Treasured Rockhampton cathedral restored

Superlatives rolled freely off the tongues of those attending recent celebrations to mark nearly-completed restoration work at St Joseph's Cathedral, Rockhampton, reports The Catholic Leader.

Bishop Brian Heenan of Rockhampton said these and other compliments had come from guests at celebrations held at the start of September for the latest milestone in the cathedral's $6 million renovations which started in 2009.

Apostolic nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, and bishops and priests, religious and people from throughout the diocese and beyond attended the event.

Celebrations included a cathedral picnic and sacred concert on September 1, described by one of those attending "as radiantly uplifting, culminating in a combined ecumenical choir singing the Hallelujah Chorus".

The September 2 Thanksgiving Mass was a weekend highlight, with the cathedral and a large outside marquee packed.

Bishop Heenan, in his homily, took the congregation back to 1895 when "a courageous, small Catholic community, led by the first bishop, John Cani, embarked on the project of providing the fledgling diocese with a cathedral".

"After some delays, (the cathedral) was blessed by Cardinal Moran from Sydney in 1899. It was completed in 1981, the centenary of the diocese, under the leadership of Bishop Bernard Wallace."