WelcomeThe Guides and Welcomers of the Cathedral of St Stephen have been welcoming visitors to our Cathedral since 1998.
We conduct tours for individuals, groups and schools. Our volunteer Guides are in attendance each weekday (Monday to Friday) at 10.30am to take visitors on a free guided tour of the Cathedral, the Chapel, or the Precinct. The tour can be tailored to suit your timetable – it can be for as long or as short as you choose. Please enquire at the Welcomers Desk to request a tour. If you wish to book a private tour at another time, or a group, or school tour please click on the button below. 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. |
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A GUIDE OR WELCOMER?
Being a Guide and Welcomer is a wonderfully rewarding and enriching experience. If you think you would like to join the Cathedral Guides or Welcomers, you may register your interest by contacting the Cathedral Office via email [email protected] or phone (07) 3324 3030 or by completing an Enquiry Form, by clicking on the link below.
Being a Guide and Welcomer is a wonderfully rewarding and enriching experience. If you think you would like to join the Cathedral Guides or Welcomers, you may register your interest by contacting the Cathedral Office via email [email protected] or phone (07) 3324 3030 or by completing an Enquiry Form, by clicking on the link below.
GUIDES & WELCOMERS PORTAL
This website has been created to facilitate the distribution of information to all members and to ensure that everyone is able to access it as needed. If you are an existing guide or welcomer for the Cathedral of St Stephen, please access our resources via the links below.
This website has been created to facilitate the distribution of information to all members and to ensure that everyone is able to access it as needed. If you are an existing guide or welcomer for the Cathedral of St Stephen, please access our resources via the links below.
NEWS & EVENTS
26TH ANNIVERSARY - 27TH AUGUST 2024
The 27th of August this year marked the 26th Anniversary of the founding of the St Stephen’s Guides and Welcomers.
The initial guiding group, a small informal band of five volunteers were invited to form a Cathedral Guiding Group in 1998 by the newly appointed Administrator of the Cathedral at the time, Fr Peter Dillon.
The restoration of the old St Stephen’s Church (now St Stephen’s Chapel) had begun, and Fr Dillon foresaw the need for a professionally trained group of Guides for when the Chapel restoration was completed, and an anticipated increase in visitors to the Cathedral and the Chapel.
Calling themselves The Friends of St Stephen’s, the new group held their first meeting in February, 1998. From that initial meeting, they made remarkable progress organising recruitment drives and training sessions. By August, the newly formed group was well established, and on 27 August, 1998, Fr Dillon relinquished his role as Chairperson and handed over proceedings to the newly appointed Chair, Margaret Moore. Their name was changed from The Friends of St Stephens to The St Stephen’s Guides.
Since 1998 the St Stephen’s Guides (now known as St Stephen’s Guides & Welcomers) has grown and matured under the leadership of different Chairs and Committees, and always with the support of the Dean of the Cathedral and the Cathedral Administration Staff.
The current Guides & Welcomers continue the mission and vision of their 1998 founders. They are a dedicated cohort of well- trained women and men committed to providing a welcome and meaningful information to all visitors to the Cathedral and Precinct.
We say thank you to all the Guides and Welcomers who have loyally and faithfully welcomed and guided visitors to the Cathedral and Precinct over the past twenty-six years.
The 27th of August this year marked the 26th Anniversary of the founding of the St Stephen’s Guides and Welcomers.
The initial guiding group, a small informal band of five volunteers were invited to form a Cathedral Guiding Group in 1998 by the newly appointed Administrator of the Cathedral at the time, Fr Peter Dillon.
The restoration of the old St Stephen’s Church (now St Stephen’s Chapel) had begun, and Fr Dillon foresaw the need for a professionally trained group of Guides for when the Chapel restoration was completed, and an anticipated increase in visitors to the Cathedral and the Chapel.
Calling themselves The Friends of St Stephen’s, the new group held their first meeting in February, 1998. From that initial meeting, they made remarkable progress organising recruitment drives and training sessions. By August, the newly formed group was well established, and on 27 August, 1998, Fr Dillon relinquished his role as Chairperson and handed over proceedings to the newly appointed Chair, Margaret Moore. Their name was changed from The Friends of St Stephens to The St Stephen’s Guides.
Since 1998 the St Stephen’s Guides (now known as St Stephen’s Guides & Welcomers) has grown and matured under the leadership of different Chairs and Committees, and always with the support of the Dean of the Cathedral and the Cathedral Administration Staff.
The current Guides & Welcomers continue the mission and vision of their 1998 founders. They are a dedicated cohort of well- trained women and men committed to providing a welcome and meaningful information to all visitors to the Cathedral and Precinct.
We say thank you to all the Guides and Welcomers who have loyally and faithfully welcomed and guided visitors to the Cathedral and Precinct over the past twenty-six years.
FEAST DAY OF ST MARY OF THE CROSS MACKILLOP - 8TH AUGUST
On August 8, the Cathedral celebrated Mary MacKillop Day, the Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
Although born in Melbourne and now very much associated with the small rural town of Penola in South Australia, Mary MacKillop had a close connection with Brisbane.
She was educated at private schools in Melbourne, and in her early adult life she worked as a governess and teacher in the Portland region of Victoria. It was in these rural settings that she became aware of the plight of isolated workers, such as farmers, railway workers and miners and their families and decided to devote her life to alleviating the hardships of the poor. Together with Father Julian Tenison-Woods, the parish priest in Penola, she formed the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, an order committed to serving the underprivileged and marginalised – to go to where the need was, to live within their communities and to provide support and free education.
Her congregation of religious Sisters, formed in Penola in 1867, was the first Catholic religious congregation founded by Australians.
Only two years after establishing her Congregation of Sisters in Penola, Bishop Quinn invited Mary to Brisbane to set up schools in his diocese.
Despite Bishop Quinn not offering any financial assistance for her passage to Queensland, Mary, with three other sisters departed Adelaide on 8 December 1869, begging their way north via Melbourne and Sydney. They were joined by two more recruits in Sydney.
Two weeks later, on 31 December, 1869 Mary and her five companions disembarked from the Steamer, City of Brisbane and were warmly welcomed by the Vicar General of the Diocese, Dr. John Cani. The Sisters of Mercy also offered hospitality by providing accommodation for Mary and her Sisters at All Hallows for a short period. The newly arrived Sisters soon found independent accommodation in South Brisbane, firstly a house to rent in Tribune Street, and later, a larger house (previously a hotel!) in Montague Street. At the time South Brisbane was considered a “desirable address”. It was the poorer part of town where the lower classes and marginalised people lived.
By 1870 Mary and her sisters had established 3 schools in Brisbane - St. Mary’s South Brisbane, St. Joseph’s at One Mile Swamp, (Woolloongabba) and St John the Baptist’s in Caxton Street, North Brisbane (Petrie Terrace). They had also established a school in Maryborough.
While Mary was living in Brisbane, she and her sisters attended Mass at the old St Stephen’s Cathedral in Elizabeth Street (now St Stephen’s Chapel). Their journey from South Brisbane to Elizabeth Street for Sunday Mass required crossing the Brisbane River, which they did either by ferry, or rowboat.
After having established her community in South Brisbane and Maryborough, Mary left Brisbane in March 1871.She returned in April 1875 and stayed until September. Mary again visited Brisbane in 1878, 1879 and 1885.
In 2010 Mary MacKillop became the first Australian to be canonised, now known as Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
In anticipation of her canonisation, Archbishop John Bathersby, petitioned the Vatican to declare Saint Mary of the Cross the Patron of the Brisbane Archdiocese in recognition of her historic connection with Brisbane, her residency in South Brisbane and the establishment of the first four Josephite schools in Queensland.
This was granted on 6 May, 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI.
The Cathedral honours the patronage of St Mary of the Cross within the Cathedral Precinct with many works of art including -
The John Elliott sculpture and panels in St Stephen’s Chapel;
The Christopher McVinish portrait of St Mary of the Cross at the entrance to the shrine in the south turret in the Cathedral
The Mary MacKillop Medallions along the path from St Stephen’s Chapel to the entrance to Penola Place; and the window display of Mary MacKillop memorabilia at the entrance to Penola Place.
On August 8, the Cathedral celebrated Mary MacKillop Day, the Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
Although born in Melbourne and now very much associated with the small rural town of Penola in South Australia, Mary MacKillop had a close connection with Brisbane.
She was educated at private schools in Melbourne, and in her early adult life she worked as a governess and teacher in the Portland region of Victoria. It was in these rural settings that she became aware of the plight of isolated workers, such as farmers, railway workers and miners and their families and decided to devote her life to alleviating the hardships of the poor. Together with Father Julian Tenison-Woods, the parish priest in Penola, she formed the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, an order committed to serving the underprivileged and marginalised – to go to where the need was, to live within their communities and to provide support and free education.
Her congregation of religious Sisters, formed in Penola in 1867, was the first Catholic religious congregation founded by Australians.
Only two years after establishing her Congregation of Sisters in Penola, Bishop Quinn invited Mary to Brisbane to set up schools in his diocese.
Despite Bishop Quinn not offering any financial assistance for her passage to Queensland, Mary, with three other sisters departed Adelaide on 8 December 1869, begging their way north via Melbourne and Sydney. They were joined by two more recruits in Sydney.
Two weeks later, on 31 December, 1869 Mary and her five companions disembarked from the Steamer, City of Brisbane and were warmly welcomed by the Vicar General of the Diocese, Dr. John Cani. The Sisters of Mercy also offered hospitality by providing accommodation for Mary and her Sisters at All Hallows for a short period. The newly arrived Sisters soon found independent accommodation in South Brisbane, firstly a house to rent in Tribune Street, and later, a larger house (previously a hotel!) in Montague Street. At the time South Brisbane was considered a “desirable address”. It was the poorer part of town where the lower classes and marginalised people lived.
By 1870 Mary and her sisters had established 3 schools in Brisbane - St. Mary’s South Brisbane, St. Joseph’s at One Mile Swamp, (Woolloongabba) and St John the Baptist’s in Caxton Street, North Brisbane (Petrie Terrace). They had also established a school in Maryborough.
While Mary was living in Brisbane, she and her sisters attended Mass at the old St Stephen’s Cathedral in Elizabeth Street (now St Stephen’s Chapel). Their journey from South Brisbane to Elizabeth Street for Sunday Mass required crossing the Brisbane River, which they did either by ferry, or rowboat.
After having established her community in South Brisbane and Maryborough, Mary left Brisbane in March 1871.She returned in April 1875 and stayed until September. Mary again visited Brisbane in 1878, 1879 and 1885.
In 2010 Mary MacKillop became the first Australian to be canonised, now known as Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
In anticipation of her canonisation, Archbishop John Bathersby, petitioned the Vatican to declare Saint Mary of the Cross the Patron of the Brisbane Archdiocese in recognition of her historic connection with Brisbane, her residency in South Brisbane and the establishment of the first four Josephite schools in Queensland.
This was granted on 6 May, 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI.
The Cathedral honours the patronage of St Mary of the Cross within the Cathedral Precinct with many works of art including -
The John Elliott sculpture and panels in St Stephen’s Chapel;
The Christopher McVinish portrait of St Mary of the Cross at the entrance to the shrine in the south turret in the Cathedral
The Mary MacKillop Medallions along the path from St Stephen’s Chapel to the entrance to Penola Place; and the window display of Mary MacKillop memorabilia at the entrance to Penola Place.
NOTE TO GUIDES & WELCOMERS
Please visit the Resources Page (Password Protected) and type in St Mary of the Cross MacKillop in the Search Box to find several resources on Mary MacKillop.
SAFEGUARDING
All Clergy, Religious, Archdiocesan workers are bound by the ‘Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy’ statement:
The Archdiocese of Brisbane holds that children and vulnerable adults are a gift from God with an intrinsic right to dignity of life, respect and security from physical and emotional harm. They are to be treasured, nurtured and protected from any harm.
This will be achieved through the development of respectful relationships and a commitment to safety embracing appropriate boundaries, behaviours and practices.
The Archdiocese of Brisbane holds that children and vulnerable adults are a gift from God with an intrinsic right to dignity of life, respect and security from physical and emotional harm. They are to be treasured, nurtured and protected from any harm.
This will be achieved through the development of respectful relationships and a commitment to safety embracing appropriate boundaries, behaviours and practices.
