Cathedral renovation underway following Sunday's closing

From the May 24, 2001 Catholic Herald print edition

MILWAUKEE -- The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist was closed after Sunday Masses to begin renovation of its interior.

Fr. John Endejan, rector, said he celebrated the 7:45 a.m. daily Mass beginning Monday morning in the gathering space of the parish center, and the temporary worship space in the old school is set up for Sunday Masses.

The eucharistic reservation chapel has been moved from its former space in the sanctuary to what was the library in the parish center, and people have already been seen worshiping there, Mary Bennett, cathedral director of administration, said.

After Sunday's Masses, Endejan said, volunteers helped to loosen the stationary pews, which will be replaced with movable pews and kneelers when the renovation of the cathedral is completed. Plans are to reopen and rededicate the cathedral on Feb. 9, 2002.

"All is going well," Endejan said, including fundraising. He said the parish has responded well, having already raised $1.7-plus million of its $2 million goal. "And we haven't even completed our drive yet," he added.

In addition to the renovation of the cathedral interior, the $10 million Cathedral Project includes major work on the properties north of the cathedral. An atrium or gathering space is to be built, the Van Buren school building will be remodeled into an outreach center, and the old convent will be converted into an assessment center for homeless women. More than 80% of the project funding goal has been donated or pledged, with the bulk of the monies earmarked for the work outside the cathedral and on the associated properties, according to archdiocesan officials.

Renovation plans are continuing despite an effort by a group of Catholics who, according to an article in the Saturday, May 19, edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, are trying to have the project halted by the Vatican. The report said a canon lawyer has filed papers because the renovation allegedly "does not follow liturgical laws and norms."

Barbara Anne Cusack, chancellor of the Milwaukee Archdiocese, said her office had received nothing from the Vatican informing them of any recourse, so she could not comment on the matter.

When contacted in Rome by the Catholic Herald, Alan Kershaw, the canon lawyer who said he represents local opponents, confirmed that he had "filed papers" last Friday. He declined further comment, saying he was prevented from doing so as an advocate who practices before apostolic tribunals.

In his homily at the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass at the Cathedral, Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland drew sustained applause when he alluded to the critics of the renovation, saying Cathedral parishioners faced a moment of transition, but would weather the storm.

"Once you look at (this) later, you say to yourself, 'It was OK. God is with us. We'll survive,'" he said. "More than that, the Spirit will grow within us. We'll be a greater church, a greater people for it."

Milwaukee Archdiocese leadership said they see little merit to the filing or any impact on the renovation plans.

"I found it difficult to imagine any situation in which the congregation for divine worship would have the authority to intervene in the renovation of a diocesan cathedral which is following the norms of the church," Bishop Richard J. Sklba told the Catholic Herald.

Archdiocesan spokesman Jerry Topczewski agreed. "It is an insult to the archbishop and faithful Catholics of this archdiocese to make accusations or inferences that any renovations and changes to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist are not in line with the liturgical documents of the Catholic Church," he said.

He pointed out that Archbishop Weakland was himself involved with the formation of the liturgical documents of the church "so to think that Archbishop Weakland is not familiar with these texts or that he is ignoring these and other teaching documents of the church is without foundation."

Endejan added, "All of the liturgical planning has been done according to liturgical guidelines issued since Vatican II. The archbishop himself is a liturgical expert. He was part of the commission for liturgical matters in the church (in 1964 papally appointed consultor to the Commission for Implementing the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy and in 1968 appointed a member of that commission), so he knows liturgy well and would certainly work in accordance with the rules."

Endejan pointed out that Fr. Carl Last, vice rector and director of the entire Cathedral Project, has also worked in the liturgy office of the U.S. Bishops and in the archdiocesan office of worship.

Director of the archdiocesan Office for Prayer and Worship, Dean Daniels, affirmed that the planned renovation of the cathedral's liturgical space was based on official documents, including the Constitution on Sacred Liturgy of Vatican II, the Code of Canon Law, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and the Ceremonial of Bishops.

-- Reporter Margaret Plevak contributed to this story.