Cathedral of Saint Augustine (Tucson, Arizona) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St. Augustine Cathedral

Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Location in the United States Show map of the United States
32°13′10″N 110°58′17″W / 32.2194°N 110.9714°W / 32.2194; -110.9714
Location	192 S. Stone Avenue Tucson, Arizona
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Website	cathedral-staugustine.org
History
Founded	1776
Dedication	Saint Augustine
Dedicated	1968
Architecture
Style	Mexican baroque
Completed	1968 (57 years ago)
Specifications
Capacity	1,250
Number of spires	Two
Materials	Brick, cast stone
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of Tucson

The Cathedral of Saint Augustine (also known as Catedral de San Agustín in Spanish) is a very important church in Tucson, Arizona. It is the main church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson, which is like the central office for Catholic churches in that area.

History of St. Augustine Cathedral
Cathedral Architecture and Design
- Inside the Cathedral
St. Augustine’s New Look and Renovations
- Inside Improvements
- Outside Changes
Gallery
See also

History of St. Augustine Cathedral

The story of St. Augustine Cathedral began in 1776. This was when a small chapel was built inside the Royal Presidio of San Agustin in Tucson. A presidio was like a fort or military base.

Early Days and First Church

By the 1850s, both the fort and its chapel were no longer used. In the 1860s, Father Joseph Machebeuf came to see what the area needed. He told the Bishop of Santa Fe that a priest should be sent to Tucson. About 600 people lived there at the time.

In 1862 or 1863, Father Donato Rogieri arrived from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Tucson was a small village then, mostly adobe homes. There was no church building. After services, Father Donato and the people would carry adobe bricks. They used these bricks to build the walls of the new church.

Building and Growth

Father Jean B. Salpointe became the leader of the new church in 1866. The building was finished by 1868. People often called it a cathedral even then. Later that year, the Pope made Arizona an apostolic vicariate. This meant it was a special church area. Salpointe was chosen to lead it.

Changes to the Building

The church was rebuilt in 1897 by Bishop Peter Bourgade. The first plans were for a Gothic style building. However, the tall spires were never finished. In 1928, the brick building was changed to look like it does today. This style is called Mexican baroque. The front of the church, called the façade, was made of cast stone. It was inspired by a cathedral in Querétaro, Mexico.

A big project to restore the cathedral started in 1966. Most of the church was taken down and rebuilt. Only the front façade and the towers were kept. This work was finished in 1968. This was also 100 years after the first church was completed.

Cathedral Architecture and Design

The cathedral has a beautiful front made of stone. It shows the coat of arms of Pope Pius XI. He was the Pope when the building was constructed. The stone designs also feature plants from the desert. You can see yucca and saguaro blossoms. There is also a picture of the Mission San Xavier del Bac.

Inside the Cathedral

A large crucifix hangs inside the church's entrance area. It is from the 12th or 13th century. This crucifix was carved in Pamplona, Spain.

The floor of the cathedral slopes slightly downwards. This helps everyone see the main altar clearly. The church can hold up to 1,250 people.

The large pipe organ was made by David McDowell in Tucson. It has many different sets of pipes, called ranks.

St. Augustine’s New Look and Renovations

The oldest cathedral in Tucson got a big makeover. This was the first major restoration since 1968. John Alan, an artist from Phoenix, led the project. He wanted to make the church even more beautiful and welcoming. Special painting styles, like "trompe l'oeil," were used. This style creates an optical illusion, making flat surfaces look three-dimensional.

Inside Improvements

Many improvements were made inside the cathedral. All the stained-glass windows were cleaned and brightened. The upper windows show the apostles and the first four bishops of Tucson. The lower windows tell the story of St. Augustine.

The side altars, called retablos, were made from handcrafted wood. They honor the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine.

The most special part of the makeover is the Pamplona Crucifix. This crucifix was carved in Spain and is at least 600 years old. It was given to the cathedral in 1981. The crucifix is 17 feet (5.2 meters) tall. It weighs 2,000 pounds (907 kg). A lot of work was done to protect and make this sacred object stronger. It now rests on the back wall behind the main altar.

The church also got new lighting and sound systems. The pews, where people sit, were redesigned. They now look like the pews from 1897. The tile flooring was also updated.

Outside Changes

Outside, the old white walls of the church were painted a warm beige color. Also, the statues of the Immaculate Conception and the Sacred Heart of Jesus were restored. These statues are almost 100 years old.

The whole restoration project took over two years. It included repairs to the roof and new floor tiles. To celebrate, a special re-dedication mass was held. Bishop Gerald Kicanas led the mass on February 12, 2011. Hundreds of people from the Catholic community came for this special day.

The total cost for all the renovations was over US$1 million. This money was given by members of the church community.