The Cathedral, Pt. II

As I mentioned on Wednesday morning, Suzanne and I were heading to the rectory on Wednesday night to see an initial/launch presentation of the "preservation/renewal program" for the cathedral that our diocese is launching, for which they're attempting to raise funds.

I went into the meeting quite curious about the project and the presentation regarding the funds they're seeking to raise.

As had been made clear on the diocesan website, the total goal of the campaign for the cathedral renovation is $11 million, of which $5 million is being sought from across the diocese at large in the coming months.

The representative for the campaign from the diocese was very nice and the video (DVD) presentation that she brought along for use in the parish was well-done, all things considered.  It was striking to see the historical perspective of what the cathedral has gone through from its construction to today.  For example, I hadn't really realized (although I knew when the cathedral was built) that it was completed as our nation entered the Great Depression.  So the sacrifice that those who went before us in the diocese made to see it to completion seem even greater in that perspective.

The truth is, we do have a very beautiful cathedral.  We've been blessed with that.  And we certainly should contribute to its upkeep and maintenance.

But Suzanne and I aren't sold on the rest.  There wasn't any clarity around exactly WHAT the plans for the renovation include.  And quite frankly, with the relatively "loose" liturgical (and otherwise) track record in our diocese, I don't know that I want to give that much toward this effort without more clarity around the actual preservation of elements of the cathedral as opposed to "re-doing" things.

Add to that the fact that we're in the midst of a $150,000 capital campaign in our own parish to add an assembly area to the front of the church and the $75,000 that our parish has been asked to contribute to the diocesan project is a bit scary.

That said, the jury is still out... it'll be interested to see how our fellow parishioners respond in the coming months as the program and effort is fully pushed within the parishes.

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