41. VIRGIN MARY AND SACRED HEART

The two figures shown here are the same as those at the Cathedral entrance: the Virgin Mary and The Sacred Heart. The Lady Chapel is designated as a place of devotional prayer.    PLAN

42. BEHIND THE NAVE ALTAR

Now, here is an interesting development! We can walk behind the nave altar on our way to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in the Southeast corner of the Cathedral. So with this view, the nave is on our left, and we look back towards the chapter house entry. A small Daily Mass Chapel is on our right, at the foot of the Great East Windows. We notice to our left a crucifix and a small Madonna.

43. CRUCIFIX AND MADONNA

The crucifix is actually at the back of the Bishop’s cathedra. The little statue is of the crowned Virgin Mary holding the young Jesus – a source of some chronological difficulty.

44. ST JOSEPH

Moving further across, we come to another statue of Joseph at the base of a supporting column. I like this depiction of Joseph as the working man carrying his setsquare.

45. BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL

On my visit, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel is devoid of seating. The small central altar carries a tabernacle, and there is a triplet of stained glass windows behind.

46. TABERNACLE AND LAMP

The tabernacle holds the blessed Elements of the Eucharist which are then available during the week for ministry to the sick. Above us is the sanctuary lamp, lit to show the presence of the Eucharist.   

47. CHAPEL WINDOWS

The three main Chapel windows at left show Christ ministering at the Last Supper to eleven of the disciples. Judas can be seen leaving at the right. The fourth window is on the South wall where the Chapel meets the nave. It is a 1946 window which depicts at left the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–8), and at right the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:10–22).

48. SANCTUARY

From the nave, the sanctuary appears as a broad sweep of green. As we have seen, the sanctuary platform in fact forms an island, but this cannot be discerned from the nave.

49. SANCTUARY DETAIL

Items of interest on the platform include the ambo at left, the large central altar, the Paschal candle at right, and the central cathedra. The East windows make an impressive backdrop

50. AMBO

Catholic churches often have an ambo – a combination of lectern and pulpit. The colourful flags are present for a special celebration.

51. PASCHAL CANDLE

On the right hand side we have the Paschal candle. This is a feature of most Catholic and Anglican churches, and is used to demonstrate that Christ is the Light of the world.    

52. CATHEDRA

Behind the altar is the cathedra, which is the Bishop’s chair or throne. Its name comes from the Latin word ‘cathedra’ meaning chair or throne, and it is from this word that a church gains the title ‘cathedral’. The presence of the chair indicates that this church is the chosen ‘home’ of the Bishop.

53. EAST WINDOWS

The three windows were installed in 1983. They depict from left: the Crucifixion of Christ; the Ascension of the Risen Christ; the coming of the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire at Pentecost. This completes our tour of St Joseph’s Cathedral.