Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Kansas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral ofOur Lady of Guadalupe |
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 Location in Kansas
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| 37°47′37″N 100°02′05″W / 37.7937°N 100.0346°W | |
| 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 church in Dodge City, Kansas, United States. It serves as a cathedral, which means it's the main church for the Diocese of Dodge City. It is also a parish church, where local people gather for worship.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
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Long ago, in the early days of Dodge City, Catholic worship services, called Masses, were held in a shared building called the Union Church. This church was used by different Christian groups.
Early Churches in Dodge City
In 1882, a Catholic community called Sacred Heart Parish was formed. They built their first church, which had a Gothic Revival style. Later, in the early 1900s, another Catholic community, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, was started. Sacred Heart built a new church in 1916, and Our Lady of Guadalupe built theirs 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 new diocese.
Building the New Cathedral
Between 1995 and 1998, the diocese decided to make some changes. Both Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Guadalupe parishes needed bigger churches. The diocese also needed a larger space for important church events. So, the decision was made to combine the two parishes.
The new church would be called Our Lady of Guadalupe. Robert Habiger, an architect from Albuquerque, was chosen to design it. The new cathedral was officially dedicated on December 9, 2001. The first Mass for the combined parish was held on December 12, 2001.
Architecture and Design
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The Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe has a unique design. It is shaped like an octagon, which means it has eight sides. The outside of the building is covered with Silverdale limestone, a type of stone found near Arkansas City, Kansas.
Key Features of the Building
The bell tower stands separately from the main building and is about 77 feet (23 meters) tall. To enter the cathedral, you walk through a plaza, which is an open area in front of the church. In the middle of this plaza, there is a fire pit. This pit is used during the special Easter Vigil service.
You enter the main worship area through a gathering space. This is a place where people can meet before or after services. Also off the gathering space are two important areas:
- Sacred Heart Chapel: This chapel is named after the former Sacred Heart Cathedral.
- Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe: This shrine holds a special image of the Virgin Mary. This image was a gift from a church in Mexico in 1950. It was created by an artist named Tobias Villaneuvo.
Inside the Cathedral
The pews, which are the long benches where people sit, are made from white oak wood. There is enough seating for 1,430 people. The altar, where the priest leads the service, and the ambo, where readings are given, are both made from granite.
When the cathedral's construction began in 2000, soil from all the other parish churches in the diocese was brought to the site. The altar was then built over this special soil.
The cathedra, which is the bishop's special chair, and the processional cross are carved from Cuban mahogany wood. The cathedra also includes a contrasting wood from Mexico called ziricote. The tabernacle, where the Eucharist is kept, is made of polished bronze and Cuban mahogany. Its design is inspired by Spanish and Moorish styles. It rests on a granite stand connected to the altar.
Hubero Maestas, an artist from Colorado, created the Stations of the Cross and the main crucifix for the cathedral. Around the edge of the main worship area, there is an ambulatory. This is a walkway that circles the space and includes six small shrines for people to use for prayer.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Dodge City) para niños
