When opera star, actress and celebrated cook Silvia Colloca’s parents fly from Italy to visit Sydney, they don’t head straight for the Harbour Bridge or Bondi Beach. Their first stop is St Mary’s Cathedral.
“We always light a candle,” Silvia says. “It’s a little ritual – we go in and we spread the love and good wishes.” And every time, she says, it stops her in her tracks.
“It never fails to take my breath away – the sheer size, the architecture, the light. It really is beautiful.”
Born in Milan and trained as a mezzo-soprano, Silvia built a celebrated stage career across Europe’s most prestigious theatres before love brought her to Australia.
Here she has become a beloved national figure – a chart-topping recording artist, the author of six cookbooks, and the host of Cook Like an Italian on SBS. She is, as those who know her will attest, a woman who brings the full force of her Italian soul to everything she does.
Now Silvia is returning the favour – not as a visitor in the pews, but as one of the headline performers at a high-profile gala dinner, In Lumine Fidei, on 9 May, to be held at the Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney to raise vital funds for St Mary’s restoration and preservation. For her, the invitation carries the weight of something personal. St Mary’s, she says, is more than architecture. It is sanctuary.
“Places like that are where people can go when they feel lonely, and they will always find solace, spiritual solace grounded in community. We light a candle for the people we’ve lost. It’s such a small moment, but it’s so profound. Places like that are full of small moments that become really big.”
Joining Silvia on the gala stage is world-renowned tenor Diego Torre – a pairing that clearly delights her.
“He is one of the greatest of this generation – his vocal range, his ability to move between Puccini and Verdi and Donizetti with such ease, and to hold an audience captive with every single sound he makes. Astonishing.”
The gala has drawn the support of two of Australia’s leading Catholic universities, both gold sponsors, whose commitment to the campaign reflects a shared conviction that preserving St Mary’s is inseparable from their own educational and spiritual mission.
The University of Notre Dame Australia (UNDA) sees the cathedral as a natural partner in its pursuit of truth and wisdom.
“The search for truth is, at times, best done on one’s knees,” said vice chancellor Professor Francis Campbell, “and the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom ends in adoration. The cathedra of the professor and that of the bishop need to work closely together.”
For UNDA, St Mary’s is not simply a heritage landmark: “It is a place associated with nurturing those who benefit from its presence, in good as well as difficult times. The stones of St Mary’s tell a story of how the Catholic Church in Sydney brings together generations to become closer to God and to one another,” he said.
Australian Catholic University (ACU) echoes that conviction with equal clarity. Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Zlatko Skrbis described the campaign as an expression of ACU’s core identity as stewards of faith, tradition and community.
“St Mary’s isn’t just a landmark crafted of stone and stained glass – it’s a place where generations have gathered in prayer, celebration and hope,” Professor Skrbis said.
“Supporting the conservation of St Mary’s reflects our commitment to investing for the future while honouring the foundations that shaped us, ensuring the cathedral continues to be a gathering place of faith, learning and hope for generations to come.”
Silvia’s message is direct: “The cathedral needs you. And we can’t wait to share what will be an unforgettable night with you.”
Then, with a smile: “If I wasn’t invited to sing, I’d be coming to watch Diego Torre. If that isn’t reason enough, I don’t know what is.”
Join Silvia Colloca, Diego Torre and MC Ben Fordham from 2GB for a night of world-class live music, faith and community – and help ensure this beloved cathedral continues to inspire, console and astonish for generations to come.
Tables are limited – book here: www.ourfaithourworks.org/cathedral-gala-dinner/
