SALT LAKE CITY - Whether you were able to participate in any aspects of the August celebration of the centennial of the Cathedral of the Madeleine or not, the perfect memory highlight for anyone in the Diocese of Salt Lake City is "Sacred Stones, Living Stones," a DVD produced by KSL Television and narrated by Carole Mikida.
The DVD, which celebrates 100 years of history of the ornate building, opens with dramatic aerial views of the building emphasizing its gargoyles, its welcoming doorways and the elegance it gives to the neighborhood.
It also includes interviews with those who call the Cathedral of the Madeleine home and those who played a major role in the recent renovations of the building's interior.
The Most Rev. John Charles Wester, the ninth bishop of the diocese, said the Cathedral itself "reminds us of the presence of God in our midst; that we are the people of God." Bishop Wester also said the celebration of Cathedral of the Madeleine in its present state is an echo of the very first Mass celebrated in the new cathedral August 15, 1909, by the diocese's first bishop, Lawrence Scanlan.
The words of Bishop Wester and Msgr. Joseph M. Mayo, current pastor of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, on the DVD bring to mind the original plans for the Cathedral as it developed in the mind of Bishop Scanlan, who was prompted to build by the growth of Utah's Catholic community.
The DVD is graced with music of The Choir of the Cathedral of the Madeleine and the voices of the choristers of Madeleine Choir School, emphasizing the contributions offered by the laity and the youngsters to the Cathedral.
On the DVD, Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, speaks of the religious significance of cathedrals in general and the Cathedral of the Madeleine to the Catholics and the community that stretches far beyond Salt Lake City.
The voices of many clergy who have served at the Cathedral of the Madeleine grace this DVD, including Msgr. M. Francis Mannion, now pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish. Msgr. Mannion was pastor of the Cathedral of the Madeleine during its internal renovation and was one of the founders of the Madeleine Choir School. He spoke of the community's contribution to the renovation and the Cathedral's role as a center for the city's arts and humanities.
As rich in history and color as the Cathedral itself, the DVD shares with viewers the excitement and the drama of the centennial celebration. The presentation is filled with familiar faces, voices in Spanish and English, and a prayer of the faithful rendered in all the languages represented in the Diocese of Salt Lake City. It celebrates our former bishops, including the Most Rev. Bishop William K. Weigand (retired) of the Diocese of Sacramento, the Diocese of Salt Lake City, and her eighth bishop, the Most Rev. George H. Niederauer, Archbishop of San Francisco, both of whom attended the centennial celebration.
At the centennial celebration, Bishop Weigand celebrated the Spanish Mass, and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day President Thomas S. Monson proclaimed the shared ministries of serving the poor.
"Sacred Stones, Living Stones," a treasure of one of the most delightful celebrations in the history of the Cathedral of the Madeleine and the Diocese of Salt Lake City, can be ordered by calling the Cathedral of the Madeleine at 801-328-8941. Cost is $10.
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