THERE were few groups in Brisbane archdiocese that had an opportunity to reach out to the churched and un-churched like the St Stephen’s Cathedral guides and welcomers. Thousands of people from all walks of life from across Australia and the world find themselves walking – or shyly peeking – through the doors of St Stephen’s every year. Retired media consultant ... Read More »
A MONOLITHIC Roman-style basilica founded and abandoned at Cathedral Place in Fortitude Valley was one reason it took more than 100 years to dedicate St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane’s CBD. St Stephen’s was a cathedral that confounded expectations. Every visionary saw it differently – bigger or smaller or forgotten entirely – the similarity was that it was never originally meant to ... Read More »
ST Stephen’s Cathedral parishioner Trish McMahon loved the serenity of the cathedral, particularly amidst the hustle and bustle of city life. She said there was a “real beautiful community spirit”. “As a parishioner, I just get that feel – the caring that’s there,” she said. “And that’s from everybody, that’s what I like.” She said the functions of a cathedral parish ... Read More »
IRAQI-born Saad Abdulahad Bashir, who worked as a statistician for many years, and Kemsley Kelly, a sugar-cane farmer from Childers who moved south to take care of grandchildren, share something in common. Both are two of the newest members of the St Stephen’s Cathedral guides and welcomers, alongside Gerard Poynting, Michael McKillop, Margaret Hogan, Don Keyes, Helen McGinty and David ... Read More »
HISTORIC St Stephen’s Cathedral will come alive again this Advent season, as the Lights of Christmas returns to Brisbane for its second year. Tens of thousands gathered around the cathedral in 2018 to celebrate the joy of Christmas with the extraordinary sound and light show designed by AGB Events, the creators of The Lights of Christmas at St Mary’s Cathedral, ... Read More »
AREND de Weger had just returned home from the Vietnam War when his brother invited him to a Young Christian Workers youth meeting, and Arend told him he had just been to war and was not a youth anymore. Fatefully, Arend showed up anyway. He was not even in the hall at St John Vianney’s, Manly parish, when he looked ... Read More »
POLISHING chalices, lighting candles, organising vestments for priests are all part of a regular day for Hayden Kennedy but that’s not all he does. Hayden is a full-time sacristan at St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane. At 24, he’s young for the role although he’s not the youngest on the cathedral’s team of sacristans. Another three young men on the team ... Read More »
THERE is a season for all things under heaven, and for Ray and Glenda Pradella there’s a colour pattern and floral arrangement to match. The couple has been arranging flowers at St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane for 52 weeks of the year for the past 22 years, quietly slipping in and out every Friday morning with fresh bouquets to match ... Read More »
FR Josh Whitehead has a surfboard lined up and he’s ready for his three-year placement in Caloundra parish. So far his ministry and the surf have had an inexplicable link. He learned to surf on his pastoral year in Maroochydore in 2017 before his Advent placement in Burleigh Heads. “I’m looking forward to getting back into surfing,” Fr Whitehead said. ... Read More »
The Catholic Leader Keeping Faith with You
