The Parish of
Ballarat Cathedral
Churches
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St Patrick's Cathedral
3 Lyons Street South, Ballarat Central
Presbytery
Postal & Street Address 3 Lyons Street South, Ballarat. |
Phone 53 312 933 |
Current Parish News Parish News – 20-12-2020 in online format available for viewing here – or please visit stpatscathedral.weebly.com |
Website stpatscathedral.weebly.com |
Parish Office
January 2021 Office Hours
Wednesday to Friday
10.00am to 2.00pm
Mass Times
St Patrick’s Cathedral is closed to the public.
ATTENDING MASS: (Please arrive early to register your details for the Government requirements of contact tracing)
At this stage, bookings are no longer required for Masses at the Cathedral – you are welcome to attend any Mass through the side door of the Cathedral where there will be a ‘Contact Tracing Register’* for you to provide the names and contact details of all who are attending Mass.
Daily Mass:
10.00am Mass from Monday to Saturday
Weekend Masses:
Saturday Vigil at 6.30pm
Sunday 8.00am and 10.30am and 5.00pm
At all other times the Cathedral will remain locked.
*details are retained by the Parish Office, per the Government requirement, for 28 days; privacy is maintained and no details are shared with others..
Stay in touch with us via our Facebook page: Patricks Cathedral here
Or visit the Parish website: stpatscathedral.weebly.com
Reconciliation
(Sacrament of Penance, First Rite)
If you seek this Sacrament, it is currently available
after Friday 10.00am Mass and Saturday 10.00am Mass.
The Parish Office remains open.
If you would like to receive our Parish newsletter each week, please call or email the Parish office with your details and you will be included in weekly communication.
Our Parish website will also have more information, resources and updates.
Latest Parish Bulletin - 18 Dec 2020
Read More View ArchivesOur Parish
About
St Patrick’s Cathedral first conducted services from 1851 onwards, the parish of Ballarat was instituted in 1852. The first Parish Priest was Father Matthew Downing, who selected in 1853 the two acres site for this church which was granted under a crown Grant in 1855.
The style of the church is early Gothic from the era of Edward the 1st in the 13th Century.
History
Although Catholic Services were conducted in Ballarat from 1851onwards, the parish of Ballarat was instituted in 1852. The first Parish Priest here was Father Matthew Downing who selected in 1853 the 2 acre site for this church which was granted under a Crown Grant in 1855.
The style of the church is early Gothic from the era of Edward the 1st in the 13th Century. The dimensions are basically 150ft by l00ft. February 7th 1858 Bishop James Alipius Goold laid the foundation stone for the church which commenced being used on a regular basis for Mass in 1863. The miners presented the Bishop with gold nuggets which were formed into a Chalice and Patten which are today in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. With this exception all the presentation plate is still held by the Diocese.
This was Ballarat’s only parish church from 1863 to 1963.The official opening of the church was in 1871 and when the diocese of Ballarat was formed in 1874 the first Bishop Dr Michael O’Connor chose it for his Cathedral.
When St Patrick’s Cathedral Ballarat was finally consecrated in 1891 by Cardinal Moran of Sydney it was the first Catholic Cathedral consecrated in the Australian Colonies, making it today Australia’s oldest.
1887 Present High Altar & Stations of the Cross purchased in Rome. The altar is of Carrara marble inlaid with precious stones including Antico Rossi, Lapis Lazuli and antique marbles.
When St Patrick’s Cathedral Ballarat was finally consecrated in 1891 by Cardinal Moran of Sydney it was the first Catholic Cathedral consecrated in the Australian Colonies, making it today Australia’s oldest.
Present High Altar & Stations of the Cross purchased in Rome. The altar is of Carrara marble inlaid with precious stones including Antico Rossi, Lapis Lazuli and antique marbles.The stained glass windows were introduced in from 1883 the first being that over the chancel. Following this were the Lady Chapel window and Blessed Sacrament Chapel window. These three windows were made in Germany: note their slight variation in colour to the other windows.
The remainder were gradually added to, until complete in 1910. Of these, the first was presented by the Loreto Sisters representing St Brigid -note her Crozier- traditional mark of a Bishop. On the opposite side of the narthex is St Patrick’s window donated by the third Bishop, Bishop Higgins.—note the crozier piercing Aengus through the foot. Both these windows have the Holy Spirit uppermost. The side windows depict the parables.The tiles of the Sanctuary and side chapels are from Austria and those in the nave from Minton’s England. The first organ installed in 1867, was replaced with the Fincham in 1930.
Five of Ballarat’s eight Bishop’s are buried in the crypt.
Virtual Tour of St Patrick’s Cathedral
Personnel
Cathedral Clergy Bishop Paul Bird CSsR Fr Justin Driscoll (Administrator) Visiting Priests |
Parish Co-ordinator Anita Houlihan (Tues – Fri) Finance Officer |
Cathedral Parish Pastoral Associate for Base Hospital TBA Parish Safeguarding Officer |
Ministries | ||
Baptisms Please telephone the Parish Office for information and to make a booking for Baptism. Funeral Ministry Team
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Weddings To book St Patrick’s Cathedral for a wedding, please telephone the Parish Office.Please click here to read the “Getting Married at St Patrick’s Cathedral” booklet.Please click here to obtain a Wedding Booking form. |
Godstart Program Sarah Kuek Catholic Women’s League Youth Ministry |
Friends in Faith Youth Group | ||
Altar Servers | Refugee Support Group | |
Charismatic Prayer Group | Communion to the Sick and housebound Parish Office |
Sacramental Program Please click here for ‘The Sacramental journey explained…’Please click here for Sacramental Program Registration leafletFor preparation dates, please call the Parish Office. |
RCIA Susan Crowe |
RCIC Anita Houlihan |
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Parish Primary Schools | ||
St Patrick’s Primary School, Ballarat | St Thomas More Primary School, Alfredton | Siena Catholic Primary School, Lucas |
Secondary Schools | ||
Loreto College, Ballarat | St Patrick’s College, Ballarat |
Resources
Policies:
Click here for Position Description Safeguarding Officer
Click here for Commitment Statement to the Safety of Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults
Click here for Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Code of Conduct
Click here for Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Safety Policy
Click here for Reporting Obligations Flowchart
Click here for Grievance Policy