Sacred Heart Cathedral
The Sacred Heart Cathedral is the headquarters of the Catholic Archdiocese of Suva. The construction of the Cathedral began in 1894 and was not completed until 1994, 150 years after the first Marist missionaries arrived in Fiji. The grand European design includes sandstone blocks imported from Australia, concrete staircases and balustrades, and two towers. The central stained glass window above the altar contains an image of a bilo cup beneath the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Last updated on 02 May 2024
Narrated by Adu Vereawa and Seci Burese
Timeline
1885
The first Roman Catholic Church was a small wooden chapel of St Paul in Toorak Road.
1888
Reverend Dr. Julian Vidal, the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Fiji, purchased the site for the Cathedral in the centre of Suva and engaged Father Anselme Rosier from New Caledonia to begin designs for the Cathedral using local stone.
1892
The crypt was excavated for laying the foundations.
1894
After work on the site and an expenditure of £350 on land, equipment, cement, lime and boats, little was achieved and work was suspended. Bishop Vidal visited Sydney and decided to import sandstone blocks from the Pyrmont quarries. On 22 July the foundation stone was laid by Archbishop Redwood of Wellington.
1896
The crypt is completed. Father Rosier and his New Caledonian stone masons returned back to New Caledonia leaving behind the inexperienced workforce to continue on their own. Problems escalated with increases in freight costs for the stone.
1897
Father Bourdier takes over supervision for the building of the Cathedral.
1900
A bubonic plague outbreak in Sydney resulted in severe quarantine regulations imposed on Fiji for over 6 months. Imports of heavy stone was ultimately suspended and Australian stonemasons were laid off.
1901
In August the Statue of Christ was erected above the front gable and the ornamentation of the façade was underway.
1902
The main structure was finished but the construction of the towers and choir was postponed due to financial limitations. On 20 July the building was blessed and first used. The Vicar Apostolic of Fiji then was Reverend Dr. Julian Vidal.
1934-35
Construction of the two towers commences. Fundraising by the congregation began.
1937
While still working on the plans for the Cathedral towers, Father Bourdier passed away at the age of 80.
1939
Completion of the two towers and a flight of concrete steps curving around the south-west corner to match those on the opposite side.
1993
Construction of the sanctuary and major upgrading undertaken to the Cathedral by the Archbishop of Suva, Reverend Petero Mataca began. The principal architect of Jaimi Associates won the Fiji Association of Architects Award for the refurbishments.
1994
The Cathedral is completed. On 15 August to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Marist Mission in Fiji, the Cathedral was dedicated by His Eminence Jozef Cardinal Tomko, special envoy of Pope John Paul II.
2014
Archbishop Emeritus Petero Mataca was entombed in the crypt.
References
Garrett, J. 1992. Footsteps in the Sea: Christianity in Oceania to World War II, Fiji Oceania Printers Limited, Suva.
Knox, M. 1997. Voyage of Faith: The Story of the Catholic Church in Fiji, The First Century, Pacific Printery Limited, Suva.
Rahish, A. 1996. Harmonising with Culture. The Review, Associated Media, Suva, Fiji.
Registrar of Titles, 1994. Certificate of Title, Fiji Government.
Stephenson, E. 1997. Fiji, Past on Picture Postcards, Caines Jannif Limited.
Talebula, W. 2014. New Tomb for Mataca, The Fiji Sun, (available online) < https://fijisun.com.fj/2014/07/03/new-tomb-for-mataca/ > accessed 7 August, 2019.
Tomlinson, M. 2014. Ritual Textuality: Pattern and Motion in Performance, Oxford University Press.