Christchurch Bishop speaks about cathedral in US media

In an interview with Colm Flynn on EWTN News Nightly that aired on September 10, Bishop Gielen said the laity desired to rebuild their Mother Church.

“They want another one. They want something that they can celebrate in, and it can unify us,” Bishop Gielen said.

“So, we’ve responded. We’ve chosen a design; it’s a Romanesque Gothic design, and we’ve now presented it to the people. We’re very hopeful that in the next few years we’ll be able to get started and build it.”

Bishop Gielen said the project work has become a symbol of something larger – a reminder that the diocese’s rebuilding is both physical and spiritual.

“It is a metaphor. Rebuild my church. . . . It’s not only the cathedral we’re rebuilding. We lost 30 or 35 of our churches – damaged or demolished – in the last 15 years,” Bishop Gielen said. “So, it’s a real example of how faith is. There’s a resurgence of faith in the West and in New Zealand as well.”

Bishop Gielen said the rebuilding has stirred energy across the diocese.

“People are very excited, and it shows the wider community that our people are still hope-filled and they believe in this; and even secular society has gotten behind this, and they’re very excited about it as well,” he said.

Bishop Gielen was in the United States to make a retreat, and during his visit he also discussed the cathedral project with a number of individuals and groups, including former Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand Archbishop Charles Balvo and Scripture professor and author Dr Scott Hahn, who taught then-Fr Gielen at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio.

Video messages of these discussions were posted to the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch Facebook page.

FULL STORY

Christchurch bishop outlines rebuild of quake‑damaged cathedral (By Emma R.C. Lyons/EWTN News)

EWTN News Nightly | Thursday, September 10, 2026

Facebook (Catholic Diocese of Christchurch)