'Let us go to the house of the Lord'
SALT LAKE CITY — It has been 16 years since the Most Reverend William K. Weigand, the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, rededicated the Cathedral of the Madeleine after a lengthy renovation process. At noon Feb. 21, 2009, the Most Reverend John C. Wester, current bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, celebrated Mass marking the 16th year since that rededication. The Mass was celebrated in conjunction with the centennial celebration of the very first dedication of the cathedral by the Most Reverend Lawrence Scanlan, the first bishop of the diocese. Bishop Wester spoke of the dignity of all people and in his homily, he said the people of God are the living stones who make up the church. "So many people are struck by the beauty of our cathedral from the first moment they walk in," he said. "So many come up to me to share their admiration for the cathedral, and many people from Utah enjoy stopping by the cathedral regardless of their religion. The bishop pointed out the images of leaves at the top of the cathedral pillars, saying they are leading us to the new Eden. "They sweep up, leading us to God." The Cathedral of the Madeleine, he said, is a physical representation of Christ in our midst. It is a sacred place of gathering where the people of God are nourished and where our bonds of unity are deepened, thus we become ever more the Body of Christ." Reflecting on the reading from 2 Chronicles, the bishop said the priestly reign of Solomon acknowledged the glory of God, "but the prophets also said that the temple cult must be complemented by living out what is celebrated there. "Thank God today for this cathedral."
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