Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Oklahoma City) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral ofOur Lady of Perpetual Help |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
|
|
| 35°30′10″N 97°31′51″W / 35.5027°N 97.5308°W | |
| Location | 3214 N. Lake Ave. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | cathedralokc.org |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Italianate |
| Groundbreaking | July 3, 1923 |
| Completed | February 1924 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | One |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Archdiocese of Oklahoma City |
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is an important Catholic church located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. It is the main church for the Catholic community in that area.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
How the Cathedral Began
The church, called Our Lady of Perpetual Help, started in 1919. Bishop Theophile Meerschaert chose Monsignor Monnot to be its first leader on January 19. At first, church services were held in a car showroom. In May 1919, a simple wooden church was built. Soon after, they started building a new place that would be both a church and a school.
Building the Main Church
Work on the church building you see today started on July 3, 1923. It was finished quickly, by February 1924. A house for the priests was also built that year. In 1931, Pope Pius XI made Our Lady of Perpetual Help a 'cathedral'. This means it became the main church for the Catholic area, taking over from the old St. Joseph Cathedral.
Welcoming New Families
In 1975, about 30 Vietnamese families joined the church. They were refugees from the Vietnam War. Over the years, more and more Vietnamese families have become part of the church community.
Modern Updates
In 1993, the church had a big renovation project. This included adding a new pipe organ made by W. Zimmer and Sons. They also built a new baptistery, which is a special area for baptisms. Other improvements were made to the church's electrical system and other parts of the building.
The Cathedral School
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School opened in September 1919. It started with 90 students across twelve grades. Three Sisters of Mercy taught at the school. They lived in a house across the street.
In 1932, the school's name was changed to honor Bishop John Carroll. He was the first Catholic Bishop in the United States. In 1939, a new part was added to the school building. A new home for the sisters was built in 1941. The old home for the sisters is now called Mercy Center. It is used for many church activities. As part of the 1993 renovation, a new gym and classroom building were also constructed for the school.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (Oklahoma City) para niños
