"Welcome to Melbourne, and more particularly to Saint Patrick's Catholic Cathedral and Minor Basilica.

Here in this sacred space is where we pray and worship God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit; fitting really, when we ponder and reflect on the three leaf clover, sometimes known as the shamrock, Patrick our patron used at his disposal to help the Irish understand who God is.  There are echoes of this shape throughout the building. 

The Cathedral wordlessly proclaims our response to God's initiative in our lives and it reminds every pilgrim and visitor of the transcendent in our midst.

by Archishop Denis Hart

Saint Patrick’s is a place of God, an oasis of peace and beauty.  A small immigrant community built it with courage, vision and love.  It is a lasting reminder of God’s constant presence among the people of Melbourne.

As a small boy I remember my father bringing me in for a visit.  Later as a seminarian I saw that it was the focus of the Church and I attended Ordinations.  Later as a priest at the Cathedral I came to know the many moods which our Cathedral has; the peace of early morning, the prayerfulness of those who come for a visit, the comfort of reconciliation offered at lunchtime as the Cathedral becomes light and the day is splendid.