Renovation and Restoration of St. James Catholic Cathedral in Orlando

Photos provided by Sister Elizabeth Worley © 2010 http://www.pbase.com/valetao/profile

Last year marked the beginning of a transformative journey for St. James Cathedral, the Mother Church of the Diocese of Orlando, as Rohn & Associates Design embarked on a comprehensive interior renovation, restoration, and expansion project. Under the leadership of Liturgical Designer Rolf Rohn, alongside Sister Elizabeth Worley and Antonio Aguerrevere, Director of the Diocesan Office of Design and Construction, the initiative aimed to address essential infrastructure repairs, restore the Cathedral's original beauty, and increase seating capacity.

Rolf's redesign focused on modernizing the Cathedral's functionality, incorporating new presbyterium seating and ensuring adherence to liturgical guidelines outlined by the USCCB. Central to the revitalization were new furnishings crafted from four varieties of polished Italian marble, including the altar, ambo, tabernacle, Bishop’s Chair, and baptismal font. These items feature intricate bas relief carvings depicting St. James, Sts. Peter and Paul, and the Four Evangelists, with columns adorned in a shell motif honoring the Cathedral's patron saint. Their rich crimson hue, woven with rose and beige, symbolizes the blood of Christ and complements the Cathedral interior.

A striking addition to the space is an expansive oil-on-canvas Pentecost mural, conceived and painted by Artist Renate Rohn. The artwork, soaring an impressive 12 feet high, bathes the space in sunset hues. Its depiction of the Holy Spirit descending upon the Apostles symbolizes empowerment, inspiring all who behold it with a profound message of sharing redemption and grace with the world. 

At the heart of the sanctuary stands a magnificent 8’7” wooden crucifix with a 5'6” corpus, set against a backdrop of another hand-painted mural depicting the City of Jerusalem. This poignant image, designed and donated by Rolf, serves as a profound reminder of Christ's sacrificial love and suffering. Finally, on either side of the altar, Renaissance-style murals narrate pivotal moments from the life of St. James, enriching the spiritual atmosphere of the Cathedral.

The culmination of this remarkable endeavor was celebrated with a dedication ceremony on November 20, 2010, signifying a milestone in the restored Cathedral's history and reaffirming its role as a cornerstone of faith within the community.