Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Kansas) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Location in Kansas
37°47′37″N 100°02′05″W / 37.7937°N 100.0346°W / 37.7937; -100.0346
Location	3231 N. 14th St. Dodge City, Kansas
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Cathedral/Parish church
Founded	2001
Dedication	Our Lady of Guadalupe
Consecrated	December 9, 2001
Architecture
Architect(s)	Hilter
Style	Postmodern
Groundbreaking	May 20, 2000
Completed	2001
Specifications
Capacity	1,400
Height	106 feet (32 m)
Number of spires	One
Spire height	77 feet (23 m)
Materials	Silverdale limestone, copper
Administration
Diocese	Dodge City
Province	Kansas City

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a special Catholic building. It is both a cathedral and a parish church in Dodge City, Kansas, in the United States. A cathedral is the main church for a diocese, which is an area managed by a bishop.

History of the Cathedral

Early Churches in Dodge City

In the early days, Catholic church services, called Masses, in Dodge City were held in a building called the Union Church. This church was set up by local business people and was used by different Christian groups.

Later, in 1882, a Catholic church called Sacred Heart Parish was built. It was a Gothic Revival style building made of wood. Another Catholic church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, was started in the early 1900s.

Sacred Heart built a new church in 1916. Our Lady of Guadalupe built its own church in 1950.

Becoming a Cathedral

In 1951, Pope Pius XII created the Diocese of Dodge City. This meant that Sacred Heart Church became the first main church, or cathedral, for the diocese.

Between 1995 and 1998, the diocese decided to reorganize things. Both Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Guadalupe parishes needed bigger buildings. The diocese also needed a larger place for important church events.

Building the New Cathedral

Bishop Ronald Gilmore decided to combine the Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Guadalupe parishes. They would build a new, larger church. This new church would be called Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Robert Habiger, an architect from Albuquerque, was chosen to design the new cathedral. The building officially opened on December 9, 2001. The first regular church service was held on December 12, 2001. This date is also the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Cathedral Architecture

Building Design and Materials

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe has a unique shape. It is built like an octagon, which means it has eight sides. The outside of the building is covered with Silverdale limestone. This stone was dug up from the ground near Arkansas City, Kansas.

The church has a tall bell tower that stands separately from the main building. It is about 77 feet (23 meters) high.

Inside the Cathedral

To enter the cathedral, you walk through a plaza in front of the building. In the middle of this plaza, there is a fire pit. This pit is used during the Easter Vigil, a special church service.

After the plaza, you enter a gathering space. From here, you can go into the main worship area. There is also a special room called Sacred Heart Chapel. This chapel is named after the old Sacred Heart Cathedral. You can also find a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe here. The image of the Virgin Mary in this shrine was a gift from a priest in Mexico. It was made by an artist named Tobias Villaneuvo.

The long benches where people sit, called pews, are made from white oak wood. There is enough space for 1,430 people to sit. The altar, where the priest leads the service, and the ambo, where readings are given, are both made from granite.

When the cathedral started being built in 2000, soil from all the other churches in the diocese was brought to the site. The altar was then built over this special soil.

The bishop's special chair, called the cathedra, and the cross used in processions are carved from Cuban mahogany wood. The cathedra also has a different kind of wood from Mexico called ziricote. The tabernacle, which holds the Eucharist, is made of shiny bronze and Cuban mahogany. Its design is inspired by Spanish and Moorish styles. It sits on a granite base that connects it to the altar.

An artist from Colorado named Hubero Maestas created the stations of the cross and the main crucifix. Around the main worship area, there is a walkway called an ambulatory. Along this walkway, there are six small shrines where people can pray.

See also

In Spanish: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Dodge City) para niños

• List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
• List of cathedrals in the United States

Images for kids

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  The former Sacred Heart Cathedral

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  Inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe