NZ Catholic Newspaper

Flooding sees Auckland cathedral concert cancelled

NZ Catholic Staff — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:58:35 +0000

by NZ CATHOLIC staff
AUCKLAND — A concert in St Patrick’s Cathedral on May 17 had to be cancelled at the last minute after nearby Liston Hall was flooded with water that could have been contaminated.
Students from St Peter’s College and St Mary’s College in Auckland had some items in the hall, when the flooding happened.
A concert featuring soloists, choirs and orchestras from both schools was to have been followed by a retiring collection to raise funds for the cathedral.
On May 17, a stormwater pipe in Hobson St was blocked by tree roots and, following heavy rain, water came up through a toilet system in Liston Hall, NZ Catholic understands.
The site was decontaminated by contractors working on May 17 and 18.
St Peter’s College director of music Antun Poljanich said he knew of one musical instrument, a flute, belonging to a boy that had to be decontaminated and have parts replaced.
Students were also seeking replacement school diaries at the school stationary shop on the following Monday.
It is understood some school bags belonging to St Mary’s College students may also have been affected. The flooding is believed to have occurred after the final practice session before the concert.
Mr Poljanich said the boys were disappointed at the cancellation as they really wanted to be at the cathedral and play for people.
“They are very passionate about it, it is a big thing,” he said.
He hopes the concert can be rescheduled. A lot of the St Peter’s students are involved in the school musical production starting in June.
The insurance situation was unclear, but NZ Catholic has heard it could be up to private policies.

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Fate of cathedral won’t be known for months

Michael Otto — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:13:09 +0000

CHRISTCHURCH — The fate of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament and several other Catholic churches in Canterbury will not be known for several months.
With insurance negotiations still ongoing, the diocese is in the early stages of preparing a strategic plan on the number and location of churches to be built. This will be presented to Bishop Barry Jones for consideration.
Lance Ryan, the chairman of the Cathedral Management Board, said the board fully supports the plan, as it was essential that all churches in the diocese are considered, and not just the cathedral.
“The planning group needs to consult with a wide range of people throughout the diocese while also looking at the changes that have occurred to the city’s population demographics.
“All these factors, as well as establishing the status of all insurance claims, need to be known before a comprehensive report can be completed,” he said.
While this plan is being considered, work on the basilica continues.
“We are really looking at three options — whether to demolish the existing building, to retain what we can of the basilica and rebuild to its former glory, or, in the short-term, whether or not to mothball the building until we have a clearer picture.
“Early indications are that the costs of retaining and rebuilding the basilica are in the vicinity of $100 million. The nave is the only part of the existing building that could be retained, but it will still need extensive reinforcing to bring it up to the required standard.”
The board is having costings prepared for the removal of the large organ and the stained glass windows.
Mr Ryan acknowledged it was a frustrating time for all, but they had to ensure they worked wisely.
“The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is only one piece of the diocesan jigsaw, and until we know all the pieces and the community has been consulted, we are reluctant to move with any haste.
“Getting it right is everyone’s first priority,” he said.

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Stolen chalices found

NZ Catholic Staff — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:55:19 +0000

by KATHLEEN CASEY
CHRISTCHURCH — A rare find shows the hand of God once more in Christchurch.
Squatters took historic and valuable chalices from the forbidden territory of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament and stashed them in the nearby Samoan Centre, where police found them before the theft had been discovered.
Of the 11 silver gilt chalices, one was presented in 1891 by Pope Leo XIII, one by Pope John Paul II on his 1986 visit and one by Bishop
Matthew Brodie’s mother on his episcopal ordination in 1915.
A number of other chalices were donated by local families and used regularly. Only very recently were construction workers able to enter the cathedral — and the theft was discovered.
Bishop Barry Jones was adamant no one was to enter the cathedral after the February earthquake, because of significant damage. After September 4, 2010, three workers were killed in the Durham St Methodist church while attempting to remove the organ.
The cathedral custodian of artworks, Max Broadbent, was delighted to have the chalices back. “Of course the thieves felt no need to heed the bishop’s directive and, with such a large building, they could have evaded security,” Mr Broadbent said.
The chalices are now in a safe place.
Mr Broadbent said that most of the cathedral’s valuable artworks had been rescued undamaged, including bronze tabernacle doors created by Ria Bancroft and a lifesize crucifix carved by Pat Mulcahy. Sculptor Llew Summers’ stations of the cross are fixed to the walls, but appeared to be intact.
Charges have been laid against the perpetrators, who also had other goods, such as mountain bikes, in their cache.
The Samoan Centre is not safe because the Christchurch Music Centre (formerly the Ferry Road convent) next to it could collapse.

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Christchurch Catholic cathedral dome to be taken down

Michael Otto — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0000

CHRISTCHURCH The main dome of the severely damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Christchurch is to be removed over several months to reduce the risk of part or all of the remaining structure collapsing. The cathedrals bell towers and part of its front façade collapsed during the 6.3 magnitude earthquake on February 22.
According to a statement from Christchurch diocese, an engineers report based on an exterior inspection revealed that the dome of the cathedral is forcing the weight-bearing structures of the building outwards.
This represents a severe hazard to the surrounding area.
Another earthquake like that of February 22 would see the dome topple.
It is expected the removal of the dome will be done by cranes operating at a distance from the building.
A meeting was held on March 2 between Bishop of Christchurch Barry Jones, diocesan officials and expert advisers, at which the damage to the cathedral was considered.
The diocesan statement reported that no decision will be made about the future of the cathedral until a detailed engineering report is generated.
This will occur when access to the building is safely restored, after the dome has been removed. The present state of the building is so dangerous, no one may enter it for any reason.
Bishop Jones told NZ Catholic that many Catholics in Christchurch are very upset and are grieving [at the damage to the cathedral] because it is very precious to lots and lots of people.
Bishop Jones said many people are hoping that something of the historic cathedral can be saved.
Designed to be of the form of a Roman basilica by architect F.W. Petre, the neo-classic cathedral was opened by the Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Thomas Carr, in 1905.
It was widely regarded as one of Christchurch’s most beautiful buildings and had had work done to strengthen it against earthquakes.
But it had not been used for Mass since being damaged in a September 4 earthquake.
The number of people confirmed as having been killed in the earthquake was 159 on March 2. That number is expected to rise to the mid-200s.
The eastern suburbs of the city and the central business district have been most badly affected. Most suburbs have electric power, but many are still without water and wastewater connections.
NZ Catholic understands Catholic churches at Lyttelton and Sumner have been severely damaged, and some others have sustained some damage.
Nonetheless, Masses went ahead at several churches in the city on February 28, which had been cleared as safe by engineers.
But in some other parishes where this was not the case, Masses were said outdoors or in other locations.

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