New Wooden Crosses hang over the Stations of the Cross

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.