The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and of Saint Mary His Mother, better known as Sacred Heart Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral on Hill Street, Wellington, New Zealand. It is the parish church of the Thorndon Catholic parish and the Cathedral of the Archbishop of Wellington. The New Zealand Parliament is a close neighbour of the Cathedral. However, the Thorndon Catholic parish predates that institution. The Cathedral is part of a Catholic precinct which includes St Mary's College, Sacred Heart Cathedral School, St Mary's Convent – the motherhouse of the Sisters of Mercy in Wellington, the Catholic Centre in which Catholic administration is located, and Viard House which is both the Cathedral parish Presbytery and the residence of the Archbishop. The church was popularly known as the Basilica, because of its palladian architectural style. It was designated as the Cathedral of Wellington in 1984 after earthquake strengthening and the addition of the Blessed Sacrament chapel, foyer, sacristy, courtyard, hall and piazza. The parish of Thorndon was administered by the Society of Mary or Marist fathers for eighty-five years until 1935, although secular or diocesan clergy were also stationed there.Thorndon has always been the residence of the Archbishops of Wellington except for the period 1935–1954 when Archbishop O'Shea continued to live at Paterson St, Mt Victoria which was his address as coadjutor. The founder of the see, Bishop Viard, and the first two Archbishops, Redwood and O'Shea, were also members of the Society of Mary. Since 1954 all the Archbishops and the resident clergy of the Cathedral have been secular clergy.On Friday 13 July 2018 the cathedral was closed as a significant earthquake risk and the closure may last for some years until the building is strengthened.
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