Cathedral of San Fernando facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Fernando Cathedral |
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San Fernando Cathedral is one of the oldest active cathedrals in the United States.
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 San Fernando Cathedral
Location in Texas
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| 29°25′28.0″N 98°29′38.4″W / 29.424444°N 98.494000°W | |
| Location | San Antonio, Texas, USA |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Tradition | Latin Rite |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Dedication | Saint Ferdinand |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Francois P. Giraud; Dielman, Leo |
| Architectural type | Colonial, Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1738 |
| Completed | 1868? |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of San Antonio |
| Province | Ecclesiastical province of San Antonio |
San Fernando Cathedral (which means Cathedral of Saint Ferdinand in Spanish) is also called the Cathedral of Our Lady of Candelaria and Guadalupe. It is a very important cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in downtown San Antonio, Texas, USA. It stands right in front of the city's Main Plaza.
This cathedral is the main church for the Archdiocese of San Antonio, and it's where the top leader, the archbishop, works. Many people see its dome as the cultural and geographical center of San Antonio. The cathedral is also known as the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria y Guadalupe and is recognized as an important historical place. It's also one of the oldest cathedrals in the whole United States!
Contents
A Look Back: San Fernando Cathedral's History
The first church building for San Fernando was built a long time ago, between 1738 and 1750. Today, the original walls are part of the main worship area. This is why it's known as the oldest cathedral in Texas. The church was named after Ferdinand III of Castile, a king from the 1200s.
The baptismal font, a special bowl used for baptisms, is thought to be a gift from Charles III of Spain, who became King of Spain in 1759. It's the oldest piece of church furniture in the cathedral! Settlers from the Canary Islands built the cathedral. Because of this, inside you'll find an image of the Virgin of Candelaria, who is the patron saint of the Canary Islands.
In 1831, Jim Bowie, a famous figure in Texas history, married Ursula de Veramendi right here in San Fernando.
The Alamo and Later Changes
In 1836, the cathedral, which was still a parish church then, played a part in the Battle of the Alamo. Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna raised a flag from the church's tower. This flag meant "no quarter," signaling the start of the siege on the Alamo.
In 1868, the cathedral was made much bigger. Architect Francois P. Giraud led this work, adding to the church in the Gothic style. This new part became the main area of the church we see today. Beautiful carved stone pictures called the Stations of the Cross were added in 1874. The amazing stained glass windows were put in during 1920.
On September 13, 1987, Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral. This was the only time a Pope has visited Texas! A special marker remembers this important event.
Big Changes in 2003
In 2003, a huge project costing $15 million began to fix up and improve the cathedral. This work had three main parts:
- The first part focused on making the church's foundation and structure stronger. They also made it better for church services and other events. For example, the altar was moved closer to the center of the church.
- The second part involved replacing the old rectory (where the priests live) with a new Cathedral Centre. This new building would have a cafeteria, counseling rooms, a museum, a gift shop, and other useful spaces.
- The third part was about building a community center. This center would offer social services, meeting rooms, a hall, church offices, and a place for the priests to live.
Father Richard S. Vosko, an expert in church design, oversaw the 2003 renovation.
San Fernando Cathedral Today
Today, San Fernando Cathedral is still a very important part of Catholic life in San Antonio. It's involved in big yearly events like Fiesta Week. More than 5,000 people come to weekend Masses every week. Each year, over 900 baptisms, 100 weddings, and 100 funerals take place here. Many other services and special events happen too. One of the most famous is the Good Friday Passion Play, which brings thousands of visitors.
In February 2006, the cathedral started a year-long celebration to mark San Antonio's 275th Anniversary.
Updates in 2011
In 2011, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller made some new changes to the cathedral. He moved the altar back to a permanent spot closer to the main worship area. This new altar is made of stone from Spain, Turkey, and Israel. He also added a new special chair for the bishop, called a cathedra, made of white oak.
The baptismal font was moved from the back of the church to the front, near the lectern. This opened up space for processions to enter the church from Main Plaza. A new railing was also put behind the altar to separate the worship area. These updates cost about $150,000, paid for by donations.
During the dedication of these changes, the archbishop placed three special items called relics in the altar. Two are relics of Saint Anthony of Padua, who is a patron saint of San Antonio. The third relic is from Venerable Concepcion Cabrera de Armida, who inspired many Catholic organizations.
Images for kids
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Tomb of Davy Crockett, William B. Travis, and Jim Bowie.
