Atop the Scaffolding

Cathedral scaffolding

Today, our local newspaper (the online version) posted this video of the renovation at St. Patrick Cathedral in Norwich, CT (Climb to the Ceiling of St. Patrick's in Norwich), the church where my daughter sings in the Diocesan Choir.  The platform that the artists are using to walk around is atop the entire scaffolding, a portion of which is pictured here.  It amazes me how much the upper part of the scaffolding looks like a room (see photo gallery).  The cathedral will be absolutely beautiful when the work is finished.

Related web articles:
Symbolism at Heart of St. Patrick's Redo
A Photo Gallery:  Renovations at Cathedral of St. Patrick

Related articles on A Struggling Believer:
Scaffolding Everywhere, Rebuilding the Church

Scaffolding Everywhere, Rebuilding the Church

This evening, my daughter had her first solo in a concert at St. Patrick Cathedral in Norwich, CT.  She sings in the Diocesan Choir there, and has for almost six years, so the opportunity to perform alone, even if it was only for eight measures, was much appreciated.  Anyway, when I arrived for the concert, I found this:

Scaffolding in St. Patrick Cathedral

Katherine the Great had warned me that the sanctuary was "full" of scaffolding, and I believed her, but I certainly couldn't imagine what "full" meant.  Well, all I can say is...wow!

After speaking to some of the parishioners at St. Patrick, I was given to understand that all the scaffolding was to support the work of restoring the murals that once graced the ceiling of the church, as seen in this postcard from 1909.

Postcard of St. Patrick Cathedral

According to one concertgoer that I met, the artwork disappeared during the tenure of Pope Paul VI (1963-1978).  The official renovation brochure put out by the diocese merely states that "over the years" the murals were painted over.  No explanation was given me as to why this eradication occurred, but it did, and now it is being undone.

I must admit, not being Catholic and not being a parishioner at St. Patrick, when I first heard that this painting was going to be done and when I first saw the paint tests, I thought it might be a gigantic waste of money to restore the cathedral, money that could be better spent on ministry and outreach.  Then again, the Israelites applied a lot of artistic skill and wealth to the wilderness tabernacle because it was the house of God (see Exodus, Chapters 25-30), so who am I to question the bishop and his plans for the local cathedral?

The ceiling and its murals should be finished by the middle of summer, if not sooner, just in time for the Diamond Jubilee Mass at the end of July 2013.  For now, this is the only glimpse I could get of the actual artwork that, when finished, will depict the life of Christ.

A sneak peek of a mural in St. Patrick Cathedral

To see/read a complete brochure on the cathedral renovation, click here.
To read an article about the Life of Christ murals and to see a rendering of them, click here.

The New Pope and His Effect

The Delivery of the Keys
by Pietro Perugino

Yesterday was an important day in the history of the Church.  The College of Cardinals, meeting in secret conclave, elected the 266th pope, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, forevermore known to the world as Francis I.  Like the name he chose, his selection represents many firsts:  he is the first Holy Father from South America;  he is the first Jesuit to be elected to the papacy;  he is the first pope in the modern era to be elected after a papal resignation;  and he is the first man to fill the "shoes of the fisherman" who will have a Twitter account from the beginning of his service as head of the Catholic Church.

By many accounts over the past day, Pope Francis I is a humble man who eschews, as often as possible, all the trappings of his high office in the church.  It is reported that, while Cardinal and Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he rejected use of an official limousine and an official residence, opting instead to ride the bus and live in a modest apartment near his parishioners.  It is said that he has personally washed the feet of the faithful during Holy Thursday Mass and that he regularly visits the slums and shantytowns fo Buenos Aires.  It is also reported that he enjoys cooking his own food, drinking a local Argentinean drink known as "mate," and watching soccer.

As the mother of a Protestant who often sings in the Catholic Church (and who sometimes attends Mass as a result), it will be interesting to see if the humility and service of the new Holy Father will trickle down to the parish level.  While Pope Benedict XVI was in charge of the Church, our local Catholics saw changes in their Missal and the type of music that was used at Mass, a return to an older style of worship and the use of more Latin chant.  One of the parishes a few miles east of us even held a Tridentine Reguiem Mass on All Soul's Day.  Since Pope Francis I appears to have a hands-on approach in the practice of his faith, I am curious if the local parish priests will begin to focus on and encourage outreach to the hurting populations in southeastern Connecticut, such as th ehomeless and those affected by unemployment and hunger.

So, as I waited for the results of the Papal Conclave, now I will wait to see what happens to the Catholic Church as she lives and serves under new leadership.

Also of interest:
Slideshow of Pope Francis I
Trading In the Bus for a Butler:  The New Pope's New Lifestyle

Related articles:
The Conclave Meets Soon
The Papal Selection Process

The Papal Selection Process

The Conclave Meets Soon

It was announced on Friday (3/8/2013) that the College of Cardinals would be sequestered in conclave on Tuesday, marking the start of the papal selection process.  Being a Lutheran whose daughter sings in the diocesan choir at a cathedral fifteen minutes from home and performs cantor duties for a local Catholic congregation, I have some interest in keeping up with the current happenings in the Church against which I am supposedly "protesting."  Plus, I just find the whole procedure rather fascinating.

This will be the third time in my life that I have witnessed a conclave, or rather waited for the results of a conclave.  No one but the cardinals themselves is privileged to view the actual selection process.  My first experience was in 1978 with Pope John Paul I.  Sadly, he only lived a month (33 days to be exact).  So, after the fifteen-year tenure of Pope Paul VI (1963-1978), the Church was almost immediately thrown into yet another mourning period and yet another conclave, the result being the selection of Pope John Paul II, a man who became the second longest serving pope in history (and my second time to witness the choosing of a pope).  Due to the sudden demise of Pope John Paul I and the calling of a second conclave so shortly after the first, 1978 is known as the "year of three popes" --- Paul VI, John Paul I, and John Paul II.  In fact, it may be the only year in history since the 16th century to hold such a distinction.

As always, there is speculation about who should be chosen to fill the "shoes of the fisherman."  I have no opinion there.  I figure the Holy Spirit is well suited to the business of selecting the next man to lead the largest church on the planet.  I will be watching for the white smoke, though.  It promises to be an exciting week.  Preliminary meetings will continue on Monday, March 11, 2013.  After that, the wait begins.  Will you be watching?

Also of interest:  Catholics Create 'Virtual Conclave' For New Pope

CORRECTION:  This will actually be the fourth papal conclave that I have witnessed.  Pope John Paul I and Pope John Paul II were in 1978, and Pope Benedict XVI was in 2005.