Haec Est Domus Domini

Replacing shingles

2011-09-07T16:43:00.004-05:00

Shingles from our new copper roof have fallen down. This photo shows a missing shingle behind the bright white finial in the foreground. Now is a good time of year to replace the copper and acrylic tiles.

A team is doing some preparation work today. They are running lines from the top of the central tower down to its base. These lines will support a ladder, a roofer, and the equipment to repair the damage.

Here is some video of a brave man rappelling down the side of the tower.

Update: The Shrines

2011-08-19T13:20:00.003-05:00

The acoustic tiles that lined the back wall of the Cathedral are gone. The wall are painted to match the yellow elsewhere in the church.

Monsignor Gier announced that two large shrines will be built to house our historic Missionary Crucifix [seen in the above photo] and our Holy Family statue. The shrine around the Holy Family statue will honor the major donors to the Cathedral's Renovation. The shrine around the Crucifix will honor Monsignor James Halpine, former rector, and all other priests who have died since the 1974 creation of the Diocese of Tulsa.

Updates will come as soon as work begins in the Cathedral. The estimate for the project's completion is December.

Work in the back of the Cathedral

2011-08-12T10:15:00.004-05:00

When you come to church this Sunday, things will look a little different in the back of the Cathedral.

The Holy Family statue is safe and off to the side. A careful look at it reveals many small cracks and a few larger pieces of plaster missing.

The acoustic panels under the choir loft are coming down. Our previous sound system required the panels to prevent unwanted echoes. The new one does not need the panels. They had been mounted with screws into the walls. John Dzurilla is partching the holes.

Nothing major is happening.

Yet.

Completed: The Sheds are moved

2011-07-26T11:32:00.002-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came out early Saturday morning to move the second shed to its new spot. Here are some photos of the completed project.

Help! We need help moving a shed.

2011-07-21T15:56:00.005-05:00

Although there is nothing to report about the Cathedral Renovation, things continue to move downtown. One of the not-so-little projects is moving the tools sheds from one corner of the parking lot to the other.

The Knights of Columbus recruited men to lift the sheds onto "skateboards" and then to push the sheds to their new home near the priests' parking garage. They planned to meet on last Saturday morning at 7:00 a.m. to get the work done before it got hot.

Three people showed up.

Despite having few hands, they moved one of the sheds. This Saturday, the Knights are asking you to volunteer an hour or two to move the second shed. Many hands make light work. Thanks.

Work on the old playground continues

2011-06-28T16:18:00.004-05:00

Update to the removal of the old playground: The Saturday morning crew is removing more of the unwanted concrete from the corner of the parking lot. It should be gone in another week or two.

The plan is to move the two metal sheds from the southwest corner of the parking lot to this northwest corner. There is some consideration of which way the sheds should face: east or south.

Classroom renovations: Pre-K Three Year Old classroom

2011-06-22T11:09:00.003-05:00

The new Pre-Kindergarten program for three-year-olds is an exciting venture for our School. One of the basement classrooms is getting a nearly total makover.

A classroom for very young children requires a restroom inside it. Workers excavated part of the floor to extend plumbing to this classroom. They framed and drywalled two walls around it.

The next step is to install some carpeting and trim.

Good-bye to the Old Playground

2011-06-15T10:06:00.010-05:00

Several years ago, the Cathedral School stopped using the small playground near the priests' garage. The fenced-in and gravel-covered playground was too small for more than one grade to use at a time. The wood and metal climbing toys had fallen out of favor.

The School rebuilt in a much larger plot of land in full view of Boulder Avenue. The new climbing toys are safer and more attractive.

The abandoned old playground is in the first phase of finding a new purpose. Parish employees and volunteers are shearing the concrete "curb" which kept the gravel inside the playground. They are removing the fence posts and wooden bases for the climbing toys.

The plan is to move the two large metal sheds from the southwest corner of the parking lot. They will fit nicely into the old playground.

Future posts will detail the plan to move the buildings. The current plan is to lift the buildings onto casters. The hope is that these sheds-on-wheels will glide across the parking lot into their new space.

A Show of Hands

2010-10-15T13:45:00.001-05:00

The hands are back on the clock.

Clock parts are on their way up

2010-10-14T12:01:00.004-05:00

Our tower clock is being repaired. Many parts, gears and axles originally installed in the 1920s, have broken. Our athletic repair man is going to carry the new parts up 120 feet to the clock.

Here are some photos of the clock mechanism plus a few photos from the tower.

Like Clockwork

2010-10-13T12:42:00.005-05:00

The 870 lb. crate of clock parts is open. Our installer from the Verdin Company is carrying each gear and axle to the Cathedral's central tower.

He removed one piece of glass from each clock face to give himself access to the hands. Much of the internal gears are being replaced.
There is a very good chance that all four clock faces will have their hands back in place by this weekend.

Update: more wood over the doors is refinished

2010-10-07T15:11:00.002-05:00

The front facade of the Cathedral looks great today. The last of the trim over the three front doors is finished. The painting crews put white primer on the wood over the doors. Cathedral employee John Dzurilla used a faux finish technique to give them the appearance of stained wood.

Here is a closeup of the finished door that leads to the "Work Sacristy," also known as the former choir practice room.

Repainted door to Work Sacristy

2010-09-28T16:15:00.003-05:00

John Dzurilla, master of the faux finish, practiced his craft on the exterior door leading to the Work Sacristy. [That is, the old choir room.]

He uses a technique of putting a yellow base coat on the wood. He then uses darker and darker colors to simulate stained wood.

Update: Gas line

2010-08-26T14:47:00.002-05:00

An inspector gave us a passing grade on a safety check this morning. Everything is moving forward on schedule.

The workers from the company that laid the new pipe had to dig several large holes through the parking lot. They have filled the holes with gravel, covered the gravel with concrete, and have topped it with asphalt this afternoon.

Gas line installed; cleanup underway

2010-08-25T16:08:00.002-05:00

Work went quickly today. The 4-inch flexible gas line is in place. The holes are filled with gravel. At some point the gravel will be covered with blacktop.

Repairs to the Gas Line

2010-08-24T14:30:00.003-05:00

The natural gas line that leads to both the Cathedral, Rectory, and School is being replaced. The original line was probably installed in the 1950s when the campus buildings were converted from coal to gas.

The gas company's line runs north and south along Boulder Avenue. Holy Family taps into that line behind a meter on Boulder between the church and school.

The work should take several days.

Middle School carpet DONE! Plus, couches in the new Media Center.

2010-07-29T17:03:00.003-05:00

The Middle School carpet is done.

The Middle School Computer Lab & Media Center welcomed three leather couches. Great things are happening at Holy Family Cathedral School.

Update: Middle School hallway carpet

2010-07-27T14:36:00.003-05:00

The Middle School classrooms, now carpeted and trimmed, are full of the desks and chairs that lined the main hallway last week. The bulk of the carpet is laid but needs to be trimmed.

Update: Middle School carpet

2010-07-22T14:32:00.004-05:00

The carpet installers have begun work in the Middle School classrooms.

HFCS Computer Lab changes

2010-07-16T09:21:00.003-05:00

Old carpet continues to leave the school to be replaced with fresh carpet squares.

One of the first rooms with new carpet was the Computer Lab on the Middle School floor. Principal Jay Luetkemeyer and Computer teacher Beverly Harris have rearranged the floor plan. The previous layout was computer desks clustered in three islands in the middle of the room plus long rows of desks along the sides of the room.

The new room features the computer desks arranged in a large square at one end of the room. The advantage of this arrangement is that the teacher may move easily from student to student, answering their questions while the entire class can hear the answers. The new configuration makes the already big room feel much larger.

There are plans for the other end. Stay tuned to see what comes next.

First set of trim over doors is done

2010-07-16T09:08:00.002-05:00

The amazing John Dzurilla finished the repairs and repainting of the wood trim over one set of doors on the front facade of the Cathedral.

Most of the wood is original to Holy Family. The century of rainy springs, hot summers and cold winters did quite a bit of damage to the trim. John fashioned replacement pieces from new wood, glued them in place, then applied a finish to the entire structure.

School gets new carpet

2010-07-15T10:28:00.004-05:00

The hallways of Holy Family Cathedral School are full of chairs, desks, fans, and computer monitors. Teachers wind their way through narrow aisles of open floor to get to their rooms. Once they get to their rooms, they find them completely empty.

The School is getting new carpet in almost every room.

The old carpet served us well. It tolerated being stretched over and over. The photo below shows the ripples in the old carpet.

The new carpet comes in squares - each about two feet long on a side. It is glued to the floor like any wall to wall carpet. The advantage is that if one square is damaged - due to myriad spills - that square is replaced.

This photo shows a section of new carpet. It is a little thicker than the old one.

The funds for the carpet come from grants from several organizations. We are grateful to those groups and to our grant-writers.

Restoration of the Cathedral's Front Doors

2010-07-13T14:06:00.003-05:00

The Restoration & Renovation of Holy Family is slowing down. Most of the original goals have been accomplished: reinforcing the structure, reroofing the spiries, repainting the interior.

Holy Family staff member John Dzurilla restained the three sets of front doors. He is currently putting a base coat on the carved wood above the doors.

Don't be alarmed. The yellow is a base coat.

Check back to see the progress.

Update: Water damage repairs

2010-05-12T11:28:00.002-05:00

The painters have finished their repairs to the water-damaged sections of paint covering an arch in the apse of the Cathedral. It looks much better.

A crate of clock parts

2010-05-12T11:24:00.003-05:00

This crate arrived this week. It holds 870 pounds of clock parts to be installed in the Cathedral's clock tower. Most of the parts are newly made replacements for worn parts.

Water damage forces repairs

2010-05-04T10:47:00.003-05:00

In the past two years, rain water seeped through the arch in the apse of the Cathedral and damaged the gold paint. Although the new roof stopped the leaks, the damage is done. The gold paint on the underside of the arch has two major "bubbles." The damage is difficult to see from the pews [above], but it is quite visible from the other side [below].

We should see some scaffolding in the apse of the Cathedral by the end of this week. While it will take a large structure to reach the 76 foot ceiling, the scaffolding should not be as dominant as it was in 2008.

Front Doors: restained

2010-04-29T16:04:00.004-05:00

Holy Family's own John Dzurilla sanded and refinished the three pairs of front doors of the Cathedral. These doors endure the punishing weather of eastern Oklahoma. The wind and rain of this time of year do them no good, but it is probably the accumulated snows of winter that do the most damage, especially at the bottom of the doors.

Below is what the doors looked like prior to the work.

(video) Renovation Update: April 2010

2010-04-29T15:42:00.001-05:00

The bell rings again.

The 1910 Church Bell rings again

2010-04-07T10:14:00.003-05:00

Everyone heard the sound of our church bell ringing on Easter. This bell was forged in 1910. Thanks to the generosity of some wonderful Cathedral parishioners, the bell is mounted on a new support structure.

There is a smaller hammer to ring the bell in place. There is also a chain drive to swing the bell back and forth so it can ring for as long as desired.

Monsignor Gier has a remote control so he can ring it any time he wants.

New Wooden Crosses hang over the Stations of the Cross

2010-02-18T12:49:00.011-06:00

When Catholics think of Lent, we often think of Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, meatless Fridays, and purple. It is no surprise that we also think of the Stations of the Cross too.

The current stations date back to 1914; however, what we see today are only the centerpieces of what used to be much larger pieces of art. [above photo: original stations] They were made out of scagliola, the same marble dust and gypsum composite which makes up the high altar.

Sometime in the 1950s, the stations were taken out of the scagliola and recessed into the walls of the church.

At that time, each station had a small wooden cross over it.

Monsignor Gier had always planned to include the Stations of the Cross as part of our Renovation. Thanks to Fr. Matt La Chance's recent trip to the Holy Land we have wooden crosses made from olive wood from the Holy Land.

Fr. Matt laid each cross on the tomb of the Holy Sepulchre with the intention of bringing them back to the Cathedral. Monsignor Gier wrote the full story in the March Cathedral News. It should arrive in parishioners' mailboxes around the first of March. You will find an online copy on the parish website as well.

Cathedral School begins Facility Upgrades

2009-11-25T10:04:00.005-06:00

[This article, written by 8th grade teacher Trish Spoerl, describes the School's commitment to maintenance. While not part of the Cathedral's renovation, the School is an important part of the life of Holy Family Cathedral.]

A little over a year ago, Club 130 was established for Holy Family Cathedral School to generate an operating reserve to make facility repairs and upgrades to our historic school. We are pleased to announce that because of a steady growth in the number of generous contributors to the fund this year, new carpet for two classrooms was installed this fall. We thank those contributors to this fund and encourage others to find out more about Club 130. Information can be found on the school website under “Advancement”, or at the south exit of the Cathedral. It is our hope that the remaining six classrooms in the school can be re-carpeted by July 2010 as our building reserve fund grows in Club 130. God bless you for your dedication to continue the mission of our school that has lasted for one hundred and ten years!

Sidewalk repair and new Sod

2009-11-18T14:10:00.002-06:00

The crews using cranes to work on the Cathedral's roof promised to return to repair our sidewalks and replant any grass damaged in the exterior portion of the Renovation.

Last week, the sidewalk between the Church and School was removed. New concrete replaced the old. Beautiful green sod is growing where tire marks once were.

Bp. Slattery thanks Manhattan Constr. for their part of the Renovation

2009-11-04T15:27:00.002-06:00

In a recent Eastern Oklahoma Catholic article, Bishop Slattery thanked Manhattan Construction for doing their part in the renovation.

There are a few remaining projects, but they will have to wait for donations beyond the scope of the current pledge drive:

We will replace the temporary white carpet in sanctuary with marble that matches the rest of the sanctuary marble. The green carpet under the Bishop's cathedra will likely be replaced with green marble.
The frieze stencil that will run around the perimeter of the interior has yet to be painted.
The clock mechanism is largely intact, but it needs a variety of smaller machined parts to resume operation.
The electromagnetic strikers which sound the bronze chimes in the tower need to be replaced.
We need to install new protective shields over the stained glass windows.
We want to resurface and landscape the parking lot area across the street from the school. [The lot purchased as part of Fund for the Future has already been resurfaced and landscaped by the Diocese.]

New Sidewalk Poured

2009-10-07T13:05:00.001-05:00

The new sidewalk on the north side of the Rectory is drying.

Sidewalk repairs underway

2009-09-30T15:39:00.002-05:00

Our painting crews used a tremendously heavy crane to reach the spires of the Cathedral. The wheels of the crane pushed through our sidewalks into cavities in the soil below. It was a very minor version of the infamous 8th street hole.

They removed the crumbled concrete yesterday. We should see new concrete soon.

The Rectory

2009-09-25T16:02:00.007-05:00

For a short time from 1914 to 1919, Holy Family Parish and School operated on two campuses. The new Holy Family Church at 8th & Boulder was dedicated on April 1, 1914 (photo: right) and was used for Masses on Sundays and feast days. The School at 3rd & Elgin waited five years for the new school in its present location to be completed. The pastor, Father John Heiring, lived in a temporary wood frame rectory near the new church. He occasionally said daily Mass at the old Holy Family church.

In his diary, Father Heiring wrote that in 1919, "work was begun on moving the frame rectory to be replaced by a brick structure in keeping with the church and providing for the priest in charge a residence comfortable but not extravagant. On June 13, excavation work was begun and foundation completed by July 26th."

Soon afterwards, Father Heiring sold the old lot and used the proceeds to speed the construction of Holy Family School. It was completed in 1919.

In the same year, Father Heiring completed his "comfortable but not extravagant" rectory.

Recently, Monsignor Gier repaired the leaky roof and replaced the rotten hand rails on the west side of the rectory.

[You may click on the photo to the left to see the details of the carved wood that makes up the hand rails.]

Eighth Street reopens

2009-09-22T10:21:00.002-05:00

The saga of the Eighth Street hole is complete. The men who repaired the hole decided that the new patch of asphalt is ready for traffic and removed the cones and signs that protected it.

Help with our Habitat for Humanity house

2009-09-22T10:13:00.001-05:00

Holy Family Cathedral parish and school are working with several other Catholic parishes in the Tulsa area to build a house for Habitat for Humanity.

Please consider volunteering some time to help this worthy project. The house is under construction now. The staff at Habitat for Humanity sent us an overview of the project. If you wish to help, you must complete the waiver and read the Safety Policy.

As the project progresses, the builders will post photos of the house.

Tulsa's Habitat for Humanity site

Repairs to 8th Street are nearly complete

2009-09-16T10:19:00.003-05:00

The concrete dried overnight. This morning, the city laid asphalt and smoothed it.

Exterior Painting is Done!

2009-09-15T14:41:00.007-05:00

The painters have finished their high-altitude task of painting the Cathedral's louvers.

It's time for a side by side comparison of the previous roof and paint choice vs. the new.

Second day of rain halts painting

2009-09-10T09:47:00.004-05:00

Our painters remain one sunny day away from finishing their work. Since it rained again last night, the humidity is too high for the paint to stick properly.

Here's the view from my office window.

On the upside, today marks the 110th Anniversary of the first Mass in the original Holy Family church. Father Charles Van Hulse said Mass for his little parish on Sunday, September 10, 1899.

After Mass, the school staff made frantic preparations to use the church as a temporary schoolhouse. The original school building was a few weeks from being completed, so the Sisters made due in the church. On Monday, September 11, 1899 the school began classes. Saint Katharine Drexel, the "millionaire nun" from Philadelphia, lent the parish $1500 to build the school building provided that it was named the Saint Therese Institute for Creek Indian Girls.

The parish gladly accepted Saint Katharine's investment in the school, but worked quickly to repay the loan. By 1903, the $1500 was repaid and the school was promptly renamed Holy Family School.

Painters need one more DRY day

2009-09-09T12:41:00.003-05:00

The painters are down to their last day of work, but that day is not today. Last night's rains soaked the ground and coated the louvers, making painting impossible. The crews plan to return on Thursday for the final day of work.

The 8th Street hole is filled

2009-09-04T10:49:00.002-05:00

City workers gathered on Eighth Street to cut out the damaged part of the street.
They removed a large section of asphault, then they inspected the dirt below for more voids.
They brought dirt and gravel on trucks...
...and filled in the hole.

A Noisy Day at the Cathedral

2009-09-01T13:42:00.003-05:00

It's noisy! The painters are back at work on the north side of the Cathedral. Meanwhile, the city of Tulsa is repairing a hole in Eighth street.

You can enjoy the sights and sounds in the video below.

Bit by bit, the front facade is nearly done

2009-08-26T16:12:00.002-05:00

New pews in Chapel of Peace

2009-08-25T10:39:00.004-05:00

A parishioner built new pews for the Chapel of Peace. They are the ones in the front row of the Chapel directly in front of the sanctuary. These pews are slightly smaller in width so they will fit in between the pillars in the Chapel.

The craftsmanship is quite excellent. It is difficult to distinguish the old ones from the new.

We will be installing kneelers soon.

More Barrels around hole in 8th Street

2009-08-25T10:34:00.004-05:00

The city is moving traffic around the hole in 8th street. They placed a number of barrels and traffic signs to help drivers avoid the hole. Perhaps this is a sign that they are going to fill it soon.

Be careful as you drive along 8th street.

Painting is progressing nicely

2009-08-21T14:33:00.002-05:00

Painting the Window Frames

2009-08-21T10:30:00.002-05:00

Following a dry night, the painters are up in the big crane working on the frames around the spires' windows. The windows had suffered quite a bit of damage in the past 95 years. They were rebuilt or replaced during the copper roof installation.

Last night's rain means no paint today

2009-08-20T15:14:00.002-05:00

Yesterday and this morning brought thunderstorms and rain. The painting crews cannot paint when the humidity is high. We may not see much progress this week.

There is no rain in the forecast tonight. Perhaps it will dry out a bit overnight.

Larger crane reaches the highest louvers

2009-08-19T14:09:00.002-05:00

A new, larger crane rolled into the parking lot, ready to carry painters to the louvers atop the central tower. The new crane is needed to reach up and across the spaces on the north side of the Cathedral. It will also be useful when the painters focus on the louvers over the front facade of the church. The old crane was too small to reach across the front stairs or the mechanical yards holding the air conditioning equipment.

A Hole in Eighth Street halts painting

2009-08-14T14:05:00.004-05:00

Our painters moved the mobile crane to the north side of the Cathedral to continue to paint the louvers. As he finished one section, the painter/crane operator backed up the crane onto the street.

The crane drove over a weakened section of Eighth Street and nearly fell into a void in the earth below the asphault. Although he was shaken, the crane operator drove the crane to its parking spot across the street.

The city of Tulsa dispatched a crew to look at the hole. The chunks of asphault fell about three feet but did not damage anything below. The city's sewer system is intact.

The "Cathedral side" of Eighth Street is coned off. Traffic is moving in the other two lanes.

The painters decided to work some more on the south side of the Cathedral.

Photos of South Tower's New Paint

2009-08-07T14:37:00.002-05:00

White Louvers

2009-08-06T14:01:00.005-05:00

The painters have moved their crane from the central tower to the southern small tower over the front entrance to the Cathedral.

Parishioners attending daily Mass seem happy with the changes to the
towers.

[Click on a photo for a larger version.]

Sunny Skies and White Paint

2009-08-04T09:59:00.001-05:00

The unusual cool and rainy days in late July have given way to a hot August. While we may prefer otherwise, our painters are taking advantage of the dry weather.

Today they are painting the louvers on the south face of the central tower.

Louvers: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

2009-07-30T15:33:00.003-05:00

The painters will begin repairing the wood and painting the wood on the exterior of the Cathedral on Friday - weather permitting.

The goal of the exterior painting is to return the Cathedral to its 1914 look: tan bricks and not-quite-brilliant-white paint. The paint will be similar to the paint used of the finials.

The white paint on the louvers will probably seem rather stark at first. Although the louvers make up a small percentage of the Cathedral's facade, any change can be shocking.

This weekend may be your last chance to see the brown paint on the louvers. You may click on the photo to see a closeup of the damaged wood and the current paint.

In a few weeks, it will look much more like it did in 1914.

If the dew point is 5% less than the ambient temperature...

2009-07-29T10:40:00.003-05:00

Monsignor Gier discussed the upcoming exterior paint job with our painting company today. They will be parking a lift between the Cathedral and the School on Friday.

We hope they will be able to start painting on Friday. The recent rains have raised the humidity to an unacceptable level for painting. The painters explained that the dew point must be at least 5% less than the temperature for the paint to dry properly.

Once the south side of the Cathedral is painted, they will move the lift to the north side.

A Side Note: Catholic Charities

2009-07-22T12:45:00.003-05:00

Catholic Charities' new site and buildings are nearing completion. Although their construction has nothing to do with the Cathedral's Renovation, we celebrate their progress.

A tale of two photos: 2006 & 2009

2009-07-01T10:55:00.009-05:00

You might enjoy comparing two interior photos of the Cathedral, one taken in 2006 and the other in 2009. The obvious change is the interior paint.

It has been several months since the completion of the paint job. We have had some time to "get used" to the bright colors. What do you think of the paint? We would love to hear your comments. Please leave them in the comment box.

Not much is happening with the Renovation. The painters are working on other jobs before they begin painting the exterior of the Cathedral. Perhaps the 105 degree temperature is not ideal for painting.

The Parish Library

2009-06-18T15:38:00.007-05:00

The Parish Library, founded by Sister Eugenia Brown, OSB in the mid to late 90s, is getting a facelift. The parish RCIA volunteers - especially Joe Parker - see the library as a valuable resource for the many non-Catholics who are interested in learning more about what the Catholic Church teaches.

Joe is displaying several pieces of art from his own collection. He placed several crosses and crucifixes atop the bookcases. He decorated the shelves with statues of Mary from around the world.

An RCIA volunteer donated a computer to be used to keep track of the inventory and to make checking out books quick and easy.

Although this project is not part of the larger renovation, the effort and care that our parish RCIA team put into the library deserves recognition. The next step will be to open the library to the entire parish. Check back here and in the parish bulletin for more information and updates.

Chapel: Stations of the Cross

2009-06-12T16:18:00.003-05:00

The new Stations of the Cross with commercially-available images of Our Lord on the way to Calvary feature frames built by a parishioner.

They keep the Chapel's theme of being decorated with items one may have found in Tulsa in 1899 - the year Holy Family Parish was founded.

The next time you come for daily Mass, take a look at the new Stations.

Before and After

2009-06-09T12:17:00.013-05:00

The roofers are on schedule to pack up and leave on Friday. It is a relief to complete such a major part of the renovation and restoration of the Cathedral.

The old photo dates to the early 1930s. The color photo was taken this morning.
[Click on either photo to see a larger version.]

The company that installed the copper roof also refinished the finials, the white architectural pieces at the tops of the battlements. The finials are painted bright white. While they look good, the stone pieces - which were white at one time - need some attention.

The white stone was meant to be bright so it would contrast with the beige bricks. In some places, the stonework is darker than the bricks.

Thanks to the generosity of the parishioners in a recent fund drive, the Cathedral has hired a painting company to paint the exterior of the church. This will be a challenging job not because there is a lot of painting, but because nothing is easily accessible.

On of the most difficult projects will be painting the louvers. These wooden slats play an important part in keeping the rain out of the towers while allowing wind to blow through the towers. They will be painted white to match the finials and the rest of the exterior paint.

The Big Picture

2009-05-28T17:02:00.001-05:00

Here is a "full" shot of the finished roof from the west.

The Roof is Done!

2009-05-27T11:12:00.002-05:00

The roof is done. The project began in November 2007 with the removal of the aluminum shingles and wooden decking of one of the smaller spires. The roofers worked throughout 2008, rebuilding the spires from the inside out. The first copper went up in March 2008.

Today the men have removed the scaffolding and wench. They are finishing up work on some trim.

Final Trim is going up

2009-05-26T13:41:00.002-05:00

The roofers are all wearing dark sunglasses as they install the last of the trim on the roof. The bright sun makes this week's work difficult, but the workers are happy that they will be done before the worst of the summer heat begins.

All the Copper Shingles are Installed!

2009-05-22T14:01:00.003-05:00

Early this morning, the roofers finished screwing the last of the new copper shingles into the roof. All that remains is a little bit of trim work. The copper trim will rest against the bricks and cover the black tar paper. You can see the tar paper at the bottom of the photo.

Just about done....

2009-05-21T14:20:00.002-05:00

Roofing the Last Bit

2009-05-19T10:55:00.002-05:00

The roofers are beginning to strip the old shingles off the lower roof surrounding the Apse. It runs in a horseshoe shape from one transept, around the apse, and down to the other transept. That section is the last one for our roofers.

The Roof over the Apse is nearly done

2009-05-13T15:09:00.002-05:00

The roof over the apse is nearly done. The roof surrounding the apse is waiting. The difficulty in roofing the apse is the large number of cuts that must be done on the shingles to rectangular shingles to a triangular roof.

Yes, the sun does shine...occasionally

2009-05-06T16:13:00.003-05:00

The sun came out after a week of rain. Our roofers are moving quickly.

Cathedral featured on "Six in the Morning"

2009-05-04T13:16:00.006-05:00

Monsignor Gier and Father La Chance spoke with The News on Six's Rich Lenz about the renovation. The feature is broadcast today on the morning show, the noon news, and the 5:00 news. If you missed it, here is a link to the video.

Watch it here.

Channel Six has done several stories about the Cathedral. Links are at the bottom of this page.

Rain slows work on Roof

2009-05-01T14:02:00.003-05:00

This morning brought eastern Oklahoma some tremendous rain. Some towns saw three inches of rain in a very short time. Much of the Tulsa area is under a flash flood watch.

It is not wise for our roofers to work on a day like this. Despite today's rain, the roofer have done a lot of work in the past week. After removing the old aluminum, they laid a layer to black "tar paper." They have already applied new copper shingles to much of the apse roof.

Antependia

2009-05-01T12:54:00.009-05:00

Antependia is the plural form of antependium, the formal term for what we often call "altar frontals." These beautiful frontals have been in storage for four decades. Now they are hung in the sacristies.

The antependia were made to fit the high altar at Holy Family and were used until the reforms following the Second Vatican Council. At that time, the sanctuary was expanded and the smaller altar was installed in the Cathedral. Since the new altar is significantly smaller, the Cathedral purchased new frontals to fit it.

Although these altar frontals are "on display," they are not museum pieces. They are part of the Church and are used from time to time. The red antependium features Saints Peter and Paul. It was used most recently at the 2007 ordination of two priests and eleven deacons. That ordination took place on the Vigil of Pentecost in the basketball arena at the University of Tulsa.

2007 Ordination, photo: Cathy Nelson

[As always, click on any photo to see a larger version.]

Removing Aluminum over the Apse

2009-04-22T13:50:00.005-05:00

Here is a set of photos showing the work involved in removing the old aluminum.

Busy: Inside and Out

2009-04-21T13:45:00.004-05:00

The gray paint that dominates the entrances to the Cathedral is going away. The photo to the right shows the new yellow paint in the southeast vestibule.

Outside, a dozen men are finishing the shingles over the apse of the Cathedral. They are not using a crane to lift men and supplies to the roof. Rather, they are using an electric wench atop some scaffolding.

Photos will come as the roofer make progress.

Slow and Steady

2009-04-17T11:11:00.004-05:00

Progress on the roof on the north side of the church is good. Most of the work is being done on the "flat" part of the roof on the transept. The roofers will begin work on the lower roof over the apse next.

Although the stencilers are gone, the interior painting crew is back. They are painting the entrances to the Cathedral and the confessionals.

Roofing the Apse

2009-04-14T14:04:00.003-05:00

The copper shingles are 98% complete on the spires and the "flat" roof over the nave.

All that remains is the old aluminum over the apse of the church. This morning, our roofing crew built a scaffolding and pulley to haul supplies up to the roof. They haven't started removing the aluminum yet.

Done: Saint Joseph Altar stencils

2009-04-08T15:20:00.003-05:00

Continuation: Stencils behind Saint Joseph's Altar

2009-04-07T12:06:00.001-05:00

Saint Joseph Altar: Stenciling begins

2009-04-07T11:38:00.001-05:00

Complete: Stencils for Saint Mary's Altar

2009-04-02T11:21:00.002-05:00

The walls near the Altar of Saint Mary are finished. The parish Women's Club is attending our noon Mass today and will be the first group to see the new stencils.

The painters moved their scaffolding to the walls near Saint Joseph's altar. They are doing some preparatory work today before they drive back to Salina for the weekend.

They will work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday on these walls. Everything should be done for the Triduum.

The motif or stencil pattern has changed! The previous symbols have been altered slightly so we can add a stylized "J" for Saint Joseph - much like the motif for Saint Mary was changed to make room for her "AM" for Ave Maria.

I will post the updated motif on Friday.

80% Complete: Ave Maria stencils

2009-04-01T16:42:00.003-05:00

The painters made a lot of progress today. Click on any photo for a larger version.

Ave Maria stencils

2009-03-31T16:54:00.001-05:00

Here's an update on the progress on the walls near the altar of the Blessed Virgin.

Scaffolding and Stencils behind the Altar of the BVM

2009-03-31T09:40:00.004-05:00

A generous parishioner was impressed by Tim Linenberger, our painter from Salina, Kansas, (785) 825-6387. That person donated the funds to complete the stencils behind the altar of the Blessed Virgin.

The scale of the stencil is quite a bit smaller than the one behind the high altar. The symbols are the rose, a traditional symbol for Saint Mary, and the initials A.M. for Ave Maria.

The Stencils behind the High Altar are done; Side Altars are next

2009-03-18T16:04:00.005-05:00

The stencils are done - behind the high altar. The funds to pay for the stencils were donated by one household. The donation was separate from the "In Pew" drive and the "Major Gifts" drive.

Several generous donors came forward last weekend with the intention of contributing towards the stenciling behind the side altars. As of now, there have been enough funds donated that we can pay to complete the stencils behind both side altars.

As promised in our parish bulletin, here is a preview of the stencils:

Behind the altar of Saint Joseph, we will see symbols that remind us of him.

The base coat of paint is African violet, or purple. The inspiration to use this color comes from his window in Holy Family's clerestory. His robes more or less match the paint on the walls.

In his window, Saint Joseph is depicted holding an Easter Lily, or a fleur-de-lis. It is a traditional symbol of purity, perfection, and life.

Other symbols in the stencil will be the tools of a carpenter: a square, nails, and a hammer.

The Altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary has a blue wall behind it. The blue is a median color between the two blues in her garments in the windows.

Her symbols are the rose, one of the many common symbols of Mary's beauty and purity. The monogram "A.M." stands for Ave Maria and is based on one of the chasubles worn on Marian feasts.

An Interesting Discovery

2009-03-10T12:51:00.005-05:00

The stencils are completely done on one side. It is easy to see the crisp, clear lines that come from the hands of skilled painters.

Before the painters started on the right side of the apse, we removed an electrical box and conduit that ran along the wall. It belonged to an obsolete messaging system. When the celebrant was ready to begin Mass, he could press a button on the wall. It would make a light on the organist's console light to tell him to begin playing the opening hymn. It was last used decades ago when the previous organ was in the church.

You can see where the box and conduit were in the photo on the right.

Underneath the electrical box is a fragment of the 1948 stencil pattern. In that renovation, the walls changed from a soft series of pastel yellows, blues and greens to a bold, ornate stenciled look.

This glimpse into our past was an unexpected find. I couldn't help sharing it. It is now covered in magenta paint to match the rest of the apse wall.

The photo below shows the church as it looked after the 1948 renovation.

Copper spires shine

2009-03-05T12:56:00.002-06:00

Holy Family's parishioners see the progress on the Cathedral on a weekly or daily basis. For those of you who do not get to see the Cathedral often, here is a photo showing the current state of the roof.

The south side of the central spire is done. The roofers are concentrating on the north side of the central spire and the north side of the roof over the nave. It appears that they are going to work on the apse at a later date. The above photo clearly shows the difference between the new copper and the older aluminum.

South side of Apse is nearly done

2009-03-05T10:26:00.009-06:00

Tim Linenberger and the fine folks from Linenberger Painting from Salina, Kansas, (785) 825-6387, are doing an excellent job. They are nearly finished with the South or left side of the Apse.

The use two stencils: one for the Chi Rho and the other for the grapes. Tim prepared both stencils based on the designs of Thomas Gordon Smith, our architect. You may click on the photo if you wish to see the precise detail. For example, each grain of wheat must be large enough to be seen from the pews, but it must also look crisp and well-defined up close.

They are using a slightly brighter gold paint than what we see on the ribs of the vaults. The paint is carefully mixed to give the right consistency.

One man holds the stencil in place while another applies the paint using a vigorous circular technique. The process takes only a few minutes per stencil.

Another artist fills in the gaps in the stencil. You can see an unfinished Chi Rho at the bottom of this photo. The ones above it are completed.

They repeat the process several hundred times to finish the walls.

Stenciling continues

2009-03-04T13:43:00.003-06:00

The painters are about 25% finished. They have completed the upper part of the left side of the apse. They are currently working behind the high altar.

Here are a few photos: distant and close.

The first stencils

2009-03-03T13:03:00.002-06:00

The first stencils are painted and drying.

It must be Lent: the scaffolding is back

2009-03-03T11:02:00.007-06:00

Last year's Lent began with an enormous scaffolding in the apse. This Lent will follow 2008's precedent.

Monsignor Gier hired a company from Kansas to paint a gold stencil over the magenta-painted wall behind the high altar. They built a relatively small scaffolding that they will use throughout Lent.

This is a preview of the pattern. Please note that the colors are not correct. The magenta background is accurate, but the foreground color is going to be different. The new paint will be a gold similar to the paint used on the ribs of the arches.

You may be curious about why Monsignor Gier chose the symbols in the stenciling. Since the Blessed Sacrement is reserved in the tabernacle in the high altar, it is fitting to use symbols which proclaim the Real Presence.

The Greek letters Chi and Rho are widely used in churches. Chi and Rho are the first letters in the name Christ. In our alphabet, the letters look like a P and and X.

The other two symbols are grapes and wheat, traditional symbols of the Eucharist. They are seen in the high altar as well.

The Chapel is open, First Mass celebrated this morning

2009-02-17T11:46:00.007-06:00

The Chapel is not totally finished, but it's close enough. Msgr. Gier returned the Blessed Sacrament to the tabernacle, then celebrated the first post-renovation Mass in it this morning at 7:00 a.m.

We would love to have you see the Chapel! Masses are at 7:00, 12:05, and 5:05 Tuesday-Friday (or Monday at 12:05)

Monsignor Gier is working now on the little details. For example, the small holy water fonts at the entrances have not arrived yet. He installed the old ones for the time being. He also made sure that the crucifix is centered perfectly.

The sacristy is back in order. Those familiar with the old chapel will recognize the Prayer of Saint Francis.

Chapel: The pews are back

2009-02-13T10:35:00.004-06:00

Most of the work is done in the Chapel. The pews are back. The paint in the little sacristy is dry. We should be able to have Mass very soon.

There are a few details that deserve attention. The pews have been a great addition to the Chapel. They are beautiful and make the Chapel look more "high Church" than the previous worn out chairs did. The priest who built Holy Family probably chose those pews for a parish church he built in Plunketville. When that parish closed recently, we brought the pews to the Chapel. [See this previous blog post for details.]

Our Chapel is a little larger than the church where the pews used to be. We had to reuse a dozen old chairs. To make matters worse, those chairs had to be placed directly in front of the altar.

Why? The two pillars in the Chapel would prevent the kneelers from the pews from lowering if they were placed there. If we placed the pews inside the pillars (like the chairs in the photo on the right), there would not be enough space for communicants to walk down the center aisle.

Here's the solution: we are looking into building a number of custom pews that will match the shape and color of the current pews. The new pews will be built in such a way to allow parishioners to use the kneelers despite the pillars.

For the present, I am not sure what the decision will be. Perhaps we will move some of the chairs back in. Perhaps we will ask a few more Mass-goers to kneel on the floor. Either way, we are working on it and I will post any news to this blog.

Time for an Update on the Roof

2009-02-06T13:57:00.005-06:00

Tulsa is enjoying a beautiful and warm February day: 68 degrees. The roofers are probably enjoying the relief from the sub-freezing temperatures of recent weeks. They seem to be moving quickly up and down the sides of the central spire. That spire looks to be about halfway finished.

Almost all of the metal finials are finished. The roofers brought electric sanders to the finials to strip the old paint and rust. They repaired and refinished them in a brilliant white. They look fantastic against the brick walls and the new copper roof. We can hope that the workers will be able to clean or sand blast the white stone accents over the arches. They are looking quite "tired" next to the newness of the rest of the Cathedral's exterior.

Finally, we return to the Chapel. The first of the pews found its way back into the Chapel. When all the pews are installed, I will post more photos.

Is Tulsa's Cathedral fireproof?

2009-02-05T11:41:00.006-06:00

The tragic fire at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago came at the end of their renovation efforts. The historic church caught fire early yesterday morning. Firefighters worked for two hours to extinguish the flames.

Cardinal George and his Cathedral Rector said that they were happy no one was seriously injured. They plan to rebuild the sections of the roof that were damaged.

As of this writing, no one has determined the cause of the blaze. It is worth noting that Holy Name had a fire suppression system in the attic. So do we at Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa.

What is the difference? Is our roof protected?

News reports from Chicago say that the fire suppression system in their cathedral sprayed water downward but not up. That is why the roof burned freely until the Fire Department arrived. Monsignor Gier says that Holy Family's fire suppression system shoots water both ways to quickly eliminate flames from above and below.

These photos show the attic - the space immediately above the vaulted ceilings.

Chapel Sacristy

2009-02-04T13:43:00.004-06:00

The Chapel's sacristy/confessional is a small space, cold in the winter, with peeling paint and stained carpet - until now. Actually, it is still small and cold, but it is getting a few minor repairs.

The Chapel's new red carpet extends into the sacristy. Our maintenance men are installing baseboards and quarter-round along the corners to make the room look new and tidy.

When it is needed, they are repairing the corners.

In the Chapel itself, the statues, candles, and kneelers are returning. The pews are in the Auditorium, waiting for the carpet glue to dry.

Carpet in the Chapel of Peace

2009-02-03T14:25:00.004-06:00

The air is thick with the smell of carpet glue. The Chapel of Peace has its long-awaited carpet. The carpet's color is a bold red. The carpet is a deeper red than the large photo (above). Click on any photo for a larger version.

There are a few more details that need to be addressed, then the pews will go back in. We should see daily Masses moved down from the Cathedral soon.

Finials on the front of the Cathedral

2009-01-21T11:09:00.003-06:00

The crane is in front of the Cathedral again. It is lifting workers to the many rusty metal finials atop the church. The men are sanding through the old paint and rust, then painting them white.

The Cathedral is being prepared for a concert, so daily Mass is held down in the basement. Massgoers will get to see the refinished altar and ambo that now match the pews.

Local News coverage

2009-01-20T15:29:00.005-06:00

KOTV did a nice story on the improvements to the Central Spire.

More Work on the Central Spire

2009-01-14T15:18:00.002-06:00

Despite the cold temperatures, the roofers and painters are continuing to work on the central spire. One crew is using a "window washing" rig to apply more of the copper shingles while another is restoring the clock faces.