St. Mary Cathedral Basilica statue removed temporarily for restoration
October 4, 2019
Media Advisory
For immediate release
CONTACT: Jo Ann Zuniga, Media Relations Manager, email jzuniga@archgh.org, 713-652-8213 (office), 713-503-8034 (mobile)
GALVESTON – The St. Mary, Star of the Sea statue atop St. Mary Cathedral Basilica (2011 Church St., Galveston, Texas 77550) was temporarily removed Sept. 24 from the church building structure for restoration and is available for public visitation.
The roof where the statue sits will also undergo repairs at this time. The restoration process for both the statue and roof may take up 6 to 8 weeks for completion.
The statue will be kept in a ground-level enclosure on the property during the entirety of the restoration.
Before restoration gets underway, the statue of Mary will be made available for public visitation on the Basilica property from Sept. 27 to Oct. 6 (Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed on Saturday; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is collaborating with Coltzer Company and Zero/Six Consulting on the current restoration project consisting of structural and building exterior repairs.
The Cathedral Basilica had endured many storms since it was built in 1847. It was one of the few Galveston landmarks to survive the Great Storm of 1900. In 2008, the Cathedral Basilica was damaged significantly during Hurricane Ike. The interior of the historic church building was completely renovated and returned to full service in April 2014. St. Mary Cathedral Basilica is a part of Holy Family Parish in Galveston.
To donate to the St. Mary Cathedral Basilica restoration fund, please visit www.archgh.org/waystogive. Information about donating to the restoration project will also be available at the Basilica campus during the St. Mary statue visitation hours.
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston serves 1.7 million Catholics in 10 counties. It is the largest Roman Catholic diocese in Texas and the 5th largest in the United States.
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