Cathedral of St. John Berchmans (Shreveport, Louisiana) Facts for Kids

This page is about Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans of Shreveport. For Saint John Berchmans Church (disambiguation), see St. John Berchmans Church.

Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans

Location in Louisiana
32°29′52″N 93°45′01″W / 32.4977°N 93.7503°W / 32.4977; -93.7503
Location	939 Jordan St. Shreveport, Louisiana
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Founded	1902
Consecrated	January 16, 1929
Past bishop(s)	William Benedict Friend Michael Duca
Architecture
Style	Tudor revival, Gothic revival
Groundbreaking	July 31, 1927
Completed	1928
Specifications
Materials	Brick
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of Shreveport

The Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans is a special church in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States. It's the main church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport. This cathedral is one of only eight churches in the whole world named after the Jesuit Saint John Berchmans. In 2016, the church received a very important item: a small piece of the heart of St. John Berchmans. This piece, called a relic, is now shown near the main altar.

A Church with a Long History
Church Design and Art
- Unique Architectural Style
- Beautiful Stained-Glass Windows
Gallery
Images for kids
See also

A Church with a Long History

How the Church Started

The story of this church began in 1902. A group of Jesuit priests came to Shreveport. Their goal was to start a new church and a high school for boys. The first leader of the church was Father John F. O'Connor.

Building a Bigger Church

By 1924, the church community had grown a lot. They decided they needed a bigger building. The first stone for the new church was placed on July 31, 1927. The building was finished by June 1928. The church was officially opened on January 16, 1929. In 2017, the site of the first church was explored. The state of Louisiana placed a special marker there.

Becoming a Cathedral

In 1977, this church became a "co-cathedral." This meant it shared the main church role for the Diocese of Alexandria–Shreveport. A diocese is like a church district led by a bishop. On June 23, 1986, that diocese was split into two. This created the new Diocese of Shreveport. St. John Berchmans then became the main cathedral church for this new diocese.

Changes Over Time

The Jesuit priests managed the church until October 1988. After that, the local diocese took over. From 1992 to 1994, the church had a big makeover. They added a new entrance area called a vestibule. They also built a separate chapel that could seat 100 people.

The school connected to the church now teaches both boys and girls. It serves students from Pre-K to 8th grade. A famous person who went to this school is Don Hathaway. He was the sheriff of Caddo Parish for many years.

The cathedral was updated again in 2014. The main altar and a special cabinet called a tabernacle were fixed up. Some parts added in the 1990s renovation were also removed.

Church Design and Art

Unique Architectural Style

The Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans has a special mix of building styles. It combines Tudor and Gothic designs. Inside the church, you can see exposed wooden beams. These are a common feature of the Tudor style. The windows and doorways have pointed arches. These arches are a classic sign of Gothic architecture.

Beautiful Stained-Glass Windows

Three of the large windows inside the church are very special. They were made by a famous artist named Emil Frei, Jr. He was known for his beautiful stained-glass art.