Workers put up a temporary wall Nov. 7 blocking off the latest phase of construction work in the sanctuary of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. (HCH photo | Anna Weaver)
New full-length portraits of Hawaii’s two saints will enhance the basilica’s restored sanctuary
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
The sanctuary of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace will sparkle for Christmas and unveil two presents — larger than life full-length portraits of Hawaii’s two saints — all part of phase 2C of the historic church’s ongoing restoration.
Construction workers put up a temporary white wall Nov. 7 in the sanctuary of the church to hide the work of cleaning the marble altar and statues and refinishing the plastered coral columns with a faux-marble surface.
The most significant modification of the sanctuary will be the installation of the painted portraits of St. Damien de Veuster and St. Marianne Cope on either side of the crucifixion scene that stands over the old altar.
Artist color studies by Evergreene Architectural Arts of image of St. Marianne that will be installed on the sanctuary wall of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in the current phase of its restoration.
St. Marianne’s portrait will be on the left, above the present statue of Our Lady of Peace. St. Damien’s will be on the right, above the statue of St. Joseph. He will be wearing vestments for Mass. His right impaired arm will be in the sling that Mother Marianne made for him. Both will have their gazes fixed on the altar below.
Each saint will be depicted as they would have looked in the years 1888-1889, when both were on the Kalaupapa peninsula together. St. Damien died in 1889 at age 49. St. Marianne was 51 that year.
Other changes include the installation of additional lighting to enhance the portraits and a security camera system.
Mason Architects Inc., the restoration’s lead architect and project manager, is overseeing this phase. Constructors Hawaii Inc. is the general contractor.
New York-based Evergreene Architectural Arts is the liturgical arts designer who will produce the portraits, and GEBCO Hawaii Inc. is the security contractor.
Artist color studies by Evergreene Architectural Arts of image of St. Damien.
Phase 2C’s estimated construction cost is $343,000. It is scheduled to be completed on Dec. 20.
Daily Masses and the full weekend Mass schedule remain uninterrupted during the work.
According to a message this month to parishioners from rector Father Pascual G. Abaya IV, later phases 3-6 will include the construction of a reliquary chapel, a full immersion baptismal font, new pews, new and restored artwork, new tile floors, new lighting, new audio/video system, electrical and mechanical upgrades.
Also planned is the complete restoration of the vaulted ceilings, the stained glass windows and the pipe organ, as well as exterior painting and landscaping.
Father Abaya thanked the donors who made phase 2C possible.
A rendering showing the portraits in place.
“Praise God, and thank you to all who have contributed both cheerfully and sacrificially to the call of stewardship of the mother church of the Diocese of Honolulu,” he said.
“As the custodian and caretaker of the relic of St. Damien, and the remains of St. Marianne,” he said, “our responsibility as a parish family is to welcome and care for the many parishioners, visitors and pilgrims who seek opportunities to venerate the saints’ remains, and to be sure that the example of their lives continue to inspire our own call to holiness and to seek God’s will in our lives.”
For more information on the Cathedral Renewal Campaign, visit honolulucathedralrenewal.org
