St. Jude’s construction begins

After more than three years of waiting for enough funds to come in, initial construction of the new St. Jude’s Cathedral in Iqaluit is scheduled to begin in June.

“We are finally in a position to assemble the blocks and construct the dome and main entrance area. This will be covered with a layer of plywood and traps to protect it against winter weather,” the diocese of the Arctic said in a press statement. If an additional $250,000 is raised before June 15, materials will be ordered to complete the roofing of the facility, the statement said.

The diocese has raised $3 million, but needs about $3.5 million more to complete the project, according to Debra Gill, executive officer of the diocese. A fundraising effort was launched shortly after the original igloo-shaped cathedral was destroyed by arson in November 2005.

The new cathedral will seat 375 people in chairs plus 56 more on benches.