SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Syracuse Catholic Diocese marked the completion of a major restoration project with a special celebration Friday afternoon, as Cardinal Timothy Dolan presided over a mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Syracuse.
The church has been under construction since April, when the diocese kicked off its second round of renovations. The 130-year-old cathedral had gone 30 years since the last improvement project -- now the biggest change parishioners will notice is all of the bright, vivid colors.
They also added a new sound system and LED lights that will brighten the church. Other improvements include updates to the electric and heating systems in the building.
Thousands contributed to the project, pledging more than $12 million.
"This is our spiritual home, see?" Cardinal Dolan said. "This is our family home for the Catholic family of the Diocese of Syracuse. We love our homes, don't we? We go there for special meals and celebrations. It's filled with memories and it's filled with dreams.
"This says a lot about the vibrant health of the Catholic family and the Diocese of Syracuse."
The cathedral officially opens to the public Sunday.
Construction to the exterior of the cathedral will continue. That includes repairing the landscape, front steps and the statuary above the main doors.