THE CATHEDRAL RESTORATION PROJECT

A visual testimony of our faith, raised by God’s people in stone and glass and wood.

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a beautiful edifice, beloved by people near and far. It stands as a tribute to the immigrants who sought refuge in New Brunswick in the mid-1800s and who sacrificed and worked diligently to establish this special place of worship. 170 years later, the Cathedral remains true to its heritage of serving the poor and the marginalized and those who seek spiritual guidance, refuge, and community, particularly through the celebration of the sacraments and prayerful encounters with God.

The Cathedral community continues to serve the mission of the Church, spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to the peripheries and serving Jesus in the poorest of the poor through many outreaches including:

Religious statue of Jesus Christ in a chapel niche on a stone wall, with a decorative Gothic-style wooden canopy.

RESPONDING TO IMMIGRANTS

A 2019 University of New Brunswick study found that immigration has been steadily increasing in Saint John since 2005, with the largest numbers arriving from China and the Philippines. Since then, many newcomer families from other places including Africa, India and Spanish-speaking countries continue to fill our pews and add vibrancy to our Cathedral community. The Cathedral operates a number of outreach programs to assist immigrants. Many individuals have been assisted through the Immigrant and Refugee Support Center become Cathedral parishioners.

SUPPORTING THE POOR

St. Vincent de Paul Society provides food, clothing, and household goods to those in need in the neighborhood and surrounding areas.

SUPPORTING HOUSING

The Cathedral is a partner of the Steepleview Project which will consist of approximately 40 apartments with a mix of subsidized units and market units for seniors, non-elderly singles, or families and will include community rooms for social gatherings and meetings, and an early childcare centre.

The Cathedral is vitally important, not only for its heritage value but also for the missionary outreach and spiritual revitalization it provides in an area of the diocese that desperately needs a Catholic Christian presence. However, the passage of time and loving use have taken a significant toll on the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, placing it in critical need of repairs and restorations. Attending to the physical needs of the Cathedral allows us to continue serving the spiritual needs of the faithful in Saint John and across the diocese in worship and outreach.

TIMELINE

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New roofing is installed everywhere except on the tower spire. Work on the interior plaster begins soon after.

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A structural assessment of the building determines that the Cathedral is in need of significant attention and repairs, including the bell tower, stonework, windows, heritage doors, and interior.

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A structural engineering firm with a special focus on heritage buildings is engaged to complete emergency repairs of the tower and buttresses, install a structural health monitoring system to measure movement in the tower, and to complete a level 2 condition assessment in order to gain a deep understanding of the building, both strengths and deficiencies and to plan targeted repairs over the next ten years.

Donate

You are invited to prayerfully discern a generous personal, tax-deductible donation towards the Cathedral restoration. Gifts of either a one-time or monthly donation (payable either by cheque, credit card, email money transfer or automatic withdrawal), multi-year pledge, securities, bequests, or life insurance, which are a tremendous blessing and will aid significantly in the success of these restoration efforts. If you have any questions, or if you know of any people or organizations/businesses that could potentially make a significant gift to the Cathedral restoration, please email:
reception@dioceseofsaintjohn.org or call 506-653-6800.

"I am counting on your fervent prayer for this work of restoration through the intercession of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, as we give God permission to move powerfully in our diocese." (Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC)

Interior of a church with stained glass windows, religious statues on wooden niches, and arched architecture.