Artists at work transforming the walls and dome of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament into masterpieces that promise to inspire generations of worshippers are days away from completing their task.

Their skillful brush strokes have also given life to sacred elements such as the 13-foot wood crucifix which arrived the first week of July and hangs suspended in mid-air over the main altar.

Father James Murphy, rector of the Cathedral in downtown Sacramento, previewed several of works of art in progress during a July tour of EverGreene Studios in New York City.

EverGreene Studios, recognized internationally for their renovations of American landmarks, has already completed painting frescos, roundels and colored glasswork on the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament’s inner dome.

They also placed the final touches on the crucifix.

During his recent tour of EverGreene, Father Murphy was able to actually observe artists at work painting murals for the Cathedral’s north and south chapels.

One Renaissance-style painting he saw depicts the resurrected Christ surrounded with an almond-shaped halo, inspired by a similar painting on display in the Vatican by Renaissance artist Pietro Perugino.

Father Murphy said one distinctive feature of the mural is that in addition to being remarkably beautiful, it will have a crucifix at the base that “people will actually be able to go up and touch.”

A mural for the Cathedral’s north chapel, featuring 14 niches for icons of the saints of the Americas, drew high praise from Denise Fracchia.

Fracchia is one of four docents from the Cathedral parish who comprised the Sacramento delegation touring EverGreene Studios.

“The eyes were just absolutely incredible. They just spoke to you,” said Fracchia, who was impressed by the attention to detail and the skill of one Russian artist she watched paint. “The whole thing was a visual spiritual experience.”

Fracchia recalled asking EverGreene president Jeff Greene where the studio found artists qualified to work on projects that range from reviving state Capitol domes and rotundas to museums, theaters, synagogues and churches.

Greene’s response was: “We don’t look for them; they find us.”

The Cathedral delegation also viewed two seven-foot cartouches or nameplates depicting prominent figures in the early history of the 1889 Sacramento landmark.

One is of Father Peter Anderson, a priest who celebrated the first Mass in Sacramento on Aug. 10, 1850.

The other is of Gabriel Moraga, a Spanish sea captain who gave the Sacramento River its name, which also became the name of the city and its Catholic cathedral.

After hundreds of tubes containing canvases of the artwork for the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament are mailed from New York, the final piece of the project will be the installation of white marble shipped from Bejing, China.

The marble will form the Cathedral’s new baptismal font, altar and the 20-foot tabernacle tower.

Now that 27 months of restoration work is nearly complete, Father Murphy said he is confident that when the first Masses are celebrated in the Cathedral on Nov. 20, the renovated church will make evident an idea expressed by Pope Benedict XVI in the 1980s.

The pope’s statement was that “one argument that Christianity has something to say to the world…is the art that has come from her womb,” he said.

“I can tell already, when we open this place it will be a beautiful place to come to worship.”

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