Tuesday, January 18, 2000
Passions high on cathedral designs
Changes still undetermined
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer Contributor
COVINGTON — The group that will consider how the Diocese of Covington spends $4.7 million to renovate the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption likely won't have a recommendation until at least next month, one committee member says.
The 31-member steering committee meets at 5 p.m. today at Howard Hall on East 11th Street.
Sister Madonna Marie Kling, the director of the diocesan office on worship and a member of the committee, said a decision today is unlikely. She thinks February is a more reasonable goal, but added that the committee wants to take all the time it needs.
“(The) goal is that we do the right thing,” Sister Kling said Monday. “I don't think anybody knows what that is at this point.”
The committee's job: pick one of three alternatives for the 105-year-old cathedral. Bishop Robert Muench makes the ultimate decision.
“We're getting a diversity of opinions,” Bishop Muench said. “I believe in the final analysis we will achieve some consensus in what is the best course of action.”
Judging by those who attended the last of four public hearings Monday at Howard Hall, opinions are passionate.
“I'm pretty upset they're doing this,” said Stan Barczak, a member of All Saints Church of Walton. “They're wasting their money needlessly. I don't think people were told what was go ing to be done to the sanctuary.”
The alternatives are:
• Leave the sanctuary design as it is and spend the money only on air conditioning, repair of stained glass windows, improved acoustics and other basics.
• Move the main altar out about 4 feet and reconfigure seating at an angle to the altar.
• Move the altar even farther, near the intersection of two main aisles.
Brian Horner, a member of Blessed Sacrament Church in Fort Mitchell, liked the idea of rearranging the seating.
“People are closer to the main altar,” Mr. Horner said.
Cathedral renovation is part of a $10 million plan that includes $3.5 million for education and $1.2 million for inner-city grants, Catholic Social Services and other facilities, ministries and programs.
The project has been criticized by those who said they were told pledge money would be used for basic repairs alone. They said they were never told the main altar would be moved toward the pews.
Bishop Muench said last month he knows people are upset over the possibility of moving the altar. He said the green marble structure now is used for placement of flowers and candles and that a simple wooden table has been the altar since the 1960s, when priests began facing parishioners.
Monday, he said it's time for a change.
“My question is, is it better to celebrate Mass on (a table) that was never designed to be an altar, or an altar that was designed to be an altar?” he said.
Bishop Muench said nothing will be done to the interior until at least April 2001. Colorado Springs architect Bill Brown thinks the community will like the finished product.
“We're not going to screw this place up,” Mr. Brown said. “It's going to be better than it's ever been.”
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