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Sou ☆ 0 0^ Diocese of Savannah hem (mss ISoeese <rf Savansafe Vol. 80, No. 7 $.50 per issue Thursday, February 17, 2000 Cathedral restoration on target Contents Headline Hopscotch 2 News , 3 Commentary 4-5 Around the Diocese 6-7 Faith Alive! ... 8-9 Notices 10-11 Last But Not Least 12 By Frank Baker Savannah T he restoration of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist is progressing nicely, with the completion date set for late October. At a meeting with the architect and sub contractors on February 8, the general con tractor reminded them that all work must be finished by the target date. The solemn rededication has been set for November 29. On the exterior, the new slate roof instal lation is well on its way to completion and is on schedule. Work is in progress on stabi lizing the steeples, a task that should be completed by mid-March. After that, the steeples will have new slate installed. Much of the terra cotta work has been removed for repointing, cleaning, or fabrication as required. The right protective glass for the stained glass windows has not yet been selected. The ten side stained-glass windows have been restored and reinstalled, but are now protected with plywood and hidden by it. There is still a lot of exterior work remain ing. Inside the main church, a maze of scaf folding, like a giant erector set, reaches to the ceiling from one side to the other. Work is well under way on preparing all surfaces for painting, and the cleaning of the murals is in progress. A sample of the refinishing on the pews and liturgical furniture is scheduled to arrive February 22 for review. Work inside is also on schedule. The most immediate results of this mas sive undertaking, which started last July, will be evident in the undercroft. Interior window repair is 90% complete and exteri or priming is 30% complete. The new ceil ing has been framed and drywall installa tion should be complete by February 17. The new heating and air conditioning has been installed and is functioning, as is the new recessed lighting. The interior plaster work in the chapel is 95% complete and a paint mockup is due to be ready for review and approval by February 21. If progress here continues, as it has since the middle of December, there is a good chance that Sunday Masses can be celebrated in the lower Chapel by the first part of Lent, pos sibly by Ash Wednesday, March 8. Father William O. O’Neill, rector of the Cathedral, says he is very satisfied with the progress being made, “especially consider ing the delays caused by Hurricane Floyd, the unexpected structural problems with the spires and other unexpected and unpleasant surprises we’ve encountered.” Despite these glitches, “we’ve caught up” and the mam moth, $9 million project is “on target,” he said. Frank Baker is chairman of the Parish Council of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, Savannah. Interior scaffolding fills the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. In memory of Father Walter DiFrancesco Saint Teresa of Avila Church, Augusta, celebrated the first anniversary of the death of its former pastor, Father Walter L. DiFrancesco, on February 6. Before an anniversary Mass, the community gathered outside of the parish offices and gym building to rededicate it in his memory. Photo by Jonas N. Jordan