Denis McNamara to speak at La Crose Cathedral Oct 6th

LA CROSSE – Cincinnati architect Edward Schulte designed the La Crosse Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman at the peak of his career as a church architect of national prominence. The designer of four cathedrals and more than 80 churches across the nation, Schulte was recognized as the leading American architect for Catholic churches in the years from World War II to the early 1960s. With his unreserved commitment to both modern inventiveness and a deep sense of churchliness, he used traditional imagery, texts, materials and allied arts integrated into buildings recognizably of his age, making him a uniquely inventive and successful fi gure in ecclesiastical circles.

On Oct. 6, from 9-10:30 a.m., Dr. Denis McNamara, assistant director and faculty member at the Liturgical Institute of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake and today’s foremost expert on Edward Schulte, will discuss his life and work, highlighting in a special way the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman. Come learn how our very own Cathedral – now celebrating its 50th anniversary – stands as one of the most significant designs of an architect of national prominence and plays a part in an important, but little-known movement, in liturgical architecture. [I believe called "End of the World" architecture, you know, before churches stopped looking like churches] 

McNamara holds a bachelor’s degree in the History of Art from Yale University and a PhD in Architectural History from the University of Virginia, where he concentrated his research on the study of ecclesiastical architecture of the 19th and 20th centuries. He makes a specialty of bridging the gap between the Church’s great artistic tradition and the documents of the Second Vatican Council. He has also done groundbreaking research on the sacramental meaning of the classical architectural tradition.

His 2009 book “Catholic Church Architecture and the Spirit of the Liturgy” (Hillenbrand Books), was honored in two categories by the Catholic Press Association, and his newest title, “How to Read Churches: A Crash Course In Christian Architecture” (Rizzoli, 2011) is published in English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French.

the Catholic Times

I've got the second book, very good, worth having on your bookshelf.  I haven't read the first yet but I hear it's killa.  Creative Minority Report has posted several talks by "D Mac". 

I worry this will end up being an apologia for the current state of the Cathedral, but maybe he will make the case that it is clear certain aspects of the La Crosse Cathedral miss the mark.  I can't build my Basilica here.  I know.  I am hopeful there are lessons learned from the construction of this Cathedral that new constructions can learn from.