St Mary`s Star of the Sea Cathedral Print Page

St Mary's Star of the Sea Cathedral was opened in 1962, having been designed and built as a War Memorial Cathedral in the aftermath of World War Two. It is dedicated as St. Mary's, Star of the Sea, and is the centre of the Church's activity in the Diocese of Darwin.  At the same time the Cathedral is a war memorial to those servicemen, Australian, American, British and Dutch, who lost their lives in the area during the war, and to the civilian residents who died in the war. 

The first sod was turned on 16th December, 1957, and the foundation stone was blessed by Bishop O'Loughlin on 13th July, 1958.  This stone was cut from a piece of crystalline metamorphosed rock from Rum Jungle, the site of the first uranium mine in the Territory.  The stone shows extensive silification. The Cathedral was blessed and opened by Bishop O'Loughlin on 19th August, 1962, and consecrated on 20th August, 1972.   The memorial character is reflected in a series of stained glass panels in the west window donated by the Australian and American Armed forces, and depicting their respective emblems.

OPENING Of DARWIN CATHEDRAL. On Sunday 26th, August 1962, the new St. Mary`Star of the Sea War Memorial Catholic Cathedral was officially opened and solemnly blessed. Bishops and priests from all over Australia converged on Darwin for the ceremonies. It was the proudest occasion of the Church's history in North Australia. The Cathedral soars 103 ft, from the ground to the tip of the giant cross. It is built to seat 1000. Unique features are Karel Kupka's famous painting of the Aboriginal Madonna, and the main stained glass window has aboriginal motifs.

The idea of a War Memorial Cathedral was first raised by troops stationed in the area in 1942. Japanese Zeros had strafed the old church repeatedly with machine gun fire. Special features of the Cathedral beside the Aboriginal Madonna are the striking stained glass window, representing Our Lady Star of the Sea, the work of Mr. Bustard of Southport, Brisbane. A star has been placed at the top of the window from which rays radiate downwards, immediately under the star is the representation of the Madonna and Child. Then there is the expanse of sky through which three seabirds ore flying, and underneath a symbolic representation of the sea, with fishes and waves in blue.

Three cherubs decorate the of the window. One is black to represent the native people among the congregation.  Alluvial gold panned at Santa Teresa Mission in Central Australia has been used to gild the altar cross and the Sedilia in the sanctuary are upholstered with leather, made up from crocodile skins sent in by hunters from the Daly River Mission.  The memorial character of the building is reflected in the three stained glass windows donated by each of the Australian armed Services, showing their respective emblems. These were donated by servicemen stationed in Darwin. The United States Army, Navy and Airforce also have presented a stained glass panel bearing the official seals of each service. A party of Americans flew from Canberra for the opening ceremonies.
Torres News (Thursday Island, Qld.), 28 August 1962.

Cathedral Opening 1962

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