The tornado that tore through the heart of our community in May 2005 left much devastation, both physical and emotional, in its wake.  The following recalls the fateful day the tornado destroyed Saint Patrick’s Cathedral precinct and severely damaged the historic Parish House.  It reflects upon the Church’s capacity to provide its essential services throughout the South West communities.  This capacity was damaged also by the tornado.

It also sets out the plans for rebuilding St Patrick’s Cathedral and the surrounding precinct - plans which were developed after wide-spread consultation with the wider Bunbury community, including Bunbury Cathedral parishioners, there was also consultation also of others from across the Diocese.

St Patrick’s Cathedral served the community in many ways.  It was a place in which people experienced God.  Since the tornado, it has become clear that many people with little religious background also used St Patrick's as a place for personal reflection, for quiet time and for soul searching.  It has been pleasing to discover how far St Patrick’s mantle of comfort spread throughout the wider community.

The significance of the Cathedral to so many people has been very much in my mind in planning for the future.  St Patrick’s Cathedral was clearly never just a ‘Catholic’ building. It was very much ‘a community building’.

I have already given assurances that the new Cathedral will be constructed in a way that continues the community role in the community that was played by St Patrick’s.  However, we need to take this opportunity to enhance the surrounding precinct as well, so that it can be more in keeping with servicing one of the largest growing population areas in Australia.

I am most grateful to all who are working on rebuilding the Cathedral precinct and hope that through their talents, the rebuilding of the Cathedral will move us all in a renewed and deeper commitment to our community and ask that you pray for them as they turn adversity into opportunity.

Yours in Christ

The Most Reverend Gerard J. Holohan
Bishop of Bunbury