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The architect who designed our new Cathedral floor saw the comment in Stewardship Director Joe Konen’s bulletin piece last week describing how the patterns compliment the gothic arches of the Cathedral. The architect, Bob Nickola of Jaeger, Nickola, & Associates in Park Ridge, dropped me a note saying that, although that explanation is correct, there’s a little more to the way the design came about. I thought you might be interested in Bob’s words: “The ‘foil’ as it was developed during the Gothic period was a geometry-based approach to the stone tracery that rationalized openings and vaults. The ‘arched foil’ related to the larger arch, using tangent lines within the circular geometry. The neo-Gothic architecture of Holy Name Cathedral is now reflected in the floor patterns. The central panel is located at all entries and at aisle crossings. This same pattern was elongated (doubled) to create a continuous linear pattern down the center aisle leading the eye to the altar table in the sanctuary. I hope the parishioners appreciate the explanation, but more importantly, the product.” I think we do appreciate everything about the new floor. A Church-full of FXW school kids did not make a sound when lowering the new kneelers onto the terrazzo at Mass on Ash Wednesday. A woman spilled a full cup of coffee on the floor by accident one morning; we had it mopped up in three minutes without any evidence the accident ever happened. What if that had been a new carpet? As I came up from confessions about 4:00pm on the day we re-opened and witnessed a young couple - obviously visitors just stopping in - open the doors and gasp. “This place is beautiful!” I answered, “Thank you” on behalf of us all. Maybe the best expression of happiness over the new floor came from the little girl waiting after Mass for mommy to conclude her adult conversation with friends. The little girl looked at Bob Nickola’s elongated pattern down the center aisle; and she started to play hop-scotch. I almost joined her. The floor is beautiful. Beauty leads to Truth; Truth is Christ. “That’s all ye know on earth; and all ye need to know.” Next Saturday, March 10, Heather Capouch will be the lead bride to walk down the new center aisle where she will meet her groom, Nick Pateros. Heather and Nick’s wedding will be the first of 119 scheduled for 2007 at Holy Name Cathedral. We already have 19 scheduled for 2008. If you are a registered parishioner and if you are planning to get married in the near future, remember to contact us before you book a reception. We will be happy to help prepare your soul for the Sacrament of Marriage. I think we do a pretty good job of helping couples get ready for the Graces of Marriage. However, be sure to give us and yourselves enough time. The wedding schedule gets booked quickly. A Lenten Multilingual Rosary of Hope will be prayed at Noon this coming Wednesday and every Wednesday of Lent in the Federal Plaza (Dearborn & Adams), 230 S. Dearborn in the Loop. Those praying are urged to fast as well, prayer & fasting in support of immigration reform. “Priests for Justice for Immigrants” – a group of Chicago Archdiocesan Priests - has organized the prayer and fast. They invite all parishioners, members of religious communities, and all people of good will to participate. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has presented The Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform seeking a comprehensive reform of the US immigration system that provides earned legalization programs for the undocumented; offers a worker program that protects foreign-born workers and safeguards against the displacement of US workers; works for reunification of families; supports humane and just border enforcement; and addresses the root causes of immigration. If you are committed to prayer and fasting for immigration reform, the organizers want to hear from you. Call Joyana Jacoby at 312-751-8390; or e-mail her at jjacoby@archchicago.org. Use that contact information also if you have questions or want more information. The Rosary of Hope begins at Noon this Wednesday in the Federal Plaza. The Frances Xavier Warde School’s Girl Scout Troop 320 will be at the State Street doors after the 9:30 Mass this Sunday selling cookies. Get your cookies before the supply runs out. Support our friends the Girl Scouts; and enjoy the cookies. Thanks to all the volunteer members of the Evangelization and Spiritual Life Commission who worked so hard in presenting the wonderful Mission this past week. Father Frank DeSiano, the Mission preacher, was as dynamic, insightful, and articulate as advertised. The ESL Commission arranges for such a spiritual exercise every other year. This year, it was great. Thanks, too, to Cathedral Associate Pastor Father Mike Novick, staff liaison to the ESL Commission. Plan to join us on Tuesday, March 13, at 6:00pm in the Cathedral for a Lenten Penance Prayer including the opportunity for individual confessions. Several priests from the Cathedral staff plus a few visitors will be available. No matter how long it has been since your last confession, take this opportunity to make this Lent a genuine conversion. Because I will be working this Wednesday, my traditional weekly day off, I have claimed Thursday, March 8, this week as my holy day. I will be back in the saddle on Friday. I will look for you at the Lenten Lecture this Wednesday evening in the school cafeteria. We will begin with a simple soup supper at 6:00pm followed by my presentation on “Coming Home to Christ”; or “Discipleship for Non-swimmers”. The Wednesday evening Lenten Lecture series will continue throughout March. The Lenten Lecture Series is a program sponsored by the Cathedral parish’s Education Commission. See details elsewhere in this bulletin. This week, meet me in the cafeteria on Wednesday.
Fr. Dan Mayall |
