The terms of the sale are confidential to the parties and settlement of the transaction will occur in late May 2021.

Late last year the church announced its plan to build a school, church headquarters, parking building, and a replacement for the quake-damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

The new Catholic cathedral to be built between Victoria Square and the Avon River.

The old cathedral, on Barbadoes St, is to be demolished.

The church has already bought most of the land for the new precinct - which will occupy the block bordered by Colombo, Armagh and Manchester sts and Oxford Tce.

Bishop Paul Martin said the agreement ensured "that the diocese's vision for the precinct on which the land is situated will now be able to be fully met."

The new precinct will be built for the diocese by the Carter Group, which is progressively selling its own large chunk of land on the block, including the former PricewaterhouseCoopers site, to the church.

MCK Managing Director Mr BK Chiu has thanked the Bishop and his representatives for the constructive way in which negotiations were handled over the last few weeks.

The Bishop also acknowledged MCK's cooperation to ensuring that the Diocese's vision for the precinct on which the land is situated will now be able to be fully met.

Designs for the new cathedral and a timetable for construction are not yet completed.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• links.sgx.com
• Image: stuff.co.nz

A plan to merge 12 of Christchurch's Catholic parishes into five super-parishes has been given the go ahead by Bishop Paul Martin, who announced his final decision last month.

The decision was six months in the making, based on feedback from parishioners about proposals outlined in June.

The outcome is a plan for the parishes that is largely unchanged from those original proposals, although Martin admits it won't suit everyone.

"I don't discount the fact that there are some people who continue to struggle or are uncertain with the proposal," Martin's letter to parishioners says.

He also notes there was "a high level of concern for the elderly, disabled and those without vehicles and their ability to get to mass."

"It will be a priority for each of the parishes to make sure that everyone who wants to go to mass can do so."

Even taking the concerns of some about the proposed changes, Martin says he thinks most people are prepared to step into the new era.

"I believe there is a majority support and enthusiasm for the proposal outlined and a clear direction has emerged," he says.

The mergers will take effect on 31 May.

The five new parishes will be Christchurch North, Christchurch West, Christchurch South, Christchurch Central and Christchurch East.

The plan will involve building two new churches, expanding another and building a new cathedral on a block north of Cathedral Square.

Martin says he is "satisfied" the merger could be financed by fundraising campaigns and the sale of surplus assets.

"We have been very conservative with our projections to ensure this can work".

The original Catholic Cathedral on Barbadoes St will be demolished and around 8 hectares of surplus land and buildings in eight parishes with a rateable value of about $26.7 million could be sold.

Source

• Stuff
• Image: Stuff