"Nationally it's in the top handful of its type and it's the most eminent neo-classical design for a church in the country, and the best church (Francis) Petre designed," Alec Bruce, of Christchurch-based Wilkie and Bruce Architects, said.

"The stained glass windows in the nave are world class. I didn't see anything as good at the Vatican or the Victoria and Albert Museum. Every time I visit I take photos. It's breathtaking." Read more

Holy Family parish priest Father Christoper Friel said work had begun with scaffolding going up around the historical landmark, Catholic church.

"I can't give you the extent of the damage and I don't know the final cost but it is considerable."

He said insurance cover paid by the parish over the years would pay for the work. Read more

Those who died were just 15 and 16 years old. Two were former pupils of Timaru's Catholic secondary school, Roncalli College.

At Thursday morning's Mass (originally intended to mark the feast of the Assumption), Father Mark Walls said the deaths were a reminder of how precious life is.

"There are no words of sympathy at losing five young lives under such circumstances and I won't try," he told the congregation of Roncalli students, South Canterbury Community College students and members of the Timaru community.

"All I can do is remind each of us that ... our lives - they are not just precious to us, they are precious to all of those who love us."

The mood in the church was sombre with sadness hanging heavily.

Five lit candles, one for each of those who died, flickered in front of the altar throughout the Mass. Year 12 students brought notes of sympathy they had written to Wallace's family and placed them in a basket, so too did members of the rugby team for Hill's family.

They will later be passed on to the boys' whanau.

Walls urged students, many visibly upset, to be comforted by their faith.

"We know what happened but we don't know what led up to it - so we are not in a position to make a judgment."

He said people should instead be thankful that in the boys' short lives, "they passed our way."

Schoolmates of the boys read the Prayers of the Faithful, personalising them for the occasion, praying for those who died and their families.

They also asked for prayers for the young man driving the vehicle, who alone survived the crash, asking the Mass community to "Pray for the driver - may people reach out to him not with anger or judgment, but with compassion."

A candle was lit for Javarney Drummond, Niko Hill, Jack Wallace, Joseff McCarthy and Andrew Goodger.

The Mass ended with Hill's Roncalli under-16 rugby team performing a rousing haka outside the church.

Later on Thursday, hundreds gathered at the Life Church to farewell 15-year-old Andrew Goodger.

Funerals for three of the other teens were held on Friday and Saturday, with the fifth one set for today, Tuesday.

Walls said the whole community is shocked and numbed by it all, and shares the grief of the boys' families.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Source

• Stuff
• Otago Daily Times
• Image:

The basilica is one of six finalists in the seismic category which also includes the Christchurch Town Hall, Muse Art hotel and the Rakaia Gorge No 1 Bridge.

The church reopened in November 2020, following almost two years after it was closed for earthquake strengthening. It is a Roman style basilica, listed as a category 1 historic place and was designed by New Zealand architect Francis Petre, built in 1909, and opened and consecrated in 1911. Read more

The project cost is $3.9 million. The parish and its community must raise $1.6m of this.

Parish priest, Father Brian Fennessy, said that so far just over $1m has been received in donations and pledges.

One of the organisers of the garage sale, Kevin Brosnahan, said organisers were "reasonably happy" with Saturday's sale.

While he was not able to say how much had been raised, Brosnahan said they had sold "a lot of items" at the sale.

Because of the amount and range, it was hard to tell what had sold well, but there was "everything for everybody", including stainless steel pots, he said.

"Jewellery seemed to sell quite nicely."

Across town, an early childhood centre is being built on the site of the former St Joseph's Church.

It had been was purchased by Tauranga company Horizon Resources in April 2017 for $450,000.

The Holy Family parish in Timaru was formed in 2012 by combining two Timaru parishes, Timaru North and Sacred Heart.

The parish also includes St Patrick's in Waimate.

There were two churches in what was formally Timaru North - St Thomas the Apostle and St Joseph's.

St Joseph's Church was deconsecrated in 2013 and demolished about 18 months ago.

The church had not been used for regular mass for the five years prior to its deconsecration.

Since February 2019 all weekend Masses have been held at St Thomas' while work is being carried out on the Basilica.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• chchcatholic.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz