LAYERS of tarpaulins have been the only things stopping a major flood from washing away the priests celebrating Mass at St Stephen’s Cathedral for the past two years.
The 2014 Brisbane hailstorm that forced the closure of dozens of Catholic schools and devastation among churches, also pounded against the roof at St Stephen’s.
Cathedral dean Fr David Pascoe said rough weather had always forced a major clean up of the Cathedral’s sanctuary.
“Every time we’ve had a big storm, while the tarpaulins have been helpful, there is a leak over the sanctuary so we’ve actually had to mop that up and clean up after that,” Fr Pascoe said.
These regular clean ups should soon be ending after Fr Pascoe received approval to replace the damaged roof and weatherproof it with lead capping.
“I imagine nothing will have to happen after we do this for a long time,” Fr Pascoe said.
The renovations are expected to last up to four months and will include several changes to the Cathedral’s interior.
The Cathedral will receive new lighting, a new sound system, renovations on the Blessed Sacrament chapel including a new tabernacle and new crucifix, and the possibility of a cooling system that will be used in the hotter summer months.
The current crucifix above the sanctuary will remain.
There will also be hearing loop installed into the Cathedral, the first time it has ever been considered in St Stephen’s.
“If people can’t hear, there’s not much point,” Fr Pascoe said.
“They need to hear the prayers, the homily, all those sorts of things.”
Fr Pascoe said the renovation would include necessary additions to the already magnificent place of worship.
“It’s had numbers of renovations over its history, when the transepts were put on in the 1980s, when the Blessed Sacrament chapel was formed,” Fr Pascoe said.
“So it’s a bit of a balance holding onto the original design and concept, but also what’s for now and how do we hold on to the tradition but also at the same time, not so much innovate, but add to that original.
“They’re never static buildings.
“It’s a place of living worship and how does that work for people of today?”
Masses will continue inside St Stephen’s Cathedral, but during major interior renovations, they will be held in the chapel.
By Emilie Ng
