Cathedral news…

Feb 28, 2011

Today has been yet another day with tragic news of loss of life and devistation. There is no greater tragedy than the loss of those we love. Our grief in these days is tangible. And so we gather with friends to know their comfort. And we pray to know the comfort and presence of God.

My reading today led me to Wikipedia. There the entry for Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch. Makes especially difficult reading:

The Cathedral administrator, Monsignor Charles Drennan, said that engineers had indicated that it was unlikely the building could be saved.”

A Cathedral is THE church of a diocese. Still we live in hope that our Cathedral can be saved. Our ancestors have worshipped here. We have gathered here on the most significant moments in the life of our diocese. This is OUR church. We made sure that our family and friends who visited the city saw OUR Cathedral. We were proud of what our Canterbury and Westland Catholic ancestors had achieved in building this “suitable temple” to the Glory of God.

But we know too that a Cathedral is but a sign that points us to God. And even if our Cathedral lies in ruins, our God is alive and present with us.

Even in the midst of such destruction, because God is with us and loves us, we have nothing to fear.

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