A crate of clock parts

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

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

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

The bell rings again.

The 1910 Church Bell rings again

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.