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Much of the materials on this site has come from the book written on the Cathedral by Monsignor Peter Mee, former Cathedral Administrator and Author of St Joseph's Cathedral Centennial Book.

Monsignor Peter Mee
NZ CATHOLIC
The national Catholic newspaper
Sunday, November 2-15, 2003

Msgr Mee had key role in Dunedin
BY JEFF DILLON

DUNEDIN - Monsignor Peter Reginald Mee, who died on October 11 aged 78, played an integral role in the administration of Dunedin diocese for over 30 years.

The involvement began in the 1960's - he was appointed chancellor of the diocese in 1965 - and increased in the late 1970's as Bishop John Kavanagh's health began to fail. This period of aiding the ailing bishop and then providing advice to Coadjutor Bishop Len Boyle when he was appointed in 1983 proved crucial in making the diocese run smoothly at this time. His expertise was recognised by his appointment as financial administrator of the diocese in 1984 and as vicar-general in 1985. He retained both positions until 1996 and remained chancellor until 1997.

In the homily at his requiem Mass, long-time friend Father John Mullin recalled meeting Father Mee on Forbury Road in 1949, the year he was ordained, asking, "Hello, Father, are you having a day off?" Father Mee's riposte characteristically put him in his place: "There is no day off in the service of God!"

In 1952 Father Mee became curate to the central Invercargill parish, where he was also youth director in Southland for nearly 10 years. While there a schoolboy reputation for being a "bit of a holy terror" with a liking for chasing after people and annoying them came good.

Father Mee was on his way to assist at Mass when he noticed a young fellow breaking into parishioners' cars. The priest chased and collared the youth but sustained some physical injury himself. A Southland Times headline proclaimed "Fighting Fr Mee."

After a year at Alexandra, Father Mee returned to Dunedin in 1962 as administrator of St Joseph's Cathedral. After three years as diocesan director of Catholic Social Services, in 1967 he studied Church trends overseas in Europe, the British Isles, Canada, and the United States. In 1969 he was also appointed a diocesan consultor to the bishop.

To recognise his sterling work for the diocese, Bishop Boyle applied for Father Mee to receive the title of monsignor. As the recipient was responsible for opening the bishop's mail at the time when Bishop Boyle was travelling about quite a lot, the approval letter and certificate ended up at the bottom of the mail and it was some weeks before the official recognition was unearthed.

Monsignor Mee also served in Port Chalmers and Forbury parishes. He resigned from parish work in 1992 and from his major diocesan responsibilities in 1996.

His interest in history led to research into Bishop Moran and some of the early Irish priests. He also published a well-illustrated history of the cathedral.

Since the late 1990's Monsignor Mee had been called to his "second vocation" of prayer and suffering as his health deteriorated - a vocation he did not find easy, Fatherr Mullin noted, as he hated giving up his active work.

Monsignor Mee at Father Nicholas Dillon's Ordination
held in St Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin, New Zealand
Friday, 27th of June, 2003

Fathers Paul Williamson SM of St Mary of the Angels, Wellington, and Anthony Bernal of Auckland's Glenrowan Study Centre, look on while Father David Hercus of Palmerston assists Monsignor Peter Mee in a wheelchair, as he lays his hands on Deacon Nicholas' head.

Father Nicholas Dillon smiles as Father David Hercus brings Monsignor Peter Mee over for the Kiss of Peace. Father Anthony Bernal follows. The Bishop, wearing mitre, sits beneath his coat of arms that are attached to the Sanctuary columns, and watches the clergy as they offer the Kiss of Peace.

Peter Reginald Mee was born in Dunedin on the 24th of June 1925. He was educated at Christian Brothers School, Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, Georgian University, Rome (3 months Renewal Marriage Court). He was ordained as priest on the 24th of September 1949 by Bishop P.F.Lyons.

Curate: March 1950 Dunedin North
Invercargill 1951-1961
Alexandra 1961-1962
Chancellor Feb, 1965 - 1969
D. Consultor 1969 - 1995
Priest Council 1968 - 1995
Cathedral Administrator 1962-1965 : 1979-1981 : 1982-1985
Vicar General October 1985-1995
Parish Priest: Port Chalmers 1986-1989
Director of Catholic Social Service 1964-1967
Executive Officer, Board of Economic Administration 1985-1995
Committee of Advice DDF 1972-1995

Also
Otago Old Peoples Welfare Council 1960's
Youth work in Southland ten years 1951 - 1961

Associated with Knights, Hibernians, Education, Centennial functions, Boards of Governors - Moreau and St Paul's, Priests Retirement and Sick Funds, Clergy Support Fund, Dunedin City Catholic Education Board, New Zealand Archives and Records Association, Holy Cross College Financial Board, Dunedin Tribunal, Diocesan historical publications.

Monsignor Mee, lived in retirement at the Little Sisters of the Poor, Brockville in Dunedin, and has died on the 11th of October, 2003 at Dunedin, aged 78.

This is the front book written by Monsignor Peter Mee for the Centennial Celebration.

Foreward from the Cathedral Centenary Book, 1986

This publication, prepared for the Centennial Anniversary of the Opening of St Joseph's Cathedral, is not a history of the diocese, nor of the Cathedral parish. Rather, this publication aims to tell the story of a building - a Cathedral initially named by Bishop Moran the Cathedral of St Mary and St Joseph's, and then later named St Joseph's Cathedral.

In addition to the pictorial history, this book makes special mention of the people particularly responsible for building the Cathedral - the architect, Mr F. W. Petre; the sculptor, Mr L. J. Godfrey; the masonry contractors, Parker and McNamara; and Mr D. W. Woods, who was responsible for the woodwork. It also highlights the work of those people responsible for the stained and coloured windows and other ornamentations in the Cathedral.

The book reveals the foresight, the leadership and the courage of Bishop Moran who, when telling his people in 1878 that a Cathedral was about to be built, said: "We will begin the work ... we cannot tell who might finish it. .... many years of strenuous effort will be demanded of us." The priests, religious and laity of the diocese responded to Bishop Moran's call by giving tremendous support to his Cathedral project.

Today St Joseph's Cathedral, unfinished as it is, stands as a beautiful example of Gothic architecture, but it is above all a living temple where God is worshipped daily.

May the story of St Joseph's Cathedral unfold in these pages, like the building itself, raise our minds and hearts heavenwards.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the many people who made this publication possible. Without their ready assistance the story of the Cathedral could not have been presented with such detailed information.

Over many months a goodly number of people provided photos, from which the final selection appearing in this publication was made. I refer particularly to Deric N. Birchman, Father Kevin O'Donoghue, S.M. (Hastings), Michael de Hamel, Father John Harrison, and Jane Dawber. Acknowledgement is also made to the Hocken Library and the Dicosean Chancery for the use of photographic material.

The Historical information has been gathered notably from the editions of the N.Z. Tablet (1878-1890), current newspapers of the period, Diocesan archival material, published and unpublished material on Mr F. W. Petre, and the Hocken Library.

Technical Information was willingly supplied by D. S. Combs, Professor of Geology at the University of Otago, D. Anson, Anthropologist at the Otago Museum, the staff of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Mayer and Co. (Munich), Messers E.J. McCoy, F. P. Pettit and K. Dale of the Diocesan Property Service, and especially W. E. Haydon, the Diocesan Building Consultant, whose informative advice and practical suggestions over many months have greatly helped to make this publication a reality.

To one and all who have assisted in any way with the production of this publication, my grateful thanks.

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