Cathedral of Saint Joseph (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Joseph |
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 Location in South Dakota
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| 43°33′10″N 96°44′06″W / 43.5529°N 96.7349°W | |
| Location | 521 N. Duluth Ave. Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral/Parish Church |
| Founded | 1915 |
| Dedication | May 7, 1919 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Emmanuel Masqueray |
| Style | Renaissance Revival |
| Completed | 1919 |
| Construction cost | $390,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | Two |
| Materials | Limestone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Sioux Falls |
The Cathedral of Saint Joseph is a beautiful Catholic church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. It's a very important church because it's the main church for the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Since 1974, it has also been part of a special historic area called the Cathedral Historic District. This district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a very important historical site.
Contents
History of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph
The story of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph began with St. Michael's Church. This was the very first Catholic church in Sioux Falls. It was started in 1881. At first, they built a church out of wood.
From Parish to Cathedral Status
Just two years later, in 1883, a bigger church made of brick was built. This brick church became very important in 1889. That year, Bishop Martin Marty came to Sioux Falls. He was a special leader for the Catholic Church in the Dakota Territory.
When he arrived, St. Michael's Church became a "Pro-Cathedral." This means it was a temporary main church for the bishop. On November 12, 1889, Pope Leo XIII officially created the Diocese of Sioux Falls. From that day on, St. Michael's Church became the official cathedral for the new diocese.
Building a New, Grand Cathedral
In 1896, Bishop Thomas O'Gorman became the new leader after Bishop Marty. Bishop O'Gorman soon wanted a much larger and more impressive cathedral. He was good friends with Archbishop John Ireland from St. Paul.
Bishop O'Gorman saw the dedication of the grand Cathedral of St. Paul in 1915. He was very impressed. He then talked with the architect of that cathedral, Emmanuel Masqueray. Masqueray was hired to design the new Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Sioux Falls.
To make space for the new building, the old St. Michael's Church was moved. The priest's house, called the rectory, was taken down. Construction on the new cathedral began in 1915.
Construction Challenges and Completion
Sadly, Emmanuel Masqueray passed away in 1917. Also, building slowed down because of shortages during World War I. Edwin Lundie, who was Masqueray's main helper, took over the project.
Even though it wasn't fully finished, the first church service, called a Mass, was held in the new cathedral on December 8, 1918. The cathedral was finally completed and officially dedicated on May 7, 1919.
Changes and Renovations Over Time
The Cathedral of Saint Joseph has changed and been updated many times over the years.
- In 1935, a large pipe organ was installed.
- A fire in the lower part of the church caused a lot of damage in 1942.
- The next year, in 1943, the inside of the church was beautifully decorated.
- In 1946, a new marble main altar and a special canopy above it were added.
- The original frosted glass windows were replaced with beautiful French stained glass windows in 1947.
- A major update to the inside of the cathedral happened between 1970 and 1974. During this time, a new altar was placed closer to the people.
- In 2004, a special area called the Sacred Heart Chapel was created. The basement was also updated to be a parish hall for church events.
- The most recent big renovation of the cathedral's interior was finished in 2011.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San José (Sioux Falls) para niños
