The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-06-24
The PRO GA THE DIAL
THE CENTER OF CATHOLIC IN
TEREST DURING THE MINNIE
APOLIS CIVIC cELEBRA-
TlON.

Noted Speakers-View Of Parades
and Pageants-Description
of the Pro-cathedral.
During the Minneapolis Civic Cele-
bration to commemorate the linking
of Lakes Calhoun and the Lake of the
Isles which takes place the first week
of July, the Pro- Cathedral of the I'M
maculate Conception, now approach
ing completion, will be headquarters
for the Catholics of the Northwest. 1t
is ideally located for this purpose. 1t
is situated at the junction of Sixteenth
Street and Hennepin Avenue, the main
thoroughfare of the city, and adjoins
the Parade Grounds and Loring Park,
where some of the most noted events
of the week occur, including the re-
view of the National Guard by Cover
nor Eberhart, which will be mobilized
for three days at the parade grounds;
the historic pageant which will be CIV
en- three nights at Loring Park; and
the school children's demonstration on
Saturday afternoon. Besides this, all
the parades which take place during
the Civic Celebration pass the Pro-
Cathedral, and it's elevation will fur
nish splendid view.
The pastor and people of the I'm
maculate Conception parish, knowing
the great interest that is felt through
out the Northwest concerning the Pro-
Cathedral, have decided to afford all
visitors to Minneapolis, and especially
all Catholic visitors, an opportunity to
inspect it. The work of construction
has progressed far enough to enable
one to obtain a good idea of the size
and architectural beauty of the COM
pleted structure.
Although the Civic Celebration does
not begin until Sunday July 2, the fes-
tival for the benefit of the Pro-Cathe-
dral building fund will be opened on
Friday evening, June 80, by the Most
Reverend Archbishop Ireland of st.
Paul, who will speak in the Pro-Cathe-
dral itself on "The History of the Pro-
Cathedral Project to Date" On the
evening of July 2, sacred concert
will be given and an address will be
delivered by the Very Reverend Fran
els Clement Kelley, LII. D., Chicago,
ILL.,, President of the Catholic Church
Extension Society of the United
States. In addition, arrangements
have been made for similar entertain
ments every afternoon and evening
during the week.
Monday, July 3, is set apart es-
pecially for the Knights of Columbus;
Tuesday, independence Day, will be
marked by the ceremonies connected
with the closing of the Parochial
School of the Pro-Cathedral Parish
which will take place in the Pro-
Cathedral itself; Wednesday is dedi-
Gated to the Hibernian organizations;
Thursday is st. Paul's day; and Friday
is set apart for the members of the
Catholic Order of Foresters.
Progress of the Work.
There is no doubt that the Pro-Ca-
thedral of the Immaculate Conception
when completed will be the finest
church edifice in the Northwest with
the exception of the New Cathedral of
st. Paul. It will cost about 81, ,000,0 900.
The corner stone was laid three years
ago by His Excellency, the Apostolic
Delegate; and the work of construc-
ton is SO far advanced that it will be
possible to dedicate the building in
1913.
When work ceased last year the
walls of the main building had been
completed to the top of the cornice,
thus giving an unobstructed view of
the clerestory. The walls Of the
Sanctuary and of the Apse had been
brought up to the base of the cleres-
tory. The immense steel trusses for
the support of the roof, each of which
has a span of 81 feet and weighs II
tons, had been placed i'm position to-
gether with the steel rafters and pur-
Inns which carry the concrete roof.
Since work began this spring the
main roof of concrete has been fin
ished. The twin towers of the facade
have been completed with the excep-
tion Of the metal work on their tops.
The roofs covering the sides aisles
and extending from the outer wall to
that of the clerestory have been fin
ished and coppered The walls OF the
Sanctuary and of the Apse have been
carried up to the top of the cornices.
Two of the four large supporting ar
ches Of the main dome which rises
above the center Of the Sanctuary will
be completed before the first of July.
The work OF installing the plumbing
in the rough has been carried on as
far as possible; and the leaders for
the roof and areas are already in posi-
tion. Hence visitors to Minneapolis
during the Civic Celebration will be
able to view the completed exterior