FAQs
Our Cathedral
What is the purpose of a Cathedral?
The Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Diocese, the place where the seat – or cathedra – of the Bishop is housed. It is a centralised place of worship, the visible sign of unity. It is where the Bishop gathers his people for major events in the life of the Diocese. Our Cathedral will be the home of the Cathedral parish and the broader Catholic community to live out their faith and fulfil their mission. Every Diocese has a Bishop. Every Bishop has a Cathedral.
Where is the Cathedral being built?
In late 2023 and early 2024, hundreds of Catholic individuals, families and groups took part in a community consultation process to help determine the location of our new Cathedral from three possible sites. The overwhelming majority of respondents (86%) expressed their desire for the Cathedral to be built on Barbadoes Street, which has been the spiritual home of our Diocese since it was established – and even for three decades before that.
Why is the campaign called “Honouring Our Past, Building Our Future”?
We chose this statement because it captures both where we have come from and where we are going. We are rebuilding on a site with deep historical and spiritual significance, a place shaped by the generations who worshipped, served and built Catholic community here before us. In doing so, we honour their faith, their sacrifices and their legacy. At the same time, this campaign looks forward with hope and purpose. The new building will include thoughtful references to our Catholic traditions, but it will also be designed to meet the needs of today’s community and those who will come after us. It will be a beautiful place of Catholic worship to gather in faith and welcome for generations to come.
What facilities will sit in the Cathedral precinct?
The master plan has carefully been worked through to determine the detail. The new Cathedral will sit alongside a Community Centre, a Perpetual Adoration Chapel, accessible and free car parking. Catholic Cathedral College will remain on its current site.
When will the Cathedral be built?
The Cathedral project is proceeding with urgency, but with great care. We will not be commencing construction until we are confident that we have sufficient funds to complete the project. That has been determined to be 90 per cent of the project cost.
Construction of complex buildings takes time and there is still a lot of design, engineering and consenting work to complete before any construction can commence. We believe, once commenced, construction is likely to take about four years.
How many people will fit in the Cathedral?
The Cathedral will seat 800 people in the body of the church, with additional capacity available in the narthex (foyer) and the adjacent Te Rangimarie community centre.
Will there be a parish hall?
The Te Rangimarie community centre will be accessed through the main foyer of the Cathedral. It will be able to host events for up to 300 people, with flexibility to create smaller breakout spaces.
Will you use any items from the old Cathedral?
A small number of objects have been salvaged from the Cathedral. Some, including three stained-glass windows that will feature at the Cathedral entrance, will be restored and reused.
Other Considerations
What is the plan for schools on the Cathedral site?
We want to create a vibrant Catholic community on the new Cathedral site. Catholic Cathedral College will remain, and we will explore other potential educational opportunities on the site.
Why don’t you spend the money for the Cathedral on helping the poor and the marginalised?
The Catholic Church is a major provider of support for those who are suffering and on the margins, helping hundreds of families each month through our ministries. Our energy and purpose to deliver those services is inspired through our worship of God, who urges us to care deeply for all people. It is from our churches that we are sent forth to love our neighbour through various acts of service and charity. Building the community of faithful to help those in need will sustain them regularly.
How will you support survivors of abuse?
We remain fully committed to meeting our pastoral and financial responsibilities to those harmed in Catholic settings. The Cathedral project does not affect that commitment.
Finances
How much will the Cathedral project cost?
The budget for the Cathedral Precinct build is in the vicinity of $80m. That will cover the 800-seat Cathedral, the attached Perpetual Adoration chapel and the Te Rangimarie Centre, which can hold 300 people for community events. Landscaping, parking and other external aspects of the project are also included in that budget.
How will it be funded?
Insurance moneys, fundraising and the sale of diocesan assets (mostly diocesan land) will be required to fund the project.
How was the fundraising goal determined?
Of the $80 million needed for the project, about $45 million was available through asset sales and residual insurance proceeds. About $19 million has already been raised or pledged through fundraising, leaving about $16 million still to find.
Fundraising
How do Parishes fit into the Diocesan wide Campaign?
Each Parish in the Diocese has been asked to participate in and raise funds for both any local parish project and the Cathedral campaign. These efforts are designed to work together, not compete.
The 18 parishes of the Dioceses have been asked to support the construction of our shared Cathedral, to a combined total of $14 million over the next several years. A parish’s share of that total has been determined based on current financial planned giving of each parish. This approach seeks to ensure fairness by linking each parish’s contribution to financial capacity – which varies from parish to parish.
If you are a member of a parish community and you wish to support the Cathedral campaign, it will help offset your parish’s pledge. It is important that when you make your donation or pledge, using this form, you nominate the parish that you belong to. That will ensure your contribution is attributed to your parish’s overall pledge to the Cathedral.
Why are we being asked to support both?
The Campaign represents a shared commitment that we are all in this together. By contributing to both, we demonstrate shared stewardship, building strong, sustainable parish communities while investing in the Cathedral – the Mother Church for our Diocese. This collective effort fosters a lasting culture of stewardship and fundraising, ensuring that we can sustain not only our current building projects but also the future care of our facilities for generations to come.
I’ve been approached by the Bishop. Does this mean my donation only goes to the Cathedral and not my Parish church rebuild?
No, if you have been asked to meet with the Bishop, he will ask you which Parish you are connected with. If you are affiliated, any donation/pledge you kindly make will form part of your parish’s contribution to the Cathedral. If you are not currently connected with a parish, your contribution will go entirely to the Cathedral.
Over how many years can a pledge to the Capital Campaign be paid?
Pledges may be paid up to five years, aligning with our planned five-year building timeline to ensure funds are available as construction progresses. We will need pledged funds to flow in steadily during this period to align with the project’s progress. We are grateful that your gift directly helps us move from planning to completion.
Does my weekly planned giving commitment to the Parish count towards a Capital Campaign pledge?
No. Contributions to the Cathedral project are separate from weekly planned giving commitments as they support your parish’s day-to-day operations while donations to the Campaign will fund the Parish project and contribute to the Cathedral project as described above.
Are you asking everyone to contribute?
Yes. This project is for the whole Catholic community, and will become an iconic place in our city. We want everyone to be involved.
Are you asking everyone to contribute the same amount to the campaign?
No. The Bishop wants every family in our Diocese to have the opportunity to be part of this spiritual growth of our Diocese by donating what they are generously able to contribute. This means that the sacrifice may be the same, but the dollar amounts may differ greatly.
How do I pay? Can I pay by Credit Card?
Yes, you can but please be aware that there are associated fees with credit card payments. Automatic payments are the preferred method of payment.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
If you are a New Zealand taxpayer, your donations should be tax-deductible. Information about this can be requested from our Diocesan Finance Team.
Can I give a single Gift / Donation?
Yes. You are welcome to chat with the Fundraising Team about making a one-off gift by contacting giving@cdoc.nz.
Why do you ask that I start my pledge now?
We are already incurring costs as we design and prepare detailed plans for the project. Prior to commencing construction, we will also incur significant costs through the detailed design, engineering and consenting process. Starting your payment now enables us to get started and better forecast our cash flows and provides the certainty and momentum we need to move forward with confidence.
I’ve already started a pledge. What do you want me to do?
Please continue with the commitment you have made. Your pledge has been included in budget planning for the Cathedral and hopefully won’t have to be changed. You can contact the Diocesan Fundraising Team at any time, and they can assist you with any increases, changes or resets.
How do I know where I’m up to with my pledge over time?
You can source an update on your pledge’s progress at any time by contacting the Fundraising Team at the Diocese. In addition, you will be provided with a tax receipt after 31 March each year to assist you with claiming your tax refund.
Will you use my information elsewhere? Who will see my details?
No. The personal information you provide is kept only for the purposes of the administration of your gift or pledge and providing you with information and updates of the campaign. The information you provide on the pledge form is confidential and will only be accessed by the Parish Campaign & administration Team and the Diocesan Fundraising administration Team. It will not be shared or used for any other purpose.
Who is going to approach me and when?
The Bishop, your Parish Priest, your Parish leaders and/or the Diocesan Fundraising Team can only see so many people themselves. For the most part, one of your Parish campaign leadership members will come to see you. This way, you have a familiar face to speak to and can ask specific questions of. These meetings have recently started and will continue in the coming weeks and months.
Can my family name be recognised on a donor’s board? Can we sponsor a particular part of the Cathedral?
The Bishop is encouraging “equal sacrifice”, rather than ranking donors’ contributions. Where a special request for recognition is made for a particular donation, then it will be discreetly acknowledged, possibly through a book of recognition which will have all donors’ names in it.