Church plans cornerstone ceremony; stone mason doesn't show

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SALT LAKE CITY -- After a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Monday's event was missing one thing: the stonemason.

The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, along with other Church leaders, was supposed to place many items from the first 100 years of the Diocese in a time capsule Monday.

**The Cathedral of the Madeline**![](http://media.bonnint.net/slc/1331/133130/13313021.jpg)

The Cathedral of the Madeleine, the only cathedral in the U.S. under the patronage of St. Mary Magdalene, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Church of Utah. The Cathedral was built during the ministry of Bishop Lawrence Scanlan and was initially dedicated on August 15, 1909. After extensive updating and renovation, it was re-dedicated Feb. 21, 1993.

Many came to participate in the culminating ceremony of the Cathedral's centennial. They had planned to mark an historic moment by placing photographs, books, diocese records and coins into the cornerstone; but for now, it remains where it is until the stonemason comes to remove it. There was a mix-up in dates, and the stone mason didn't show up for the ceremony. Bishop Wester said they all took it in stride. Besides, he has not finished writing a letter to Catholic faithful who will open the cornerstone a hundred years from now.

"I don't know, but today with medical science, looking at those little children, there really is a good chance that many of those children will be here a hundred years from now. So, it will be interesting to see," Bishop Wester said.

"[It's] the centennial celebration of this magnificent cathedral, so I feel very honored to be able to be here and be part of the celebration," said Duchesne resident Marea Doherty.

This centennial year has included a number of celebrations and concerts at the cathedral, even a visit Cardinal Levada from the Vatican.

It is not yet known when the cornerstone ceremony will take place.

E-mail: cmikita@ksl.com