Goulburn Cathedral Classics Concert – Weekend 12-13 April 2025
In April, 16 Catenian Brothers and wives travelled to the City of Goulburn, approximately 200km south of Sydney for a weekend concert experience. The Sydney Philharmonia Choir was performing “I Was Glad” – Cathedral Classics, at the beautifully restored Old Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.
The 19th century Gothic Revival church is heritage-listed and is the only one in the world built from greenstone, quarried from just outside the city. It is a shrine for pilgrims during the 2025 Jubilee Year. One of its features is the magnificent organ, built by Hill & Sons of London in 1890, which is considered to be the best Hill organ in Australia after the one in the Sydney Town Hall. Of interest also are the exquisitely coloured 19th century French Stations of the Cross. The Old Cathedral is historically significant for its close association with the development of Catholicism in southern NSW.
Inspiration for the visit came from Brother Martin Stebbings who is a long-term member of the Sydney Philharmonia Choir and is a member of Ku-ring-gai (and Reigate) Circles. It was decided to promote the weekend away as a Province 21 Event.
The group, from three Circles assembled at the church at 2.00pm on Saturday and was treated to two hours of wonderful classical hymns and anthems by the 80-member choir, conducted by Brett Weymark, and accompanied by David Drury at the organ. The full house audience was even asked to join in for two of the songs, which proved to be a popular inclusion.
On Saturday evening the group got together at the nearby Goulburn Soldier’s Club for dinner and drinks. Sunday morning breakfast was held at Roses Café, (directly opposite the Church) where we were treated to great food and friendly country service.
Following breakfast, we all attended Palm Sunday Mass at the Old Cathedral held by Fr Michael Lim who is a very impressive and engaging priest. We managed to include Fr Michael in a photograph of our group following the Mass.
The final event of the weekend was a visit to Riversdale Historic Homestead for a tour of the gardens and Colonial Georgian house, followed by a picnic lunch. The homestead, built in the 1830’s was originally a Coaching Inn before becoming home to the Twynam family for almost 100 years.
Our thanks to Brother Martin for organising a magnificent weekend.
Fr Michael Lim sprinkling holy water on the assembled congregation for Palm Sunday Mass outside the the greenstone Goulburn Cathedral
