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The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany is kicking off a new "History and Heritage" program about the cathedral with a spring lecture this weekend, titled, "Catholics in an Irrepressible Conflict: The American Church and Albany Diocese in the Civil War."

The free lecture, to be held April 12, 3-4 p.m., at the cathedral, will take note of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War's end.

Presenter Brian Buff, vice president of the association management division and heritage consultant at Capitol Hill Management Services, will discuss America and the Catholic faith at the outbreak of the Civil War, Catholic responses - including those of the Albany Diocese -- and contributions to the war, the role of Pope Pius X and the Papal States in the war, and the cathedral's history during that era.

The cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese, noted Mr. Buff, who hopes to weave together "a number of very important -- and some very unknown -- stories that, brought together, will give a person the 'fabric' of the Catholic experience during the Civil War.

"The starting point of the presentation will be the string of events that took place exactly 150 years ago: Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox on April 9, the formal surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on April 12 and the assassination of President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on April 14," he told The Evangelist. He cited several stories he intends to tell: "the role of the Church hierarchy on both sides; the contributions made by Catholic priests and nuns who served as chaplains and nurses to both the Federal and Confederate armies; how newly-arriving immigrants found themselves suddenly in uniform and fighting for their new nation; and the role Pius IX played in the conflict -- including his correspondence and gifts with both Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee.

"After Jefferson Davis was captured and imprisoned, his wife, Varina, and their children were left indigent," Mr. Buff added. "It was the Daughters of Charity who stepped forward and provided the family assistance and educated the children. The family never forgot this kindness in their time of distress." One side note to the lecture will be a mention of the Albany Diocesan Cemeteries' effort to promote "adopting" Civil War veterans' graves, asking the public to help restore them.

Other upcoming events for the History and Heritage program include a "save our history scanning weekend" June 14-15, when area residents can bring documents and photos related to the cathedral to be electronically scanned for the building's archives; a fall lecture in September; and a "cathedral history day" in November to tie in with both the commemoration of the building's dedication in November 1852 and New York State History Month.[[In-content Ad]]

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