For 80 years the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception served as the mother church of the diocese, but it was beginning to show its age. The renewal process began over issues of accessibility and updating liturgical elements within the church. In June 2006, Bishop George J. Lucas asked Msgr. Carl Kemme to form a steering committee whose task it would be to propose updates and changes to the Cathedral.

For the interior, the committee focused on areas of accessibility, liturgical renewal and general refurbishment to the decorative elements. For the exterior, the areas of concern were leakage from the roof, tuck-pointing, areas of deferred maintenance and making the grounds more welcoming. The committee made sure that all new additions to the cathedral complex were in keeping with the original architecture so it would match and complement what already existed.

A wide-ranging advisory committee was invited to assist the steering committee by formulating value statements that would guide subsequent renewal work. They are:

1. The Cathedral as the mother church of our diocese reflects and models the strong liturgical tradition found throughout our diocese;

2. Our Cathedral communicates a welcoming hospitality that respects the dignity of all God’s people;

3. An active community called to worship, proclaim and serve, especially in causes of justice, is visible in our Cathedral; and

4. The visual history and tradition of the Cathedral connects us to the larger church and conveys a sacramentality that expresses our baptismal call.

James Graham of the architectural firm, Graham and Hyde, was the chief architect and overseer for the project. The last Mass was held in the Cathedral on September 28, 2008 and renovations began the next week.