Bulletin, Volume 10

$ 3 000 000

2.9

2.7

2.5

2.3

2.1

$2 000 000

1.9

1.7

1.5

1.3

1.1

$1 000 000

0.9

0.7

$500 000

FUNDRAISING

THERMOMETER

The community has raised $2.5 M

to date!

For more information visit:

www.sfxcathedralproject.com.au

As I write this brief article on the

Cathedral Precinct Project, what

comes to my mind is the old saying,

“Rome wasn’t built in a day”. In

fact St Peter’s Basilica in Rome and

all the great Cathedrals of Europe

were certainly not built in a day.

St Peter’s, apart from its beauty and

proportion, is also massive. It took

120 years to complete. In Rome

there is a pagan temple called the

Roman Pantheon. It is huge.

Michelangelo said that he would put

the Pantheon on top of St Peter’s!

The dome of St Peter’s is in fact the

very same size.

Our Cathedral, while unique and

beautiful, is also comparatively

modest in size. Still it took twenty

two years to complete. I gauge this

time from the laying of the

Foundation Stone on the 3rd of

September 1916, to the opening on

the 28th August 1938. Since it was

only last year that the originally

planned zinc dome, the Cordoba

Spanish tiled roof and the tower

clocks were finally added, we could

say that it took nearly a century to

complete!

While so much has been done for

the exterior conservation and

enhancement of the building, much

still remains to be done to the

interior and the surrounds of the

Cathedral.

The Heritage Centre is racing along and

should be completed by the end of

March. This building has been financed

by State Government Funds from

Royalties for Regions of $1.5m and a

Lotterywest grant of $600,000,

together with a loan taken out by the

Diocese.

We cannot complete the Cathedral and

the forecourt and surrounds without

further funding. We are still waiting for a

reply to our application for Federal

Funds.

I take the opportunity again to thank all

who to date have been responsible for

where we are - especially with the

Cathedral - through your direct financial

contributions and many fundraising

events.

All the money raised so far has been

spent solely on the Cathedral and the

required preparatory work by the Architect

and Consultants. All tax deductible

contributions, both past and future,

according to conditions required by the

National Trust, must be spent on the

Cathedral section of the Project.

BISHOP JUSTINS CORNER

PROGRESS ON THE

MONSIGNOR HAWES

HERITAGE CENTRE

Building Completion:

31st March 2016

Museum Opens for Business:

June 2016

Official Opening of Centre:

3rd September 2016

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mothers Day Morning Tea:

1st May 2016

Inspire Concert:

Date to be advised

Italian Night:

Date to be advised

ST FRANCIS XAVIER CATHEDRAL PRECINCT PROJECT

Bishop Justin, Gerry Eastman , Darren West MLC, David

Templeman MLA and Laurie Graham were recently given

a tour of the Heritage Centre by Fr Robert Cross.

MAJOR DONORS GUS AND ASSUNTA ARMANASCO

pieces for the Cathedral. He con-

structed the Tabernacle surrounds, the

pulpit, the stand that the Mary McKillop’s statue

sits on, and the joinery in the Bishop’s sacristy. Gus

also completed work at the Priest’s House in Mullewa

for Monsignor Bryan during his time as Parish Priest,

where he repaired the original doors

and built an exact replica of a large

existing dresser.

Gus came to Australia as a 12 year old

and Assunta arrived in Australia aged

21. Their families were friends and

before long a romance blossomed.

The couple were married in SFX

Cathedral around 52 years ago. They

have 2 daughters and four grand-

daughters aged from 13 to 18 years all

living in Perth.

The talent does not just stop with Gus.

Assunta is a gifted choral singer and

talented cook and caterer. Assunta has

been a member of the Geraldton Choral

Society since its inception and the

couple, together with other members of

the Italian Community, were instrumental in establishing

the Geraldton Italian Club. Gus and Assunta have trav-

elled back to Italy on many occasions and Gus’s home

village is not far from where Bishop Justin’s family

c o m e f r o m . T h e A r m a n a s c o s h a v e

attended Mass in Italy celebrated by Bishop Justin.

Now retired, Gus and Assunta help wherever they can,

are active members of St Lawrence’s Parish and spend

plenty of time with their family in Perth. They played a

big part in the very successful Italian Night held in 2014

to raise funds for the Cathedral Project and are looking

forward to assisting with a similar event in 2016.

Gus and Assunta Armanasco are an engaging and

warm couple who have worked hard in local business,

travelled widely, and really contributed to church and

community life in Geraldton.

Mr Armanasco Senior came to Australia as a young

man in 1938 leaving behind a wife, daughter and

baby son (Gus). When the

Second World War broke out he

was interned and moved from

Rottnest to Harvey to South

Australia to Alice Springs. After

his release in 1949, Mrs

Armanasco, with Gus and his

sister, migrated to Australia

and the family was reunited.

After the many years of

separation, a second son Peter

was born in Australia.

In 1950 Gus’ father and Mr

Silvio Rinaldi established a

joinery partnership in Urch

Street. During this time Mr

Amanasco Senior encouraged

young Gus to leave his

employment in the crayfishing industry and undertake

a 5 year apprenticeship as a joiner and cabinet

maker. In 1960 the partnership with Mr Rinaldi

dissolved and Gus and his father built a factory on

the North West Coastal Highway. They started trading

as Armansco and Son in 1961.This turned out to be

pivotal move for Gus who went on to run

Armanasco’s Cabinet Services for the best part of 50

years. Gus is a true craftsman and his timber work

oozes class and a quality that is rarely found today.

As a reflection of his faith, Gus has created joinery

CHRISTMAS MORNING TEA

A large crowd gathered at the Catholic Centre on December 6th

for a morning tea and stalls. Entertainment was provided by the

students of SFX Primary School.

The event was organised by the’Cake Stall Ladies’ and raised

$4,500 which took their fundraising total for the year to over

$16,000.

THANKS TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ENJOYABLE EVENT

James, Claire, and Luke

Gardiner helped to entertain the

large crowd.

ABOUT THE CATHEDRAL

This Stained Glass Window is on the right hand side as you enter the Cathedral. The window was

designed by Monsignor Hawes (then Fr Hawes). It was donated by William Bennett, but

the artist remains a mystery. The window is in memory of Fr Le Caille who was the first

Parish Priest administering in Geraldton. Fr Le Caille had previously designed the Bunbury

presbytery and the first chapel at Vasse (Busselton) when he was posted to Geraldton in

1865.

The stained glass window has an image of a church at the top which is thought to be a

representation of the original St Francis Xavier Church. It is symbolic of the Gospel and

the calling of people towards the church. The bell symbolises God summoning the

people and the horse represents Fr Le Caille’s and Monsignor Hawe’s love of horses and

the importance of horses for the priests of the time as they would ride for many miles to

areas such as Dongara, Greenough, Mullewa, Northampton, Yarragadee, Mt Erin and

Strawberry to say Mass.

Anne Maguire, on behalf of the Cathedral Tour Guides, has been investigating the

history of the stained glass windows in the Cathedral and would love to hear from

anyone who may know who actually made this window.

You can contact Anne on 9965 5272.

To the left of the Cathedral entry there is a Foundation Stone laid

in 1870. The stone was originally laid at the original St Francis Church.

This church had to be demolished to make way for the railway line and

the foundation stone was brought to the Cathedral site when building

commenced. For those of you that are wondering, the original Saint

Francis Xavier Church was located on the site of the current rounda-

bout on the corner of Chapman Road and Phelps St.

Many of you would have walked past the statue of the Madonna in Our Lady’s Chapel in the Cathedral with a

small fishing boat and a replica of the Cathedral at her feet. She is serene and welcoming.

It is not well known that her sculptor was a very famous artist named Dan (Giordano)

Mazzotti. Dan was an artist almost from his birth in 1925 and his first commission was at

the age of 12, but like so many other Italians, World War 2 interrupted his education and

aspirations. Dan was first and foremost a painter however he excelled in sculpture and was

a fine mosaic artist.

Giordano migrated to Australia at the age of 27 and changed his name to Dan. He worked

on the railways in Geraldton and his talents became known to Bishop Gummer. This lead

to him being asked to paint a ceiling mural in the Utakarra Chapel and provide a sculp-

ture of the Madonna for the Cathedral. He sculpted the statue from soft wood and it was

used in the Blessing of the Fleet ceremonies for many years.

Dan had a varied career. He worked for Boan’s Department Store as a soap sculptor and

as an illustrator for an advertising agency. He then became an art teacher at Aquinas Col-

lege from 1969 for 22 years. While teaching art Dan was able to share his skills with his

students, but his own career as an artist suffered. After his retirement he produced prolific

amounts of work and held many exhibitions.

Dan’s work can be seen in a range of venues in Perth and Sydney. After retirement Dan specialised in painting

women and sometimes couples, in delicate colours. Their features were fine and bore some resemblance to

Cubism artwork. Dan passed away in 2008 aged 83.

Man of Many Talents Dan Mazzotti

Bishop Justin and the Committee would like to thank all who have contributed to the Campaign

to date. ALL donors will be acknowledged on a Digital Register

and will become part of the history of the SFX Cathedral.

Thanks to our Major Donors listed below as well as those who wish to remain anonymous

for donating or pledging $10,000 or over. These contributions will be acknowledged on a

Wall of Remembrance within the immediate vicinity of the Cathedral.

FAMILIES BUSINESSES

Pallottine Community

Society of the Catholic

Apostolate

Sisters of Nazareth

Presentation Sisters

Salvatorians

CONGREGATION OF

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS

Saint John of God

Sisters

INSTITUTIONS

A & A Armanasco

The Aldous and Stinson Families Family of Catherine and Victor Basile

Ben & Mary Bianchini

The Bianchini Family

Shirley and Bernard Brown

David and Elissa Brown

Peter and Kay Brown

Greg and Jess Brown

The Clarke Family -

“In Memory of Gwen Clarke”

The Critch Family

Mr and Mrs R Davis

Dr Rashmi Devassey & Matthew (Son)

Nigel and Chris Dobson

M & C Doherty

The Eastman Family

The Emmott Family

Mike and Tim Freeman

Mary D Haydock

The Horan Family

The Hovell Family

The Kalajzich Family

Monsignor Michael Keating

Bernie and Kath Keogh

The Krummenacher Family

Ascuncion and Des Lally

Peggy and Bert Lenane

Aldo and Maria Masiello

The Mazzuchelli Family

The Charlie Messina Families

The McDowell Family

Hazel and Gordon McLoughlin

Drs. G & D Menezes “In Memory of Vince and Pat O’Dea”

John, Lyn, Michael & Stephanie Mueller

Ron and Imelda O’Malley & Family

Italo and Mary Pirone & Family

Craig & Fleur Poletti & Family

John and Val Rowe and Family

Anthony & Geraldine Thomas

Brian & Marion Thomas & Family

The Thuijs Family

Brian and Joy Thurkle

Rev. Fr. Noel Tobin

Venera Uculano

The Voigt Family

Dominican Sisters of WA

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR FAMILY NAME TO BECOME PART OF THE HISTORY OF SFX CATHEDRAL

Contact the Campaign Coordinator, Gerry Eastman 0417 912 997 info@sfxcathedralproject.com.au

We also acknowledge the contribution of the following

whose donations of funds, time and/or expertise have far exceeded $10,000:

The Cathedral Tour Guides

Seminarian Savio Tuan (Wood Carvings)

Fr Robert Cross and Monica Podesta (Data Base for Hawes Collection)

Schools of the Diocese