Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Mata-Utu explained

Denomination:Roman Catholic
Mata'utu Cathedral
Fullname:Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Mata-Utu
Other Name:Our Lady of Good Hope Cathedral
Pushpin Map:Wallis
Coordinates:-13.2828°N -176.1733°W
Country: Wallis and Futuna, France
Dedication:Our Lady of the Assumption
Status:Cathedral
Functional Status:Active
Archdiocese:Archdiocese of Nouméa
Diocese:Diocese of Wallis et Futuna
Bishop:Susitino Sionepoe

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Matâ'Utu), also known as Matâ'Utu Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral, and a national monument of France, located in the town of Mata Utu on Uvea, in Wallis and Futuna. It is a dominant edifice in downtown Mata-Utu town, capital of Wallis Island. It bears the royal insignia of Wallis, a Maltese cross between its towers.[1] The cathedral is also known as the "Our Lady of Good Hope Cathedral".[2] It is the seat of Bishop Susitino Sionepoe.[3]

Geography

The cathedral overlooks the Wallis lagoon from Mata-Utu, which is the largest town and capital of Wallis Island and the territory as a whole. The Palace of the King of Uvéa, which features two-storey verandas, adjoins the cathedral. On the opposite side of the wharf is a platform known as Fale Fono which was used by Chief of the local tribes to address people. Several restaurants, markets, hotels and the post office are near the cathedral.

Features

The massive stone cathedral was built by the Marists, a French Roman Catholic religious order.[4] [5]

The imposing cathedral is built with blue volcanic stones, chiseled and trimmed by hand. It has two prominent towers, rectangular in shape, dominating the landscape near the wharf. Between the two towers, a blue Maltese cross has been affixed, which also appears on the flag of Wallis.[6] The massive cathedral structure represents a distinctive "bulwark of Gaulish Catholicism".[2] In 1951, construction of a coral block cathedral began.[7]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: South Pacific. 4. 2009. Lonely Planet. 978-1-74104-786-8. 616.
  2. Book: David Stanley. Moon Handbooks South Pacific. 2004. 8 May 2013. Avalon Travel Publishing . 978-1-56691-411-6. 561–568.
  3. Web site: Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption. Gcatholic.org. 14 May 2013.
  4. Book: Nic Maclellan. Jean Chesneaux. After Moruroa: France in the South Pacific. 8 May 2013. 1998. Ocean Press. 978-1-876175-05-4.
  5. Book: Fodor's. Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, 1986. 10 May 2013. 12 November 1985. Fodor's Travel Guides. 978-0-679-01198-9. 504.
  6. Book: David Stanley. South Pacific Handbook. 8 May 2013. 1999. Avalon Travel Publishing. 978-1-56691-172-6. 519–528.
  7. Web site: The World at War - Wallis & Futuna 1616 - 1961. 13 May 2013. Schudak.de, Timeline.