Centennial celebration closes with Solemnity of Dedication Mass

IC photo by Christine Young

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Bishop John C. Wester blesses artifacts to be placed in the time capsule and sealed into the cornerstone for the next 100 years. Some of the items inclulde Centennial newspapers, a book of the restoration and currency.

SALT LAKE CITY - The Centennial celebration came to a close with the Solemnity of the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Cathedral Mass Feb. 22.

The Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake, celebrated the Mass, which was attended by many priests and deacons from throughout the diocese.

Bishop Wester thanked Msgr. Joseph M. Mayo, pastor of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, and the parish staff, who worked hard to make the centennial celebration special. He thanked, in a special way, Msgr. M. Francis Mannion, pastor of the Cathedral from 1986 to 2000, for his efforts and for doing so much for the restoration and the beauty of the cathedral during the 1990s.

Bishop Wester also thanked Bernice Mooney, author of "Salt of the Earth" and former diocesan archivist; and Gary Topping, author of "The Story of the Cathedral of the Madeleine," and current archivist, for their contributions in underwriting the history of the cathedral.

The year of centennial celebrations included concerts by the Choir of the Cathedral of the Madeleine and Choristers from the Madeleine Choir School, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir; and civic events attended by local dignitaries and church leaders, former bishops of the diocese, including the Most Rev. Bishop Emeritus William

K. Weigand and the Most Rev. George Niederauer Archbishop of San Francisco, and His Eminence William Cardinal Levada from the Vatican. To close the year, the Cathedral has prepared a time capsule with many items of historic importance documenting the Cathedral's first 100 years. Following the anniversary Mass, Bishop Wester blessed the artifacts that will be placed in the time capsule and sealed into the cornerstone for the next 100 years. They include books documenting the history of the diocese, the Cathedral restoration that took place in 1993, the Utah Catholic directory, currency, a listing of local and national leadership, centennial newspapers from Aug. 15, 2009 and photos from the Solemnity Mass.

"This centennial year gives us a moment to reflect and celebrate the past 100 years and look forward to the next 100 years," Bishop Wester said. "This invokes a certain

sense of trust that our centenary has been a time to deepen our trust in God, who has given us so many good gifts and we know he will continue to do so for the next 100 years."

The time capsule will be placed in the cornerstone and sealed at a later date to be announced.