Cathedral of the Madeleine to encase time capsule

SALT LAKE CITY — When you're in your second century of existence, a delay of several days seems rather insignificant.

Such is the case with the Cathedral of the Madeleine time capsule, which was to have been replaced in the southwest cornerstone following Monday's special Mass and ceremonies.

One catch: The cornerstone hadn't been properly prepped for the replacement.

Nevertheless, the Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, went ahead and celebrated the Mass, honoring the Feb. 22, 1993, rededication of the renovated cathedral at 331 E. South Temple.

The capsule-replacement processional has been postponed indefinitely.

Not to worry, since precise calendar dates and periods are not the norm for the cathedral's time capsule.

It originally was put in the cornerstone shortly after the cornerstone's placement in 1900, even though the cathedral wasn't completed and opened until 1909.

In preparation for last year's centennial celebration, the time capsule was retrieved in February 2008, with contents examined, catalogued and archived. Some items remain on display at the diocese's Pastoral Center.

The time capsule will not only be replaced in the cornerstone, but the original box that held it — a thick, rectangular metal box — will be replaced with a larger and much lighter version.

"I hope many of you will be able to join me 100 years from now, when we open it again and celebrate another centenary," quipped Bishop Wester, telling the schoolchildren sitting in the closest pews "you've got a better chance of that than I do."

The new capsule contents will include books about the diocese ("Salt of the Earth") the building ("Story of the Cathedral") and the religion ("Catholic Utah at the Turn of the Century") as well as directories, leadership listings and photographs ranging from Pope Benedict XVI and Archibishop of San Francisco George H. Niederauer to Bishop Wester and other local Catholic leaders and staff members.

Also included were Aug. 15, 2009, editions of the Deseret News, Salt Lake Tribune and Intermountain Catholic on the centennial anniversary; a set of 2009-dated U.S. coins, photographs and memorabilia of the cathedral's centennial celebration and the 1991-93 restoration project; and Madeleine Choir School history, artifacts and CDs.