The Centenary countdown has begun!

Last Sunday's mass at the Cathedral was a wonderful start to one year's countdown to the Cathedral's 100th anniversary. The church was filled to capacity with regular parishioners as well as many specially invited guests, such as the Mayor, the Chief Justice, the Member of Parliament and the Spanish ambassador to Jamaica.

The Archbishop of Kingston, the Most Reverend Donald Reece, conducted the mass, and gave a wonderful homily where he cogently tied together the role of the church, and of edifices such as the Cathedral, in nation building. Photo from The Gleaner. Monsignor Kenneth Richards also gave an overview of the restoration project to the congregation.

The 100th anniversary of any institution is call for celebration, but the restoration of the Cathedral that has been ongoing since 2007 makes this 100th birthday extra special. The wall murals inside the Cathedral are simply breathtaking. It is almost unfathomable that someone would have thought to cover them over with grey paint back in 1970.

There is still so much to be done though. The need for a new PA system was painfully clear with the poor acoustics noticeable to everyone at mass. While the landscaping has started, there is still a lot to be done to make the grounds as spectacular as they ought to be. And don't look down! We still need funds to re-floor the entire building. Last, but by no means least, the stained glass panels have yet to be ordered.

So lots to be done for the Cathedral to really fully bloom as it should, and the Centenary is a great target for us to work towards!