Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola (Palm Beach Gardens, Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola |
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| 26°49′23″N 80°06′25″W / 26.8231°N 80.1069°W | |
| 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 an important Catholic church located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. It is the main church for the Diocese of Palm Beach. A diocese is like a large church district. This diocese covers several counties in Florida, including Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, and Indian River. It helps guide 49 different local churches, called parishes. The leader of the diocese today is Bishop Gerald Barbarito.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
Early Beginnings (1970-1982)
The church of St. Ignatius Loyola started as a local parish on June 25, 1970. It was part of the Archdiocese of Miami at that time. Archbishop Coleman Carroll officially created the parish. The first leader, called a pastor, was Reverend John Mulcahy.
The very first church service, or Mass, for the parish happened on July 5, 1970. It was held at Palm Beach Gardens Community High School. Less than 24 people attended this first service.
By 1974, the parish had grown a lot. Over 600 families were now part of the church community. In January 1974, construction began on a new building. This building was designed to be used for many different things. It opened in December of that year and served the parish for ten years.
In 1979, a rectory was built. A rectory is a house where the priests live. By 1982, the church had grown even more, with over 2,000 families. Because of this growth, plans were made to build a brand new church building.
Becoming a Cathedral (1983-1984)
Construction for the current church building began in 1983. While it was being built, something very important happened. On June 16, 1984, Pope John Paul II created the new Diocese of Palm Beach.
St. Ignatius was chosen to be the main church, or cathedral, for this new diocese. The new cathedral church was officially opened and blessed on October 6, 1984. Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy led this special event. A few weeks later, on October 24, Bishop Thomas V. Daily became the first Bishop of Palm Beach.
Cathedral Design and Features
Modern Architectural Style
The Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola was built in a Modern style. This means it has a clean, simple design. Inside, the seats, called pews, are placed on a sloped floor. This design helps everyone see better and feel more involved in the service.
The main church area, along with a smaller chapel, can hold 1,250 people. The ceiling in the sanctuary, which is the sacred area around the altar, rises very high. It goes up 75 feet (about 22.9 meters) in an upside-down arch shape. The wooden screen behind the altar, called a reredos, and the marble furniture were added during a renovation in the early 2000s.
Natural Light and Unique Art
The Diocese of Palm Beach website explains that the cathedral was designed to use lots of natural light. The outside walls are made from native Florida coral. This gives the building a unique look.
The bishop's chair is a very important part of the design. It was made to be the main focus of the sanctuary. One of the most striking features is a large stained glass window. It is called "the East Window" and covers an entire wall, from the floor to the ceiling. This beautiful window was created by an artist named Mario Agustin Locsin y Montenegro.
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Interior
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Sanctuary
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Chapel
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Rectory
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Multi-purpose building
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Leaders of the Cathedral
The following priests have served St. Ignatius. They were called pastors from 1970 to 1983. Since 1983, they have been known as the cathedral rector:
- Rev. John Mulcahy (1970–1976)
- Rev. Francis J. Dunleavy (1976–1978)
- Rev. Frank Flynn (1978–1988)
- Rev. Frank O’Loughlin (1988–1992)
- Rev. James P. Malvey (1992–1996)
- Msgr. Thomas Klinzing (1996–2000)
- Rev. John A. Kasparek (2000–2005)
- Rev. Thomas E. Barrett (2000–2020)
- Rev. Gavin Badway (2020–present)
More to Explore
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Ignacio de Loyola (Palm Beach) para niños
