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:
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.
Heritage Standing Inc. (HSI) and the Cathedral have won a national award, the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP) Award of Excellence in Conservation Engineering. HSI expressed their gratitude to the Cathedral saying, “we are very proud of the work we have done together and appreciate having such a great owner partnership with Bishop Riesbeck, Fr. McRae, Sean McNulty, and everyone on the building committee. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to do good work with a building and community we care about.”
2026 Restoration Update
Work on the Cathedral restoration continues to advance steadily in 2026, with the first phase of comprehensive masonry restoration now underway following several years of critical stabilization and emergency repairs. Skilled crews from Legacy Masonry, working alongside award winning conservation engineering firm Heritage Standing Inc (HSI), are completing detailed stone restoration designed to protect the Cathedral for at least the next 75 years. Innovative restoration techniques and carefully sourced replacement limestone are helping ensure the work is both durable and historically appropriate. Equally significant has been the re-constitution of the Cathedral Heritage Foundation Board of Directors, bringing together experienced business leaders who are passionate about preserving this cherished place of worship. The Board has begun strategic planning and is developing a vision for a future fundraising campaign that will inspire hope and preserve a lasting legacy by restoring the Cathedral as a vibrant, faith-centred place that strengthens our community for generations to come. With strong leadership in place, visible progress on site, and growing excitement about the future, momentum continues to build as the work of restoring the Cathedral moves forward.
Highlights of work completed in 2025 under the direction of Heritage Standing Inc. (HSI):
Working with the Decisionics Engineering Research group at the University of Toronto, HSI used rope access to climb out onto the top of the tower and install this crack-monitoring sensor. By monitoring the movement of the structural systems in the tower, HSI is working to ensure that that repairs are progressing properly and that the tower remains safe while work is being done.
The McGill | struct-lab undertook a geometrical and material survey to understand the dynamic physical characteristics of the tower and validate their finite element model. The tower structure is highly complex due to multiple past interventions and their interactions, both intended and unintended. This intensive investigation was necessary to design emergency masonry stabilization and will continue to inform future masonry repairs and a means to avoid unnecessary repairs.
The attachments for the original copper panels on the spire roof were severely deteriorated, and the copper was in danger of becoming detached in high winds. Securely refastening the copper roof panels was one of the first emergency repairs and required an enormous crane.
When HSI was initially brought on site there was no easy access to the upper tower. Investigations required roping in and scaling the interior structure. Eventually additional anchoring points were added to provide easier access. Tom Morrison, the Principal Engineer of HSI, is shown here during one of his initial assessments.
On a project as complicated as this one, regular communication is essential to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. HSI is seen here discussing the day’s work with Father Ralph.
Sometimes it can be hard to know what is going on inside the structure of a building. A tool called a borescope allows HSI to see inside a small hole drilled in one of the walls to determine its composition and condition.
The Cathedral’s tower is so high! To do emergency repairs, the masons needed a good head for heights and a bucket truck with an enormous reach.
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
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)
