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The Cathedral as a Sign of our Mission
“In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” – Ephesians 2:20-22
St. Michael’s Cathedral, the mother church of the archdiocese, through the ministry of the archbishop, unites every local Catholic under the heavenly patronage of the great defender of the faithful, the archangel Michael. As the prototype of parish life, the cathedral will lead the way in pastoral care and public witness. The work already underway to maintain and repair the cathedral will continue. We also have exciting plans to develop the area near the cathedral - the “Cathedral Block” - into a place of gathering, worship and outreach, through St. Michael’s Choir School, space for outreach to the poor, and a centre to gather and teach, as well as to provide opportunities to engage the world through media and the arts. In a city of diverse cultures and a growing media presence, the Catholic Church must become a gateway of faith and evangelization.
Goals
- Restore and enhance the architectural beauty of St. Michael’s Cathedral
- Develop the cathedral & cathedral block into a place of gathering, worship and outreach
- Collaborate with the Catholic school board & St. Michael’s Choir School
- Revitalize the cathedral & cathedral block as a centre of evangelization
Questions for Discussion
To be used at parish meetings, personal reflection, etc.
- How does the Cathedral act as a “sign of our mission”?
- How can art, music and architecture aid in worship?
- Why is St. Michael’s Cathedral an important fixture in the downtown Toronto core? What does the Cathedral mean for people who frequent the area or come to the city as visitors?
- What role does St. Michael’s Cathedral play in the lives of the faithful scattered throughout our diverse diocese?
- Have you ever been to the cathedral or an historic church worldwide? What are your recollections?
Prayer
Lord, we thank you for the gift of St. Michael’s Cathedral as the mother church of the Archdiocese of Toronto. We ask that you guard all those entrusted with restoring this beacon of hope for our faith community so the Cathedral may continue to serve as an effective vehicle to lead people back to you, God.
Prayers of the Faithful
We reflect on our Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan and its call to view the Cathedral as a sign of our mission. For all those who work to construct and maintain our churches, the rock of our faith. May these guardians of our sacred space be safe as they work to nurture and strengthen a gathering place for the people of God. We pray to the Lord.
We pray for the renovations currently underway at St. Michael’s Cathedral. May the restoration of the building’s beauty capture the hearts of those who worship in this space, inspiring them and bringing them closer to God. We pray to the Lord.
Additional Resources
- The Cathedral from the Romanesque to the Gothic Architecture: The Theological Background, Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, 18 November 2009
- Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy), Pope Paul VI, 1963 (notably Chapter I, section III E. and Chapters XI and XII)
- Sacred Architecture: Encountering the Beauty and Mystery of God, Cardinal Justin Rigali, keynote address, Washington, DC, 2010
