St. Patrick's Basilica (Oamaru)

Facade of the Basilica of Saint Patrick

St. Patrick's Basilica is a Catholic church located in the town of Oamaru on the South Island of New Zealand.

Father John Mackay, who was pastor in Oamaru, was the one who planned the construction of a temple that would fit the needs of his congregation and started fundraising. The first stone was laid in 1893, being the architect of the project, Francis Petre. The basilica was inaugurated on November 18, 1894 by Bishop Grimes of Christchurch. It was finally completed in 1918. Two days after the official opening the architect Petre died. The basilica became the center of the Catholic community of Oamaru. The interior is richly decorated with columns of carved limestone, pressed tin ceilings, wooden benches and religious sculptures. The building is listed as Historic Place.

The Basilica of Saint Patrick is one of several New Zealand temples commonly called "basilica", however liturgically there is no Catholic temple in New Zealand that officially holds the dignity of the minor Basilica granted by the Holy See.

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