At our recent clergy retreat in Santa Clarita, the Diocese of the West had a surprise for Bishop Kessler. They presented him with a cathedra. However, the way it came about was also unexpected.
While some of the clergy were in the process of having a cathedra designed for Bishop Douglas Kessler, an old treasure was discovered in an antique store. It was an old Bishop’s Throne from around the mid 1800’s. However, with some of the square nails missing and sections of wood broken, it was in need of significant restoration work before it could be used. It took the church sexton many months of work to restore and duplicate parts of the woodwork to its original condition. Once the frame was again solid and refinished, it was taken to the upholsterer for new coverings.
After being received at the retreat, on Sunday, September 12, it was placed in its new home at St. Michael’s Cathedral in San Clemente, CA. The parish was very excited as Bishop Kessler took his seat in this treasure, old but now new. Bishop Kessler said, “It is a privilege to be apart of putting this Throne back into the service of God's kingdom. However, it is also a humbling reminder that I am only a speck in history. There were many men before me, and I hope there will be many after me to sit in this cathedra”
