Property Reports & Proposal

Feedback to the Parishes - 19 Dec 2025

The combined finance committees of the Cathedral and Hills Pastoral Area are most grateful to those who recently took part in the consultation on the 2025 Property Proposal. Below you will find the decisions made to date with further consultation to be ongoing. This important work of stewardship for the future is not always easy but it is essential.

The status quo is to remain for the time being, for all property in the Pastoral Area.
No maintenance will occur on St Mary’s Church, Hall or Presbytery presently due to insufficient funds.
St Mary’s School field (above the presbytery) is required for the school to operate under the integration agreement.
St Mary’s Presbytery (which is presently rented with all income coming to St Mary’s Parish) is landlocked and cannot be sold while the school operates.
The Cathedral is to be retained and maintained through savings and fundraising campaigns.
St Francis Xavier Presbytery, if sold in the future, first option is to be given to the Diocese to purchase for the School.
The Pastoral Area has a duty of care to provide places of worship. The question to be considered is: What is needed and what is sustainable? This includes how assets can make passive income through development/sale/purchase etc., creating other income streams rather than relying solely on parish collections.

2025 Property Proposal

Click button below to view Proposal

Cathedral & Hills Pastoral Area 2025 Property Proposal

.This year the Diocese has undertaken to create full reports for all parish properties on the current state of repair and works/maintenance that is required, some of which is very urgent. This is a difficult thing to have to face especially when funds are very limited. However, the faith across our Pastoral area is strong and this is the most important thing. As good stewards of our properties, sometimes we have to make hard decisions for the situation we find ourselves in, being unable to maintain all our churches and presbyteries.

The Combined Finance Committees of the Cathedral and Hills Pastoral Area have met with Bishop Dooley to consider these property reports, which make for sobering reading. For instance, quotes are urgently be sought for the major works that are needed on the Cathedral’s upper South windows and stone that are in a precarious state of deterioration!

The Combined Finance Committees now welcome you to view these reports along with a significant proposal on how to move forward.

Submissions
We now welcome written submissions on the 2025 Property Proposal document. These can be emailed to the Combined Finance Committees at [email protected] or [email protected] or to the Parish office Postal address.
Submissions Close Friday 28 November 2025