Despite these doubts, the cornerstone of the new church was laid on July 16, 1899,[REF][REF][REF] by Archbishop Adélard Langevin of Saint Boniface [REF].
Since a Catholic church can only be consecrated once it has become free from debt,[REF][REF] the cathedral did not have its rite of consecration held until October 3, 1953, fifty-three years after it first opened.