St. Raphael Cathedral holds memories for generations of Madison residents. A new steeple still perches atop the ruins of Madison's oldest church, but after the March 14 blaze there is still no word about rebuilding the landmark.
\We have been worried about the stability of the walls while removing debris,"" said the parish's communications director, Bill Brophy. ""We don't know if the building is salvageable.""
What is left of St. Raphael Cathedral, 222 W. Main St., stands in District 4, which is overseen by Ald. Mike Verveer.
""The firefighters took me on a tour of the cathedral the day after the fire,"" Verveer said. ""There were a number of items that seemed relatively unscathed by fire; the stained glass windows and items in the sanctuary.""
Over the last month one of those windows, never meant to face the elements, has cracked in a windstorm. Workers have been removing debris and some of the walls have been shored up with iron beams.
Monsignor Paul Swain said until further structural information is available, it will be difficult to put together a timetable for planning discussions or rebuilding.
""We are in the information gathering stage right now,"" Swain said. ""We will be doing a lot of consultation. We don't have a timetable.""
Brophy could not offer any specific details for the church's reconstruction, but said church officials were ""keeping [their] options open.""
""We will be meeting, in the future, with some different groups to discuss things,"" Brophy said. ""By church law there must be a cathedral per diocese. There will be a cathedral for this diocese.""
Verveer said he is a Catholic and attended mass regularly at St. Raphael. ""The fire is unfortunate. They just celebrated their 150-year anniversary. There are 150 years of memories there, and I personally very much hope and pray that Bishop Morlino rebuilds.
A lot of people have shared experiences in that building, from baptisms to first communions, weddings, to funerals,"" Verveer said.
Verveer added community members should communicate their wishes for the church's future to Morlino.
""Not a day goes by that there isn't a letter to the editor of one of our papers that expresses hope that the cathedral is rebuilt,"" Verveer said.
William Connell, the suspect detained on suspicion of arson and burglary, entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by mental disease or defect. Attorneys are in the process of filing motions.
