Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral to remain closed over Easter

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago says the doors of Holy Name Cathedral will remain closed through the Easter season while workers repair its 19th Century vaulted ceiling.

Cardinal Francis George will offer the first Easter mass March 22 in the newly renovated St. Joseph Church, while weekend and Holy Week liturgies will be celebrated in the parish center auditorium.

The cathedral has been closed since Feb. 26 when engineers determined that structural weaknesses in the roof had caused a 10-pound piece of decorative wood to fall 70 feet from the ceiling and damage a pew. No one was injured.

The archdiocese says it hopes the repairs will be complete by Mother's Day.