Date of Review: I attended the Feast of the Holy Family Mass, at 9 am on December 27th, 2020. Fr. Miller presided, assisted by Deacon Hannig.
Architecture: This Cathedral looked new as soon as I approached, even in the middle of a snowstorm. Walking in, the cornerstone reaffirmed that, it was completed in 1990. The Cathedral is in the modern style, which means it has all the plusses and minuses of a Post – Vatican II design. Nothing is too remarkable about this one.
Celebrant(s): Fr. Miller, assisted by Deacon Hannig said the Mass. The Deacon proclaimed the Gospel and gave the Homily, which focused on the importance of the family. The Deacon relayed a couple points that I took away, one that the Creche represented possibly the most significant event in human history, and two, the importance of having a family unit to rely on both then, and now.
Congregation: Mass was fairly well attended, however for a Cathedral with only two masses on the weekend (and one in a parish the next town over), it wasn’t overly remarkable. The congregation didn’t seem to sing quite as loud as in Bismarck the day before, but still was participative in the entire service..
Decor: The decor is reflective of the late 1980s/early 1990s decor, which is not as ornate as older styles of cathedral, but there was a fair amount of embellishment around the altar. I particularly liked the crucifix. Another small (relatively) town Cathedral in a low population diocese, so overall I thought it was appropriate, though it feels odd to be in a Cathedral with so few stained glass windows.
Location: The City of Crookston has a population of around 8,000 people, so there wasn’t a noticeable “business district” I saw, but the Cathedral was nestled right by a Benedictine community (both Monastery and Convent), and an associated Benedictine linked assisted living facility.
Musicians: A pianist, female lead soloist, and male supporting singer and occasional soloist. The pianist and female soloist were excellent, and the male singer knew how to support the female soloist while letting her take the “lead” role.
Volunteers: There were greeters in the narthex, and active ushers, though no collection (which seems to be the case for all Cathedrals in Minnesota right now). The ushers did a good job, and also dismissed the church pew by pew (almost like after a wedding, but from the back of the Cathedral first) to mitigate pandemic concerns.
Overall: The modern design is an instant drawback to me, but the community and musicians helped make up for it. The Deacon was one of the better preachers I’ve heard, and hopefully had a career in broadcasting at some point in his earlier life, because he definitely had the voice for it. The female soloist made up for the limited musical ensemble.
American Cathedral Tour 