Invitation to historic moment

14 Aug 2013

By Robert Hiini

With the Swan River visible in the distance, a policeman wearing a cape to protect against the rainy weather watches the hearse carrying the body of Archbishop Clune leave Victoria Square headed for Karrakatta Cemetary in May 1935. Thousands packed the streets of Perth for the occasion. In an historic moment, Archbishop Clune’s remains will be interred in the Crypt of St Mary’s Cathedral at 7pm on September 3, bringing the remains of all of Perth’s former reigning bishops and archbishops together for the first time. The Archdiocese is keen for as many Catholics as possible to be present. PHOTO: Courtesy of Fr Robert Cross
With the Swan River visible in the distance, a policeman wearing a cape to protect against the rainy weather watches the hearse carrying the body of Archbishop Clune leave Victoria Square headed for Karrakatta Cemetary in May 1935. Thousands packed the streets of Perth for the occasion. In an historic moment, Archbishop Clune’s remains will be interred in the Crypt of St Mary’s Cathedral at 7pm on September 3, bringing the remains of all of Perth’s former reigning bishops and archbishops together for the first time. The Archdiocese is keen for as many Catholics as possible to be present. PHOTO: Courtesy of Fr Robert Cross

The death of Perth’s first Archbishop Patrick Joseph Clune on May 24, 1835 prompted some of the most extraordinary scenes of sorrow ever witnessed in Western Australia.

Catholics lined the streets surrounding St Mary’s Cathedral to pay their respects to a man whose visionary leadership is still paying dividends in the Archdiocese today.

Contemporary organisers hope to see something of that sentiment replicated in two forthcoming events marking the reinterment of his remains in St Mary’s Cathedral, the last of Perth’s seven deceased prelates to be interred in the Cathedral crypt.

The Archdiocese of Perth and the Redemptorists of North Perth have issued an open invitation to both a 6.30pm vigil service at the Redemptorist Monastery on September 2 and the 7pm reinterment Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on September 3. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB will be the chief celebrant at the Mass.

The reinterment has been planned to fall within a few days of the centenary of the Perth Archdiocese.

It also falls on the 119th anniversary of Archbishop Clune’s profession as a Redemptorist.

The remains of Archbishop Clune were exhumed on May 14-15 at Karrakatta Cemetery earlier this year. Enquiries – 9223 1351