~ Questions and Answers Concerning
   St. Anthony Liturgical Renovation (Page1) ~

Q. Why does the Cathedral's interior need a liturgical renovation?
Q. What will happen to the interior of the Cathedral during this liturgical renovation?
Q. Why does the old back altar have to be moved?
Q. Why does the Cathedral need a Blessed Sacrament Chapel?
Q. What will happen to the communion rail?
Q. Why does the Cathedral need a new baptismal font?
Q. Will the Cathedral's seating increase and why is this necessary?
Q. Will the paintings in the Cathedral be preserved?
Q. Will the confessionals be renovated to provide for the anonymous and face-to-face option of celebrating the sacrament?

Q. Why does the Cathedral's interior need a liturgical renovation?

In 1997 plans to begin a major repair project for our deterioration Cathedral were initiated. Three years into the actual process of repairing our Cathedral, the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops issued their document: Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture and Worship. This document contains a complete and concise synopsis of all Church legislation which governs the arrangement of all places of Catholic worship, especially cathedrals.

These norms direct Bishops to study the interior liturgical space of cathedrals and churches during the course of any major repair to insure that as a place of worship, the interiors conform with the liturgical legislation of the universal Church.

Following much prayer, intense study and expansive consultation, Bishop Guillory has concluded that an interior renovation of the Cathedral is necessary and will be spiritually beneficial for the people of the Diocese. This decision emphasizes that Christ's presence continues in the Sacred Liturgy, that the Eucharistic celebration is the source and summit of Catholic life, and that by following the universal Church's norms, the Cathedral will become an even more splendid place of sacred worship.

St. Anthony, which was built as a parish church, will now be stringently conformed to Papal and Church documents which govern cathedrals. Through this liturgical renovation the "Mother Church" of the Diocesan family will become an even stronger spiritual center of liturgical life, and the best model of how liturgical space should be arranged in the other churches of the Diocese.

All planned liturgical renovations will follow the legislative documents issued by the Holy See so that nothing done to the interior of the Cathedral will conflict with norms established for the universal Church or pastoral directives for the Church in the United States.

Q. What will happen to the interior of the Cathedral during this liturgical renovation?

High priority in this liturgical renovation is being placed on retaining, reusing and incorporating furnishing, materials and artwork to connect the past with the present life of the Cathedral. They include making all areas of the Cathedral's exterior and interior accessible for people with disabilities, a special area to care for children, restoring the sacred art, repainting the walls, installing some new flooring, and state of the art lighting/sound/heating and ventilating systems.

The baldachin will be relocated over the sacrificial altar to emphasize that this altar is the focal point on which the attention of the whole congregation centers. In accord with a very ancient tradition in cathedral churches, there will be a Blessed Sacrament chapel adjoining the sanctuary. Major sections of the old back altar, which now contains the tabernacle, will be refashioned in this special chapel for the reservation of the Eucharist.

Q. Why does the old back altar have to be moved?

The principal ritual furnishings within the sanctuary are the altar on which the Eucharistic sacrifice is offered, the ambo from which God's word is proclaimed, the Bishop's chair, and seating for priests who gather around their Bishop to celebrate the sacred mysteries of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

By it's very nature, the altar should be the central focal point within the sanctuary and made of natural stone representing Christ Jesus, the Living Stone. The old black altar is painted plaster, not composed of precious materials and distracts the attention of the faithful from the centrality of the altar on which the Eucharistic sacrifice is offered. This old black altar will be removed and refashioned to be included in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

It is planned that the baldachin currently over the old back altar will be refashioned and moved over the dedicated altar of sacrifice to visually focus the faithful on this one altar of sacrifice which is composed of precious marble.

Q. Why does the Cathedral need a Blessed Sacrament Chapel

In accordance with a very ancient tradition in Cathedral churches, there should be a special Blessed Sacrament Chapel. This new chapel will adjoin the sanctuary, be conspicuous to the faithful, fully accessible for the disabled, prominent and integrally connected to the main body of the Cathedral.

The atmosphere of this Eucharistic chapel will be conducive to adoration and private prayer. Major sections of the old plaster altar will be refashioned and will contain a splendid tabernacle for Eucharistic reservation in this special chapel.

Q. What will happen to the communion rail?

The communion rail will be refashioned and put into practical use by providing beautiful front pew kneeling rails surrounding the sanctuary. Parts of the communion rail will also be refashioned to adorn the Blessed Sacrament Chapel with exquisite gates.

Q. Why does the Cathedral need a new baptismal font?

The Bishop is the chief steward of the mysteries of God and responsible for the entire process of Christian initiation. He is to celebrate the sacraments of initiation in the Cathedral church. The Cathedral church should have a noble baptistery, which is stationary, permanent and designed for the celebration of baptism by the pouring of water or the immersion of water. A strong connection between the baptistery and the altar will be created by the introduction of the mosaic main isle.

Through the waters of baptism the faithful enter the life of Christ and the Church. At the altar of Christ's sacrifice, this sacred life is fulfilled and spiritually nourished. As the first of the sacraments of initiation, which includes Confirmation and Eucharist, Baptism requires a permanent and prominent place for celebration, which speaks of the precious dignity of this entrance into this sacred new life. For these reasons, the baptismal font should be permanent, prominent, precious, visible and accessible at the Cathedral's main door for all who enter the "Mother Church of the Diocese".

Q. Will the Cathedral's seating increase and why is this necessary?

The liturgical renovation of the Cathedral's interior will utilize present unused floor space by installing new pews that are identical to the old pews, priest seating in the sanctuary near the bishop's chair, and special flexible seating for people with disabilities. This reconfiguration will increase the Cathedral's seating capacity, which presently accommodate 460 people, to seating for more than 725 peoples. Increased seating will allow larger convocations of the Diocesan family, give a fuller expression of the Catholic community gathered together in unity at the Lord's altar to celebrate the sacred mysteries, and insure the better use of Church resources.

Q. Will the paintings in the Cathedral be preserved?

St. Anthony Cathedral is blessed with excellent reproductions of the magnificent 12th-century mosaics and paintings mirroring the ancient Roman Basilica of San Clemente. All the paintings in the Cathedral will be restored and preserved. High quality painted images depicting Christ on the Cross and the apostles of this same art period will be introduced in the sanctuary's apse and painted by renowned international artists. Other enhancements will be made to the present paintings and will heighten the resplendence of St. Anthony as a classic Ronanesque Cathedral.

Q. Will the confessionals be renovated to provide for the anonymous and face-to-face option of celebrating the sacrament?

The two confessionals presently in the Cathedral will be reconfigured so that they will be more clearly visible, inviting in dignity, truly accessible for people with disabilities, and will continue to contain a fixed grille between the penitent and the priest to ensure the anonymity of the penitent. This reconfiguration will also provide for those instances when the penitent wishes to confess face-to-face with the priest.

Page 2 - Cathedral Renovation FAQ