Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception (Peoria, Illinois) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in 2023
Location in Peoria County, Illinois
40°41′54.9″N 89°35′6.1″W / 40.698583°N 89.585028°W / 40.698583; -89.585028
Location	607 NE Madison Ave. Peoria, Illinois
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Status	Cathedral
Founded	1846
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Casper Mehler
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1885
Completed	1889
Specifications
Length	170 feet (52 m)
Width	80 feet (24 m)
Number of spires	Two
Spire height	230 feet (70 m)
Materials	Anamosa Limestone
Administration
Diocese	Peoria

The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a beautiful and important church in Peoria, Illinois, United States. People often call it St. Mary's Cathedral. It is the main church for the Diocese of Peoria, which is like a special area for Catholic churches. A famous Catholic leader, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, was born and grew up here. He was also ordained as a priest in this very church. Since 2019, his remains have been buried inside the cathedral. This cathedral is also part of the National Register of Historic Places.

History of St. Mary's Cathedral
Images for kids
People Buried Here
See also

History of St. Mary's Cathedral

Early Beginnings

The first Catholic Mass in the Peoria area happened a long time ago. It was celebrated at Fort Crevecoeur, across the Illinois River. Priests like Father Gabriel Ribourde and Father Louis Hennepin were there.

Later, in 1839, Father Reho celebrated Mass in the city of Peoria. In 1846, Father John A. Drew started St. Mary's Church. The first church building that would become St. Mary's Cathedral was built in 1851.

Building the Current Cathedral

The current cathedral was designed by an architect named Casper Mehler from Chicago. He wanted it to look like St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. The first stone, called the cornerstone, was placed on June 28, 1885. Bishop John Lancaster Spalding led this important event.

The building work on the cathedral finished in 1889. The outside of the church is made from a special stone called Anamosa Limestone. The two tall spires on the front of the church reach a height of 230 feet (70 m). That's as tall as a 20-story building!

Inside the Cathedral

Inside, there is a painting of the Crucifix behind the altar. This painting was made in 1873 by a Spanish artist named Yzquierda. Bishop Spalding bought it, and it used to hang in the old cathedral. This painting and a bell in the south tower are the only things left from the old St. Mary's church. The old church was taken down in 1898.

The cathedral also has a large pipe organ that was put in place in 1936. It has 3,329 pipes, which can make many different sounds.

Special Recognition and Renovations

Both the cathedral and the nearby Bishop's House are important historical buildings. They are part of the North Side Historic District. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

In 1995, Mother Teresa, a very famous nun who helped many poor people, visited St. Mary's. A special Mass was held in her honor.

The cathedral had a big renovation project that started in 2014 and finished in 2016. This work helped to restore and update the beautiful church.

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's Connection

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was a very important Catholic leader. He was born and grew up in Peoria. As a child, he was an altar boy at St. Mary's Cathedral. He was also ordained as a priest here in 1919.

After he passed away in 1979, he was buried in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. However, on June 27, 2019, his remains were moved to St. Mary's Cathedral. They are now in a special marble monument at a side altar. This altar is dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The Diocese of Peoria has been working to have him recognized as a saint.