RENOVATIONS

FROM PAGE 6

Built in 1938-’39, St. Patrick began as a parish church and was consecrated by Bishop Eugene McGuinness of Raleigh on Sept. 4, 1939. In 1972, when then-Pope Paul VI established the Charlotte diocese, St. Patrick Church was chosen to become the new diocese’s cathedral. Prior to this latest project, the cathedral has undergone significant renovations five times: in 1979, 1996, 2012, 2013 and 2021.

As work progressed during the most recent renovations, new ideas for beautification percolated among Father Roux and the renovation team. North Carolina artist Lisa Autry was commissioned to paint detailed artwork on the rib arches and walls, including the diocesan crest, a Marian symbol, St. Joseph crest, the Alpha and Omega icons (representing the comprehensiveness of God), and the Chi Rho symbol (the Greek monogram for Christ).

At www.catholicnewsherald.com : See more photos of the renovated St. Patrick Cathedral

Autry installed canvas panels onto the ceiling ribs that accented their existing stencil work. The images in the panels were inspired by the cathedral’s stained-glass windows, which are original and depict scenes from the life of Christ. The windows were crafted by a German artist who studied under Louis Tiffany, the famous art nouveau designer and son of Charles Tiffany of jewelry store fame.

Autry said she was particularly grateful to work in the cathedral alongside many other professional tradespeople: “I sat in the space many times and imagined what I would do to add to it. What an honor it is to be asked to participate in the renovation.”

A renowned regional artist, Autry also repainted the Mary, Mother of God statue that toured the diocese for its 50th anniversary in 2022, and before that, she painted murals, gilding and more at St. Ann and St. Thomas Aquinas churches in Charlotte, St. Mark in Huntersville, Our Lady of Lourdes

Church in Monroe, St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly, and Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City, among other projects. She also worked with Father Roux to create a new look for the nave, selecting a soft blue color.

Finishing the artwork and repairs while allowing for plaster to cure was a tall order in just three months, not to mention bringing the scaffolding in and out, Sapp said.

“We went into it with confidence, but at the same time, we knew there would be some challenges in meeting the schedule,” he said. “It took a lot of coordination on the part of everyone involved –the contractor and his subcontractors, material suppliers, the artist, and folks at the cathedral itself.”

Alessandro Landolfa, who served as the project superintendent for general contractor Barringer Construction, is a native of Italy and has extensive experience with plaster, having worked on churches in Europe. Sapp praised his work and that of the Barringer’s project manager Nick Cevallos.

“They were all-stars on a superstar team,” Sapp said. “They did a great job thinking ahead and coordinating every detail. They were in the field every day dealing with the questions, coordinating local activities on campus, and managing all the tradespeople it took to make this project a success.”

Contractors also included Terracon, an engineering consulting firm, to assess water intrusion issues; JLL to serve as project manager; and ForconiBongiorno Inc. to repair the plaster. Remaining work includes additional interior artwork, storm drainage improvements, and exterior repairs to the bell tower and above the front door.

The artisan work and gold leaf were donated by Kenna Custom Painting, in thanksgiving for the spiritual guidance of St. Patrick.

Father Roux was happy to reopen the cathedral doors for Holy Week liturgies in the mother church of the diocese.

“As pastor of the parish, it’s such a great feeling to have our family back in our home,” he said.

“Though we were able to celebrate Mass on site in our temporary chapel during this period, having Mass in our family home is a much more beautiful feeling. We worship our Heavenly Father in a setting which, by its beauty, glorifies Him and raises our hearts and minds to heaven.”

“The poverty and simple faith of the people in Africa inspired me,” he said in a 2011 interview with the Catholic News Herald. “During Mass, you would hear them speak and sing in three different languages, yet they came together as one community.”

From Africa Father Ayathupadam traveled to the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth in Nova Scotia, Canada, and after spending 10 years as a hospital chaplain there, he applied for a job as hospital chaplain in the warmer climate of the Carolinas. He served at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Asheville from 1987 to 1988 before moving to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Parish in Charlotte to serve as parochial vicar.

In 1990, he was incardinated in the Charlotte diocese, where he continued to serve in various parishes: St. Leo the Great Catholic Parish in Winston-Salem, Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Mission in Highlands, St. Joseph of the Hills Catholic Parish in Eden, and Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Parish in Albemarle. In his last assignment before retiring in 2006, he served as pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Parish in Denver, where he oversaw the building of an activity center to accommodate the parish’s growing needs.

Father Ayathupadam was also instrumental in building Charlotte’s Syro-Malabar Catholic community. In the early 2000s, when he was still pastor of Holy Spirit Parish, an informal Malayalee Catholic group gathered under his leadership. From 2000 to 2006, he served as spiritual leader for the growing Indian community in the Charlotte area, occasionally celebrating Holy Qurbana (Mass) at St. Vincent De Paul and St. Thomas Aquinas churches in Charlotte.

After retiring, Father Ayathupadam continued to remain active from his home in Fort Mill, S.C., helping parishes in South Carolina as well as continuing to support the local Malayalee Catholic Community by celebrating Holy Qurbana at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Fort Mill every month until 2012. More recently, he had moved back to India to be close to family.

In 2021, Father Ayathupadam celebrated his 60th anniversary of ordination.

Looking back on his decades of ministry, Father Ayathupadam reflected in 2011 that the greatest part about being a priest was “to serve the people as my brothers and sisters.”

“There is no retirement for a priest because the vocation is life, and we are priests forever until the last breath. And hopefully after that moment we’ll be at the altar in heaven,” he said.

Father Ayathupadam is survived by his sister Thressiamma Joseph; and nephews and nieces: George, Paul, Philomina, Mary, Saly and Gracy. He was preceded in death by his parents and immediate family members Matthew, George, Rosamma and and Sister Angel.