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Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop Fiorenza discuss significance of new Co-Cathedral

By JONAH DYCUS
Herald Staff Writer

HOUSTON – The construction of the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart has always been more than just a post-retirement assignment for Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza – it was a dream project.

In the late 1990s, the former local ordinary started pursuing the possibility – and feasibility – of a central place of worship being created. On April 2, 2008, his dream was finally realized when the new downtown Co-Cathedral was blessed and dedicated.

“They say if you wait patiently, good things will happen. I didn’t wait too patiently, but good things did happen,” Archbishop Fiorenza said with a grin during a recent press conference inside of the Co-Cathedral. “It is a magnificent church in praise of God, and I think it will be a church that will most enhance the devotion and love for God when people come here to pray.”

When Daniel Cardinal DiNardo came to the archdiocese as coadjutor in 2004, plans for the Co-Cathedral were already set in motion. “Archbishop Fiorenza had worked and labored on this lovingly for years,” the cardinal said during an interview with the Herald. “When he retired (in February 2006), he asked if he could continue to work toward the Co-Cathedral and I said absolutely. It has been one of his major works in which he had put much thought into and consulted on … He made some very important decisions in regards to it. And I was delighted (with the archbishop’s request).”

The cardinal has described his role in the Co-Cathedral’s creation as an “interested participant” and observer.

“It is great to see Archbishop Fiorenza step forward as he always does and continue great work on the Co-Cathedral. And the results are truly beautiful, as everyone will see,” Cardinal DiNardo said.

In the Co-Cathedral’s design, Archbishop Fiorenza asked the architects at Ziegler Cooper to design a “very simple but elegant” building. “I wanted the simplicity in design to focus the attention of the worshipers on this altar where we celebrate the Eucharist,” the archbishop said. “When people come in here, their eyes will be drawn immediately to the altar, (and) to the magnificent crucifix of Christ whose sacrifice is renewed when we celebrate the Eucharist.”

But Archbishop Fiorenza said Sacred Heart possesses many other impressive features as well. “There is the Resurrection Window over the city of Houston that is so awe-inspiring. And when I look at the beautiful statues of Mary and of the Sacred Heart (located in the building’s transepts) – that truly captivates me,” he stated. “But that red altar … I think that is such a stunning piece of artwork.”

Cardinal DiNardo echoed those sentiments. “You walk into the church, and the altar is extremely striking from the get-go,” he said. “Seeing the large, beautiful crucified Savior against the back wall is very moving. And the statues of the Sacred Heart and Virgin Mary – although each weighs several tons – look as through they are floating in air.”

The cardinal also praised the “remarkable sense of space” and the play of light in the building. “I have been struck by the way the light shines through and changes; it is this combination of stained glass and clear glass together. The way the architects managed to pull that off is really impressive.

“As I like to say, the building is luminous, which is what we hoped would happen,” he added.

According to Archbishop Fiorenza, a random survey conducted by the diocese more than 10 years ago indicated that the Co-Cathedral was something the faithful wanted to see take place. That led to the Jubilee Year Capital Campaign in 2000, which helped fund several projects in the local Church – with the Co-Cathedral serving as the drive’s centerpiece. “People from all over the diocese contributed. From the smallest, poorest parishes to the largest, wealthier parishes – everyone contributed to build this building,” he said.

Cardinal DiNardo expressed gratitude to local priests who helped “spearhead the campaigns in the parishes,” he said. “Archbishop Fiorenza is the chief fundraiser, but our priests, permanent deacons and the interests shown by the religious really made a difference.”

The cardinal also thanked “God’s holy people” in the local Church for making the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart a reality. “We have some really major donors and benefactors who have been extremely generous,” he said. “We also have whole groups of people who have given sizeable money amounts, down to a little widow in one of our nursing homes who recently sent us $10. It is just wonderful.”

He continued, “The entire archdiocese has been involved in the construction of the new Co-Cathedral and the results are in beauty, real devotion and, I think, in a good sense of pride in the Galveston-Houston area. It takes a lot of people working together to get something as large and as complex as this to bear fruit, and I think that is what has happened here. As the new shepherd who has been involved only recently, I am impressed with what is going on in this archdiocese.”

Archbishop Fiorenza explained that the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is for everybody – from being a place of prayer and reflection to a possible disaster relief station. “It is mainly a place for Catholic worshipers – Catholics from all over the city can come here for any service. But it is also (a venue) for ecumenical services, too,” he said. “We made a very deliberate decision with that – that we would want this very large church available to the community for ecumenical services, which from time to time is called for (because of) particular civic reasons.

“We will be able to gather people of all faiths together … for the needs in their hearts,”  he added.

“It is a striking addition to the city and a beautiful place for us in this fourth largest city in the United States,” Cardinal DiNardo said. “We can say here is a place of welcome for that refreshment of silence and prayer outside of the liturgical actions for all peoples.”

He added, “Many major liturgical events will take place there, but I see the Co-Cathedral as a genuine place of rest and prayer, not only for us Catholics. My hope is that in a bustling place like Houston, where things can become occasionally frantic, people of all faiths can find a moment to come to the Co-Cathedral for a moment of prayer, silence or recollection and be renewed.” 

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