For the past few years, Rorate has updated readers with photos and reports of the beautiful restoration of Saint Patrick's cathedral in New York City. You may recall the biggest change was the removal of the 1980s table-altar that was located closer to the nave than the existing main altar. Another change removed the tourist novelty hologram at the Holy Face side altar.
The third major improvement was the deconstruction of the modernist statue of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, which occupied space formerly used as a side altar:
We are pleased to report work has been completed on the new Mother Seton side altar that now occupies that space:
Located in between existing side altars, there is once again visual harmony on the Epistle side of the cathedral. While the new high relief panels are a bit modern in design, they do show the Sisters of Charity in their pre-Vatican II habits. The altar itself was designed by the cathedral's architect, James Renwick, Jr.
Monsignor Robert Ritchie and Timothy Cardinal Dolan are to be commended for this work, as is Sister Margaret, S.C., a Sister of Charity who sculpted the artwork before dying on 12 March.
