The Catholic Diocese of Parramatta has announced the release of Monsignor John Boyle’s memoir Tested by Fire, recounting the 1996 arson attack on St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta ahead of the 30 year anniversary in 2026.
The Diocese states that the book is Monsignor Boyle’s first account of the event that drew national attention across Australia.
The memoir was launched at a special event on Thursday 31 October 2025.
Monsignor Boyle served as Parish Priest and Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral from 1991 to 2000, placing him at the centre of the fire response and subsequent rebuilding.
According to the Diocese of Parramatta, on 19 February 1996 an arsonist lit a fire that ripped through the heritage listed St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta.
The Diocese reports that 40 firefighters from six brigades spent a full day and evening pouring 13,500 litres of water per minute onto the flames.
Boyle wrote: “it was like fighting the devil with water pistols.”
The Diocese records that the devastation drew national attention, with Prime Minister Paul Keating visiting the site several times.
New South Wales Premier Bob Carr and Governor General Sir William Deane also attended.
Leaders of the Anglican and other churches visited the cathedral, and members of the Rebel bikie gang came to assist in the aftermath.
The Diocese notes that the arsonist, Jason Humphries, watched the cathedral burn before being captured, arrested and sentenced.
Monsignor Boyle later went to the jail to forgive Humphries, which the Diocese says attracted both praise and backlash from the community.
Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell AFSM spoke at the launch event about the impact of such fires on attending crews.
Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell AFSM said: “These events don’t just happen and our firefighters go to them and walk away without thinking about them anymore.
“They have a personal, direct impact on our people as well.
“There’s that empathy between the firefighters and the people who are experiencing the loss.”
The Diocese reports that Fewtrell said Monsignor Boyle had captured all the elements of the story in the memoir.
Tested by Fire details how Monsignor Boyle worked with then Bishop Kevin Manning and architect Romaldo Giurgola during the cathedral’s reconstruction.
The Diocese notes that Giurgola, who also served as principal architect for Australia’s New Parliament House, designed St Patrick’s Cathedral to respect its heritage while embracing modern liturgical design.
The rebuilt cathedral was dedicated on 29 November 2003.
Monsignor Boyle explained: “It looks a bit strange at first – the seats face each other.
“The idea is to gather around the altar.
“In Catholic worship, the altar is a central piece of furniture, and the design reflects community and shared worship.”
The Diocese states that the layout brings congregants together by placing seating around the altar to encourage community and participation.
The Diocese describes St Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta as more than a building, presenting it as a living piece of Australia’s Catholic history.
Parramatta is identified as the Cradle of Catholicism, being one of the first places where Mass was permitted in Australia.
The Diocese notes that the area includes one of the country’s oldest Catholic schools, the oldest mortuary chapel and the first Sisters of Charity convent.
It is also where the first nun was professed in Australia.
Parish registers contain the names of priests and parishioners who helped shape the early Church in the region.
The Diocese adds that for over a century St Patrick’s has been at the heart of Parramatta’s spiritual, cultural and social life.
The Diocese explains that Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta, commissioned Monsignor Boyle to record not only the fire but also the faith, service and community that supported the cathedral’s rebuilding.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta, said: “Monsignor Boyle is one of the most qualified living witnesses to write an account of the destruction of the old St Patrick’s, which was a shocking and emotionally powerful event.
“His book also chronicles how the Diocese responded to the challenge of rebuilding the Cathedral after the fire.”
Bishop Vincent continued: “Readers will be treated to a fascinating account of how Divine Providence accompanied the efforts not only to construct a stunning new Cathedral but to create a seamlessly cohesive architectural marvel.”
The Diocese confirms that Tested by Fire is published by St Pauls Publications in collaboration with the Diocese of Parramatta, ahead of the 30 year anniversary of the 1996 fire.
The account of the 1996 St Patrick’s Cathedral fire provides a detailed narrative of how 40 firefighters from six brigades worked over an extended period to control a large structural fire in a heritage listed building.
Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell AFSM’s comments at the launch highlight that such incidents have a personal and direct impact on firefighters, beyond the technical demands of the response.
Fire and rescue chiefs, training officers and emergency and disaster response managers can use this case study to frame discussions about crew welfare and community engagement after large scale fires in public or religious buildings.
Architects, fire engineering consultants and building services engineers may also find value in the description of how a historic cathedral was rebuilt with a new layout that supports active participation while maintaining its role in the local community.
