Prayers, Music and Blessing of the Cornerstone
Thursday and Friday, September 13 and 14, 2007, brought special times of prayer and celebration as we move forward toward the building and dedication of Triumph of the Cross Church and Cathedral in Steubenville.
“Triumph of the Cross: A Prayerful Concert Celebration” was held Thursday evening at Holy Name Cathedral. Bishop R. Daniel Conlon, Fr. Tim McGuire, pastor of Triumph of the Cross parish, and Dick Adams, head of the Steubenville Task Force Implementation Team, opened the evening with prayer and Scripture readings.
Music celebrating the sanctity of life, joy and our life together as members of the Church was performed and led first by Irish Catholic recording artist Dana and then Steubenville’s Unity award-winning David Vogel Band.
We enjoyed the evening’s heart-felt music and stories about many of the songs.
September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, is the feast day of Triumph of the Cross parish and cathedral. At 4:00 pm that day, Cardinal Francis Arinze presided at the Blessing of the Cathedral Foundation Stone – the cornerstone – at the site of the new cathedral. His Eminence, a member of the Roman Catholic Curia at the Vatican, is the Prefect of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Our Bishop, R. Daniel Conlon, three other bishops and several hundred people gathered from Steubenville and other parts of the Diocese of Steubenville, including people who travelled by bus from Marietta, Ohio. The Scripture readings were about building and the significance of the Cornerstone.
In his homily, Cardinal Arinze’s spoke about the importance of a church, and especially the cathedral, in the life of Catholics, saying that “the church building is for the gathering of the people of God.”
“There is particular significance of the cathedral of the diocese of the church. The cathedral church of the diocese is the mother of all other churches in a diocese.” – Cardinal Arinze
He concluded by saying, “A cathedral is not built in a day. But we pray it won’t be too many days before another gathering when we celebrate the dedication of the new church.”
Bishop Conlon then blessed the Foundation Stone, after which members of parishes that are coming together to form Triumph of the Cross Parish led the people in prayers of Intercession. The service concluded with a blessing by Cardinal Arinze.
Music was provided by the Steubenville Catholic Central High School and the St. John Central High School Marching Bands, the Schola Contorum Franciscana of Franciscan University of Steubenville and Choral Members representing the parishes comprising Triumph of the Cross Parish.
At the site, the outline of the cathedral was marked by stakes and colored tape, with a Cross standing where the main altar will be located.
New Parish New Church 