The Cathedral of Saint Paul will be a century old next year
and the marble floors throughout the main level have lost their original
luster. In celebration of this landmark
anniversary, the Cathedral Heritage Foundation will earmark its fundraising
efforts at the 4th Annual Cathedral Festival of Lights gala to polish
these floors back to a brilliant shine.
The public is invited to help raise necessary restoration funding by
attending the Fourth Annual Cathedral
Festival of Lights, 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 2014, at the Saint Paul Hotel,
350 Market Street in downtown St. Paul.
This gala evening features signature cocktails, a sit-down dinner,
live and silent auctions and local celebrities, with all proceeds directly
benefitting the Cathedral’s restoration projects. Tickets are $150 per person,
a portion of which is tax deductible. Purchase online at www.cathedralheritagefoundation.org
or email cwill@cathedralsaintpaul.org.
WCCO TV’s Frank Vascellaro will serve as celebrity
auctioneer for the evening. Vascellaro has been a local news anchor for nearly
20 years. He was
awarded the 2011 and 2012 Regional Emmy for Best Anchor and MSP Magazine named
Vascellaro “Best News Anchor” in
2013.
“This year we have our sights set on preparing for the 100th
anniversary of the first Mass inside this cathedral, which was celebrated by
the visionary Archbishop John Ireland on March 28, 1915,” said Mary Schaffner,
chair of the CHF Board of Curators.
“Since that momentous date, the Cathedral’s marble floors
have been subject to a century of wear by visitors and worshippers alike and
now it’s time to ”Let it shine!” Our
fundraising goal will be to restore this lovely marble to its original luster
throughout the main floor and side chapels of the Cathedral. ”
The CHF works year round
to identify and address Cathedral preservation and funding needs, including
reducing $700,000 of restoration-related roof debt, completing the $3.4 million
organ restoration, and supporting educational and artistic programs at the
Cathedral.
The Cathedral has served as a majestic venue both for high-profile
church and community celebrations. Millions of media viewers world-wide saw the
floodlit image of the Cathedral illuminating the Red Bull Crashed Ice event for
the past three winters. As an historic site, the Cathedral is a popular field
trip destination for local school children as well as tourists from around the
world, welcoming more than 200,000 visitors per year. In 2013, Fox News named
the Cathedral one of the 12 Most Beautiful Churches in America. Last month, USA Today named it of the Top 10
Cathedrals to visit in America.
The CHF is an independent volunteer community organization
whose mission is preserving the Cathedral as an historic monument and a
community treasure, and supporting it as a venue for the arts and education.
For more information about current restoration projects or
to register for the Festival of Lights, please visit cathedralheritagefoundaton.org.
For a visual reminder of the Cathedral’s significance as a
landmark and architectural work of art, a two-minute aerial video can be seen
online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BvgKX3CiR0&feature=em-share_video_in_list_user&list=UUApatPzsPYs8-NAKTu7Te8g.
Cathedral Hours: The Cathedral doors are open Sunday through
Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Guided
tours are given at 1 p.m. Monday through Friday year round except on Holy Days
and civil holidays. No appointment is necessary. More information is available
at cathedralsaintpaul.org.
