Cathedral patroness celebrated in style
We were delighted that sixty-five people were able to come together in Cathedral House to enjoy drinks, dinner, and entertainment last Friday evening. The Friends’ annual formal dinner is held to celebrate Our Lady Help of Christians, patroness of the Cathedral, of Australia, and of Oceania. We were thrilled that Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP was able to join us as guest of honour for the dinner.
The evening began with a short recital by the renowned soprano Anke Höppner-Ryan, accompanied by Alan Hicks at the piano. The music, including works by Schubert, Puccini, and Schumann, filled the atrium of Cathedral House as guests were thrilled at the rich timbre of Anke’s voice and her carefully-chosen programme.
The event provided an opportunity for everyone who is involved in or otherwise passionate about the life of our Cathedral to get together and celebrate the Cathedral and its parish.
A raffle was organised to assist with the Friends’ ongoing fundraising efforts, in particular for our Cathedral videos project. Prizes included a degustation dinner for two including wine at Buon Ricordo restaurant in Paddington, and a bottle of 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru wine. The raffle raised more than $2,000: thank you to everyone who took part!
Those attending the dinner ranged in age from twenty-somethings to those in their eighties, but they all shared a love of St Mary‘s Cathedral in Sydney. Over many years, the Friends of St Mary’s Cathedral has funded or contributed to many improvements in the Cathedral.
We are always looking for new members of the Friends: joining the Friends is an easy way to show your support of the Cathedral and its community. You can also sign up for our low-volume mailing list to stay informed about all our events and other news.