Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago faces roof repairs once again, this time from a three-alarm fire that broke out in the church attic in the morning hours of Feb. 4. Almost a year ago to the day, roof problems eventually forced the main building to close for several months for repairs. This gallery shows the problems at the prominent cathedral over the last year culminating with the recent fire.
Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago, re-opened on Aug. 30 for the first Mass since the cathedral closed for repairs in February. Forensic engineers determined that structural weakness caused a 10-pound piece of decorative wood falling from the ceiling on Feb. 12. The cathedral is open for Masses on Saturday and Sunday and for weddings. Daily Mass continues in the parish Club Room while miscellaneous repairs continue on the cathedral during the week. More than 23,000 hand-carved wooden points that decorate the cathedral’s interior ceiling were removed, polished and re-secured as part of the renovation.
Photo: Karen Callaway / Catholic New World