MADISON — On December 28, after the Jubilee Year of Hope Closing Mass, the faithful of the Diocese of Madison were invited to see the progress that has been made on the Cathedral of St. Bernard of Clairvaux.

“I was fortunate to attend St. Bernard [Church] in the past, and this one will stand for centuries. It’s just beautiful,” said Kathy Gill from Stella Maris Parish.

On this unique day, the cathedral construction site was opened to the public, allowing the faithful to stroll through the structure and feast their eyes on its beauty.

While the cathedral is not fully complete, the stained glass has been restored, the painted details and murals are finished on most walls, and several other important features have been added, such as accessibility upgrades and structural improvements, which ensure the building will be a lasting presence in our diocese for all the faithful.

And the faithful were overjoyed to see this progress.

“We thought the open house was wonderful,” said Kathy and Bob Teofilo, from Shepherd of the Hills Parish in Eden, Wis.

“We loved having the opportunity to see the progress on the new Cathedral of Saint Bernard. We love how they are using the great history of our beautiful Catholic faith, including the breathtaking stained-glass windows, and how there will be a statue of all 12 Apostles. We really appreciate that they are using an existing church, rather than [incurring] the expense of building a new one, which did not seem necessary. Bishop Hying’s vision has been God-inspired.”

“Very impressive,” said George Paul of St. John Henry Newman Parish. “Gives you a feeling of St. Peter’s at the Vatican, and I look forward to hearing the organ and the singing.”  

The cathedral will act as a sign of hope and light in the city of Madison. Jill McNally, director of stewardship and development for the Diocese of Madison, was staffing the front door of the cathedral during the event. She caught a glimpse of the potential for evangelization firsthand.

“In speaking with a woman who walked into the cathedral, she indicated that her normal non-denominational church was not holding services that day, so she decided to come to the Cathedral of St. Bernard and then the open house,” McNally said. “She felt very welcomed and commented on the cathedral’s beauty. I asked if she would like to come back to another Mass, and she said she was open to it. It was the Holy Spirit bringing her to the cathedral that day, and I pray the Holy Spirit will work through her to bring her back!”

And it wasn’t just one person. “I witnessed so many people walking into the cathedral, through the front doors, and seeing the beauty for the first time,” McNally said.

“They were in awe! Their mouths dropped open, and their eyes were large . . . There were many people who came through the open house that day who were not Catholic. Every one of them was inspired by the beauty that they witnessed. I can’t wait for the cathedral to be complete.”

Mark Lehman, another attendee of the open house, agreed. “We know our donations are being used in an auspicious manner to create an enduring tool for evangelization for the diocese. God bless Bishop Hying and all who have labored to create this visible sign of God’s presence in our city.”

Dick and Jan Rinehart, who attend Mass at the Cathedral of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, were grateful for the success of the event.

“As parishioners, it was wonderful to see the attendance at our cathedral Mass and open house. The attendance was a powerful testament to the faith, unity, and commitment of our community.”

“We are so grateful to have a cathedral in our diocese again, and to Bishop Hying, all of the campaign supporters, and the whole renovation team for making it happen,” said Collin Konetzke, another attendee. “Even during the brief tour, we met families from multiple parts of the diocese who all felt that this was their cathedral.”

“Seeing the cathedral of Madison was an incredible experience,” said Theresa Rodger from St. John Henry Newman Parish.

“This cathedral magnifies the glory to Our Lord and our saints! I am excited for our seminarians, our priests, all Religious, and pilgrims who will be able to worship and study in this glorious place of Heaven on Earth.”

December 28 was a joyous occasion as the crowds explored the cathedral, sharing with one another the exquisite details that they found in the newly beautified church.