Refresher Course Update
On Tuesday 3 March, twenty-six guides and welcomers undertook a Refresher Course in the Hanly Room. The aim of the day was to explore our knowledge, share our wisdom and hopefully add more to our repertoire so that we can engage with our visitors effectively to give a memorable experience. There was much chatter and sharing as we undertook the following activities:
* Hot Potato
* Constructing Timelines
* Window Shopping
* Pick a Box AKA Pick a Topic
* Trivia
and through prayer and scripture, we ended the day by praying the Stations of the Cross reflecting on the images before us.
As one participant commented: Thank you to you all for the refresher day. It was so well planned and executed. Mixing the teams was great as we worked with other GW team members that we may not have interacted with as much before. There is so much knowledge and wisdom in the team that was shared and still to be shared. (Stasi)
The Education Team were delighted that everyone joined in and participated in the spirit of the day.
Together Each Achieves More.
Key Responsibilities and Traits of an effective Guide and Welcomer:
• Warmth and Hospitality – act as a friendly, visible and approachable presence to welcome visitors at the entrance.
• Storytelling and Engagement – move beyond dry facts to tell engaging stories about the building’s history, art and architecture.
• Knowledgeable – participate in training to master the history, art and architecture of the Cathedral and it’s surrounds.
• Respectful Conduct – maintain a tone appropriate for a place of worship, acknowledging its role as a sacred place.
• Safety Consciousness – supervise the site to ensure visitor safety, follow safety protocols and be mindful of hazards and risks.
• Clear Communication – speak clearly, tailor the tone to the audience and be prepared to interact with diverse groups.
Mission Statement
At the Cathedral of St Stephen,
the Guides and Welcomers serve as the face of our sacred place.
We are committed to providing insightful information
and aim to ensure that every visit is meaningful and memorable.
the Guides and Welcomers serve as the face of our sacred place.
We are committed to providing insightful information
and aim to ensure that every visit is meaningful and memorable.
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Did you know?
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When the two Foundation Stones for the Holy Name Cathedral were blessed and laid on Duncan’s Hill in Fortitude Valley in 1928, earth and relics from both Rome and Ireland were placed underneath.
The Holy Name Cathedral was the grand vision of Archbishop Duhig and the ceremony to lay the Foundation Stones was held on Sunday, 16 September 1928.
It was a splendid occasion attended by a crowd estimated to have been between 30,000 and 40,000 people. In addition to a large number of visiting clergy, local dignitaries were also present including the Premier, Mr. William McCormack. The crowd was so large and tightly packed the procession of clergy had difficulty making its way through the crush of people.
The Papal Legate, Cardinal Cerretti, on a visit to Australia from Rome, performed the central liturgical role, assisted by Archbishop Duhig. Also in attendance was Archbishop Gilmartin from Tuam, County Galway, Ireland.
The Holy Name Cathedral was the grand vision of Archbishop Duhig and the ceremony to lay the Foundation Stones was held on Sunday, 16 September 1928.
It was a splendid occasion attended by a crowd estimated to have been between 30,000 and 40,000 people. In addition to a large number of visiting clergy, local dignitaries were also present including the Premier, Mr. William McCormack. The crowd was so large and tightly packed the procession of clergy had difficulty making its way through the crush of people.
The Papal Legate, Cardinal Cerretti, on a visit to Australia from Rome, performed the central liturgical role, assisted by Archbishop Duhig. Also in attendance was Archbishop Gilmartin from Tuam, County Galway, Ireland.
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A report from the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday 17 September 1928 gives a detailed account of the event including descriptions of the relics and soil interred under the Foundation Stones.
“a bag containing earth and stone from the catacombs of Rome, a gift from the Pope to the Archbishop of Brisbane, … was laid in a niche under the foundation-stone … as well as current newspapers and coins.…. Another corner stone opposite the foundation-stone was laid by the Archbishop of Tuam (Ireland). Under this he placed soil from various counties in Ireland.”
“a bag containing earth and stone from the catacombs of Rome, a gift from the Pope to the Archbishop of Brisbane, … was laid in a niche under the foundation-stone … as well as current newspapers and coins.…. Another corner stone opposite the foundation-stone was laid by the Archbishop of Tuam (Ireland). Under this he placed soil from various counties in Ireland.”
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Unfortunately for Archbishop Duhig, his grand Holy Name project was not counter-signed in Heaven. The Great Depression struck in 1929 resulting in funding difficulties causing the project to be abandoned many decades later.
The only segment of the cathedral to be constructed was The Crypt, in Gipps Street. It was designed as a Chapel and was completed and blessed by Archbishop Duhig in 1935. (The Archbishop avoided having to pay expensive rates to the Brisbane City Council by constructing a place of worship on the otherwise vacant site.) The Crypt operated as a functioning church for approximately 50 years until the site was sold by the Archdiocese to developers in 1985. It was demolished in August 1992. Today the residential complex, Cathedral Place, occupies the site. |
The Foundation Stones were relocated to their current position at St Stephen’s Cathedral during the renovations of 1988/1989. There is no evidence the soil and relics from Rome and Ireland, originally interred under the Foundation Stones in 1928, were ever recovered.
There are several entries on the Holy Name Cathedral in the G&W Resources.
For a very informative and amusing read, I recommend Fr Tom Boland’s paper presented to the Brisbane Catholic Historical Society in 2003. It is in our Resources under the heading:
Holy Name Cathedral – Paper Holy Name Cathedral Fact and Fiction Fr Thomas P Boland
Helen Palk
Helen, has generously written several more Did you know? articles on the theme of the Holy Name Cathedral and these will be published over the coming months. Thanks again to Helen.
There are several entries on the Holy Name Cathedral in the G&W Resources.
For a very informative and amusing read, I recommend Fr Tom Boland’s paper presented to the Brisbane Catholic Historical Society in 2003. It is in our Resources under the heading:
Holy Name Cathedral – Paper Holy Name Cathedral Fact and Fiction Fr Thomas P Boland
Helen Palk
Helen, has generously written several more Did you know? articles on the theme of the Holy Name Cathedral and these will be published over the coming months. Thanks again to Helen.
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US AS A GUIDE OR WELCOMER?
As you know being a Guide and Welcomer is a wonderfully rewarding and enriching experience. If you know someone who may be interested in joining the Cathedral Guides or Welcomers, they may register their interest by emailing C[email protected] or by completing an Enquiry Form, by clicking on the link below.
As you know being a Guide and Welcomer is a wonderfully rewarding and enriching experience. If you know someone who may be interested in joining the Cathedral Guides or Welcomers, they may register their interest by emailing C[email protected] or by completing an Enquiry Form, by clicking on the link below.
