Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola (Palm Beach, Florida) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola

Location in Florida Show map of Florida Location in the United States Show map of the United States
26°49′23″N 80°06′25″W / 26.8231°N 80.1069°W / 26.8231; -80.1069
Location	9999 North Military Trail Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Founded	1970
Architecture
Style	Modern
Completed	1984
Specifications
Capacity	1,250
Administration
Diocese	Palm Beach

The Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola is a special Catholic church in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. It's called a "cathedral" because it's the main church for the Diocese of Palm Beach. This diocese covers five counties in Florida: Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, and Indian River. It helps manage 49 other churches in these areas. The church offers services in both English and Spanish. The main leader of the diocese, called the bishop, is currently Gerald Barbarito.

History of St. Ignatius Loyola
Architecture and Design
Images for kids
Pastors and Rectors
See also

History of St. Ignatius Loyola

The Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola started as a local church, known as a parish. It was created on June 25, 1970. Archbishop Coleman Carroll of the Archdiocese of Miami founded it.

The first leader, called a pastor, was Reverend John Mulcahy. The very first church service, called a Mass, was held on July 5, 1970. It took place at Palm Beach Gardens Community High School. Less than 24 people attended this first service.

By 1974, the church community had grown a lot. There were more than 600 families attending services. In January of that year, construction began on a new building. This building was designed to be used for many different things. It opened in December 1974 and served the church for ten years.

In 1979, a rectory was built. This is a house where the priests live. By 1982, the church had grown even more. Over 2,000 families were part of the parish. Because of this growth, plans were made to build a brand new, larger church.

Construction on the current church building began in 1983. While it was being built, an important event happened. On June 16, 1984, Pope John Paul II created the Diocese of Palm Beach. A diocese is a larger area managed by a bishop. St. Ignatius was chosen to be the main church, or cathedral, for this new diocese.

The new cathedral church was officially opened on October 6, 1984. Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy led the dedication ceremony. A few weeks later, on October 24, Bishop Thomas V. Daily became the first bishop of Palm Beach.

Architecture and Design

The Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola was built in a Modern style. This means it has a newer, simpler design compared to older churches. The church was designed to use natural light. Its outside walls are made from native Florida coral.

Inside the church, the seats, called pews, are arranged on a sloped floor. This helps everyone see better and feel more involved in the service. The main church area and a smaller chapel can hold 1,250 people together.

The area where the altar is, called the sanctuary, rises 75 feet (about 22.9 meters) high. It has an interesting inverted arch shape. In the early 2000s, the church was updated. A wooden screen behind the altar, called a reredos, and the marble furniture in the sanctuary were added then.

The Diocese of Palm Beach website explains more about the cathedral's design. The bishop's chair was made to be the main focus of the church. There is also a beautiful stained glass window called "the East Window." It covers an entire wall, from the floor all the way to the ceiling. This amazing window was designed by an artist named Mario Agustin Locsin y Montenegro.