St Patrick’s Parish Centre administrator Elaine Hurley said parishioners expressed open jubilation at the long-awaited announcement last weekend and were "relieved".
"We’ve been waiting for a long time ... there was a huge sigh and then clapping on the announcement at Mass last Sunday."
The Basilica will be formally reopened by Bishop Michael Dooley on March 30 at 2pm.
Since June 2024, parishioners have been having Mass in the St Kevin’s College chapel.
The plan originally was to return to St Patrick’s Basilica by Christmas.
Principal contractor David Fridd said the interior refit plus an extension — described as a light commercial undertaking — had presented "a small challenge". This reflected the increasingly complex supply issues for the construction sector.
Mr Fridd said it had been a privilege with all the supporting trades to contribute to what is a substantial building in Oamaru, and after also recently completing a similar job on St Joseph’s Church in Temuka, it was very satisfying.
"It’s quite nice working with the old buildings. It’s quite nice doing an extension while keeping it in keeping with the original building."
The contractors had fleshed out the refurbishment but it was the parish which had done "all the work" in raising funds and getting it started, Mr Fridd said.
Mrs Hurley said on March 30, at 2pm, parishioners will assemble at St Joseph’s School to process across the road to the Basilica.
There, Bishop Dooley will unlock the door, conduct a blessing, then celebrate the main Sunday Mass. The usual 9.30am Mass that day was being transferred to 2pm to enable the rededication.
The refurbishment, costing about $1.4million includes a new accessible side entrance, with toilets, leading into the main basilica.
The entire interior has been updated in keeping with the building’s Category A Heritage NZ status.
It includes new pews replicating the old, a wider aisle, carpet, a new sound system and organ, and restoring the liturgical elements including the baptismal font and the sanctuary.
