Shrines installation continues

Shrines arrives; Installation today

The long-awaited Shrines have arrived! Brendan and Vincent from Fynders Keepers in Shawnee Mission, Kansas are unloading a truck full of beautifully carved and stained wood shrines.

The two shrines will include space for our historic Mission Crucifix and our Holy Family statue. Each shrine is built in the shape of a Gothic arch, very similar to the arches over the small doorways in the back of the Cathedral.

More photos today

Replacing shingles

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

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

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.