St Monica's War Memorial Cathedral
Cairns City, QLD 4870
Church Information
| Church Name: | St Monica's War Memorial Cathedral |
| Church Previous Name: | - |
| Denomination: | Catholic Church in Australia |
| Street Address: | 181 Abbott St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia |
| Suburb: | Cairns City |
| State: | QLD |
| Postcode: | 4870 |
| Foundation Stone Laid: | 28-05-1967 |
| Foundation Stone Notes: | Foundation stone records: To the Glory of Almighty God - and in honour of St Monica - this stone - was blessed and laid by - The Most Rev Thomas Cahill DD Ph D - Bishop of Cairns - on the 28th May 1967. Plaques record: (1) St Monicas War Memorial Cathedral - A memorial to the members of the Allied Forces - who gave their lives in the defence of Australia - in The Battle of The Coral Sea May 1942 - was consecrated to the service of Almighty God - on July 8th 1988 by - His Grace The Most Rev T V Cahill DD Ph D - Archbishop of Canberra and Goulbun - and solemnly opened by - His Eminence The Most Rev N T Cardinal Gilroy - Archbishop of Sydney - on Sunday July 14th 1968 (2) St Monicas War Memorial Cathedral - 2 September 1995 - this plaque commemorates the dedication of the stained glass - Peace Window - by - Her Excellency Mrs Leneen Fordeac - Governor of Queensland - on the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Instrument of Surrender - concluding the Pacific War - on - 2 September 1945 - by the Allied Nations and Japan - Most Rev James Foley Bishop of Cairns (3)St Monicas War Memorial Cathedral - this plaque gratefully acknowledges the financial contribution - which made possible the installation of the - Peace Window - on Saturday 2 September 1995 - Cairns City Council - Cairns Port Authority - Sir Thomas Covacevich DFC - Sir Sydney Williams & Family - Mrs Mary Meoli - Trek Black - Most Rev James Foley Bishop of Cairns. |
| Date Opened: | 08-07-1968 |
| Date Closed: | unknown |
| Email: | admin@churchesaustralia.org |
Comments
The St Monica's War Memorial Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Cairns, the seat of the Bishop. The diocese of Cairns was created on 8/7/1941. The diocese of Cairns begins, when in 1877, before a church building had been erected in Cairns, it was established as an Apostolic Vicariate, a form of Church jurisdiction before a diocese is formed. The original 1887 Bishop's chair was moved to Cairns in 1940 from St Mary's, Cooktown, which had existed before the church in Cairns, in anticipation of the establishment of the Cairns diocese and for safety, due to the war. The present Cathedral Church building was opened on 8/7/1968, in Abbott Street. The first St Monica's Church building, a wooden structure, was opened on 10/1/1886 at cnr Abbott and Minnie Streets. Sadly it was destroyed by a cyclone in 1927. A replacement church building was opened on the original site on 8/7/1928, and used for church services until the present church building was opened. A stained glass Peace Window, was unveiled in 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea. Subsequently, a series of Creation Windows, was completed. More historical information/photographs of the church/congregation are invited. Photographs uploaded 25/10/2016 & 9/11/2025.
