By Ingrid McTaggart, Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Toowoomba, has always been more than bricks and mortar; it’s the spiritual heart of the Toowoomba Catholic Diocese. Last Thursday night, as St Joseph’s College Toowoomba students entertained guests on the front lawn of the cathedral, bold plans to secure the cathedral’s future, especially the leadlight windows, were outlined. As part of the evening’s events, guests were looking forward to a sumptuous meal and a chance to listen to a remarkable story of a journey from underground churches and Siberian winters to an incredible missed phone call in Brisbane.
Bishop Ken Howell outlined the vision for the windows of St Patrick’s Cathedral to the gathering. As Bishop Ken described it, this is a “once-in-a-century opportunity” to renew St Patrick’s spiritually, artistically and liturgically. The existing leadlight windows, installed during the 1930s Depression with limited materials and skills, have long suffered from water damage and structural weakness. Their renewal, Bishop Ken said, offers a chance to tell the story of faith through light and colour, honouring past and current benefactors, celebrating saints, and drawing worshippers toward the altar and the risen Christ.
The highlight and guest of honour for the evening was Australia’s Cardinal, His Eminence Mykola Bychok CSsR. All gathered were keen to hear of His Eminence’s life and experiences in his own words. Interviewed by MC, Michael Crutcher, guests weren’t disappointed as he spoke with a wonderful balance of humour, humility and honesty. Asked whether Toowoomba felt familiar, the Cardinal smiled. “Where I am, that is my home,” he said, comparing Toowoomba and his native city of Ternopil, Ukraine, including population size, founding dates, and even the first letter. Ternopil may be older by a few centuries, he conceded, but the spirit felt the same.
Much of the interview carried deep weight, memories of worshipping in secret during Soviet-era persecution, ministering in Siberia at minus 50 degrees (where holy water froze solid mid-funeral), and the ongoing devastation of war in Ukraine. Yet moments of humour surfaced easily, from childhood dreams of becoming a cosmonaut, to discovering he had been named a Cardinal only after unmuting his phone during dinner one evening in Brisbane. To everyone’s delight, the Cardinal happily tried on the Akubra gifted to him in thanks for his visit. His Eminence’s sense of grounded faith and joy resonated with the crowd.
As the Cardinal urged generosity, he described work being carried out in his own cathedral. “This is your spiritual home,” he said. “Which became for me my home, at least for two days.” He urged those gathered to support their spiritual home, especially for future generations.