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‘Restoration celebration’ to conclude Cathedral restoration project three years in the making

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Maura Baker

Staff Writer

Since its launch in March of 2023, the Restored in Christ project brought together the efforts of more than 2,000 donors with the mission of preserving Covington’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption. Now, more than three years later, the project has reached its conclusion — with repairs made to the Cathedral’s stonework and windows and new chimera and gargoyles proudly perched on the perimeter, ensuring the longevity of the historic Covington landmark and beloved church.

To tie together the project’s closing and celebrate its successes, a “restoration celebration” is planned to follow the Cathedral’s 4:30 Mass, August 15. Invited to the celebration were all 2,000 donors to the project, along with parishioners of the Cathedral.

Coming together, guests to the celebration will enjoy a catered dinner at the adjacent Covington Latin School, tours of the newly planted Marian Garden and restored Cathedral grounds and a showing of a 20-minute short film highlighting the Cathedral titled “The Salvation of Souls.”

“It’s going to be a beautiful video,” commented Jim Hess, director of Stewardship and Mission for the Diocese of Covington, who took on this project as one of his first after becoming director. “It’s a video that the Cathedral can use forever,” he said, as the video divulges the Cathedral’s history and mission. Following the celebration, the film will be available on the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption’s website (https://covcathedral.com) as well for public viewing.

In addition to this, donors and parishioners alike are being welcomed to contribute to another celebratory aspect of the project’s conclusion. Inside the new statue of the Cathedral’s Marian courtyard, a time capsule will be placed, with notes from contributors to be stored inside for future generations.

“I love the symbolism of that as well,” said Mr. Hess. “Mary is protecting the watching over and taking care of these people that contributed to this work.”

While Mr. Hess has experience with many capital campaigns, he commented that campaigns that are not directly ‘building something new’ can be hard to raise funds for.

“This project was unique,” he said, with more than $8 million of purely restoration work to be raised.

“This was truly a brick and mortar campaign,” Mr. Hess said, “which sometimes is difficult to raise money for because people like supporting new initiatives, new ideas. But this was more focused on taking care of the Cathedral for future generations, and I was amazed by how generous people were.” Even people who did not belong to the Cathedral parish or had ties to it contributed, seeing as they “realized the importance of this work for generations to come.”

Major donors to Restored in Christ capital campaign spend evening with ‘Gargoyles and Gratitude’

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Laura Keener

Editor

The “Restored in Christ” Cathedral restoration project began in 2018 when Father Ryan Maher, rector, was taking his dog on her morning walk. There, on the sidewalk, lay a piece of masonry — maybe from a gargoyle, maybe from a chimera, maybe a piece of tracery — that had fallen from the Cathedral.

“He (Father Maher) raised the question, ‘What’s going on with our Cathedral building?’” Bishop John Iffert told the nearly 100 donors, May 22, at the “Gargoyles and Gratitude” event.

Jim Hess, director, Office of Stewardship and Mission Services, has been leading the “Restored in Christ” $7 million capital campaign. To thank major donors of the project, Mr. Hess hosted Gargoyles and Gratitude, an evening of small plates and socialization, which included eight special guests — eight of the newly crafted 26 chimeras.

Restoration of the Cathedral began just as the capital campaign began. Due to safety concerns, the deteriorating chimeras, popularly referred to as gargoyles, were removed from the Cathedral roof in March 2023, the same month of the launch of the capital campaign. True to the biblical saying, “The first shall be last,” returning the chimeras to their rooftop home, anticipated for late October or early November, will mark the completion of the restoration project.

The name, details and photo of the Covington Cathedral and its Notre Dame, France, cousin accompanied each of the chimera. Mr. Hess introduced the benefactors to “The Goat,” one of the chimeras on display at the event with an explosive past. In 1985, lightning struck The Goat, and he lost his head. A local craftsman created a replacement head, but in 2015, lightning struck again, rendering The Goat headless until its removal in 2023. To recreate The Goat for the restoration project, artisans at Boston Valley Terra Cotta, New York, modeled it from its French cousin. The other 25 chimera were digitally scanned and recrafted.

“It’s been such a privilege getting to know these chimeras,” said Mr. Hess. “I wanted to, at least, have an evening like this where we could spend some time with these before they’re on top of the Cathedral forever.”

In his comments to the benefactors, Bishop Iffert expressed his gratitude, calling the restoration a very practical project. “It was about safety for people in and around the building, and it was about preserving what had been handed on to us, preserving that built tradition,” he said.

Bishop Iffert pointed out that the Cathedral restoration project also has a very spiritual significance, in preserving “that witness to the faith.”

Visiting Covington’s Cathedral, he said, is usually listed second on many lists of “Things to Do in Greater Cincinnati,” just behind attending a Bengals or Reds game, depending on the season. And in a very real and awesome way, the Cathedral is “proclaiming the message of Jesus and His love for you. That’s why it’s so important that we preserve this building. It’s so important that this witness be preserved,” he said.

“When you walk into our Cathedral Church, two things happen. First, you are inspired and enthused … your very posture begins to turn you toward the eschaton, the last things, the aim and goal of life. And all around you, in stone and in stained glass, are the stories of the Scriptures, the stories of the saints, the stories of the Councils, the stories of our Jewish forebears, the stories of those who’ve gone before us, trusting in God. It is a catechism in light … It’s necessary to preserve this and to hand it on for generations so that they know of the love of Christ, that the faith of the apostles is planted firmly in the Bluegrass state, and what generations have handed on to us, we now have a responsibility to hand on to others.”

The new chimeras have arrived ready to take their spots atop the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Two years ago, the twenty-six chimera which lined the top of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, were removed as part of the Cathedral restoration initiative. Now, their new and improved counterparts have arrived, ready to reclaim their spots atop the Cathedral.

The new chimera, perfect replicas of the ones removed, were made by Boston Valley Terra Cota, New York, and arrived in late July. In order to perfectly replicate the ones removed, 3D scans were taken, and from those scans foam molds were made, which were cast to make a hollow mold, from which they created the new chimera.

“There’s a lot of hard work,” said Don Knochelmann, director, Buildings and Properties Office for the Diocese of Covington, “there’s a team of artists that put all the really fine detail; the wrinkles in the elephant’s skin and all the different things, that’s all done by hand.”

Father Ryan Maher, rector, Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption said about seeing the new chimera, “I was excited to see them up close, to see the incredible level of detail that the artist put into replicating the former chimera.”

Previously, each chimera weighed approximately 270 pounds, having at one point been filled with concrete. Each new chimera weighs only 170 pounds and are hollow. Mr. Knochelmann, suspects the old chimera, which were originally hollow as well, were filled in an attempt to elongate their life.

“Our understanding from the design team is that doing that actually shortens their life,” said Mr. Knochelmann, “because the concrete and terracotta didn’t expand at the same rate.”

While the talented team at Boston Valley Terra Cotta created the chimera, Trisco Construction will be the ones installing them.

“The workmen, to see day by day the details that they pay attention to do this restoration, every millimeter matters, every inch matters. Being here every day and being able to see them exercise the care, the diligence, the hard work, using their expertise, their God given talents, to do these small, very important restoration pieces, I’ve really enjoyed seeing that unfold,” said Father Maher.

He continued saying, “we’re doing something for the Lord, for all the Catholics in the area, all of the non-Catholics in the area, anybody who comes. We’re doing a great work of service in the Lord with his help to make sure this cathedral is here for generations, and that this type of work doesn’t have to be done for a long time.”

The replacement of the twenty-six chimera is one piece of the larger Restored in Christ Campaign, which seeks to restore the Cathedral façade and architectural structure. To learn more, go to covcathedral.com/restored-in-christ/.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption chimeras to land within months as project completion draws near

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Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The Diocese of Covington Restored in Christ Campaign is nearing completion as the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, enters the final stages of construction. Still to be completed in the coming months is the finishing of: Dutchmen repairs to the tracery, stone replacement, terracotta reglazing; instillation of the gargoyles, chimeras, lower columns, bases and cross; the stabilization of seven spires; and final touches such as the façade cleaning and the sealing of the 12 unsealed windows.

Don Knochelmann, diocesan director of the Buildings and Property Office, said the chimera will be the first to arrive but the last to be installed, hoping to minimize the possibility of damage during their instillation.

Trisco Construction Company continues its work of the upper tracery, which is the limestone columns and the decorative pieces at the top of the Cathedral, this will continue through August, said Mr. Knochelmann.

The gargoyles, which are nearing completion at Boston Valley Terra Cotta, New York, are on track to be installed in October.

“Everything they’re doing now is a continuation of what they’ve been doing all along. There’s stone replacement, there’s terracotta glazing around the tracery, around the windows, column replacement. It’s a big project. We’re doing some sealing around the windows to repair leaks,” said Mr. Knochelmann

The Restored in Christ Campaign, which was announced in early 2023, has been raising funds to support the repair and restoration of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption. Currently, 96 percent of the $7,560,000 goal has been raised, with $250,000 left to raise.

Bishop John Iffert says about the fundraising goal nearing completion, “I am deeply grateful for your sacrificial gifts that have raised an incredible $7.31 million toward our Cathedral Renovation Capital Campaign … Because of your unwavering support, the Cathedral Basilica will continue to shine as a timeless symbol of faith, beauty and community in our Diocese of Covington.”

Cathedral restoration campaign passes initial goal — but there is still work to be done

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by Maura Baker, Staff Writer

The “Restored in Christ” campaign to restore and pre- serve the historic Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, has recently reached an important fundraising milestone for the project.

The campaign has passed its initial goal of 6 million dollars, as of the week of June 28, with $6,020,917 from 1,892 donors. This total covers the estimated cost of most of the Cathedral’s restoration work — focusing on the stone and masonry. However, fundraising for the project is not yet complete, as Jim Hess, director, Stewardship and Mission, reported. “As they begin this kind of work on a historic building,” said Mr. Hess, “another 6 million could easily be used.”

As contractors are lofted above Cathedral gardens and Madison Avenue, more much-needed work on the Cathedral has been identified. One notable example is the tracing and lead elements of the iconic stained glass windows — which show wear on the seams and concrete pieces in the middle parts of the windows.

“So, even though we’ve reached our goal of 6 million,” said Mr. Hess, “we can’t necessarily be completely done trying to get gifts for the Cathedral because there is still work that needs to be done.”

Mr. Hess said that the majority of gifts towards the Cathedral were of $250 or less, with some being gifted as pledges of an estimated $4 per month. “Anybody can sacri- fice a cup of coffee a month to make a significant gift to the Cathedral,” he said.

“One thing I really want to stress is that I want to thank donors over and over again,” Mr. Hess continued, saying, “I think it’s a beautiful sign that the diocese was able to come together in this way to restore and preserve the Cathedral. It took a whole diocese to build, and now takes a whole diocese to maintain.”

More information on the Restored in Christ campaign, as well as information on how to contribute, can be found online at https://covcathedral.com/restored-in-christ/.