Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has been the spiritual leader of the Archdiocese of Perth since 2012. A Salesian with a passion for pastoral care and education, he is committed to guiding the Catholic community with compassion and wisdom. As Archbishop, he strives to inspire faith, foster unity, and support the mission of the Church throughout the Archdiocese of Perth.
The Parish
Our parish community is a diverse and welcoming group centered around faith, worship, and service. As the heart of the Catholic Archdiocese, it brings together people from all walks of life for regular Masses, sacraments, and spiritual programs. The community is actively involved in outreach, charitable work, and cultural events, fostering a strong sense of connection and support. Through prayer, education, and social initiatives, St Mary’s Cathedral parish continues to be a vibrant and inclusive spiritual home for many.
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Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB
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Fr Sean Fernandez
Fr. Sean Fernandez, Dean and Administrator of St Mary’s Cathedral, brings a wealth of pastoral and academic experience to his ministry. Ordained in 1994, he has served in various parishes and holds a doctorate in theology. Deeply inspired by Ignatian spirituality, Fr. Sean is committed to guiding the Cathedral community in faith, service, and spiritual growth.
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Fr Paul Huynh
Fr. Paul Huynh is originally from Nha Trang, Vietnam, and was ordained to the priesthood in 2017 at Stella Maris Major Seminary. He arrived in the Archdiocese of Perth on 25 March 2019 and has faithfully served for the past six years as Assistant Priest at Good Shepherd Parish.
Now joining the Cathedral clergy team, Fr. Paul continues his priestly ministry with dedication and humility. We’re delighted to welcome him to our parish community.
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Fr Richard Smith
Fr. Richard Smith has been part of the St Mary’s community since his diaconal ordination in 2002. Ordained as a Catholic priest in 2003, he brings a wealth of pastoral experience and serves as Chaplain to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in Western Australia. With a deep commitment to ministry, he is honoured to journey alongside the faithful at the Cathedral.
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Fr Jason Yeap
Fr. Jason Yeap, newly ordained in 2024 from St Charles Seminary, brings energy and enthusiasm to his ministry. As a local priest, he is committed to serving the parish and fostering faith within the community, including leading the Cathedral Young Adults group.
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Victor Hoa
Victor Hoa, Cathedral Manager, oversees the day-to-day operations and administration of St Mary’s Cathedral. With extensive experience and a dedication to excellence, Victor ensures the smooth functioning of the Cathedral, supporting its mission as a vibrant centre of worship and community.
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Dominic Perissinotto
Dominic Perissinotto is Master of Music at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth, a position he took up after serving as Principal Organist at St Stephen’s Cathedral, Brisbane. From 1998 to 2021, he was Organist and Director of Music at St Patrick’s Basilica, Fremantle, where he led a vibrant programme of liturgical music and community engagement. A passionate advocate for the pipe organ both in church and concert settings, he founded the Pipe Organ Plus series in 2001, presenting innovative performances to growing audiences. A Churchill Fellow and graduate of the Royal College of Music and the University of Melbourne, Dominic has performed widely across Australia and Europe, and is a life member of the Organ Society of Western Australia and a long-serving director of the Organ Historical Trust of Australia.
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Holly Broadbent
Holly is currently Principal Organist at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Perth and has recently returned from completing her Master of Music degree specialising in organ performance at Yale University under James O’Donnell. While at Yale, Holly received the Charles Ives Award for an outstanding organ major and the Julia R. Sherman Memorial Prize for excellence in organ playing from the Yale School of Music. Prior to her studies overseas, Holly was an organist at St. George’s Cathedral, Perth where she accompanied the choir in weekly services and gave recitals. In 2023, she was also selected to work with Juilliard’s Organ Professor, Paul Jacobs, as part of the Oregon Bach Festival. Holly has performed throughout Australia and in America and holds an undergraduate degree in composition, Honours (First Class) in organ performance, and a Masters degree in teaching. As a composer, Holly was fortunate enough to be selected to workshop her compositions with Richard Gill and members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Gondwana Chorale, the Australian String Quartet, the Flinders Quartet, and travelled to Oxford University to study choral composition in 2017 under James Whitbourn.
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
Safeguarding
St Mary’s Cathedral Parish acknowledges that safeguarding is a shared responsibility prioritising the care, protection and best interests of children and adults at risk.
By providing a safe environment, actively identifying and managing risk, and complying with the Safeguarding policy, guidelines and legal obligations, we serve Jesus and uphold human dignity as the foundation of our faith. We aim for our parish to be safe, welcoming, and inclusive.
Our
History
St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth, Western Australia, has a rich history dating back to the 19th century. Its construction began in the 1860s, evolving over time with various expansions and renovations. The cathedral blends historic and modern architectural elements, reflecting its growth alongside the city. After a major restoration in the early 2000s, it was officially reopened in 2009. Today, St Mary’s Cathedral remains a prominent place of worship and a significant landmark in Perth.
1844
St John the Apostle and Evangelist Church
Before St Mary’s Cathedral, St John the Apostle and Evangelist Church was the first Catholic church in Western Australia. It was built in 1844 on the land that had been reserved for the Catholic Church, originally known as Church Square and later called Victoria Square. when the Catholic Diocese of Perth was established in 1845, St John’s Church was its first Cathedral.
1863
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
By 1863, the construction of a new cathedral at the top of Victoria Square was underway. On 8 February 1863, Bishop Rosenda Salvado, the only Catholic bishop in the colony at the time and who had founded the New Norcia Mission, laid the foundation stone. Fr Martin Griver, who later became Bishop of Perth, was responsible for the building. The architect and master mason was Brother Joseph Ascione who worked closely with the bricklayers, stonemasons and other craftsmen, including ticket-of-leave men (former convicts). Relying on whatever funds could be raised through subscriptions and with only a small number of tradesmen available, work on the new Cathedral progressed slowly.
1865
On 29 January 1865, all those clergy able to come to Perth walked in an evening procession to witness the blessing and opening by Fr. Griver and Fr. Gibney. It was named the “Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary”. It was a simple two storey building with a tower on the southern side in the Norman Gothic style. The artworks and other ornamentations had been brought from many different places around the world, reflecting all the home countries of its builders and community. The marble high altar was designed and built by Brother Ascione in Rome. After St Mary’s Cathedral was opened, St John’s became a Pro-Cathedral and also used as a boys’ school.
1867
In 1867, the bell Bishop Salvado had brought with him from Spain and had originally installed at the Benedictine Monastery in Subiaco, was relocated to St Mary’s Cathedral and installed in the belfry in the south tower.
1905
By 1905, alterations and additions were made to the Cathedral by Bishop Gibney, significantly changing its appearance and enhancing its Gothic character. A steeple, crenellations, pinnacles and gargoyles were added to the bell tower, a deep porch was added to the front (west) and a statue of the Virgin Mary was installed in the gable, and rendered detailing was added to all the windows.
1926
Bishop Patrick Clune CSsR, first Archbishop of Perth, set out to enlarge the Cathedral, building a new Cathedral alongside the original and in keeping with its Gothic style. The foundation stone was laid on 25 April 1926.
The building was designed by the architect Mr M. F. Cavanagh in the English style of Perpendicular Gothic. The builders chosen for the work were A. T. Brine and Sons. The main building stone was limestone. A Sydney firm, Melocco Brothers, made the sanctuary mosaics based on designs taken from the ancient Irish Book of Kells. All stained glass windows were designed and executed by the firm of John Hardman of Birmingham, England. The original marble altar built by Brother Ascione for the original 1865 Cathedral was relocated into the new sanctuary. The roof of both the old and new buildings were re-clad in clay tiles.
1930
On 4 May, 1930 the new St Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral was formally blessed by Bishop Clune Various Catholic dignitaries came from all over Australia for the opening ceremony.
The original plan envisaged the new cathedral having a sanctuary and transept at the east end with a nave extending south towards Murray Street. However, as this was at the height of the “Great Depression” financial constraints meant that only the new sanctuary and transept were able to be completed and the nave in the existing Cathedral had to be utilised until more funds became available. With the ongoing hardships experienced in the Depression and the following World War Two, it would be many years before it could ever be completed. Until then, the iron bars stood out ready to link the two parts of the Cathedral.
1951
In 1951 a new carillon of bells was installed in the belfry and Bishop Salvado’s bell was relocated into the porch.
1973
In 1973, Archbishop Sir Launcelot Goody, third Archbishop of Perth, instigated changes to the sanctuary built in 1930 to bring it into line with the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. A central altar and lectern were added and the redesigned sanctuary was consecrated on 12 August 1973.
2006
In 2003, Archbishop Barry James Hickey, fifth Archbishop of Perth, initiated an architectural competition to complete St Mary’s Cathedral, finally unifying the 1865 and 1930 Cathedral buildings. The winning design was by local architect Peter M. Quinn, whose vision seamlessly blended modern and historical elements. Much needed repairs and conservation works to the original Cathedral buildings was also carried out.
By 2006, the Cathedral had closed for construction, with St Joachim’s Church in Victoria Park serving as the Pro-Cathedral during this period. The redevelopment included extensive renovations and additions – introducing an open sanctuary, an undercroft with parish facilities, a choir rehearsal space and a crypt.
2009
On 8 December 2009, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Mary’s Cathedral was officially reopened. The renovations successfully preserved the Cathedral’s historic charm while incorporating modern architectural elements. The transparency and curvature of the new glass walls to the north and south of the nave in particular providing a striking yet harmonious contrast to the solidity of the original gothic style Cathedral buildings. A second tower and spire were added to the western façade and the grounds and gardens were also re-landscaped.
The project’s outstanding design was recognised with The George Temple Poole Award, the highest accolade from the Institute of Architects WA. Today, St Mary’s stands as a symbol of unity—honouring the past while embracing the future.
Today, St Mary’s Cathedral holds great cultural significance for the people of Western Australia, being the oldest Cathedral in Western Australia, with St John’s church the oldest surviving church building in Perth.
