MADISON — When the Cathedral of St. Bernard of Clairvaux in Madison is dedicated next year, it will be accessible to people with a variety of physical needs.

This will ensure that the beauty and community of the cathedral and the grace of the sacraments are available to all who desire them. 

Some of these accessibility features include doors that can open automatically, an elevator for access to different levels, a LULA lift that provides access to the choir loft, and technology for the hearing impaired, including a  T-coil setup as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities for a variety of hearing aids. 

Other accommodations include areas for wheelchairs in the pews, a widened confessional for easier access, and assisted listening technology in a confessional. 

These features help the renovated structure to be ADA-compliant. 

“Accessibility was a high priority for us,” said Pastor Fr. Michael Radowicz.

He also noted that “We’ve eliminated steps where we can . . . thresholds are minimal to allow for walkers and wheelchairs to easily traverse into those different levels.”

Other accommodations include a covered entrance area for pick-ups and drop-offs, as well as a ramp that will provide access to the sanctuary, lectern, and ambo. 

The Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities-Diocese of Madison was consulted for parts of the project and supported it with $300,000 in grants. 

Father Radowicz added that people who have heard about the accommodations were “happy to learn what we did”.

For more information on the cathedral project, go to madisoncathedral.org