St Patrick’s Cathedral (Melbourne)
23 September, 2025
A group of parents with their children and youth took part in an excursion to St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne on Sunday 21st September 2025. The group set off from St Albans SDC centre in the morning in order to attend the 11am Mass at the Cathedral.
Following Mass, a guided tour was given by SDC member Raymond Debono, during which the group explored the Cathedral and delved into the history of this monumental heritage site in the heart of a vibrant multicultural city. The presence of the Catholic Church in Melbourne dates back to the 1830s, when the first Irish settlers began arriving. The Cathedral was consecrated on 27th October 1897 and, following a triduum, first opened its doors to the public on Sunday 31st October 1897. On that day, an estimated 10,000 people came to admire the beauty of the Cathedral. All former bishops of Melbourne are interred in the crypt within the side chapel adjacent to the main altar. As part of the jubilee year, Melbourne Cathedral has been designated a place of pilgrimage, and Catholics are encouraged to visit it as pilgrims of hope.
The group later had the opportunity to take a photograph with the monument of St George Preca situated outside the Cathedral. The day concluded with a picnic and shared lunch in a nearby park, where the children and young people enjoyed a few hours of games before the early evening.
