Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation (Cape Girardeau, Missouri) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation

Location in Missouri
37°18′03″N 89°31′38″W / 37.30084°N 89.52719°W / 37.30084; -89.52719
Location	615 William St. Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	www.stmarycathedral.net
History
Status	Cathedral/Parish
Founded	1868
Architecture
Style	Romanesque Revival
Completed	1869
Specifications
Number of spires	One
Materials	Brick
Administration
Diocese	Springfield-Cape Girardeau

The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation, also known as St. Mary's Cathedral, is an important Catholic cathedral located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States. A cathedral is a main church for a diocese, which is a special area managed by a bishop. This cathedral, along with St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield, Missouri, serves as a main church for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.

History of the Cathedral
Catholic Schools Connected to St. Mary's
Gallery
See also

History of the Cathedral

Plans to build a church for the German people in Cape Girardeau started way back in 1858. However, the Civil War caused a delay in these plans.

Later, land was bought for $650 at the corner of Sprigg and William Streets. Construction for the church began on March 25, 1868. This date is special because it's the Feast of the Annunciation, a Catholic holiday. The first stone, called a cornerstone, was placed on August 2, 1868.

The very first church service, called a Mass, was held in the new building on February 2, 1869. A rectory, which is a house for the priests, was built next to the church in 1885. In 1891, the church was redecorated, and bells were put into the tower.

In 1875, a group of nuns called the Sisters of St. Francis came to teach at the church's school. Two years later, in 1877, they built a convent (a home for nuns) nearby. They made the building bigger in 1882 and opened St. Francis Hospital there. St. Mary's Cemetery was started in 1903.

The church building had big updates in 1954 and 1968. Special windows, called Magnificat windows, were added in 1954. On July 2, 1956, Pope Pius XII created the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. St. Agnes Church in Springfield became the main cathedral, and St. Mary's was named a co-cathedral, meaning it shares the role. The current rectory was built in 1957.

In 1977, St. Vincent De Paul Church became part of the Cathedral Parish. A parish hall was added in 1978, and the inside of the cathedral was updated again in 1985. The tall steeple was fixed, and a new organ was put in between 1990 and 1991. The church office building was finished in January 2000.

Catholic Schools Connected to St. Mary's

St. Mary of the Annunciation Grade School

The parish started a grade school in 1875. The Sisters of St. Francis were the first teachers. A new school building opened in 1882.

In 1903, a different group of nuns, the School Sisters of Notre Dame, took over teaching at the school. They taught there until 1993. A new convent for these Sisters was built in 1905. The main part of the current grade school building was built in 1912.

St. Mary's High School, which is now called Notre Dame High School, opened in 1925. The front part of the grade school building was added in 1937. Another new convent was built in 1955; today, it is used as a youth center. In 1978, a gym and a kindergarten room were added to the grade school. The school offices, classrooms, library, and gym were improved in 2004 and 2006.