Our Mission

Very Rev Don Richardson
Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral

“Our mission is in two parts: Firstly, as the Cathedral and the seat of the Archbishop – this is the place where the church is manifest. The people of Sydney can come to their Church and be with their Archbishop in major moments of life, of the church and during the year. My task is to enable that to happen and facilitate the celebration of big and important liturgies with the Archbishop. People can come to the Cathedral and feel it is properly resourced then they can celebrate with full solemnity and dignity.

“Secondly, outside of those big events – the Cathedral is a constant presence and reminder to the whole city, and not just to the Catholic faithful, of God and the Gospel and all that means. The Cathedral makes a statement that despite all the other stuff we are doing with our lives, as important as it may be, here is something else that deserves care and attention.

“If the Cathedral is going to be a sign of the Gospel it has to be a place where the Gospel is not only preached but also where people can encounter it in a living way, people can find the space they need, can find help and prayerfulness. And that is a mission mainly to the city itself but also to all the visitors as well.”