Commemorative book celebrates cathedral
SALT LAKE CITY — Few people who enter the Cathedral of the Madeline fail to be awed by its incredible beauty, from the magnificent stained glass windows to the intricate murals and detailed woodcarvings. Yet to more than 800 families of the parish and many other members of the diocese, the cathedral is much more than a beautiful structure. It is their sanctuary, where they worship and celebrate the sacred times in their lives such as the sacraments of baptism, First Communion, confirmation and marriage, and the final act of laying their loved ones to rest.
So it is fitting that when the cathedral’s pastor, Fr. Martin Diaz, was looking for a way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the cathedral’s renovation and the 25th anniversary of its restoration with an illustrated book, he turned to members of his parish. In particular, he sought out members of the cathedral’s tour committee because of their expertise in the art and the architecture of the building.
For the past year Martha Seiner, Colleen Gudreau, and Elizabeth and Kevin Buehler have worked on the project, searching the diocesan archives for photos of the original structure and interior along with photos of the cathedral after the 1991-93 restoration. Those are included in the book. Also, Kevin Buehler, a former news photographer, was given unprecedented access to every area in the cathedral, and took hundreds of full color photos of the modern-day cathedral and its liturgical celebrations.
“We really love the cathedral and its history and art,” Elizabeth Buehler said. “We cherish being part of this committee and the opportunity we have to share that and to celebrate our fellow parishioners.”
The Cathedral of the Madeleine: A Year of Celebration highlights not only the history and beauty of the structure but also parish life. Kevin Buehler’s work and the historic photos are supplemented with text written by Seiner, Gudreau and Elizabeth Buehler. Included are chapters on the history of the cathedral, bishops and priests (photos and brief biographies), parish ministries and celebrations. Fellow parishioners and publishers of a local snowboarding magazine Cory and Korey Llewelyn provided significant help on the project. They also connected the committee with a graphic designer who combined 150 of the best of Kevin Buehler’s photos with the text and historic photos into a volume that Fr. Diaz said, “took my breath away.”
“It is absolutely gorgeous and does honor to the cathedral,” he said.
Fr. Diaz hopes the book will inspire people with a renewed dedication to preserving the cathedral.
“When people look at the cathedral, they see it has been restored but they don’t realize it was 25 years ago that it took place,” he said. “After 25 years, it’s time to look at it again.”
To ensure the cathedral continues to inspire the faithful through a second century, it is important for continued maintenance and upkeep, he said. The parish restoration committee is working on a master plan for its preservation. The proceeds from the sale of the book will go toward that effort.
“In 200 years from its beginnings, like the cathedrals of Europe, we want people to be able to come in and look at the cathedral and see how well they preserved the beauty of the cathedral,” Fr. Diaz said.
The original builders of the cathedral were not building it for themselves, “they were building it for us,” he said. “We benefit from their work.”
Even more than being aesthetically pleasing, the cathedral is a beautiful place of worship, Fr. Diaz said. “The artwork is meant to turn your heart and mind to God, always to bring us closer to God in that beauty.”
The Cathedral of the Madeleine: A Year of Celebration, which costs $30, will be on sale Sundays through Dec. 23 in the cathedral vestibule following the 8:30, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Masses. Cash and checks are accepted. For information, email anniversarybook@utcotm.org.
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