Cathedral of St. James slated for renovation

While the near 60–year–old building undergoes renovation, restoration and expansion over the next 18 months, liturgies and the sacraments will be celebrated in the social hall.

TERESA LANTIGUA PETERSON | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

Posted: 07.11.09

This architectural rendering depicts the new appearance of the nave at the Cathedral of James when renovations are completed.

COURTESY KOSINSKI ARCHITECTURE
This architectural rendering depicts the new appearance of the nave at the Cathedral of James when renovations are completed.

ORLANDO | A major transformation begins this month at the Cathedral of St. James here. Inside and out, the worn and weary building will receive the equivalent of an extreme makeover.

The three major areas of improvement are renovation, restoration and expansion. The cathedral building is close to 60 years old and the years of wear and tear are starting to show.

“It’s not just that we want this renovation, we need it,” said Sister of St. Joseph Elizabeth Worley, chief operating officer of the Diocese of Orlando. “We’ve got a leaking roof, sound system that doesn’t work, poor lighting. There are physical needs in the church that need to be addressed. That’s why upgrading the infrastructure is an important part of this project.”

ABOUT THE CATHEDRAL

Cathedral comes from the word “cathedra,” meaning chair of the bishop, which represents a symbol of the bishop’s teaching authority. As the cathedral parish, St. James occupies a special place in the worship life of the Diocese of Orlando.

From the cathedral, the bishop is called by the pope to lead and serve the local Church. Every new priest ordained for a lifetime of service to the Church of Orlando lies in supplication before the altar of the cathedral and receives there the indelible mark of the sacrament of ordination. Renovation of the church building is intended to preserve St. James Cathedral as the spiritual hub of the diocese and provide an inviting sanctuary for future generations.

The plumbing and electrical also need to be updated and the air-conditioning system needs an overhaul.

“We need a safe environment. We also need a dignified presence in downtown Orlando. We think the restoration will give us that,” said Father John McCormick, rector of the cathedral.

As of July 6, Mass is being celebrated in the St. James social hall, which has been transformed into a place of worship. Daily chapel and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will also be in the social hall. The daily and Sunday Mass schedule will remain the same. Construction is expected to last 18 months.

In addition to making these much-needed repairs, planners decided this would also be the time to make other improvements that have been long overdue, such as redesigning the space so that it is more functional as a cathedral. The planning committee comprises members from the diocese and the parish.

“St. James was never built as a cathedral; it was built as a parish church,” Sister Worley said. “When the diocese was established in 1968, St. Charles Borromeo was chosen as the cathedral. After a fire at St. Charles Borromeo, St. James was designated the cathedral.”

Cathedrals need a larger sanctuary to accommodate additional clergy, more space for choir and instruments and more seating. All of this and more will be part of the enhancements.

The area of liturgical art, in particular, was lacking in the original space. The plan is to enhance the liturgical art by adding painted murals, marble and stained-glass windows.

“Liturgical art should be meaningful. It should be powerful in its beauty. It is the house of God. It should move one to recognize the presence of God in the beauty that it presents,” Sister Worley said.

The restoration portion of the project includes the removal of a stucco façade at the front of the cathedral to reveal the original stonework and a rose window that was covered during a renovation in the 1980s.

While the hammers are pounding, Father McCormick is urging people to find some quiet time for reflection. “As important as it is to have every church dignified as a place of worship, this is also a good time for each one of us to conduct our own internal restoration of faith.

“This is a time to go through our own personal lives of worship, similar to what we do during Lent. We can always be more appreciative of the Eucharist. It’s important not to just sit back and watch the beautification of the building, but to work on our souls as well. We are temples of the Holy Spirit,” Father McCormick said.

This project is made possible by the Alive in Christ Campaign. The St. James Commission of the Diocese of Orlando synod recommended these repairs and improvements to Bishop Thomas Wenski in 2006 at the conclusion of the 18-month synod. The funding for the improvements is provided by all parishes in the diocese, as well as parishioners at the cathedral.

For more on the cathedral, visit the parish Web site HERE or call 407-422-2005.

Peterson is communications manager for the Diocese of Orlando.

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