“Well, What's Going on at the Cathedral Now?”

ISSUE 57 A Newsletter published by the Catholic Bishop of Christchurch June 2004 “Well, what’s going on at the Cathedral now?” That question was asked and answered strengthening the building without of $140,000, totalling thirty-four years ago in a large black and detriment to its intrinsic beauty. They $700,000 for which we white leaflet distributed throughout the recommended the interior bracing are most grateful. Diocese. It introduced the Cathedral of both the dome and twin towers, a Working drawings were Conservation Project (1970–75). With horizontal reinforced concrete overlay of completed in December the same vision and courage that the mezzanine floor and the pediment 2003, and three contractors with brought the building into being, Bishop across the portico, the reinforcement experience in strengthening buildings Brian Ashby had taken the decision of both the external and internal were invited to submit tenders. The to clean and repair the external fabric balustrades with horizontal steel ties tender accepted was that of Lund and of the Cathedral and to re-order and and vertical rods, the reinforcing of Son, who carried out similar work on refurbish the interior to meet the needs every second column in the gallery, the Anglican Cathedral. of liturgical change. and steel and wire bracing to the three Bridging finance has been arranged external crosses and the sculptured Strangely, history has a way of through the Catholic Development repeating itself, and the time has come angels atop the façade. Fund so that the work may be carried to answer that same question again: After preliminary drawings had been out in a single operation rather than “Well, what’s going on at the Cathedral completed, an application was made piecemeal when the grants become now?” to the Christchurch City Council for available, and the Diocese has since For some time, scientists and resource consent and the funding of assumed responsibility for all financial, insurance, and related matters associated engineers have been predicting a major the project. Given that the Cathedral with the work. earthquake for Christchurch City within has heritage and cultural significance, the next fifty years. It seems it is not a and the Council had previously A gathering to witness the formal matter of if but when, and in the light made substantial grants towards the signing of the contract was held at the of this warning many older buildings seismic strengthening of the Anglican Cathedral Presbytery on 3rd May, and in the City have been strengthened, Cathedral, it was felt that the same the work is now underway. It will be including the Cathedral in the Square. consideration should be given to completed in time for the Cathedral’s centennial year in 2005, and disruption In 2000, at the request of the the Catholic Cathedral. The Council to normal services should be minimal. Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament willingly granted consent, and agreed to Trust, a soil survey was undertaken in fund the project with five yearly grants Monsignor J. M. Harrington and about our Cathedral to determine the danger from earthquake-induced The Centennial Ball will be held in the liquefaction of the site on which it stands. It was found that the risk was Christchurch Convention Centre high—a judgement confirmed earlier on Saturday, May 28 2005. during construction work at the nearby Christchurch Polytechnic and Jade This will be a night to remember! Stadium. Mark it down in your forward In consultation with Sir Miles Warren, Consultant Architect for the Cathedral, diary. Further information in the the Holmes Consulting Group was next issue of INFORM. asked to propose a programme for 1 A letter from our Bishop Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ symbols of the heavenly realities”. So The 11th Ordinary General Assembly the Holy Father has called for the strict of the Church’s Synod of Bishops observance of the Church’s liturgical will take place in Rome from 2 – 29 norms and their external expressions. October 2005. The topic will be “The The Latin word ordo used in liturgical Eucharist: Source and Summit of the rites which must be done properly and Life and Mission of the Church”. Bishop in hierarchical order (cf. St Paul in 1 John Dew, Coadjutor Archbishop in Cor. 14.40). Wellington will participate. Finally three aspects are important: The recent Encyclical of Pope John Jesus through his actions at the Last Paul II, The Church of the Eucharist, Supper and particularly his words, refers to his Apostolic Letter Novo “Do this in memory of me”, did not Millenio Ineunte in which he made intend simply to institute a fraternal the appeal to know, love and initiate meal but a liturgy, a true act of worship Christ and states that a renewed impetus and adoration of the Father “in spirit in Christian living passes through the and in truth” (John 4:24); Eucharist. Liturgical reform did not lead to the It is hoped that preparation for May we receive all the wisdom and destruction of the secular patrimony of sharing at the Synod and the Pope’s teaching in apostolic times in the the Church but was intended to foster Exhortation to follow: Church Fathers, in Councils, particularly in faithfulness to Catholic tradition will lead to the Eucharist maintaining Trent and Vatican II and in the relevant the renewal of the liturgy for the and strengthening its central place interdicasteral and pontifical documents sanctification of Christians and in the Church at the universal and in the spirit we read in Acts 16:4; Paul The Lord has derived his Real Presence local levels, especially in parishes and and Timothy, “passed on the decisions in the Blessed Sacrament so that communities; reached by the apostles and elders in God Emmanuel might be, today and Jerusalem, with instructions to respect always, a God near to humanity as its that a necessary increase of faith in them”. (Lectionary, Saturday Fifth Week Redeemer and Lord. the Eucharist may result; of Easter) Every best wish, that the Synod may contribute to the In the Lineamenta, the Synod’s Sincerely, renewal programme in the life and preparatory document sent this month Christian mission of individuals and to all bishops, Roman Curia officials communities and and members of the Union of Superiors that the Church’s teaching on the General, we read of the need that the Sacred Eucharist might be taken up Roman liturgy, in its simplicity desires now and more profoundly received that “the sacred places and things might John Cunneen in its entirety. indeed be worthy, beautiful signs and Bishop of Christchurch Mary Potter’s Little Company of Mary: The New Zealand Experience, 1914–2002 by Ann Trotter, (Bridget Williams Books/Little highs in the early years and the later tragedy of the 1918 Influenza Epidemic Company of Mary House) pain at the selling of their hospitals and helped change these prejudices. Reviewed by Patrick Coleman convents are sympathetically told. As the LCM expanded throughout The name Mary Potter evokes images of A pivotal figure in the early years was New Zealand they set up the famous hospices with elderly or dying people. an Irish nun, Mother Xavier Lynch, based Calvary hospitals and psychiatric units However, the story of the Sisters of the in Sydney, who Trotter paints as a very as well. Trotter notes that the nuns set Little Company of Mary (LCM) who ran capable and formidable personality. She high standards and were often top in the hospitals such as Mary Potter and Calvary New Zealand medical exams. has never been told. Mary Potter’s Little personally oversaw the setting up of the Company of Mary chronicles the spread first hospital in Christchurch in 1914 on Trotter has provided a sound and of the LCM from England, Australia to the Bealey Avenue site now occupied by insightful study of the LCM who have New Zealand and also to Tonga. Southern Cross Hospital. The sectarian given and continue to give so much care tensions of the war years were tough for and compassion for the community. Ann Trotter, an Emeritus Professor of Highly recommended. History, from the University of Otago, the Sisters. The people of Christchurch has produced a “warts and all” account were suspicious of these Australian Patrick Coleman is a historian, reviewer of the LCM in New Zealand. All the Catholic nuns. Sheer hard work and the and Senior Tutor at Lincoln University. for the Feast of We are invited to gather as a Diocesan Marian Assumption of Our Diocese for Marian Devotions Lady as Patron of on this Feast Sunday 15 August Celebration 3:00pm Cathedral of the Blessed New Zealand Sacrament. 2 Letter from the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand on the new Liturgical Instruction 30 April 2004 either of two different approaches. One approach puts the entire Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ burden on regulations. The other approach puts the burden on Comment on the Instruction concerning Liturgical Abuses. catechesis – inviting and challenging us to better understand what is happening during the Mass and at each part of the Mass. We, your bishops, see the new Instruction on avoiding abuses in When people expect the liturgy to bring about in their own lives the celebration of Eucharist as a further affirmation of the sacredness what the disciples on the road to Emmaus experienced, they are of this great Sacrament. The celebration of Mass is at the very heart much less likely to trivialise the celebration in any way: of Catholic faith and Catholic identity. It is through union with While he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, Christ that our worship becomes worthy of God, not only during broke it and gave it to them.

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