St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Christchurch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary's Pro-Cathedral
Location	Christchurch
Country	New Zealand
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	Official website: https://catholiccathedralchch.org.nz/
Administration
Parish	Cathedral Parish
Diocese	Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch

The St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, also known as St Mary's Church, is a Catholic church in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located on Manchester Street in the South Island.

This church is important because it serves as the main church for the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch. A diocese is like a special area managed by a bishop. The Christchurch Diocese was created in 1887.

The church building was first built as a regular parish church in 1889. A parish is a local church community. However, after strong earthquakes hit Christchurch in 2010 and 2011, the main church, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, was badly damaged. It later had to be taken down. Because of this, St Mary's Church became a temporary "pro-cathedral." This means it took on the role of the main church until a new cathedral could be built.

Music at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Music
Choir and Orchestra
Short name	CBS Music
Founded	1969 (1969)
Location	Christchurch, New Zealand
Concert hall	Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament (1969–2010), St Mary's Pro-Cathedral (2010–)
Principal conductor	Don Whelan

The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Music (often called CBS Music) is a group that provides music for church services at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral. Before the Canterbury earthquakes, they were based at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. CBS Music is connected to the Royal School of Church Music in New Zealand.

How CBS Music Started

The CBS Choir began in 1969. It was started by Don Whelan, who was an organist. He first worked with Dutch immigrants in Burnside who loved to sing in choirs. Don Whelan became a skilled organist and helped organize both singers (called cantors) and the choir. When the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament needed an organist for its services before Easter in 1969, Don Whelan took the chance, and the CBS Choir was officially formed.

Tours and Challenges

CBS Music has traveled a lot. On their first international trip to Europe in 1990–1991, the New Zealand Government recognized them as "cultural ambassadors." This means they represented New Zealand's culture to other countries.

During their third European tour, the choir was invited to sing at a special Midnight Mass led by the Pope. This was to celebrate the start of the Holy Year of Jubilee.

The 2010 Canterbury Earthquake caused serious damage to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, so it had to close. Church services then moved to a nearby chapel. However, the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake caused even more damage. The cathedral partly fell down, and the chapel was also badly damaged and later taken down.

Even with these challenges, CBS Music built a new, modern building at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral. This new space holds their music library, offices, and a practice hall.

Despite the earthquakes, the choir and orchestra continued their yearly tours around New Zealand. They also went on their first tour to Asia in 2012. They had more tours to Australia and Europe in 2013 and 2015. In October 2019, members of CBS Music celebrated 50 years of Don Whelan leading the group.

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Catholic bishops in New Zealand temporarily closed churches and stopped Masses. This also paused the CBS Music program, including their "Wednesdays at One" music program and concerts. This was the first time in their history that their activities were stopped. On June 14, 2020, CBS Music was able to restart their program, celebrating the Cathedral's Feast of Corpus Christi. The "Wednesdays at One" program started again in July 2020.

Concert Programs and Performances

CBS Music hosts a weekly concert series called Wednesdays at One. During these concerts, local and national musicians of all ages perform music by many different composers using various instruments.

Every year, they perform Bach's St John Passion on Good Friday and Handel's Messiah in mid-December. In June, during the Diocese's Feast Day (Cathedral Feast of Corpus Christi), they give a concert, often performing a Mass. For example, in 2019, they performed John Ritchie's Missa Corpus Christi and other pieces.

On the first Sunday of each month (except January), the choir performs special Masses with an orchestra. On other Sundays, the choir sings different types of music, including traditional chants. Orchestral Masses with the choir are also performed at Christmas.

Key People in CBS Music

Here are some of the main people who lead CBS Music:

Cathedral Music Director:

• Don Whelan (1969–2021)
• Michael Collins (2021–present)

CBS Music Director:

• Don Whelan (1969–present)

Assistant CBS Music Director:

• Simon Mace (2018–2019)
• Nicholas Sutcliffe (2019–present)

Cantor:

• Wally Enright

Concertmaster:

• Natalia M. Lomeiko

See also

In Spanish: Procatedral de Santa María (Christchurch) para niños

• Christchurch Catholic Cathedral, the proposed replacement of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
• Roman Catholicism in New Zealand
• St Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland