Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Hamilton facts for kids

The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, New Zealand. It was opened in 1975, replacing an earlier Neo-Classical building known as St Mary's Church which was built in 1911–1912. The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary was dedicated and renamed on 27 April 1980 and rededicated, following refurbishment, on 7 November 2008.

The Cathedral is particularly celebrated for a large stained glass window depicting the Resurrection of Christ. This was in the earlier St Mary's Church and was then placed in the rebuilt St Mary's church in 1975 and remained in place when that church was dedicated as the Cathedral. "The steeple-like effect of this central window and bold cross above is a Hamilton landmark and it remains firmly in place in the remodelled cathedral, offering beauty and a sense of history". This Resurrection window has been associated with Hamilton's "church on the hill" for more than 50 years. It was made for the early Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in the 1950s, by Dutch immigrant artist Martin (Martinus Wouterous) Roestenburg who lived and worked in Taihape.

Images for kids

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  Sanctuary of the Cathedral

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  The Cathedral interior, featuring the Marian Shrine (left), Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament (centre-back) and the Sanctuary (centre-right)

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  The Marian Shrine in the Cathedral, featuring icons depicting the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries of The Rosary.

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  An Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary greets visitors in the main entrance - one of the many pieces of sacred art in the Cathedral.

See also

In Spanish: Catedral de la Santísima Virgen María (Hamilton) para niños