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Visit www.sanfernando275.org for Anniversary Information! In front of the cathedral is Main Plaza or La Plaza de las Islas (the Plaza of the Islands) named in honor of the Canary Islanders who founded the city. |
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What is the San Fernando Restoration Project?
The project is a multiphase project. Phase One is the restoration and stabilization of the Cathedral foundation and structure and its enhancement for liturgy and other events. Phase Two will replace the current rectory with a new Cathedral Centre which will have a small cafeteria, counseling rooms, museum, gift shop, reception room, television control room, and vesting sacristy. Phase Three is the construction of a Community Centre, at the corner of Commerce and Camaron Streets, to house community and social services, meeting rooms, a hall, church offices, and a residence for the priests.
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Why is it needed?
The Cathedral must be stabilized to preserve this historic church of San Antonio for the future. The new buildings are needed to relieve stress on the church which comes from constant use due to lack of other facilities. These new buildings will also continue the San Fernando tradition of offering many educational, social, and pastoral services to the entire community, as well as tourists and other visitors.
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What exactly will be done to the Cathedral Building?
First, the Cathedral structure will be completely stabilized to assure us that it will stand for another 100 years. Parts of the building that have deteriorated over time will be fixed or restored. A new and much needed electrical and mechanical system will be part of this upgrading effort. We will also be enhancing the interior of the Cathedral to facilitate the many different liturgical and cultural activities that take place here all year long.
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What kinds of enhancements will take place?
The enhancement plans for the Cathedral include decorative painting, state-of-the-art lighting and acoustical systems, three original hand-carved retablos, a new, old-style floor, and new seats with kneelers that match the style of the church. The altar table will be moved closer to the worshippers, and the seating plan will be modified so that everyone can see to better participate in the liturgy and feel like part of our family, the Body of Christ, gathered around the altar. Our present baptismal font will be restored and incorporated into a larger baptismal font to be located near the main door, as was the case when the font was located near the front door of the original colonial church.
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Will the enhancements change or "modernize" the old nature of the church?
No. The enhancements are being planned with the utmost respect for the history of the church. Many additions are being made to retain the historic "old style" church. Award-winning restoration architects and planners, widely respected and highly experienced, have worked with cathedral personnel and parish members to plan a beautiful interior in keeping with the age and nature of San Fernando as well as the liturgies and rituals that take place there.
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What will happen to the statues and tabernacle? Will there still be candles in the Cathedral?
All the statues and paintings presently in the church will be refurbished and kept in the Cathedral. Some will remain in the main body of the church and others will be in the old part of the church, as is the case today. Our tabernacle will remain where it is now and will be housed in one of the new retablos. Candles will be kept in the Cathedral.
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What about the crucifix, kneelers, and the old pulpit?
Kneelers will remain in the church as will the crucifix. The old pulpit, currently used as a television camera stand during the televised Masses, will be refurbished and used as the main pulpit.
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What will happen to the graves of people buried under San Fernando?
Nothing will disturb the graves or any remains buried under San Fernando.
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Why a Community Centre?
San Fernando has almost no facilities out of which to operate. Therefore the Cathedral is overused with classes, meetings, and many other events aside from liturgy. To save the Cathedral and to continue to offer services to families, children, and senior citizens, the Community Centre will be built on property one block away from the Cathedral, on the corner of Commerce and Camaron Streets. It will have a hall, several meeting rooms, a social service area, offices, and a residence for the priests. Services such as summer youth programs, tutoring, senior citizens, literacy, citizenship, ESL, and family programs, as well as religious education, will take place there.
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Why replace the rectory?
The present rectory is inadequate to meet the current needs of the thousands of parishioners, tourists and other visitors who come to the Cathedral grounds each week. The new Cathedral Centre which will replace the rectory, is designed to relieve some of the pressure of use of the Cathedral and to support what happens in the church as well as to serve those who visit. The Centre will have a small cafeteria, counseling rooms, museum, gift shop, reception room, television control room, and vesting sacristy. A plaza in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be in the midst of the Cathedral Centre grounds.
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What is the Cost of the Project?
The estimated cost of the total project will be $15,000,000. The cost is broken down as:
Cathedral Restoration and Enhancements:
$5,700,000
Community Centre and Land Purchase:
$6,100,000
Cathedral Centre and Plaza:
$3,200,000
Total:
$15,000,000
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For more information
Mary K. Havel
Historical Centre Foundation
San Fernando Cathedral
P. O. Box 831078
San Antonio, TX 78283-1078
(210) 576-1365
(210) 576-1367 - fax
mhavel@sfcathedral.org
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