WHAT: Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption Dedication Mass
WHEN: 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9 (Procession will begin promptly at 2:15 p.m.)
WHERE: 615 Hoyt Ave, Saginaw
SAGINAW- The Most Rev. Joseph R. Cistone, Bishop of Saginaw, will celebrate a Dedication Mass at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption, 615 Hoyt Ave., in Saginaw on Tuesday, May 9, at 2:30 p.m. The procession into the Cathedral will begin at 2:15 p.m. The Cathedral doors will open at 1 p.m.
"This is an historic day in the life of our diocese," Bishop Cistone said. "I look forward to celebrating this special Mass in which the Cathedral walls and altar will be blessed with Sacred Chrism, and two first class relics, one of St Pius X and the other of St. John Neumann, will be placed in the body of the altar."
The beautifully renovated Cathedral welcomed the community to an open house on Sunday, May 7. Hundreds of visitors poured in from near and far to see the transformation. The 116 year old church, which was in great need of repairs, had been closed for 9 months while the renovation was underway.
"From the very beginning, I have expressed my deep commitment to the stability and rejuvenation of Saginaw's East Side community," Bishop Cistone said. "In a neighborhood that suffers great challenges, I pray the Cathedral will stand as a beacon of hope that the Catholic Church is invested and here to stay."
In February, Bishop Cistone accepted an award from Saginaw Future Inc., a local economic development organization, on behalf of the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption, for the major renovation project. While some work and refinement needs to be completed, the dedication Mass will take place tomorrow, to allow the Cathedral parish to return for the celebration of weekly Masses and other parish liturgies.
"I pray the work which has been accomplished at the Cathedral will enable us to be a stronger and more faithful agent not only in the work of the Church but in the wellbeing and betterment of the broader community," Bishop Cistone said.
Joining Bishop Cistone in celebration of the Dedication Mass include: Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia; Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit (Representing Archbishop Allen Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit); Bishop Earl Boyea, Bishop of Lansing; Bishop Paul Bradley, Bishop of Kalamazoo; Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia; Bishop John McIntyre, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia; Bishop Carl Mengeling, Bishop Emeritus of Lansing; Bishop Steven Raica, Bishop of Gaylord; the priests of the Diocese of Saginaw; as well as visiting priests from the (arch)dioceses of Detroit, Kalamazoo and Philadelphia.
The Catholic Diocese of Saginaw was established by Pope Pius XI on Feb. 26, 1938. Today, it includes 6,955 square miles across Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Sanilac, Saginaw and Tuscola counties. In 1938, The Most Rev. William Murphy, the first Bishop of Saginaw, dedicated the entire diocese under the patroness of Mary of the Assumption.