The new Christchurch Catholic Cathedral complex is estimated to cost $100 million. – Originally reported 3 May 2021. The announcement was made Monday by the Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington and Apostolic Administrator of the Christchurch diocese, Paul Martin. The diocese hopes the whole complex will be completed within five years. To fund the project Martin Read more
The future of Christchurch’s Catholic Cathedral precinct is suddenly looking shaky. The ground shifted when the City Council revised its CBD roading plans. Developers – those putting up millions and encouraging growth – don’t want one-way streets near their sites. Not when they were supposed to be two-way streets. One of the many projects caught Read more
Three of Christchurch’s former bishops have been disinterred and temporarily moved to a mausoleum at the Carmelite monastery, Halswell, in Christchurch. The move signalled earlier on, is part of the demolition of the old cathedral. Bishops John Grimes, Edward Joyce and John Cunneen were moved to the mausoleum over a period of three days during Read more
Work to demolish the Barbadoes St frontage of the earthquake-damaged Catholic cathedral in Christchurch started on Wednesday. The $1.8 million demolition project began in September. Bishop Paul Martin announced in August last year that he wanted to demolish the cathedral, which was completed in 1905. He said the building was too expensive to restore and Read more
Two building projects received special blessings on Sunday from the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch’s Bishop Paul Martin. The $6-million building projects both started last year. The re-opening of Timaru’s earthquake-strengthened Sacred Heart Basilica, included a mass, the confirmation of about 30 children and the presentation of four papal awards. Sacred Heart Basilica had been closed Read more
Demolition of the earthquake-damaged Catholic cathedral in Christchurch has begun, but heritage campaigners still hope to save it. The $1.8 million demolition project is expected to take a year and started this week with three workers salvaging two stone angels from the front of the historic building. Catholic Bishop Paul Martin said he was sad Read more
Super-parishes are the way to go in Christchurch, with major changes planned for later this year. A plan to merge 12 of Christchurch’s Catholic parishes into five super-parishes has been given the go ahead by Bishop Paul Martin, who announced his final decision last month. The decision was six months in the making, based on Read more
This is a tale of two cathedrals. It’s a story of two bishops, a tragedy and even a prince. There’s more than one battle in this long saga and only one of the cathedrals will have a happy ending. Both buildings were severely damaged by the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes and aftershocks, and both sit Read more
A group of Christchurch Catholics who call themselves the Gatherings Group have requested an opportunity to further discuss Bishop Paul Martin’s 9th June proposal to close churches in the diocese. The group have asked that the current process be re-examined in two three-hours, or three two hour meetings – professionally facilitated and open to all – with the Read more
The Christchurch Catholic diocese has spent more than $15 million on several blocks of riverside Christchurch land. The purchases are likely to be the first stakes in a larger site for a complex which may include a new cathedral. Property and company records reveal the Catholic diocese has bought 10 vacant properties in the central city block bordered by Read more