By Bill Kurtz
Catholic Herald

The Cathedral Renovation and enhancement project:

SUPERIOR -- Conceptual plans for renovation of the Cathedral of Christ the King were presented to Cathedral parishioners March 18. "The building will take on a new splendor," Fr. Richard Vosko, liturgical design consultant for the project, told about 100 people.

In a brief interview afterwards, Vosko stressed that "this project is not just about a building. It's about creating a beautiful, inspiring place to worship God. This building needs color and illumination to breathe new life into it. We're going to make it sparkle."

One of those present inspired by Vosko's vision was Bishop Raphael M. Fliss. "To put it bluntly, I wish I were a little younger, so I could see this through to completion," Fliss said to close the program. "But that's no reason to delay. The cathedral does need attention, and I want to be part of that. I hope and pray we will make a good showing, if that's the word."

Vosko has been part of more than a dozen cathedral projects in the U. S., including the new cathedral in Los Angeles. But perhaps his most controversial involvement was in Milwaukee, where opponents of a cathedral renovation retained a canon lawyer in an effort to stop the project.

Fliss praised Vosko, declaring that "there are many fine liturgical consultants, but in my opinion he's probably the best in the country. He's taken some abuse, totally undeserved."

Vosko told the Catholic Herald that "this building is in good shape compared to some others. The cathedrals in Albany, N. Y., and San Antonio, pieces were literally falling in the street. It's a tabula rasa for artwork. They never had the resources to finish it the way it could have been."

During his presentation, Vosko told the audience that "when I first walked in, I said, 'Wow!' One gets very excited with the possibilities of such a building."

Major changes planned include:

* Enhanced artwork on walls and ceilings, and a new lighting system. "We don't want to highlight a dark and dreary ceiling," Vosko declared. "Most of the walls and ceilings should be decorated with beautiful art like frescoes and mosaics," including angels "watching over what the church does" and a tribute to St. Augustine, patron saint of the cathedral.

"I can't find anything about St. Augustine here," Vosko said. "Hopefully we can put up something of St. Augustine, looking down on prayer."

* Moving the choir and organ to the east side of the main floor. "The music ministry is part of the assembly," Vosko explained. "We want to bring them down so we can worship together."

* Realigning the sanctuary. "We're going to move the altar table slightly forward, so it is right at the center of the cathedral," Vosko said, with the bishop's chair moved to where the ambo (or pulpit) is now.

* On the west side of the main floor "turn this beautiful apse into a special chapel honoring Mary, the mother of God."

* Screening off the tabernacle in the north apse. The screen would be translucent, and would have images of saints.

* Moving the baptismal font near the main entrance, "the historic location for a baptismal font," Vosko noted. He was not sure whether it would be the present font or a new one, but emphasized that "one way or another, we want to use as much of the existing marble as possible for the font, the altar, tabernacle and ambo."

Architect Rob Semborski, a Cathedral parishioner, described structural improvements that are part of the project, including replacement of the plumbing system, upgraded kitchen, improvements to the sound and lighting systems, installing a ventilation system and making the 75-year-old building fully handicapped-accessible. The boiler system will be analyzed to determine whether it should be upgraded or replaced.

"Infrastructure upgrades are critical," Semborski said. "The things we have here have been well maintained, but many have reached the end of their useful life."

Improvements are also planned for the basement. Vosko noted that similar renovations elsewhere required worship areas to be closed from six months to a year. "You're fortunate you have a downstairs you can (worship in) while you wait," he said, adding that the goal is to "use the two levels of your building more frequently and in a gracious way."

Exterior work will include landscaping and a reconfiguration that will slightly increase the capacity of the parking lot. A new copper roof will be installed, and exterior roof and stone restoration will resume.

Asked how long the project would take, Vosko replied that "these projects take time. Cathedrals of yesteryear took generations. It's not wise to give estimates now (because) we don't know how much money we have yet."

Steve Tarnowski, director of the diocesan Office of Development, heads the Cathedral Fund-raising Subcommittee. Tarnowski said the fundraising goal from Cathedral parish is $750,000, adding that "with education, prayer and commitment that could reach $1 million."

A good response by Cathedral parishioners is important, Tarnowski explained, because "when we go to the other 113 parishes we have to be able to tell them Cathedral has done their share." He said afterwards that the diocese has contributed the first $1 million towards the fundraising campaign, while the goal for the rest of the parishes could be from $2-3 million.

The slogan for the campaign, "A Good Work Has Begun," was announced at the March 18 program. Fliss, for one, is eager to get the effort rolling. Re-emphasizing the need for support by Cathedral parishioners, the bishop declared that "if we can show all of our pastors and people that this needs work, I think good things will happen."

Fliss added afterwards that "when I saw the rededicated cathedral in Milwaukee, I was thrilled. Returning to Superior, I was absolutely convinced we must go forward with this important project."

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2002