Restorations

Bishop Gracida continued to encourage restoration of the Cathedral. Extensive work was done on the great pipe organ, which is an on going project. The Carrillon Bells and the Tower Clock in the south bell tower were restored through a generous gift of Dee Dee Harkins-Richards from the Harkins Foundation. Work on restoring the exterior of the bell towers began under Bishop Gracida and is not yet complete. Many improvements are taking place in the care of the Cathedral gardens.

Bishop Roberto O. Gonzalez, OFM, was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi in 1995. April 1, 1997 Bishop Gonzalez became the Sixth Bishop of Corpus Christi. Bishop Rene H. Gracida became Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Bishop Gonzalez asked that the Bishop’s chair be placed at the left side of the sanctuary, near the altar of the Blessed Virgin, so that the Bishop would be closer to the people during the liturgy.

Bishop Roberto, as he wanted to be known, continued making the Cathedral the liturgical center of Diocesan life. Friends of the Cathedral Parish community made a copy of the coat of arms of the Bishop and the Diocese in needle point for the back of the Bishop’s antique chair. June of 1999 the Holy Father appointed Bishop Roberto to the office of Metropolitan Archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico. Archbishop Roberto continued as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Corpus Christi until the appointment of Bishop Edmond Carmody D.D., as Seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. For almost a year it can be said that the Corpus Christi Cathedral was presided over by an Archbishop.