St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta
Encyclopedia
Roman Catholic Diocese of Parramatta
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Parramatta is a suffragan Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Sydney, established in 1986, covering the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.-History:...
and the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
, New South Wales, Australia.
History
With origins of the first mass occurring on the present day site of the Cathedral going back to 1803, St Patrick's was extensively re-built after a 1996 fire devastated the original church, established in 1854. A tower was built on the original St Patrick's Church, that was consecrated in 1880 and blessed in 1883. A cast broze bell was installed in the tower in 1904. As the needs of the parish grew, a new church was built on the site in 1936, incorporating the existing tower and spire (pictured above). When the Diocese of Parramatta was established in 1986, St Patrick's Church was designated as St Patrick's Cathedral.Building design and works
Under the incumbency of Bishop Kevin Manning and the then Dean, the Very Reverend Peter Williams, the current building was designed by Romaldo GiurgolaRomaldo Giurgola
Romaldo Giurgola AO is an Italian-American-Australian academic architect, professor, and author. Giurgola was born in Galatina, in the south of Italy in 1920. After service in the Italian armed forces during World War II, he was educated at the Sapienza University of Rome...
and the firm MGT Architects. Giurgola was commissioned in 1997 for the restoration and design of the new Cathedral complex after fire destroyed the previous building. Romaldo Giurgola was previously the architect of the new Australian Parliament House
Parliament House, Canberra
Parliament House is the meeting facility of the Parliament of Australia located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. The building was designed by Mitchell/Giurgola Architects and opened on 1988 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
A programme of major art works, craft and special design for the Cathedral was also undertaken at the same time so that the art, architecture and furnishings of the new Cathedral would be in harmony. The commissioned artists included Sydney sculptor Anne Ferguson (who worked in stone), Tasmanian designer Kevin Perkins
Kevin Perkins
Kevin Perkins is the executive director of the Canadian not-for-profit organization Farm Radio International since May 2006. He is also the founder and president of CAP Aids, a Canadian organization based in Toronto, Ontario which fights AIDS/HIV....
(who worked in timber), and Sydney sculptor and jewellery designer Robin Blau (who worked in metal). The new Parramatta Cathedral was dedicated on 29 November 2003.
The Norman and Beard late Victorian English romantic pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
was installed in 2006. This 19th century organ was originally installed in St Saviour's Anglican Church in Knightsbridge, London. A new organ case was designed by Stephen Bicknell in collaboration with Romaldo Giurgola, and the instrument was restored and installed in Parramatta Cathedral by Peter Jewkes and Associates.
The building design and construction team were awarded the 2003 Sir Zelman Cowen
Zelman Cowen
Sir Zelman Cowen, was the 19th Governor-General of Australia. He is currently the oldest living former Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:...
Award for Public Buildings from the Australian Institute of Architects.
Bishop and clergy
The current Bishop is the Most Reverend Anthony FisherAnthony Fisher
Bishop Anthony Fisher is the Catholic Bishop of Parramatta, NSW Australia and a friar of the Order of Preachers . He was installed as the third Bishop of Parramatta on 4 March 2010, having previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney.-Early life and education:Anthony Fisher...
O.P.
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
The current Dean is the Very Reverend Wim Hoekstra (appointed 2006).
The current Director of Music appointed in 2006 is Bernard Kirkpatrick, B.Mus. and Knight of the Holy Sepulchre
Order of the Holy Sepulchre
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the pope. It traces its roots to Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade...
. Other cathedral musicians include Organ Scholar, James Dixon, Assistant Organist Michael Taylor, cantors, St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir, and Cathedral Schola. Sung liturgical services on Sundays include 6.00pm Vigil Mass (Cantor); 9.30am (Cantor); 11.00am Solemn Mass (Cathedral Choir/Schola) and 6.00pm (Cantor). The cathedral offers stipends/scholarships to students who wish to sing in the choir or assist as cantors, as well as for the training of organists.