Sacred Heart Timaru 100 years

Oct 29, 2011

This weekend the parish of Sacred Heart Timaru celebrates the centenary of their parish church. This magnificent temple has housed the faith, prayer and worship of the Catholic community of Timaru for one hundred years.

The people of Timaru gave generously to build this church in the early years of last century. A doctoral student recently researched the building of the duomo in Milan, Italy. She titled her work: “They lived in hovels, and built Cathedrals.” In the early twentieth century the Catholics of Timaru did not have a lot of money. But they made sure that God had a worthy dwelling place in their midst.

The builders, under the pastoral leadership of Dean Tubman, were guided by the artistic competence of the great NZ-born architect Francis Petre.

Yesterday I was in Sacred Heart for a funeral. While this was not my parish church, it was the church I prayed in often, both at Mass, and when I thought the day’s exam could only be passed with the help of God.

My prayers were not always answered in the way that I had hoped. I now thank God for that! 

Yesterday, during the funeral, I was mindful of the thousands of people who have sought God in this sacred place. So many people have been baptised and buried, married and ordained here.

This weekend, hundreds of people, with priests and bishops, will gather to celebrate and to give thanks to God. Sacred Heart Church Timaru, reminds us of the importance of the Church as a sacred place. A beautiful building. A worthy temple. A church that serves to raise the mind and heart to God.

the lesser-known side door

St. Joseph’s Altar

This Altar of Our Lady was the Altar for all week-day
Masses through my growing-up years.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Posts

so simple

so simple

So simple that children who naturally and naively live with open eyes and ears get it, when we adults too often miss the point.

mountains & roofs

mountains & roofs

. The prevailing sense in the Old Testament was that God lived in the heavens (above). Therefore mountain-tops (where heaven and earth seem to intersect) were a logical place of encounter with the divine. We see this in Moses, the holy Old Testament leader of people,...

opportunity knocks

opportunity knocks

I find it very helpful to hear Jesus speaking directly to me, not as a fearsome threat but as an invitation to not miss the divine presence in the midst of the routines and demands, the ups and downs of my daily life.

the gardener

the gardener

The question surprised me and the look in the young boy’s eyes let me know that he wanted more than a religious-cliche-response. I took a moment to think, pray, and think again and was surprised at the answer that came to me.

in the field

in the field

Such wise people have reflected on their life experience enough to know that while a peaceful and perfect day is welcome, we are most connected with others and therefore with God (we could also say most connected with God and therefore with others), when we live a struggle together.