The 8th Cathedral Festival of Lights gala, sponsored by the Cathedral Heritage Foundation, invites the community for a special evening of tours, music, a spotlight presentation, fine dining catered by the Saint Paul Hotel, and a live auction, Thursday, October 3, from 6 – 9:00 p.m. at the Cathedral, 239 Selby Avenue, Saint Paul, MN. The event will be hosted by KSTP TV Anchor/Reporter Tom Hauser. Proceeds from the event will help restore the historic Cathedral monument. CHF has created two ticket levels: $75 for reception only and $175 for reception plus dinner, and sponsorship levels are also available. Register here or learn more at www.cathedralheritagefoundation.org.
“This is a special night when we invite guests into the Cathedral after it has normally closed for a one-of-a-kind event,” said Mary E. Schaffner, Cathedral Heritage Foundation Board Chair. “It’s an opportunity to connect with this historic landmark church. Once you hear the stories of the people who designed and built this beloved church and landmark, we know you will want to support our on-going restoration and preservation work.”
This year, the fundraising will focus on starting restoration of the sacristy, the domed space beneath the famous “Angel in Prayer,” statue at the back of the Cathedral. The sacristy is a key gateway both to revered sacred and public space in the Cathedral—the high altar and the Shrine of Nations, with its newly restored windows—and also the repository for historic liturgical vessels, vestments, books, and processional crosses and croziers, each of which is a treasured item regularly used in the Cathedral’s parish’s religious life and in its public celebrations.
Here’s a list of CHF’s key accomplishments since its founding 12 years ago:
LaFarge and Connick stained glass windows restored 2018-2019 $144,000
Eighteen stained glass windows created by two of the finest American craftsmen of the past century underwent a complete restoration.
Light the Cathedral 2016-18 $144,502
Upgraded the light fixtures to support LED energy-efficient bulbs and improved overall brightness on the main church level.
Historic 244 Dayton Purchase 2016 $800,000
Purchased the original 1920’s chancery building at 244 Dayton, plus adjacent property to preserve the historic Cathedral campus.
Rose Windows 2015 $196,655
Restored the north and south Rose windows with lead alloy frames made to withstand extremes in fluctuating temperatures.
Let it Shine! 2014 $118,600
Repaired, honed and polished the 100-year-old marble floors on the main level. It encompassed 13,500 square feet and 35 varieties of marble.
SOUND OFF! 2010-2013 $3.4 million
Restored and enhanced the Cathedral’s two historic pipe organs. Added 1,000 pipes, casework, two new consoles, choir seating, plus improved heating and lighting in the gallery.
Visit the Cathedral of Saint Paul, open Sunday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Enjoy the quiet solitude, listen to organ rehearsal, take a self-guided tour. Guided tours are led Tuesday through Friday at 1 p.m. for a $2 suggested donation per person. More information on tours.
The Cathedral Heritage Foundation is a non-profit, non-sectarian, historic preservation, cultural and arts organization established to preserve, restore, and enhance the Cathedral of Saint Paul. The CHF is governed by a Board of Curators (Directors) responsible for the organization’s oversight. Our Board of Curators is comprised of individuals from the Twin Cities community with diverse business, professional, and community volunteer backgrounds. Collectively, we are committed to preserving, restoring, and enhancing the Cathedral of Saint Paul as a civic and architectural landmark, and promoting its use as a venue for cultural, educational, and artistic events for the entire community. See board list.
