Ambo

The ambo is made of Portoro marble, also known as Black and Gold marble. The inscription on the front is taken from Titus 2:1: “Loquere quae decet sanam doctrinam (preach what is befitting sound doctrine).”

Originally the ambo was attached to a column 30 inches above the sanctuary floor. It has been moved to a more central location to provide better accessibility and to give more prominence to the place where God’s Word is proclaimed.

Cathedra

The cathedra, or bishop’s chair, is given a permanent location to the left of the altar. The term cathedral is derived from the Greek word for seat (kathedra), which in Latin became cathedra. Therefore, the cathedral is the principal church of a diocese, in which the cathedra resides.

The original cathedra has been refinished, re-upholstered and gilded to highlight its unique features. It has been placed on a new platform to give focus and dignity to the bishop of the diocese.

Sanctuary Platform

The sanctuary platform has been extended eastward to accommodate a greater number of clergy for large diocesan functions. The side altars have also been foreshortened to allow for more space on the sanctuary platform. The façade of the side altars remain the same, but have been moved closer to the reredos. The entrance to the sanctuary platform has been changed to a gentle curve to soften the relationship between the sanctuary and the nave. As a result of these changes, the sanctuary platform has been enlarged by approximately 15 percent.