Above and below, scaffolding sheathes the bell tower at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. The roof and brickwork are being repaired as part of the Built on Faith, Renewed in Hope restoration and renewal of the diocesan mother church. Although exterior work has already begun, the Cathedral will remain open to parishioners and visitors through Sunday, Sept. 28. Interior work is scheduled to begin during the first week in October.

Father Peter Harman, pastor of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Springfield, is taking time this month to help his parishioners pay particular attention to being "part of the church."

Father Harman said he wants parishioners to remember that even though they will be attending Mass at a different parish for the next year or so while the Cathedral is being restored, they are all still members of the same Catholic Church.

In anticipation of the Cathedral being closed for restorations that will begin in October, Father Harman has planned four specific homilies for parishioners to keep in mind.

"All four Sundays of September - our last four at Cathedral - I will be preaching on a different theme of being part of the church," he said.

On Sept. 7, Father Harman spoke on "Come to me all you who labor." On Sept. 14 his topic will be "Be still and know that I am God."  Sept. 21 will be "I received the living God," and Sept. 28 will be "Go make of all disciples."

p1-pic-far.jpgAlthough Father Harman will not be the celebrant at all the Masses, he will be the homilist. "I'll be preaching at every Mass, so I'll be busy," he said of the five weekend Masses at Cathedral, which are at 4 p.m. on Saturday as well as 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday.  

On Sept. 28, the last Sunday of the month, Bishop George J. Lucas will celebrate the Sunday Mass at 11 a.m.  

"We will have a procession and leave-taking celebration, to which everyone is invited," said Father Harman. "This will be a solemn liturgy in which many of the symbols of dedication will be recalled. Bishop will bless the parish for their pilgrimage over the next year until the completion of the restoration."

Although plans are still in the works, if weather permits an outdoor gathering with refreshments provided by the Cathedral Men's Club will also take place after 11 a.m. Mass. There will be a Mass at 5 p.m. on Sept. 28, Father Harman said.

"I'm looking for this opportunity to catechize people on why we come to worship," said Father Harman. "This is the perfect opportunity with this change coming to ask questions about what faith really is."