Cathedral of Saint Joseph (Jefferson City, Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Joseph |
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 Location in Missouri
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| 38°35′30.12″N 92°12′37.08″W / 38.5917000°N 92.2103000°W | |
| Location | 2215 West Main Street Jefferson City, Missouri |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 1974 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Maguolo and Quick |
| Style | Modern |
| Groundbreaking | 1967 |
| Completed | 1968 |
| Construction cost | $1,200,000 (1968 dollars) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,200 (floor seating) |
| Diameter | 157 feet (48 m) |
| Number of spires | One |
| Spire height | 29 feet (8.8 m); top of roof to cross |
| Materials | Reinforced concrete and steel (interior) Indiana limestone (exterior) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Jefferson City |
The Cathedral of Saint Joseph is the main church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City in Missouri. It's like the "home church" for the bishop, who is currently Shawn McKnight. The cathedral sits on a large 25-acre (10 ha) property. This area also includes a former Carmelite monastery, a Catholic center, St. Joseph Cathedral School, and parish offices. The current pastor is Fr. Louis Nelen.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The Diocese of Jefferson City was created in 1956. It was a new Catholic area in Missouri. Before the Cathedral of Saint Joseph was built, St. Peter's Church served as the main church.
Monsignor Joseph A. Vogelweid chose the land for the new cathedral. The first Bishop of Jefferson City, Joseph M. Marling, had a vision for this new church. The design was finished after the Second Vatican Council, a big meeting for the Catholic Church.
In 1966, plans were made for a modern, circular cathedral. Maguolo and Quick were the architects. Robert Brunelli designed the stained glass and marble. Prost Builders of Jefferson City built the cathedral.
- Groundbreaking: August 20, 1967.
- First Mass: December 25, 1968 (Christmas Day).
- Declared Cathedral: December 27, 1968. Bishop Marling asked Pope Paul VI to make it the new Cathedral.
- Formal Dedication: May 5, 1974. Cardinal John Joseph Carberry led the ceremony.
The first priest for the diocese was ordained here in 1969. Bishop Michael Francis McAuliffe was the first bishop to be ordained and installed in the cathedral, also in 1969.
How the Cathedral Looks
The cathedral is built with strong materials like reinforced concrete and steel. The outside is covered with Indiana limestone. The inside of the church can seat 950 people. It has 19,000 square feet (1,800 m2) of terrazzo flooring.
The church is round, with a diameter of 157 feet (48 m). The main path from the glass doors to the altar is 88 feet (27 m) long. The ceiling is 72 feet (22 m) high and made of Douglas fir wood. Sixteen large wooden beams support the ceiling. These beams meet in the center, forming a hole called an oculus. A spire rises 29 feet (8.8 m) from this oculus. The outer roof is made of copper and has sixteen gables, which look like a crown.
Inside, there are twelve pillars covered in walnut wood. These pillars represent the twelve Apostles. The church was designed to have good sound, even with its large open space. Padded walls, pews, and decorative glass windows help absorb noise. There are no supporting pillars in the main open area, which makes the space feel very grand.
The Sanctuary
The sanctuary wall is made of polished travertine stone. The altar is a huge block of polished marble, weighing 7,000 pounds (3,200 kg). Inside the altar are special items called relics from St. Clement, St. Irenaeus, and St. Aurelius.
The sanctuary is oval-shaped. It was designed for ceremonies where the bishop leads. The cathedra, or bishop's throne, is under the bishop's coat of arms. A large crucifix made of walnut travertine hangs from the wall. It is 5 feet (1.5 m) tall and weighs over 450 pounds (200 kg).
During Christmas, the cathedral displays a beautiful Nativity set. It was first shown in 2009.
Blessed Sacrament Chapel
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is next to the sanctuary. A glass wall separates it from the main seating area. About 50 people can sit here. This chapel also holds relics from St. Clement, St. Irenaeus, and St. Liberatus.
Five special glass windows in the chapel show what a priest does.
- The first window shows a carpenter's hammer and square, linked to St. Joseph, who is the patron saint of priests.
- The second window has Greek symbols, rings, and leaves, showing a priest's role in Christian marriages.
- The third window shows a scroll and lamp, meaning a priest's job as a teacher.
- The fourth window has a shepherd's crook and a book, representing pastoral duties and spreading the Gospels.
- The fifth window shows crossed branches, a crown, and a star. These remind us of eternal reward and a priest's role in Christian burials.
The chapel also has a cross called the Jubilee Cross. It holds a small piece of the True Cross. This cross was made for the Jubilee Year of 2000.
Adoration Chapel
People can come to the Adoration Chapel for "perpetual adoration" since 1986. This means someone is always praying there. It's next to the main seating area but can be entered without going into the main church.
Sacristy and Baptistry
The sacristy is near the entrance of the cathedral. This allows for processions to and from the altar. The bishop has his own private sacristy. There's also a smaller sacristy for the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
The baptistry is also at the entrance. It was updated in 2006. Two skylights let natural light shine on the baptismal font. The font is the original Italian marble one made for the cathedral. The floor is made of marble, similar to the sanctuary.
An ambry, built in 2004, is in the baptistry. It holds special oils: the oil of the sick, Sacred Chrism, and the oil of the Catechumens. These oils are blessed each Lent. A statue of the Risen Christ is also here.
Undercroft
The Cathedral has an undercroft, which is a large room downstairs. It's used for many parish and diocese events. You can get to it through doors that open to the south.
Special Features
Main Doors
The main doors of the cathedral are very heavy, weighing 500 pounds (230 kg) each. They replaced the original doors. Because the building is on a slope, the doors open at ground level.
The wooden doors have special designs that remind people of Christ. Brother Stephen Erspammer designed them. The handles on the side doors are shaped like the Greek letters Alpha and Omega. These letters refer to Christ in the Book of Revelation.
A bronze medallion in the center doors shows an eternal Christ. He is seated among the sun, moon, stars, and rainbows. One hand makes a teaching gesture. The other hand holds the Scriptures with the words "Ego sum lux mundi," meaning "I am the light of the world." This image stays whole even when the doors are open.
One set of doors has an electric device to help people with disabilities open them. Bishop Gaydos blessed these doors in June 2001.
Stained Glass Windows
The twelve triangular stained glass windows in the main part of the cathedral use color and light to tell a story. As you move from the sanctuary towards the doors, the colors in the windows become lighter. They lead your eye to a figure of the Risen Christ above the doors.
Artwork
Inside the cathedral, you'll find marble statues of St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary in wall niches. A statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is near the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. These statues are 5 feet (1.5 m) tall and made of unpolished travertine. You can still see the marks from the sculptors' tools.
There are fourteen polished marble Stations of the Cross hanging around the seating area. There are also three mosaics: one of the Infant Jesus of Prague, one of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and one of St. Anne. All the statues, mosaics, and Stations of the Cross were brought from Italy.
Organ
The organ is a striking feature in the cathedral. Its pipes are set into the wall. Behind them are 1,758 individual pipes made of wood and metal. Some pipes are 16 feet (4.9 m) long, while others are as small as a pencil. One hundred and sixty people used 13 different skills to build this Wicks instrument. The choir usually stands below the pipes during important Masses. In 2006, the Vatican organist, James Edward Goettsche, performed a concert here.
Cathedral Grounds
The campus has a 5-foot (1.5 m) solid marble statue of St. Joseph and the Christ Child. It faces east towards the Carmelite monastery. This statue was added in 2005 from another church.
Also on the east lawn is a pin oak tree called the Pentecost Tree. Bishop Gaydos planted it in 1999. Soil from every parish in the diocese was used to plant this tree.
Near the bishop's entrance, there is a modern concrete sculpture of St. Francis and animals. It has two sides and was created by Siegfried Reinhardt. A parishioner donated it in 2009. There is also a cornerstone near this entrance. A limestone sign on the front lawn was put up in 1985.
On the south lawn, there is a grotto of Our Lady of Fatima. It includes figures of the Blessed Mother, the three children who saw her, and animals. It was donated by the former LaSalette Seminary. All the figures are made of concrete and were restored in 2009.
St. Joseph Cathedral School
St. Joseph Cathedral School (SJCS) is on the 25-acre (10 ha) property. It has the largest campus and most "green space" of any elementary school in Jefferson City. The school opened in September 1960. It started with grades 1-6, and then added 7th and 8th grades in 1961–62. The first class graduated in May 1962.
- Early Programs: Kindergarten, enrichment programs, and before/after school care started in 1986–87.
- Preschool: A preschool for 4-year-olds began in 1995, and for 3-year-olds in 1996.
The main school building was built in 1959–60. It was first used as both the parish church and the school. The church was on the first floor, and the school was on the second. The basement had a cafeteria. When the new Cathedral Church opened in 1968, the first floor became classrooms.
A convent was built in 1960, with classrooms in its basement. This building now holds parish offices and meeting rooms. In 1984, six new classrooms, a music room, science lab, computer lab, and special service classrooms were added. This was needed because the school had grown to over 400 students.
The Sisters of Mercy from Ireland worked as administrators and teachers from 1960 to 1988. In 1988, Paul Hanna became the first full-time lay principal. By 1988, all the teachers were lay teachers, as the Sisters felt their mission was complete. In 2002, the school added an assistant principal position.
In 2008, a new construction project added:
- A new library
- A new cafeteria and kitchen
- Computer and science labs
- Administrative offices
- Sixteen new classrooms (including band and music rooms)
During the 2010–11 school year, the school celebrated its 50th anniversary. Enrollment reached over 500 students. Bishop John Gaydos celebrated a special Mass for this event. In 2011–12, Senator Roy Blunt visited the school, which was the first time a sitting U.S. Senator had visited. The current principal is Mr. Spencer Allen.
Famous Visitors
Many important people have visited the Cathedral of Saint Joseph.
Cardinals
Several cardinals of the Catholic Church have visited:
- John Joseph Carberry in 1969
- Juan Landázuri Ricketts in 1994
- William Wakefield Baum in 1997
- Avery Dulles in 2006
- John Patrick Foley in 2008
Some cardinals visited before they became cardinals:
- Justin Francis Rigali helped install Bishop Gaydos.
- Agostino Cacciavillan was an Apostolic Pro-Nuncio in 1997.
- Bernard Francis Law was Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in 1984.
- Luigi Raimondi was the Apostolic Delegate to the United States in 1969.
- Raymond Leo Burke was Archbishop of St. Louis.
Governors
Since Jefferson City is the capital of Missouri, many recent governors have attended Mass at the cathedral:
- Warren E. Hearnes in 1969
- Christopher S. Bond in 1974
- Joseph P. Teasdale, the first Catholic governor of Missouri
- Matt Blunt in 2008
- Jay Nixon in 2009
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San José (Jefferson City) para niños
