Bishop George J. Lucas gives the Blessing of Pilgrims at the end of the leave-taking Mass at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday, Sept. 28. Afterward, the Cathedral Men’s Club provided refreshments for a family picnic that was held on the rectory lawn. The Cathedral will be closed for restoration for at least the next year.

The leave-taking Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday, Sept. 28 was "a bittersweet time" said Father Peter Harman, pastor of Cathedral Parish.

Beginning Sept. 29, the Cathedral will be closed through November 2009 for an $11 million renewal and restoration program.

Bishop George J. Lucas was the main celebrant and Father Harman was concelebrant at the 11 a.m. Mass.

"We processed out with the Easter Candle to recall our own baptisms, with the Book of the Gospels, and with the Cathedral banner, which we will place in Sacred Heart Church (St. Katharine Drexel Parish)," said Father Harman.

"Bishop Lucas was the last person to leave the Cathedral, so it was very symbolic of the taking leave," he said, explaining that the bishop will also be the first person to enter the Cathedral when it re-opens.

"Afterward the Men's Club supplied us with hot dogs, chips and drinks, so we had a nice picnic. There were kids running around the lawn at the rectory playing tag - so that was fun because it doesn't happen that often," said Father Harman. "Several individuals told me that they were glad to have that extra time as a parish family together, so I know people appreciated it."

For the next year or so, clergy from Cathedral will be celebrating two daily Masses (Monday through Friday) for St. Katharine Drexel and Cathedral parishioners and any others who want to attend at Sacred Heart Church at 7:20 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Mass will also be celebrated at 8 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church on Saturday and a vigil Mass will be celebrated there at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday for Cathedral parishioners.

Sunday morning Masses for Cathedral parishioners will be held at Sacred Heart Church at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Cathedral's Sunday evening Mass will be at 5 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church, Springfield.

"So Father (Christopher) House and I will also be pilgrims during the upcoming year and we too will be traveling to other churches," Father Harman said. Then commenting about the 7:20 a.m. Mass on Monday, Sept. 29, "Our dedicated daily Mass attendees were there at Sacred Heart Church this morning.

"However, I have to admit it was bittersweet and it was odd turning off the lights there last night," Father Harman said of the Cathedral. "We've been looking forward to this (the Cathedral renewal program) but it was still an emotional moment for me. We celebrate Mass there. But that (sadness) will be more than met by the joy when the Cathedral re-opens."