Hi Guys, How are you today? Quarantine mode? When I write this post, I already stay at home for 1.5 months and keep counting. I hope you guys all in good condition, healthy and happy. For anyone who feels sad and sick, please be strong, hang in there, and it sure will be passed. So in this post, I will tel you my experience visit St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, Australia.
St Mary’s Cathedral stands on the site of the first Catholic Chapel in Australia. Constructed in local sandstone, the Gothic Revival style of its architecture is reminiscent of the great medieval cathedrals of Europe. The Cathedral is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Immaculate Mother of God, Help of Christians.
How to get here
You can check here, in their official website, and choose which one you prefer. But in this posting I will tell you how I got there. I commuted with train and got of at St James station and find Exit Macquarie Street. After you exit from station you will find Hyde Park. Just walked across the park and you will find Hugh Gothic Church, that is St Mary’s Cathedral.
Hyde Park
Okay before I tell you about St Mary, I will tell you about Hyde Park First. Hyde Park is huge park that located in the central business district of Sydney. What I like from Sydney is despite it’s so Metropolitan City with mostly skyscrapers building, but there is a lot of park in Sydney City Centre, and every park I went is so huge, beautiful, full of trees and a lot of place to us to sit down and relax while reading a book, picnic, or meet with friends.
I visited Australia when Jacaranda season, and Hyde Park have 1 Jacaranda Tree, standing alone there with purple flower in the middle of green forest, If you visit Hyde Park and find blooming Jacaranda, it is a must photo spot i think, I don’t know why they only plant 1 , it will be more beautiful if there are several Jacaranda there, when they blooming together I think it will be so purple and beautiful. From Hyde park we also can see Sydney Tower, Sydney Tower is Sydney’s tallest structure and from above we can see whole Sydney city.
St Mary’s Cathedral
So, my first impression of St Mary is “Am I in Australia or Europe right now?” It’s so huge Church and the architecture remind me of Europe, mostly cathedral in Europe is in Gothic style and St Mary uses that style too.
This Church is still operating as place of worship so there is mass and another religion activity inside. So as visitor, we need to pay attention with that. Please remember to treat the place with respect whilst you are here. Mobile phones should not be used whilst you are in the Cathedral. Gentlemen’s hats should be removed and no food or beverages are to be taken in or consumed on the Cathedral grounds. You should always talk in hushed tones so as to not disturb parishioners and worshipers.
When I entered this church, inside is so beautiful, the detail of this building is so glamorous but solemn, the lighting and every detail of the interior is so elegant. They also use Stained glass, and for me that’s beautiful. They also have pipe organ, i can not imagined how beautiful the mass with choir that accompanied with that organ.
They allow photos to be taken inside the Cathedral however not during liturgical celebrations and Masses and please do not use flash. For clothes, it is a church of course it need to be modestly, no short skirts, shorts or bare feet and please cover your shoulders. Hats should be removed before entering the Cathedral.
There is no entrance fee to the Cathedral. It is FREE and it open to public, no matter what the religion. St Mary’s Cathedral is open every day of the week from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm. But maybe in Christmas or another event, it will be change and due the Covid-19 The cathedral is closed until further notice. So before you go there better you check it in their official website or their instagram first.
Hyde Park and St Mary’s Cathedral is one of must visit place if you travel to Sydney. It’s FREE but you can get a lot of new experience there. It is easy to reach, because they both located in the central of Sydney City, and the access is easy , you can ride train or bus to go there. So, do not forget to visit it when you go to Sydney.
By Lil Sis