glass and metal backdrops designed by Peter Bowles, adorning the north and south walls of the connecting section.
The completed St Mary’s also contains features designed to ensure access for people with disabilities with a newly installed lift and a hydraulic winch up the steps of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
An audio loop, floor markers for the blind and ramps up either side of the new sanctuary round out the suite of new access measures.
As St Mary’s functions not only as a Cathedral but also as the Parish of Perth, the new infrastructure Archbishop Hickey requested has been built under the Cathedral with meeting and function rooms, music rehersal space, toilets and an underground car park.
A crypt containing the remains of former bishops of Perth lies immediately underneath the new altar, which the Archbishop hopes, will eventually contain the bodies of all of the bishops of Perth to date and all of those hence.