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Dolan Blesses Workers Restoring St. Patrick's Cathedral

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Hard hats in hand, the workers restoring St. Patrick's Cathedral were blessed with holy water and praised by Timothy Cardinal Dolan on Thursday.

WCBS 880's Rich Lamb On The Story

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"You are an inspiration, and every day I've been watching, to see the progress in the cathedral, your hard work, your devotion. I can see it in your eyes. It's more than a job. You feel something, you feel part of something very noble, and uplifting, and you are," Dolan told the workers.

"I've been so inspired by your devotion and dedication. A sense of joy and satisfaction that you exhibit in your work and when all is said and done, the generations... are going to look back and say 'God bless the men and women, the laborers who restored and repaired St. Patrick's Cathedral," he said. "So, thank you for what you're doing. You know how my heart is in this cathedral project."

Dolan also shook hands with each of the workers.

"Oh, it was great. This is great. This is nice. Really, really once in a lifetime," electrician Stuart Sumeria told WCBS 880 reporter Rich Lamb.

"Make the job easier?" asked Lamb.

"Yeah definitely. Someone's watching over us," he said.

"Oh, it was really great. We definitely didn't think we were going to be able to meet him," said apprentice Paul Allen, who was all smiles. "Definitely inspirational. Really cool."

"Amazing, just amazing, you know. One of the closest things to a Pope," said restoration worker Dave Marter, who was pumped. "So, hopefully he'll be Pope one day in my lifetime."

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