Thirty years ago, a devastating fire tore through St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta – a moment seared into the memory of parishioners, clergy, and school communities of the Parramatta Diocese. Source: Catholic Outlook.
For the then-cathedral dean and parish priest, Msgr John Boyle, the tragedy of February 1996 remains one of the most painful moments of his 55 years of priestly ministry.
“The most devastating thing was watching the stained-glass windows,” Msgr Boyle recalled.
“They did not crack or shatter. They melted. A brown substance oozed down the window sills. It was a nightmare.”
In the hours after the blaze, the loss felt overwhelming. The cathedral – a spiritual home for prayer, celebration and solace – lay in ruins.
Msgr Boyle found himself shepherding a grieving and shocked community while carrying his own sorrow.
One small exchange captured both the heartbreak and the fragile hope of that moment. A young student from a local school asked: “Will the big bell ever ring again?”
In the days that followed, grief gave way to unity. Nearly 1000 people gathered the next day for a memorial service – a powerful expression of faith and solidarity.
Committees formed, volunteers stepped forward, and plans began to take shape. What emerged was not only a rebuilding project, but a renewal of community life.
“There was a real coming together,” Msgr Boyle said.
“That sense of community was one of the most significant things to come out of the destruction of the cathedral.”
The rebuilt cathedral, designed by Romaldo Giurgola – the architect of Parliament House in Canberra – was conceived as a church open to the world, welcoming light rather than enclosing worshippers behind stained glass. Its central altar, surrounded by the gathered assembly, echoes the form of the earliest basilicas.
Msgr Boyle has shared his reflections in a new video interview released to mark the 30th anniversary, alongside his memoir, Tested by Fire, which recounts the blaze and its lasting impact on faith, vocation and community.
A special Mass will be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Thursday at 7.30pm to mark the anniversary.
FULL STORY
‘Will the bell ever ring again?’: New video recalls Cathedral fire 30 years on (Catholic Outlook)
