61. ST MARY MACKILLOP AND ST MONICA

The photograph is a wellknown portrait of St Mary MacKillop. Mary Helen MacKillop RSJ was an Australian nun who has been declared a saint by the Catholic Church, as St Mary of the Cross. Of Scottish descent, she was born in Melbourne but is best known for her activities in South Australia. The statue is of St Monica, who, as we have seen. was mother of St Augustine of Hippo.    INDEX

62. CANDLE STAND

The candlestand reminds us that this is a place of prayer. Many people find that lighting a candle is an aid to prayer – flame and prayer reaching for heaven.

63. CHAPEL ALTAR

At the front of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel is the altar bearing the tabernacle with a golden crucifix above. The locked golden door of the tabernacle carries a cross and the text IHS – the first letters in Latinised Greek of the name ‘Jesus’.

64. TABERNACLE

The central tabernacle contains the reserved Elements of the Eucharist. These Elements have been blessed and are available during the week for ministering to the sick and needy. A sacramental light burns outside the chapel. Standing at the sides are wood-carved statues of St John, and Mary the Mother of Christ. This completes our tour of St Monica’s Cathedral.

65. FIRST CHURCH 1884

This was the first Roman Catholic Church in Cairns, prior to the installation of stained glass windows. It was possibly called St Monica’s.   This is before the Sisters of Mercy Catholic order of nuns was established in Cairns in 1892. [Photo Credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland]

66. ST MONICA’S OLD CATHEDRAL

St Monica's Old Cathedral is a heritage-listed former Roman Catholic cathedral at Minnie Street in Cairns. It was designed by Lawrence and Lordan and was built in 1927 by Michael Garvey. It is also known as St Monica's Cathedral and St Monica's Church & School.     [Photo Credit: Queensland Heritage Regisster]