The fire of April 2019 ignited nearly $1 billion in pledged donations from across the world within days.

Not all the money was needed

Restoration chief Philippe Jost says €140 million (around NZ$252,000,000) still remains from the funds as the cathedral prepares to reopen next month.

The surplus will be used to support vital future preservation work on the central Paris cathedral.

Jost says people's generosity after the fire and the way the donated funds were managed was "very attentive and professional".

The funds will be used to maintain the cathedral "in agreement with the patrons and donors to carry out needed work" he says.

The 861-year-old Notre Dame cathedral has an ongoing need for work to ensure its preservation and structural integrity.

He also confirmed that the billionaire tycoons who pledged vast sums in the aftermath of the blaze have "fulfilled their financial commitments".

They all "honoured their pledges made on the night of the fire or in the hours that followed" he says.

Initially, the transfer of the promised funds seemed to hang in the balance as billionaire donors held back, waiting for specific restoration plans and negotiations outlining how their contributions would be used.

Initially this caused some frustration.

Smaller donations were used to cover tasks such as removing toxic lead dust and structural fortifications.

Critics from around the world questioned whether the donors were motivated by desire for legacy more than by a commitment to preserving France's cultural heritage.

Reopening date of Notre Dame announced

As the date nears for Notre Dame Cathedral's reopening, the eight bells in its northern belfry, partially destroyed in the blaze, rang out last week for the first time since 2019, their resonance carrying across the city.

The world-famous cathedral's ceremonial opening is programmed for 7 December. Its first service will take place the next day.

President Macron plans to give a short speech in front of the cathedral on 7 December and will be present at the first service the next day.

Due to the separation of Church and State, there has been debate about Macron's appearances as part of the celebrations.

Source

• AP News
• katholisch.de

During an in-flight press conference on the papal plane on Sept 13, the pope firmly stated: "I will not go to Paris!"

French President Emmanuel Macron invited Pope Francis to visit Paris for the long-awaited reopening of the historic cathedral, which is set to take place on Dec 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

Pope Francis traditionally celebrates the Marian feast with the city of Rome in the piazza at the foot of the Spanish Steps.

In 2019, the world mourned the damage to the medieval Paris cathedral by a fire that devastated the 315-foot-tall oak spire and timber roof of the eight-centuries-old cathedral.

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The Archdiocese of Paris will soon present its design to France's National Commission on Heritage and Architecture (CNPA) to restore the interior of the building damaged in the fire on the evening of April 15, 2019.

The Daily Telegraph English newspaper reported on Nov 26 that critics feared the changes would turn the building into a "politically correct Disneyland."

The article said that "confessional boxes, altars, and classical sculptures will be replaced with modern art murals, and new sound and light effects to create ‘emotional spaces.'"

"There will be themed chapels on a ‘discovery trail,' with an emphasis on Africa and Asia. Quotes from the Bible will be projected onto chapel walls in various languages, including Mandarin," it added.

Maurice Culot, an architect who has seen the plans, told the newspaper: "It's as if Disney were entering Notre-Dame."

The man in charge of the project is Gilles Drouin, a priest of the Diocese of Évry, he is also director of the Higher Institute of Liturgy at the Catholic University of Paris.

Fr Drouin was asked to improve the way tourists are accommodated and provide a more effective means of showcasing the cathedral's works of art. Both are issues that predate the blaze.

Drouin developed options in tandem, careful to consider both the pastoral and patrimonial aspects.

The project took shape with the help of architects, lighting and sound specialists, stage designers and artists. Then the various options were submitted to heritage professionals.

"Each step was validated by Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris," Father Drouin explains.

Catholics of Paris have raised concerns and demanded the archdiocese do a better job informing the public about the stages of the restoration project.

They called for more open discussion and urged planners to act with the "greatest humility" dealing with a work meant for the ages.

Drouin has readily acknowledged the criticism. But he says that earlier proposals that are now completely obsolete are still in circulation, which may fuel fears.

The cathedral will reportedly reopen for worship with a Te Deum on April 16, 2024, five years after the blaze.

Sources

La Croix International

Catholic News Agency

The government agency overseeing the reconstruction announced in a statement Saturday that the works to secure the structure — which began the day after the April 15, 2019 fire — are at last complete.

Carpenters, scaffolding experts, professional climbers, organ mechanics and others took part in the effort, which included special temporary structures to secure the iconic towers, vaults and walls of the huge roofless structure, and a special "umbrella" to protect it from the weather.

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Archbishop Michel Aupetit used the occasion of the feast of the dedication of Notre-Dame de Paris to reflect on the spiritual metaphor of restoring one of the most important cathedrals in France, which was once called the "eldest daughter of the Church."

"This cathedral is also the symbol of the restoration of this Church founded 2,000 years ago by Christ himself," the archbishop said in his homily on the evening of June 16.

"Some believe that it is in ruins and that it is on the verge of collapse. Yet Christ asserted that the gates of death would not prevail against her. We believe it deeply: like our cathedral, the Church of Christ will remain standing."

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The mammoth task of dismantling, cleaning and re-assembling France's largest musical instrument started Monday and is expected to last nearly four years.

Once restored, it will take six months just to tune the organ, according to the state agency overseeing Notre Dame's restoration. Its music isn't expected to resound again through the medieval Paris monument until 2024, to the dismay of the cathedral's dedicated organists.

"It's a very powerful organ, but with also a lot of poetry," said Johann Vexo, who was playing the organ during an evening Mass when the fire alarm sounded on April 15, 2019. "It's just probably the most beautiful organ in the world." Read more

Their vision of an inter-religious gathering to show their support was realised in Paris last Saturday, when they joined with Catholics and Christians of other religions in song and prayer.

The celebration of inter-faith togetherness was organised by Christian movement Efesia as part of its "Together with Mary" inter-religious group.

President of Efesia, Gerard Testard, said he was delighted to see "our Muslim friends come as if visiting a wounded person."

Paris' Auxiliary Bishop Denis Jachiet represented Catholics, Anouar Kbibech, Vice-President of the French Council of Muslim Worship, represented the Sunni Muslims, while Sheikh Mohamed Ali Mortada represented Shiites.

Jachiet reminded the gathering that the "Notre-Dame is much more than the cathedral of the Catholics of Paris."

Ghaleb Bencheikh, who is an Islamologist and president of the Foundation of Islam in France, shared similar sentiments.

"There will be a first physical reconstruction but also an intangible reconstruction, that of the nation," he said.

In Kbibech 's opinion, this second aspect has already begun.

"Today's meeting symbolises three levels of fraternity: between believers of the same religion, between believers of all faiths and with humanity," he said.

People from the Shiite community are positive about the event.

"We had organized an event around Mary just before the fire, at the Shiite mosque in La Courneuve, with our friends from Efesia. At a meeting, after the disaster, we asked ourselves how we could show our support for the Christian community," one said.

Another commented: "We have come for the union between Muslims and Christians. We want peace in France. We too are with Our Lady". She was "touched" and "sad" when she saw images of the burning cathedral.

Yet another said: "[Notre Dame is] a symbol. When people come to Paris there is the Eiffel Tower, it's true, but Notre-Dame is even more important".

Jachiet was of a similar opinion, saying "Notre-Dame is much more than the cathedral of the Catholics of Paris."

After more than an hour of prayers, songs, readings from the Gospel according to St John and suras from the Quran about the "human gathering," two doves were released.

Source

• La Croix
• Image: La Croix International

An innovative design to rebuild the historic 12th century cathedral could see modern and eco-friendly features replace the original roof that was destroyed in the devastating fire in April.

The possible transformation would see the religious building become completely self-sufficient, creating more energy than it consumes from special crystal glass that absorbs light from the sun.

Architect, Vincent Callebaut submitted the genius designs to the French Government, who launched a competition to re-design the spire for the building that is one of Paris' most famous landmarks. Read more

When the Parisian Cathedral caught fire, the world held its collective breath. The spire fell, and the wooden roof was reduced to ash, but the holy relics were saved, and the interior preserved from the worst ravages of fire.

Now more than €1 billion has been raised to restore Notre Dame, and a video game may prove to be the structure's saving grace.

Ironically, the franchise to which this particular title belongs, Assassin's Creed, is traditionally known for its anti-Christian sentiment. Read more

The Mass they will sing is one specially composed for them by New Zealander Andrew Baldwin.

Notre-Dame de Paris is an historic Catholic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in Paris.

The cathedral is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, and it is among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world.

It is part of a European tour

The concert in the Sacred Heart Cathedral was part of a series pre-tour farewell concerts that the Youth Choir is performing.

At the end of June the choir heads to Europe for its 2016 European Landmark Tour.

On the way it will stop off in Singapore to perform in the recently refurbished Victoria Concert Hall.

The Youth Choir will fly on to Prague en route to the International Festival of Academic Choirs in Pardubice in East Bohemia.

This 4-day Festival, which began 48 years ago, has been host to choirs from many countries but this will be the first time a New Zealand group has taken part.

After the Festival the youth choir will travel to France.

Before singing in Notre Dame there will be a concert in Le Quesnoy in Northern France.

It will celebrate the liberation of the town by the NZ Division in WW1 and the town's friendship with New Zealand over the last 100 years.

The choir will then go on to the UK and perform at Oxford University in the Church of Church of St Mary the Virgin, St Georges Chapel Windsor, St John's Smith Square in Westminster, Ely Cathedral and St John's College Chapel, Cambridge.

Source

• choirsnz.co.nz
• listener.co.nz
• Image: static.panoramio.com

The culture ministry and national heritage officials discussed the proposal without telling the Church.

The rector-archpriest of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris said having a fee would make free access by believers almost impossible.

Msgr Partick Jacquin painted a picture of two lines at the cathedral, one for visitors and one for the faithful.

"It's absurd - one would have to ask for baptismal certificates at the door."

All religious buildings in France built before 1905 belong to the state, which is responsible for their upkeep.

A change to the law separating church and state would be needed for the fees plan to proceed.

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The graceful and inspiring Catholic church that has dominated Paris since the 12th century, survived the Hundred Years War, the French Revolution and two world wars is being readied for an invasion of camera-wielding birthday visitors.

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