Photo journal – Feeding the hungry
The Salt Lake City skyline is very familiar to me. A few office buildings and hotels jut out of the lower standing houses, and on the hill to the north is the State Capitol Building. I never really noticed one of the more prominent buildings in the community. It is mostly hidden, where it sits just to the east of downtown on South Temple Street.
From atop the new Salt Lake City library, The Cathedral of the Madeleine’s bell towers can be clearly seen rising above the surrounding trees. Every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. the cathedral offers tours full of facts about the building’s history and art. I usually end up there Saturday mornings when there are fewer people around.
After the Saturday 10 a.m. service, the cathedral seems to vacate and the lights are turned out. I stayed to stare at the colors of the glowing stained-glass windows. Later, I heard someone creaking up to the organ box and a twill and thunder sounding throughout the cathedral. The music stopped abruptly, then started again. Whoever had come in was practicing a piece on the gigantic fanfare organ.
During a pause, I heard the bell ring out 12 p.m. Lunchtime, I thought. As I stepped out of the massive front doors beneath the carved tympanum, I noticed the number of people sitting on the steps and grass. It was like a big picnic – everyone with a white bag containing a sack lunch. Open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, the Cathedral’s Good Samaritan Program provides an average of 15,000 lunches a month. The program also provides toiletries and soap. As the weather gets colder, items like socks, gloves and coats become more important. The Good Samaritan Program is only one of the Cathedral’s services to the community.
The Annual Eccles Organ Festival gave its last concert of the season on Nov. 2, featuring Richard Elliott, who play the organ in the Salt Lake LDS Tabernacle. On Nov. 16, the Choir of the Cathedral of the Madeleine’s 14th annual concert season begins with pieces from Johann Sebastin Bach and Ildebrando Pizzetti. These concerts are free and open to the public.
For more information about upcoming concerts call (801) 994-4663, or visit the choir school Web site at www.madeleinechoirschool.org.
Michael Sharp is a sophomore majoring in art. Comments may be sent to michaelsharp@cc.usu.edu.
One of the Cathedral of the Madeleine´s towers rises into view from behind the trees. (Photo by Michael Sharp)
Lights flood throught the rose window illuminate the organ´s numerous pipes and casting shadows off the vault´s ribs. The stained-glass window displays musicians playing different instruments with the center piece as an organist. (Photo by Michael Sharp)
A Salt Lake City man receives one of more than 11,000 lunches provided by the Cathedral of the Madeleine´s Good Samaritan Program. The program has been in operation for nearly 20 years. For information on how to donate or volunteer call (801) 328-8941 (Photo by Michael Sharp)