CT PHOTOS BY E.L.HUBBARD

Workers carefully lower the statue of St. Francis onto a platform just outside St. Anthony Messenger Press’ second-floor reception area.

A saint to watch over us

Loyola Walter’s depiction of St. Francis.

CATHEDRAL DEANERY — In spite of a delay caused by much-needed rain, the anticipated installation of a statue of St. Francis of Assisi was completed the last week of September on a second-story base at St. Anthony Messenger Press’ headquarters in Over-the-Rhine. The communications company is a principal ministry of the Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, which maintains an important presence in the historic neighborhood.

The 400-pound, six-foot statue was delivered to the company last week and was installed on a west building ledge facing West Liberty Street and overlooking a panoramic setting that includes one of Cincinnati’s most storied neighborhoods.

The statue was created by local sculptor Loyola Walter, a faculty member of the College of Mount St. Joseph. The statue was cast at Bright Foundry in Louisville. The statue will be formally dedicated Oct. 16 by Franciscan Father Jose Rodriguez Carballo, minister general of the Order of Friars Minor.

Franciscan Father Dan Kroger, CEO of St. Anthony Messenger Press, and Loyola Walter, who created the sculptor of St. Francis, watch as workers install the statue on a second-story ledge facing West Liberty Street.