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THE OPENING AND DEDICATION OF ST PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL
Almost ninety years after a new church for Bunbury parishioners was blessed and dedicated to St Patrick by Archbishop Clune on 27th November 1921, its replacement was officially opened and blessed as the new Cathedral for the Diocese by the 3rd Bishop of Bunbury, the Very Rev Gerard Holohan, on 17th March 2011, St Patrick’s day, in recognition of and gratitude for the patronage of the revered saint of the Emerald Isle.
The old church had served as a parish church for the Catholic community of Bunbury until 12th November 1954 when the Diocese of Bunbury was created whereupon it became the Cathedral for the Diocese with Bishop LJ Goody been appointed the first Bishop. Notwithstanding its new status, the humble building continued to serve the Catholic people of Bunbury as their main centre for celebration of the Eucharist and other communal liturgies for the next 50 years.
Early on the morning of May 16th, 2005, its use by date was well and truly announced to not only the good, upstanding citizens of the City of Bunbury, but very much all of Australia and indeed the rest of the World as well. A tornado struck Bunbury and wrecked havoc in a narrow, though extremely damaging path of destruction across the CBD suburbs of Bunbury,
Our cherished St Patrick’s Cathedral was a casualty of the intensity of that storm, having been lifted and moved from its foundations. Much to the dismay of the many people for whom the church-cum-Cathedral held precious, sentimental memories of family Baptisms, First Holy Communions, Confirmations, Weddings, and so on, its longevity could not be salvaged and the process for its demolition and planning for a new Cathedral was commenced.
After extensive consultations with Bunbury parishioners, the wider Catholic community of the Diocese, the citizenry of Bunbury and the South West, as well as state and federal government representatives, the necessary planning and funding for the construction of a new Cathedral was achieved.
Just 2 months shy of the 5 years since the momentous destruction of its namesake, an impressive and imposing new Cathedral has been erected on the site that overlooks the port and city of Bunbury. Lessons have been learned such that this new building is planned to have a lifespan of 300 years.
The Knights of the Southern Cross are proud to have been able to assist with the financial support for rebuilding a stronger and better cathedral to serve the archdiocese of of Bunbury into the future.
Updated June 2011
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