Christchurch bishop outlines rebuild of quake‑damaged cathedral

Christchurch Cathedral in New Zealand was severely damaged in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.

Christchurch, New Zealand, Bishop Michael Gielen described the status of plans to rebuild the city’s earthquake‑damaged cathedral, with work likely to begin during the next few years.

In an interview with Colm Flynn on “EWTN News Nightly” that aired Sept. 10, Gielen said New Zealand’s laity desired to rebuild their church.

“They want another one. They want something that they can celebrate in, and it can unify us,” Gielen said. “So, we’ve responded. We’ve chosen a design; it’s a Romanesque Gothic design, and we’ve now presented it to the people we’ve fundraised over. We’re very hopeful that in the next few years we’ll be able to get started and build it.”

Worshippers used a temporary parish during the past 15 years since the 2011 earthquakes that collapsed buildings and killed nearly 200 people throughout the city.

Gielen said the restoration work has become a symbol of something larger — a reminder that the diocese’s rebuilding is both physical and spiritual.

“It is a metaphor. Rebuild my church, but we’re actually. It’s not only the cathedral we’re rebuilding. We lost 30 or 35 of our churches — damaged or demolished — in the last 15 years,” Gielen said. “So, it’s a real example of how faith is. There’s a resurgence of faith in the West and in New Zealand as well.”

Gielen said the rebuilding has stirred energy across the diocese.

“People are very excited, and it shows the wider community that our people are still hope-filled and they believe in this; and even secular society has gotten behind this, and they’re very excited about it as well,” he said.

A perpetual adoration chapel is going to be attached to the cathedral, Gielen said.