gatheringST MARY’S OUR CATHEDRAL OUR FAMILY SEPTEMBER 2013

Celebrating the life of PoPe John Paul ii

historiC foundry’s legaCy to st Mary’s

Issue No 2, 2013

3www.StMarysCathedral.org.auDonate online at www.StMarysCathedral.org.au2 GATHERING September 2013

On any given day in St Mary’s Cathedral apart from the Masses and services regularly celebrated,

one would be impressed by the number of visitors who pass through, either as visitors who wish to walk and enjoy the building with its history, its shrines, its beautiful stained glass windows and its works of art, as well as the many people impressed by the Cathe-dral’s awesome grandeur and spiritual ambiance who use it as a place of solitude and prayer. These people are of many faiths or none, but all go away taking something with them of their experience. Perhaps feeling deep in their hearts that this truly is a place where God encountered.

Over the years the Cathedral has been standing on this site, there has been a passing parade of many people, events and celebrations. Cathedrals are beautiful buildings and testimonies of the faith of successive generations. They are meant to be icons of the changing nature of humanity and an expression of the Church as the Holy People of God, a people on a journey of faith sharing with one another their life’s story. Each successive generation will have their own contribution to make to the life of the Church and their Cathedral.

The present Cathedral opened its doors in 1882 and the Holy Sacrifice Mass has been celebrated each day ever since. Here many have been reborn through the Sacrament of Baptism, many confirmed and married. Many have been consoled and given new hope in the Sacrament of Penance. There have been many ordi-nations of deacons, priests and bishops, and many funerals. The walls and vaults have echoed with the soaring harmonies of the polyphonic singing of the choir raised in praise of the Almighty and continuing the rich tradition of centuries. The flickering of count-less candles, the glorious aroma and clouds of waft-ing incense, the pealing of the Cathedral bells, the processions of vested clergy and surpliced acolytes and choir are enduring memories, and testimonies of the faith and devotion of the Catholic community.

Whilst many people have passed through the Ca-thedral over many years, it would be an interesting exercise to be able to chronicle many of the interest-ing people who have passed through and many of the significant events in the Cathedral’s history. Perhaps I could suggest a few from my own memory.

In 1928, the nave, baptistery and southern tow-ers of the Cathedral were completed and opened by Archbishop Kelly in time for the Eucharistic Congress held in Sydney that year. The Congress was presided over by the Papal Legate, Cardinal Cerretti, and the Bishops of Australia. Half a million lined the streets of Sydney as the Blessed Sacrament was brought across

The two metre-tall bronze statue of Blessed Pope John Paul II stands incandescent on a sunny day on the Cathedral’s west-

ern façade. Over his 27-year pontificate, the beloved pope left wonderful memories and mementos of his visits to the Cathe-dral. Back on 19 January 1995 in his liturgical address, the pontiff pondered on the Blessed Mary MacKillop’s impending sainthood, “From this day forward you will have a powerful intercessor be-fore the throne of God in the person of Blessed Mary MacKillop”.

St Mary’s Cathedral bore witness to the momentous occasion of his Rite of Beatification when it played host to special services with the live webcast from Rome beamed to a Sydney audience on its Australian forecourt on 1 May 2011.

St Mary’s Cathedral today has the Australian Italian community to thank for the beautiful tribute to “John Paul the Great”. Fiorenzo

Bacci’s 500-kg creation was installed just in time for World Youth Day 2008, the very event that Pope John Paul II instigated over two decades ago. World Youth Day was charged with battling modern society’s more negative influences on an increasingly apathetic youth. With the 2013 event in Rio de Janeiro again drawing hun-dreds of thousands, his legacy clearly lives, with more young Cath-olics than any other time in history demonstrating a rejuvenated commitment to the Church beyond the week-long celebrations. A striking feature of the statue is the palm branch held aloft which is symbolic of the inaugural event falling on a Palm Sunday.

2013 has been a tremendous year for Catholics the world over. The unexpected retirement of Pope Benedict XVI triggered a con-clave in March that would culminate in Pope Francis’ ascendancy into the papacy. The pontiff, who is compared to his namesake St Francis of Assisi, often speaks of a Church for the poor. His manner is casual and unassuming, endearing him greatly to the people even now at his pontificate’s infancy. The Polish-born pope possessed the same charismatic charm that gave him a sense of accessibility, indeed he clocked up more mileage than any other pope in history on his visits to 129 countries.

The pope’s visit to Poland in 1979 awoke in his people a yearn-ing for a life ‘back to God’ and was seen as the mortal blow to Communism. He denounced dictators and lamented unnecessary wars. He earned praise for remaining steadfast on his moral prin-ciples while raising the ire of those who demanded more radical changes from the Church leadership.

TOTALLY YOURS, JOHN PAUL THE GREAT

Pope John Paul II endured two assassination attempts, a failing body ravaged by Parkinson’s disease and lingering pain sustained from his injury. The pallium on the bronze statue reveals three nails that represent his sufferings and stalwart courage. His mitre portrays a Risen Christ in the Aboriginal tradition, linking him back to his sojourn into the Northern Territory, and a crown of thorns is perched just below, recalling the ultimate act of sacrifice that purchased eternal life for man. He is barefoot like St Francis of Assisi who also preached peace, and he strides confidently into the afterlife towards God without fear. The face on the sculpture beams warmly and the right hand is outstretched in a welcome gesture.

The pope took great pains to reconcile religious differences by creating a dialogue with world spiritual leaders, and the statue is a wonderful celebration of the man who sought, in his own way, to bring humanity closer together.

Above all, Pope John Paul II throughout his life honoured the special bond he felt with Mary, mother of Christ. His motto Totus Tuus (“Totally yours”) and his coat of arms bearing a large “M” declared a life consecrated to the Blessed Virgin.

The popular pontiff has been placed on an accelerated path to sainthood, bypassing the normal five-year gap between death and beatification. The two prerequisite miracles that seals the final pro-cess have recently been confirmed; the first being French nun Sis-ter Marie Simon-Pierre Normand’s inexplicable recovery from the degenerative Parkinson’s disease, and the second a Costa Rican woman’s escape from a life-threatening brain condition. Both are said to have called on Blessed Pope John Paul II’s intercession.

With his impending canonisation, the statue from the Austral-ian Italian community is set to become one of the focal points for those who will celebrate the event and remember the pope with great fondness. His motto, in the end, is also a perfect reflection of a life devoted to the flock he served right until his death.

Blessed Pope John Paul II left a lasting mark on St Mary’s Ca-thedral in his 1986 and 1995 visits. The wonderful photos on these pages recall cherished memories by Australians who had been lucky enough to see him even briefly.

Sharon-May TANOUS � DrUMMOyNe

Generous stone DeDication

contributors: thank You

Mass tiMes st Mary’s CathedralSATurdAy VIGIL 6pmSundAy 7am, 9am, 10.30am (Solemn Sung Mass), 6pm (Youth Mass)MOndAy to FrIdAy 6.45am, 1.10pm & 5.30pmSATurdAy 9am and 12noonPuBLIC HOLIdAyS 12noon

FrienDs thank YouThe Friends of St Mary’s Cathedral have generously contributed to the printing of this issue of Gathering. Contact Friends: info@stmaryscathedral.org.au

bequest beneFactorWe pray for those benefactors who have remembered St Mary’s Cathedral in their Will, meeting the need of its conservation, and ensuring a great Cathedral for future generations.Anna ZIeGLerMay eternal light shine upon her and may she rest in peace. Amen.

“…for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

(Isaiah 56:7)

a beautiful silk vestMent in riCh red and an exquisite silver PeCtoral Cross bequeathed by the PoPe have been shared with visitors to Past CryPt vestMent exhibitions.

front Cover inset: BLeSSeD POPe JOhN PAUL II GreeTING The crOwDS wITh cArDINAL eDwArD BeDe cLANcy DUrING hIS fIrST SyDNey vISIT IN 1986

the harbour from Manly to the Cathedral where Ben-ediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given from the southern entrance of the Cathedral. In stark contrast, later that year the famous Italian diva Antonietta Meneghel, better known by her stage name of Toti dal Monte, married the tenor Enzo de Muro Lomanto in the Cathedral and created international headlines when the wedding party gave the Fascist salute on the Cathedral steps.

during the years of the Second World War many marriages were solemnised in the Cathedral. Most were mixed marriages and were celebrated in the Archbishop’s sacristy in accord with the rather harsh strictures against mixed marriages in place at the time. It was not uncommon for there to be as many as four or five weddings a day. Funerals of promi-nent Australians have been held here, one-time Prime Minister of Australia, Joseph Aloysius Lyons, the Premier of new South Wales, Joseph Cahill, and the controversial former Premier Jack Lang; the heart specialist dr Victor Chang, the eye specialist dr Fred Hollows, dr Chris O’Brien and many others.

Great churchmen have visited the Cathedral, peo-ple such as Cardinal Spellman, Bishop Fulton Sheen, Cardinal Myroslav Lubachivsky (leader of the ukrain-ian Catholics), Cardinal Ce (Patriarch of Venice), Cardi-nal Jaime Sin, Father Patrick Peyton, as well as three Popes, Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI.

Famous people have attended Mass, perhaps unnoticed by the congregation, Connie Francis, the actress and entertainer, the actor Mark Wahlberg, delores Hope (wife of the comedian Bob Hope), Mezzo Soprano Joan Carden and the former Prime Minister of Great Britain, Tony Blair. The Cathedral also hosted a special celebration of welcome for mov-ing interfaith commemoration of the tenth anniversary of September 11, in 2011. This year the Cathedral will host in interfaith service for the International Fleet review to mark the centenary of the royal Australian navy’s entry into Sydney Harbour.

Besides being a city landmark and an abiding monument to the faith of successive generations of Catholics, it is also a living entity, giving witness to the presence of God in our midst and calling her chil-dren to prayer and contemplation of eternal realities. It is here that her children are strengthened and nour-ished on their pilgrimage of faith and touched in every aspect of their lives from birth to death. Here are the rich and the famous, the poor and troubled, the ec-centric and the trouble makers, the casual visitor, the curious onlooker. But what all have in common is that they are loved by God, and united in their desire to be held in His loving embrace.

We play our part in this passing parade with our witness and special contribution to ensure the preser-vation of our Catholic heritage for generations to come.

Fr Paul Hilder,dean, St Mary’s Cathedral

...from the Dean’s pen

For our special Pope John Paul II postcard offer, please turn to Page 4.

4 GATHERING September 2013

My PayMent *Cheque enclosed or please debit my: Visa Mastercard AMEX Total Payment $ Card no.

nAME On CArd EXPIry dATE M M / y y SIGnATurE

ongoing suPPort: Please charge monthly to my credit card $ until I advise otherwise.

Please send me a tax-deductible receipt. Please send me information on including St Mary’s Cathedral in my Will. I have already made provision for a bequest, please contact me about The Cardinal Gilroy Society. Please subscribe me to Gathering newsletter. *Cheques: For non tax-deductible donations, please make cheques payable to St Mary’s Cathedral. For tax deductible donations, please make cheques payable to St Mary’s national Trust. you can also donate online at www.stmaryscathedral.org.au/conservation/donations.html or phone 1800 753 959. We will treat your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Policy of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, a copy of which can be found at www.sydneycatholic.org/others/privacy.shtml. GatherinG SMC-073/SeP2013

A gIFt For the Future oF St MAry’SThe face of the city where we live, work and play changes gradu-

ally over a period of time – cranes dominate the city skyline and road works that deafened before become part of the steady hum of a pulsating metropolis. Things change so much that we get used to a parade of buildings shutting down just to metamorphose into something else.

Yet our fundraising is all about keeping things “the same” at St Mary’s. We strive to raise enough funds to pay for maintaining, cleaning or replacing her worn parts.

St Mary’s Cathedral was a gift to Sydney’s Catholic community. It was created as a place of refuge for Australia’s early Catholics. The people who worked to lift the Cathedral understood the im-portance of creating a powerful, lasting symbol of Catholic unity.

St Mary’s Cathedral thrives on people. Every year thousands will come through her front doors. She becomes a part of cher-

This year there are a number of urgent restoration and conser-vation projects that we are raising money for. Repairing the

Cathedral bells is one of them. The fence on the southern end also receives some much-needed attention. A Dubbo-based manufac-turer has been enlisted to replace this section of the Cathedral fencing where rust has slowly eaten away the structure and left a trail of damage in its wake.

Restoration on various parts of the Cathedral can at times be a

slow arduous process requiring patience, hard work and a steady flow of financial resources to allow her caretakers to complete such enormous projects. St Mary’s Cathedral is thankful to those who continue to support her vital Conservation Program.

If you would like to become a part of this guardianship, make your donation today by filling in the attached form or make a credit card donation at www.StMarysCathedral.org.au/conservation/donations.html or phone the Fundraising Office on 1800 753 959.

DEDICATE A STONE FOR yOUR LOvED ONESCelebrate the life of a loved one through a special Stone dedication. For a tax deductible donation of $300, a certificate signed by the dean of St Mary’s is presented in a beautiful folder to mark your remembrance of a family member, a friend or other loved ones. your gift allows us to maintain the beautiful sandstones that helps give the Cathedral its special character.

ST MARy’S CATHEDRAL CONSERvATIONThe restoration of St Mary’s Cathedral is a task not confined to a small group of individuals. The collective contributions by supporters – from the smallest to the largest – all make a big difference to our success in undertaking various maintenance projects throughout the year. donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

a note of gratitude - the blessing of the high altar’s sixteen statues of the aPostles and ProPhets by Cardinal Pell in aPril this year Closed another ChaPter to williaM wardell’s original arChiteCtural Plan. the work of sPanish studio talleres de arte granda Could only have been CoMPleted with the generous Contributions of individuals who all share a love of the Cathedral. so to the wonderful faCes on this PhotograPh (and those who Couldn’t be Present), we Convey our heartfelt thanks.

In honour of Blessed Pope John Paul II’s canonisation, St Mary’s cathedral is offering a set of four cards featuring fiorenzo Bacci’s

handsome bronze sculpture. Stocks are limited so don’t miss out.

send your donation by 31 december 2013 to receive your free gift.

SPEC

IAL

OFFER

ished memories when families commemorate special occasions with her.

Saving St Mary’s is not all about the bricks and mortar. Your do-nation honours the sacrifices made by the early Cathedral build-ers and the countless individuals who have entrusted a special part of their lives to her.

A gift in your Will gives St Mary’s Cathedral hope for the fu-ture. Hope in keeping her a part of our lives. To receive a free copy of our Wills book, please phone the Bequest Officer on 02 9390 5998 or email bequests@sydneycatholic.org

TITLE FIrST nAME SurnAME AddrESS

STATE POSTCOdE PHOnE EMAIL

I can help! St Mary’s cathedral conservation appeal

donations: 1800 753 959 02 9390 5973 appeals@stmaryscathedral.org.au St Mary’s cathedral, St Mary’s rd, Sydney NSw 2000 DONATe ONLINe: www.StMaryscathedral.org.au

yes, I would like to donate to the Conservation aPPeal*

$1000 $500 $250 $100 Other $

yes, I would like to I would like to order the following St Mary’s Cathedral booklet/s History Architecture Crypt

www.stmaryscathedral.org.audonate on-line

My GIFT TO ENSURE THE CONSERvATION OF ST MARy’S CATHEDRAL

yes, I would like to dediCate a stone

no. of stones @ $300 each $ (Tax Deductible)

1 payment 3 x $100 month ea 6 x $50 month ea

I would like to dedicate the stone/s to: (max 100 characters)

yes, I wish to nominate a friend to receive a copy of St Mary’s Cathedral gathering newsletter (please print in CAPITAL LETTERS):

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7www.StMarysCathedral.org.auDonate online at www.StMarysCathedral.org.au6 GATHERING September 2013

Cathedral bells froM britain’s oldest foundry St Mary’s Cathedral is very fortunate to have the formidable exper-

tise of Britain’s oldest bell manufacturers, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry of London, to guide it through the recent restoration of its bells. Founded in 1570, the foundry is over 400 years old, having gone through the great epochs of Elizabeth I and Victoria. Staff also lived through the nightmare of Jack the Ripper who prowled this poor part of east London in the late nineteenth century.

Whitechapel’s product range includes all bell fittings and bell sizes vary from the smallest handbells to the larger clangers eas-ily weighing a tonne. Clients come from the farthest ends of the world, and St Mary’s Cathedral joins the Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell among the world’s most rec-ognisable landmarks bearing the hallmarks of a bell conceived at this foundry. More recently, the London Olympics and Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee celebrations in 2012 have both commissioned a bell especially for the events.

The manufacture of a bell has changed little over centuries, ad-hering to the same basic principles and remains a largely manual process. An outer mould (cope) made of an earthy mix of clay, sand, horse manure, goat’s hair and water is made separately from the inner mould (core) of loam and bricks shaped with a special moulding tool called the strickle.

Decorative elements are carefully etched into the cope before it dries completely. The moulds are then baked in the oven and left to cool before the two halves are joined. They are coated with the semimetal graphite for a smooth impenetrable surface that can withstand the 1170 degree Celsius heat generated by the molten metal (an exact composition of tin and copper) being poured into the final shape. Once dry, the metal bell cast is broken free of the original mould and cleaned, drilled and tuned.

Tuning a bell requires the same scientific precision. A new bell’s sound must carefully match that of the older bells in a set. The precise tone of a bell is achieved by using a lathe to cut metal from the inner surface while modern electronic equipment meas-ures the exact frequency required. The range capability of today’s bells has come a long way from when they were simply struck to produce an uncomplicated sound. As many as 12 of St Mary’s Cathedral’s 14 bells can be engaged all at once to produce a har-monious symphony requiring considerable effort and coordination from their bell ringers.

The foundry has gone through periods of great expansion and turmoil over its very long existence, serving several masters since its establishment by first Master Founder, Robert Mot. It was during the eighteenth century that Whitechapel began gaining international recognition, largely in response to the growing competition from local foundries that compelled them to expand their client base. Thomas Janaway and William Mears became formidable rivals in the early 1780s, culminating in Mears taking over as Master Founder in 1787. If one were to take a closer inspection of a St Mary’s Cathedral bell, the names Mears and Stainbank can be seen clearly etched on its surface, a legacy of the takeover from Robert Stainbank in 1865.

Arthur Hughes was hired as a manager by then-owner Alfred Lawson in 1884. His great-grandson, Alan, remains the current Master Founder since 1997and still liaises directly with St Mary’s Cathedral. The success of the foundry can be attributed in no small part to the ability of its succeeding owners to not only re-spond to changing market demands, but also to the unbroken line of expertise inherited by craftsmen whose forebears learned their trade at the same original training ground.

The Whitechapel Bell Foundry has remained in the same unas-suming area of east London for centuries, its charming façade of weathered brick, light-coloured wood and arched windows belying the nature of the industry conducted in its inner sanctum. Enter-ing the front door reveals a small reception that leads into a gift shop selling souvenirs.

A sitting room features a presentation on the Foundry beamed on a TV screen for visitors wanting to get a feel for its history. A raised glass-encased exhibit shows small figures demonstrating the pro-cess involved in manufacturing a bell, while a green door to the right reveals a tiny but sunny courtyard where an assortment of bells resting on the paved grounds lay out a unique landscape.

A short walk around the narrow winding property outside re-veals a gated compound where many of the heavy duty work takes place. An observer is at once reminded that this is very much an industrial enterprise, with heavy machinery, pallets, boxes and bells littering the ground justifying the request to all tour visitors to wear closed shoes and sensible clothing. Tours to the premises are so popular that they require bookings well in advance to avoid potential disappointment.

reStorAtIoN oF the CAtheDrAL BeLLSThe sweetest sound that resonates for several kilometres within the Sydney CBD surrounds must be the bells of St Mary’s Cathedral. It brings excitement to the keen ear and entices one to search for the source of the elusive sound before a closer inspection leads right to the wide steps of the Cathedral. The peal of the bells is heard without fail every Sunday morning between 9:50 and 10:30am and again on the first and third Wednesday of each month at noon.

Occasionally, they joyously herald the new union between two people or adjust to a more sombre tone for a funeral. People walking along College Street on a Thursday night might even hear echoes from the bell tower as the instruments are put through their paces by volunteer bell ringers perfecting their craft.

For whomever the bells toll, the Sydney landscape simply would not be the same without this glorious music.

However, the upkeep of such a vital piece of the Cathedral comes neither cheap nor easy. It requires careful, extensive inspection by expert engineers and specialised equipment fur-nished by none other than England’s oldest bell manufacturers, London’s Whitechapel Bell Foundry. While this type of work only requires undertaking every few years, the list of replacement parts can attract a bill in the thousands of dollars. Considering

the expense at which the bells had been purchased, ensuring their longevity through proper care and maintenance must be of paramount importance.

Work on the restoration of the bells started in earnest in Au-gust, following the recommendations of Whitechapel’s Alan Hughes. There are clappers that need re-bushing and staple hinge pins that need replacing. Oil on gudgeons attached to the head-stocks that keep a bell upright need to be wiped clean. The worn state of runner boards and sliders on the base of the bells warrant attention. Other attachments associated with bearings, bolts and pulleys are similarly calling for either an overhaul or cautionary minor maintenance.

While these updates are all but unseen by the public, work on them nevertheless must be done if the bells are to remain in top condition and sound their best for all occasions. A donation to the St Mary’s Conservation Appeal is one important way we are able to do our restoration work on the historic Cathedral bells.

BELL tOwER tOuRS Interested visitors can explore the bell tower for free on the first Sunday of the month from 9:30-10:30am. With only small groups allowed, bookings are essential. Contact stmarysbells@gmail.com for more details.

a bell Created in 1899 engraved by the Makers’ naMe, Mears & stainbank. the insCriPtion underneath reads, “Presented by the Most rev roger bede Polding, arChbishoP of sydney, 1881”. further down, the latin Phrase noMen Jesu Christi.

8 GATHERING September 2013

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IFtAr DINNER AT ST MARy’SThe annual Iftar dinner was held at St Mary’s

Cathedral House last month to celebrate Mus-lims’ break from fasting during the holy month of ramadan. Hosted by Cardinal George Pell, the event was organised by Sr Giovanni Farquer, director of the Commission for Ecumenism and Interfaith relations. Such occasions aim to foster closer ties between different faiths through dialogue and a focus on the shared values that bind us.

COLLEGE CoNCert 2013Fire and rain was an appropriate title for a

Concert that was both diverse in its scope and elemental in its power. Over the course of two-and-a-half hours on the evening of Friday 21 June the students from St Mary’s College displayed the vast range of their accomplishments to a ca-pacity audience at Sydney Town Hall.

The well-drilled music ensembles—the Col-lege Orchestra; the String Orchestra and the Primary Strings; the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Bands; the Brass Ensemble; and the fiery Jazz Band—all provided evidence of the strength of the College’s musical tuition pro-gram and the efficacy of the countless morning practice sessions that all band members take part in throughout the year.

The Primary class banished glum thoughts about inclement weather with their medley performance of rain-inspired numbers, while the outstanding performances of the Scholars and the Choristers highlighted the value of hav-ing students who are part of a professionally-run singing ensemble. In addition, performanc-es from various music classes, especially that of the year 12 students, proved the diversity of skills among the College’s musicians.

In addition to these larger groups there were a number of highly impressive individual and small-group performances, including the bossa nova swing of the Chris Bonica quintet, the string-fraying guitar wizardry of Michael Cin-dric and robert McCormick, the stadium rock of Hotel Heroics and their charismatic front-

man, nick Gullotta, the intimate performance of ‘Pompeii’ by Patrick Flanagan and Thomas ruz, and the highly impressive work of the Percussion Ensemble, who demonstrated the great variety of timbres and rhythms that can be generated by multiple percussionists playing together.

Two dance items also captured the audience’s attention. The Hip Hop item has become a College institution, and the 2013 edition did not disappoint, with students from across the year groups partici-pating in a brilliant self-choreographed piece. The Hellenic dancers wowed the crowd with a tradi-tional Cretan dance with linked arms before demon-strating the richness and diversity of this folk form when Arthur Tsanis danced a semi-improvised solo.

As Br Peel addressed the audience the whole student body assembled in silence behind him, ready to bring the night to a conclusion with the famous Massed Choir item. Beginning with the hymn ‘Christ, Be Our Light’, the students lightened

the mood with ‘I Can See Clearly now’ before the College’s brass players and the Town Hall Organ, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, sounded the chords to begin Karl Jenkins’ ‘Adiemus’, a piece based on syllabics and the voice-as-instrument. What followed was a per-formance of great power, as voices overlapped, retreated, and then came together as one at the conclusion to send a wave of sound rushing out into the Hall. It was a fitting conclusion to a tremendous evening.

Hundreds of hours of preparation are re-quired to stage such an event. Particular thanks must go to the Musical director, Ms Lee-Anne Harrison and her colleague in the Music de-partment, Ms natalie O’Connor; and to Mr Mi-chael Wyborn, Mr Thomas Wilson, Mr Oliver Brett and the various peripatetic music teach-ers, all of whom were intimately involved in the development of individual items.

CorreCtIoNS AND Free SuBSCrIPtIoNS Please let us know if we make mistakes with your name or address so that we can make the correction. you can also send in your request to receive a free copy of our gathering newsletter by phoning (02) 9390 5942 or stmarys@sydneycatholic.org. Should you not wish to receive future copies of Gathering, please phone (02) 9390 5942.PrODUcTION TeAM: Catholic Communications, development and Fundraising Office, Archdiocese of Sydney; layout and design by Catholic Communications Sydney. © St. Mary’s Cathedral 2013.