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Cathedral gala: Fun and funds for renovation
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TO donate Renovation donations may be mailed to: Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, 1530 Logan St., Denver, CO 80203. Indicate “renovations” in the memo line.iturgical calendar: available through many parishes |
By John Gleason
More than 175 people gathered at the Grand Hyatt Denver Hotel downtown Oct. 23 for a gala and raised some $80,000 for the ongoing remodeling of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
The crowd was treated to a delicious dinner and live and silent auctions to aid restoration efforts to have the church ready for the building’s centennial celebration in 2012. Ann Trujillo of 7News was the mistress of ceremonies and radio personality Tom Manoogian (Lou from Littleton) served as auctioneer.
Msgr. Thomas Fryar, pastor of the Cathedral Basilica, drew applause when he reminded the audience that the parish was approaching its sesquicentennial on Oct. 27.
“150 years, isn’t that great,” he said, then he got the crowd laughing by adding, “that was just a couple of years before I was born. But this is a major highlight for the parish, like a homecoming. It’s good to see old friends, those who make what goes on at the cathedral possible in this wonderful building of ours, which is 98 years old.”
The live auction began with Lou from Littleton working the crowd as he touted items up for sale. The first item he took bids on was a dinner for eight with Denver Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley. Using a fine sense of horse trading, Lou plied his salesmanship on the crowd to generate interest.
“You all know that Bishop Conley spent several years in Italy learning, among other things, how to cook,” he said. “This is a first-class dinner for you and seven of your friends. Now who could say no to that?”
In the end, the sales pitch was so good and the interest so strong that not one, but three separate dinners were auctioned off for $1,300 a piece.
“Somebody better call Bishop Conley and let him know what I did,” Lou joked.
Not to be outdone, Msgr. Fryar took to the floor to help auction off a dinner that he will host at the Cathedral Basilica rectory.
“This will simply be the best dinner in town,” he said. “Our chef will cook up a four-course meal, with wine. You’ll be having dinner in the same room where Pope John Paul II ate when he was here for World Youth Day (1993).”
When the dust had settled, and the bidding was over, four separate dinners had been auctioned off at $1,200 each.
Parish administrator Mary Ellen Lederman told the Denver Catholic Register that recent renovation efforts have included refinishing of the nave walls, new framing of the Stations of the Cross and improvement of the lighting system. But other jobs remain.
“Our next phase will include restoration of the pews, to clean them and refinish them,” she said. “We’re also looking at renovating the confessionals and adding new flooring and carpeting.”
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