Project began with study commissioned in 1999

SUPERIOR -- The restoration and enhancement of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior has been a long process for both the parish and the Diocese of Superior. The project actually began in 1999.

In an interview with the Catholic Herald in 2001, Benedictine Fr. Gabriel Baltes, director of the diocesan Office of Worship and co-chair of the Cathedral Preservation and Enhancement Core Committee, said the groundwork for renovation was laid by Fr. Daniel Dahlberg, cathedral rector, when he and the cathedral building committee commissioned a long-range facilities study in the fall of 1999.

The study, by Architectural Resources Inc., was completed in May 2000. It identified maintenance and repair needs of the entire cathedral plant, including the rectory, business office and Cathedral School, Baltes said.

On July 19, 2001, Bishop Raphael M. Fliss announced the restoration project in a letter to the diocese. He said a core committee had been established to study the renovation project.

Fliss wrote: "As bishop and pastor, I have decided that now is the time to begin the multifaceted plan to preserve and enhance the Cathedral of Christ the King. I have reached this decision in consultation with Fr. Daniel Dahlberg, rector/pastor of this parish, with the Presbyteral Council and Diocesan Consultors, with our diocesan Office of Worship and various other individuals and groups who labor in the service of this diocese."

In explaining the project Fliss wrote: "In my 16 years as pastor of this parish, I have noted the gradual deterioration of this 75-year-old building -- a sacred edifice made holy by the prayers of the thousands who have gathered here in prayer and worship. I am aware that:

* portions of the copper roof need replacing

* the exterior walls are in immediate need of tuck pointing

* the windows need re-caulking

* the bell tower needs to be reinforced.

"The interior worship space has need for:

* improved lighting

* ventilation and cost effective heating

* a more adequate sound system.

"In addition to these urgent demands for preserving the exterior and infrastructure of this building there are liturgical components to this facility which deserve attention. These include:

* rethinking the location of the bishop's chair, the altar, and ambo

* finding a more suitable place for reserving the Blessed Sacrament

* constructing a baptismal font of living water that allows for the immersion of both adults and children

* creating and/or enhancing images of devotion so precious in our Catholic heritage

* and making sure that all areas in this house of prayer are accessible for people with disabilities."

Fr. Richard Vosko, Ph.D., was selected as the liturgical design consultant for the project. Vosko has been a designer and consultant for worship environments since 1970. He was consultant for the new Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, Texas. He is also publisher of "Designing Future Worship Spaces," (Liturgy Training Publications, Chicago, Ill., 1996).

In addition to the core committee, chaired by Baltes and cathedral parishioner Kent Phillips, a number of subcommittees were established: arts and furnishings; communications and publicity; hospitality; fund raising; instruments; and prayer and worship.

Rob Semborski, of Architectural Resources Inc., was selected as architect for the project, and Lakehead Constructors Inc. was chosen as the general contractor. (See stories on pages 9 and 11)

The extensive exterior repairs began in the fall of 2001 and conceptual plans for the cathedral, listing the major changes being proposed, were presented to the cathedral parishioners on March 18, 2002. The presentation included initial artist's renderings of the proposed interior decoration.

During the presentation, Semborski described structural improvements needed. He said, "Infrastructure upgrades are critical. The things we have here have been well maintained, but many have reached the end of their useful life."

The entire diocese was asked to help fund the current renovation. In the past, all repair, maintenance and remodeling of the cathedral had been funded by the cathedral parish. In 2003, Fr. Edward Meulemans, a former cathedral rector, said he estimated that between 1978 and 1998 the parish spent over $1 million on major maintenance projects.

The cathedral was formally closed Oct. 16, 2003, so interior work could begin. Fliss presided at a special ceremony, assisted by Dahlberg. It included a candlelight procession taking the Blessed Sacrament from the cathedral to a place of reservation in the Cathedral School. Following the procession, Fliss chained and padlocked the main doors of the cathedral.

In an interview with the Catholic Herald in February 2003 Baltes explained the three goals for the cathedral project.

The cathedral needs to be welcoming and accommodate the needs of the people of the diocese and follow standards of beauty, because we associate beauty with God. "Beauty does not mean lush or expensive, it means well-crafted and designed," Baltes said.

It also needs to have symbols and furnishings that follow the principles of liturgy and maximize symbolic elements of the sacred rites. He cited as examples a baptismal font that allows immersion of infants and adults and an altar table that fully symbolizes Christ's presence in the midst of the community.

In articles written in September 2002 and March 2003 for the Catholic Herald, Baltes discussed some details of the interior changes.

He said the bishop's chair, or cathedra, would be relocated to the middle of the sanctuary, behind the altar. "At solemn liturgical events, when the priests of the diocese gather at the cathedral (e.g. chrism Mass), portable chairs will be stationed on either side of the bishop's chair to emphasize the priests' vital link to the bishop who is the chief shepherd and symbol of unity for the local church."

A metal screen behind the bishop's chair would create a separate eucharistic chapel for private adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Two doors on the screen could be opened so that the tabernacle might be visible when necessary.

He said the choir and organ would be relocated to the east transept area to facilitate greater participation and eliminate the need for choir members, some elderly, to ascend the present difficult stairwell leading to the choir loft.

A new mosaic of Christ the Pantocrator, made from glass tessera tiles, now graces the cathedral apse. Baltes said, "The Cathedral of Christ the King is a Romanesque basilica style church building which, historically, often featured an image of Christ in the main apse above the altar area. At one time the Superior cathedral had a mural of Christ the King surrounded by angels in its apse, but this was removed in the most recent renovation.

This new image is in the style of an icon, which Baltes said is an art form developed in late antiquity in countries such as Byzantium (Constantinople), Russia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

"The title pantocrator is reserved for Christ alone. It is derived from Greek and can be translated, "Lord of Creation," "King of Glory" or "Ruler of All," he said.

< Local Archives

© Superior Catholic Herald, 2005