St. Joseph's Cathedral, Avarua facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. Joseph's Cathedral
Location	Avarua
Country	Cook Islands  New Zealand
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Dedication	1994

St. Joseph's Cathedral is an important Catholic church. It is located in Avarua, the main town on Rarotonga island. Rarotonga is the largest and most populated island in the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands are a self-governing country in the South Pacific. They are in a special partnership with New Zealand.

This cathedral was officially opened in 1994. Cardinal T Williams, an Archbishop from New Zealand, dedicated it.

About the Diocese

St. Joseph's Cathedral is the main church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga. A diocese is like a church district. This diocese covers all of the Cook Islands and also the island of Niue. The Catholic Church created this diocese in 1922. It became a full diocese in 1966.

The current leader of the diocese is Bishop Paul Donoghue. Inside the cathedral, you can see beautiful stained glass windows. These windows show stories and people from the Bible.

Land Agreement

For many years, there were talks about the land where the cathedral stands. The church, the landowners, and the Cook Islands government were all involved. The land was being leased, which means it was rented.

Finally, in 2018, everyone reached an agreement. This agreement made sure the church could continue to use the land. The agreement also helped Nukutere College, a school located nearby.

Images for kids

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  St. Joseph's Cathedral in Avarua.

See also

In Spanish: Catedral de San José (Avarua) para niños

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga
• Nukutere College
• Paul Donoghue