A Cathedral Shaped by Our Shared Vision
The process of designing the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament has unfolded over more than two years. People across the Diocese have shared their hopes for our new Mother Church – the lay faithful, mana whenua, our cultural groups, our consecrated religious and our clergy. Bishop Michael and a small group of advisers representing those communities prayed and discerned with those aspirations, creating a design brief for the cathedral precinct.
In partnership with the Cathedral’s architects, Warren and Mahoney, the following key attributes for our spiritual home were developed to guide the building’s construction, with a focus on how it will contribute to the life of the city, the diocese and the country.
Blessed Sacrament At The Heart
Whakapono
“My house will be called a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13 and Isaiah 36:7)
A Cathedral that will stand as a timeless symbol of hope and faith, to encounter Christ. The Cathedral Campus will be Ōtautahi’s sanctuary where God’s presence dwells. This design response is centred on Prayer, Worship and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, inviting the faithful into a deeper participation in the life of the Church through Christ’s constant presence. This will be an identifiable mother church for the Diocese that is contextually and culturally grounded in Aotearoa and Ōtautahi.
Welcoming, Open & Engaging
Manaakitanga
“Make a Sanctuary that I can reside among them” (Exodus 25:8)
This will be a welcoming place of worship for current and future generations of Catholics of the Diocese to gather as one with the Bishop. As a witness to our Catholic traditions and mission, this will be a campus that gives testimony to the Faith. The outcome will provide spaces for solace, social interaction and understanding, making space for St John the Baptist – our patron – and the stories of the Diocese. This will be an intergenerational outcome that will honour the history of the Church and the whakapapa (history) of the land.
A Generous Witness of Faith
Ahikaroa
“In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21–22)
This will be a connected living campus that is on fire with faith. We will build our Cathedral and thereafter our Cathedral will build us - anchoring a vibrant precinct, rooted in the Diocese’s mission, that will nurture connections with schools and the broader community. The spiritual experience will extend beyond the cathedral; the campus shall be seen as a place of hope, and a magnet for people of all faiths. It will be a spiritual and visible symbol of communal strength that unites the parishes of the Diocese with one spirit. This will be a campus that glorifies God, connecting with the beauty of the Canterbury landscape and urban fabric of Ōtautahi.
Prudent & Cost-Efficient
Rangatiratanga
“Unless the Lord Builds this House those who build it labour in vain” (Psalm 127)
The cathedral precinct will strike a balance between grandeur and budget-conscious design. The entire project team will manage costs effectively throughout the project lifecycle, seeking opportunities for reuse, shared facilities, economic construction and efficiencies of scale.
Enduring & Faithful Stewardship
Kaitiakitanga
“By wisdom a house is built, by understanding it is made strong” (Proverbs 24:3)
Our Cathedral will prioritise low-maintenance, cost-efficient operations through durable, dignified and cost-effective materials that minimise upkeep. The outcome will integrate visionary design with financial prudence and practical implementation, embedding the principles of Laudato Si’as broadly as possible. The cathedral precinct will be regenerative and future focused, while also demonstrating clear financial viability and responsible stewardship of resources.
Support The Cathedral Campaign
If you would like to help bring this shared vision to life, you can make a secure online donation or set up a regular gift by clicking the button below.