Cathedral Renovation Page 1 > Renovation Page 2 > Renovation Page 3 > Renovation Page 4

~ The Liturgical Renovation of St. Anthony Cathedral ~   (Page 3 of 3)

Bishop Guillory Reports On St. Anthony Cathedral Project Progress

Beaumont, Texas: - 25 July 2003

The sweltering sun and soaking showers of summer will not stifle or slow down the energetic workers at Saint Anthony Cathedral. Despite delays due to adverse weather and the unexpected discoveries of undetected roof, gutter, cornice and dome deterioration, the vibrancy of the Beaumont's 100 year-old Catholic Cathedral is daily being restored and renewed.

Viewing the Cathedral from the out side, the casual observer can not see the extensive completed repairs and the enormous progress of the Cathedral's interior renovation. What one's eye can capture is the Cathedral's complete new cornice, freshly painted exterior window frames, state of the art parking lot lighting, repaired cooper dome, nearly complete powerful plaza and refreshing new sacristy addition.

Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, Roman Catholic Bishop of Beaumont, recently made a report on the Cathedral project progress during a recent meeting at Saint Anthony's work site in downtown Beaumont. The Bishop highlighted that: "the Cathedral's massive interior liturgical renovation work is making good progress even though this progress is presently hidden from sight. Safety demands that the Cathedral's interior is an off-limits hard hat construction area. When the Cathedral is re-opened, it's splendid Romanesque beauty will be breathtaking." Bishop Guillory also stated that since the beginning of the Cathedral's repair work in the Spring of 2001, a new roof and copper gutter system have been installed. The many other undetectable Cathedral repairs include extensive foundation work, restoring the priceless stained glass windows and repairing the pipe organ.

Following extensive study, consultation and prayer; Bishop Guillory announced on May 12, 2002 that the interior of Saint Anthony Cathedral would also undergo a liturgical renovation. Guillory made his decision "for the spiritual welfare of the Diocesan family, to make Saint Anthony Cathedral a more splendid spiritual center and a more magnificent liturgical life model that conforms to Papal / Church documents governing Cathedrals." Pointing toward the Cathedral Guillory said: "This decision greatly expanded the scope of our Cathedral project. The outpouring of support for this exciting effort to renovate our Cathedral's interior has been tremendous. I am greatly inspired by the profound charity of those who have already contributed to this major initiative that has begun the new millennium in the Catholic Church of Southeast Texas. I thank these generous people and all who will make contributions to this important effort in the days to come. Remembering the names of living and deceased loved ones, through donations to our Cathedral Gift Giving, is a profound expression of love that will live on during coming decades in the very walls of the 'Mother Church' of our Diocese."

Bishop Guillory explained that Saint Anthony Cathedral's liturgical renovation includes: "Making all areas of the Cathedral's exterior and interior handicapped accessible, creating a special area to care for children, introducing an interior rest room and a bride's dressing area, refurbishing all walls, restoring the sacred art, fabricating new flooring, expanding the sanctuary storage sacristies and installing state of the art lighting / sound / heating / ventilating systems." The Bishop
went on to detail how "the baldachin will be relocated over the sacrificial altar to emphasize that the altar of sacrifice is the main focal point of the Cathedral's interior." With an inflection of excitement in his voice, Guillory said, "in the sacrificial altar we will be privileged to have a relic of Saint Katharine Drexel visible. This saintly consecrated religious woman visited and stayed periodically in this very section of Beaumont and in various other areas of our Diocese. She was canonized a saint by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000 and holds a very special place in the hearts of our people. In fact, one lady from this neighborhood remembers visiting the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament convent here in Beaumont and asking a sister who was waxing the kitchen floor on her knees where she could find Mother Katharine Drexel. The nun on her knees replied that she was Mother Drexel."

Walking toward the Cathedral's main doors, Bishop Guillory state: "When we walk into the Cathedral, the beautiful sacrificial altar and magnificent new Blessed Sacrament chapel next to the sanctuary will be the first things we will see. Guillory continued: "Major sections of the original back altar are being refashioned in this special chapel for the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament. A new chapel honoring Our Blessed Mother is also being introduced next to the sanctuary. It will contain an exact reproduction of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We are blessed to have this image which was venerated in Mexico City's Shrine of Guadalupe during the millennium year and which was specially blessed by Cardinal Rivera, Archbishop of Mexico City." The Bishop stated that: "Another highlight of the Cathedral's interior liturgical renovation will be a permanent stone baptistery which will welcome believers as they enter the Cathedral. This beautiful baptistery will accommodate baptisms by pouring and immersion. A mosaic main aisle will begin at this new baptismal area and create a strong visual link to the sacrificial altar by being on the main axis of the Cathedral."

Bishop Guillory places high priority on retaining, reusing and incorporating the Cathedral's furnishings and artwork. "I want to connect Saint Anthony's past history with its present life," Guillory said. "That is why I have insisted that all the Cathedral's major furnishings be reused, such as the altar rail, which will be incorporated in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, in the kneeling rail for the front pews surrounding the sanctuary, and in the priests' sanctuary seating area. Additional pews, this special sanctuary seating for priests and flexible seating for the handicapped will greatly increase the Cathedral's seating capacity. Our two confessionals will be configured to accommodate anonymous and face to face celebrations of this sacrament. Each confessional frontal will feature sacred images of saints who have special significance to the faithful of Southeast Texas."

When asked when the Cathedral's interior liturgical renovation will be completed, the Bishop replied: "During the first part of 2004 it is my hope to joyfully celebrate the wonderful rededication our magnificent historic Cathedral. What a splendid way to start our Cathedral's second century of service as the soul of this City and spiritual center of our Diocese."

Note: The Cathedral Gift Giving Guide referred to by Bishop Guillory can be obtained by contacting Fr. Jerry McGrath at Saint Anthony Cathedral (833-6433). Donors can perpetuate the name of living or deceased loved one by selecting an appropriate gift in their honor. All gifts, regardless of size, will be gratefully recognized by fitting inscriptions in the newly renovated Cathedral and are tax deductible.