Fifteen years after the devastating Canterbury earthquakes in New Zealand claimed 186 lives and damaged thousands of buildings including the diocese’s historic Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, Bishop Michael Gielen says there is a sense of joy and anticipation as plans for the new Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament are unveiled.
Since arriving in the diocese four years ago, one of the questions most often asked of Bishop Gielen is, ‘What is happening with the Cathedral?’
“That question revealed something profound: the deep love our people have for their Mother Church. Over these past four years, through listening, prayer and discernment, that shared vision has taken shape…the vision has become a reality. Now, together, we can bring it to life,” he said.
The new Cathedral, that will bear the same name, will become New Zealand’s first newly constructed Catholic Cathedral in more than 120 years, a visible sign of hope, renewal and mission; a place of welcome, worship and witness.
Describing the project as both a profound privilege and responsibility, Bishop Gielen said the opportunity to build a Cathedral is one granted to very few generations.
While the loss of the original Cathedral was never a journey the diocese would have chosen, he said the faithful have embraced the challenge of building a new church that reflects both the enduring traditions of the Church and the needs of a contemporary Catholic community.
“We accept the challenge and embrace the privilege to build our own aspirational temple for the worship of God,” he added.
The design, developed over the past two years in collaboration with clergy, religious, laity and architects Warren and Mahoney, seeks to honour the diocese’s rich heritage while serving as a welcoming place of worship “that glorifies God, serves as a beacon of faith in our city, and responds to the realities of the present day.”
Inspired by the vision of Bishop John Grimes who led the building of the original Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, the new Cathedral continues a story that began with the arrival of Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier in 1838 and has been shaped by generations of Catholics who have built and sustained the Church in New Zealand.
For Bishop Gielen, however, the significance of the project extends well beyond bricks and mortar.
While new churches and restored parish buildings will help shape the diocese’s future, he emphasised that the Church’s true mission remains the proclamation of Jesus Christ.
The new Cathedral, he said, will stand as a sacred place where future generations encounter God’s presence while serving as a lasting witness to the Gospel.
Inviting Catholics across the diocese and beyond to support the project through prayer and financial generosity according to their means, Bishop Gielen said, “a new story is now being written as we prepare to build a new Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament at our spiritual home on Barbadoes Street.”
Entrusting the undertaking to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he encouraged the faithful to see the new Cathedral as the next chapter in the Church’s two-thousand-year story – a story of faith, resilience and hope that continues to unfold in every generation.
Approximately half of the $80 million needed to build the Cathedral precinct will come from insurance proceeds and the sale of select diocesan assets. Those funds will provide the foundation for building the Cathedral, Adoration chapel and a community space on the original Barbadoes Street site. A fundraising campaign to make up the shortfall has begun in earnest.
Faith in the future
The Canterbury region was changed dramatically on September 4, 2010. Five months later, 186 people tragically lost their lives in the second major earthquake.
Following 10 months of tremors, more than 100,000 buildings were damaged and 10,000 were demolished. More than half of the diocese’s 68 churches were damaged. Some, including the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, could not be saved.
To date, more than 20 churches have been repaired or rebuilt. While some repairs are ongoing, the diocese is also preparing to build six new churches, including the Cathedral.
Interested parties can visit blessedsacrament.nz to learn more about the project.