From the archives — Feast of St. Francis Oct. 4

While the interior of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark was under construction in 1953, workers were surprised to find that a cat had given birth to three kittens in the Cathedral. The kittens made themselves at home in front of the altar in the unfinished St. Boniface chapel, and according to the Catholic Advocate: “The new family members have become special pets of the workmen on the job.” (Archdiocese of Newark Archives, Catholic Advocate collection)

Editor’s note: All published archival photos can be found under the “From the archives” tab in the top menu. For more information on the archdiocesan archives, visit rcan.org/archives.