Cathedral ready for renovations

By PAT PASTERNAK- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

As light snow swirled around the steps of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany last week, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard announced the official beginning of the Cathedral's long-awaited restoration.

Bishop Hubbard kicked off the initial phase of the restoration at the 148-year-old Neo-Gothic structure immediately after celebrating noon Mass there on Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The Diocese of Albany is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin under that title.

A number of diocesan, state and local officials joined the Bishop as he blessed the north tower and spire of the building. The tower and spire have sustained the worst deterioration and are currently encased in scaffolding. The guests included Rev. Michael Farano, pastor of St. Pius X Church in Loudonville and chairman of the Cathedral Restoration Committee; Rev. William Pape, rector of the Cathedral; Michael Breslin, Albany County Executive; State Senator Neil Breslin; Mayor Gerald Jennings of Albany; Assemblyman Jack McEneny; and representatives of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Albany anchor

Addressing the media after the liturgy, the Bishop said that the announcement of the restoration was particularly symbolic on the feast day because the Cathedral has stood as the "mother church" of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany for nearly a century and a half.

"This Cathedral has been a community and spiritual anchor for the greater Capital District and the Diocese of Albany," he said. "It is a living symbol of our faith."

"This is the premiere landmark in Albany as far as I am concerned," Mayor Jennings told The Evangelist. "I'm very happy to participate in its preservation."

State grant

In December 1999, the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation awarded the Cathedral project a preservation grant of $800,000 as supplemental funding for the replacement and repair of the sandstone facing on the tower.

Although the building is structurally sound, the replacement of the stone is necessary due to improper bedding and physical imperfections in the Connecticut brownstone on its face.

The total cost for the Phase I restoration, which has been budgeted at $8 million, is composed of two distinct projects exterior stone replacement and repair, estimated at $4.6 million; and interior repair and enhancements, estimated at $3.4 million.

Bishop Hubbard announced the appointment of the Albany-based firm of Mesick, Cohen, Wilson and Baker to serve as the architects of the project. Ganem Contracting Corporation of Clifton Park will manage the stone repair. A stone shop is being constructed in the parking lot of the Cathedral where monumental stone setting and carving will be taught in the spring.

Banner day

As the Bishop blessed the tower, a rolled banner was passed from the civic group on the Cathedral steps to Bishop Hubbard, who handed it to workers that had climbed onto the tower scaffolding.

As the yellow and red banner, giving the dates of the Cathedral, was handed up from one level of the scaffolding to the next, the swirling snow began to thicken and the wind picked up.

The banner was unfurled and fastened to the tower scaffolding, and now remains, the Bishop noted, as a visible sign of the "close and long-lasting collaboration between the Roman Catholic community and the people of the city of Albany" for the past 150 years.

(12-14-00) [[In-content Ad]]