by Very Reverend Gerard Johnson

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 the triune God -
                            Father, Son and Holy Spirit;  

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.

As an architectural gem in our part of the world it speaks for itself.  Here though, more importantly, is where God speaks to us and we to God, as God's holy people on a daily basis.

The biblical story continues to be proclaimed here and we are the contemporary characters in that never ending story telling it.

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.