DENIS HURLEY CENTRE

Innovative centre to house book shop; craft shop; resource centre; library; museum and exhibition space.

An exciting new initiative spearheaded by Emmanuel Cathedral will breathe life into a pre-WW1 building in the inner city, transforming it into an innovative outreach centre.

Led by Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, the launch of the Denis Hurley Centre will take place on February 15.

Archbishop Denis Hurley OMI was a bishop and archbishop of Durban from 1947 to 1992 becoming known internationally for his stand against apartheid and his active involvement in reform of the Catholic Church. After retiring in 1992, he became parish priest of the Cathedral for the last ten years of his active ministry.

Situated on the corner of the busy Denis Hurley Street (Queen Street) and Cathedral Road in the heart of the city, the three storey Emmanuel Cathedral Parish Centre was built as a primary school shortly before the beginning of WW1. Already much in use, the vision is to give this sturdy building a major upgrade, overhaul and facelift. It is a listed building, so the distinctive façade cannot be altered. The intention is to make the building more useful for the social service and educational objectives of the Cathedral without compromising the centre’s heritage, and adding to its architectural value.

The new building will house the Cathedral’s outreach and social responsibility programmes – including homeless support and feeding projects; refugee pastoral care; nursing / HIV / AIDS programme; a comprehensive counselling service; the St Vincent de Paul Society. A subtext to the vision is community building – creating bridges between the Zulu speakers, English speakers and refugees in the parish.

This will be complemented by a multi-purpose conference and educational centre; catering facility; coffee shop; book shop; craft shop; resource centre; library; museum and exhibition space. Special focus will be given to house collections of the work and memorabilia of the late Denis Hurley after whom this centre will be named. There will also be accommodation offered for visiting interns and volunteers.

For more information, contact the Emmanuel Cathedral on 031 306 35 95.