Sacred Heart Cathedral
سیکرڈ ہارٹ گرجا
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Sacred Heart Cathedral is located in Pakistan
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Location in Pakistan
31°33′55″N 74°19′02″E / 31.5653°N 74.3172°E / 31.5653; 74.3172
LocationThe Mall, Lawrence Road, Lahore, Punjab
CountryPakistan
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
Consecrated19 November 1907 (1907-11-19)
Architecture
Functional statusCathedral
Architect(s)Edouard Dobbeleers
Architectural typeCathedral
StyleRoman Byzantine
Administration
ArchdioceseLahore
Clergy
ArchbishopSebastian Francis Shaw

Sacred Heart Cathedral (Urdu: سیکرڈ ہارٹ گرجا) is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore, located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Built at the behest of bishop Godefroid Pelckmans (Bishop of Lahore, 1893-1904) with Belgian aid and materials, the cathedral was consecrated by Bishop Fabian Eestermans, the Bishop of Lahore, on 19 November 1907.[1] Its roots lie in the historical presence of the Belgian Capuchins in Pakistan.[2] The design of this Cathedral was made according to the Roman Byzantine-style by Belgian architect, Edouard Dobbeleers of Antwerp.[3]

History

A special commemorative postage stamp was released on the Centenary Day of the Cathedral by the Government of Pakistan.[4][5] Benedict XVI also sent a message for the jubilee of the Lahore cathedral.[6] Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan, read out the special message from the Pope to the local congregation in Lahore.

In 2007 Father Andrew Nisari was the Rector of the Cathedral.[7]

On March 11, 2008, a suicide bomber drove a vehicle loaded with explosive material into the eight-storey FIA office situated at Temple Road, Lahore.[8] At least ten of the cathedral's stained-glass windows were hit by the blast. Many of the other window panes were also blown out.[8] In the meantime they have been restored in Belgium.[2]

In 2011, the Cathedral had registered more than 20,000 baptisms and nearly 5,500 marriages since its founding.[9]

The cathedral was awarded the Belgian Heritage Abroad prize in 2015.[10]

In 2020, the Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs, Ijaz Alam Augustine asked the provincial government to put the cathedral on the national heritage list. He has also said that his ministry will cover the expenses of restoration work needed, including new pipes, electrical system and other beautification work, approximately 50,000,000 rupees (about US$300,000).[11]

In 2022 the Walled City of Lahore Authority announced that it would spend Rs 15 million on the preservation and conservation of the cathedral.[12]

In 2021, the rector was Father Mushtaq Pyara.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Pastoral Letter Of Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha". Archived from the original on 25 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Prize for Belgian heritage abroad | Focus on Belgium". focusonbelgium.be. March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "A Sacred Landmark Reaches 100". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore. 2007. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022.
  4. ↑ "Asia News, Sacred Heart Cathedral celebrates its first 100 years".
  5. ↑ Pakistan Press International November 20, 2007
  6. ↑ "Lahore Cathedral Caps Centenary Celebrations, Pope Sends Message". UCANews.com. 22 November 2007. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021.
  7. ↑ "The Sacred Heart Cathedral".
  8. 1 2 "UCANews.com March 14, 2008".
  9. ↑ UCANews December 19, 2011 Archived February 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ UCANews website, Promoting a Pakistani Jesus Among Persecuted Christians, September 16, 2020
  11. ↑ Asia News website, Minister Augustine wants two historic churches added to the National Heritage, July 22, 2020
  12. ↑ Dawn website, Walled City of Lahore Authority starts shrines churches conservation, January 18, 2022
  13. ↑ UCANews website, New apostolic administrator appointed in Pakistan, article by Kamran Chaudhry dated April 13, 2021
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