If you have been to St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral recently, you may have noticed the building activity close by. Father Chris Friel, St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Administrator said that “After three years of development our new parish complex finally broke ground a few weeks ago. It is another welcomed re-start for our Diocese and City.”
The new development will provide much needed space and the modern building brings a facility that will be a great asset to the parish, the choir and the wider community.
The new parish complex includes offices for use by the parish, an expanded Catholic Shop and the CBS (Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament) Choir space incorporating state of the art acoustically designed choir area, music and instrument storage areas, rehearsal room, library storage and kitchen facilities. With new landscaping and improved off street car parking, the facility will be available for hire to other choirs and music groups for rehearsals or as a music events centre in the City of Christchurch.
“This will demonstrate to Christchurch City that our place can be a welcoming home for creative artists, and that the Catholic Church music treasury is a heritage that we love to share with others. It is a vital boost in morale for all those involved in the ministry of music” says Don Whelan, Musical Director of CBS Music.
With performances and events both locally and internationally, the highly regarded CBS Choir and orchestra is an integral part of the Diocese and the new facility will be very welcome.
It is hoped the new facility will be completed and opened in December 2015.
Donations:
The CBS are fundraising to pay for the annual use of the new facility. Donations can be made as follows:
Account name: CBS Choir Fundraising
Account number: 03-0802-0536640-005
For queries about donating money to this fund, please contact Don Whelan, email or phone 027 458 5873
Images: Computer generated images of final design of the building development at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral
