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

The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation, also known as St. Mary's Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States. It is one of the two main churches for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. The other main church is St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield, Missouri.

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

History of St. Mary's Cathedral
- Growth and Changes
Learning at St. Mary's School
Gallery
See also

History of St. Mary's Cathedral

People started planning for a new church in Cape Girardeau as early as 1858. This church was meant for the city's German community. However, the Civil War caused delays in these plans.

Land was bought for the church at Sprigg and William Streets for $650. Construction began on March 25, 1868. This day is known as the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. The first stone, called a cornerstone, was placed on August 2, 1868. The very first Mass (church service) was held in the new church on February 2, 1869.

A house for the priest, called a rectory, was built in 1885. In 1891, the church was redecorated. Bells were also put into the church tower that year.

Growth and Changes

In 1875, a group of nuns called the Sisters of St. Francis came to teach at the parish 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. St. Mary's Cemetery was started in 1903.

The church building had big updates in 1954 and 1968. Special stained-glass 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. St. Mary's was named the co-cathedral, sharing the important role. The current rectory was built in 1957.

St. Vincent De Paul Church became part of the Cathedral Parish in 1977. It was then called a chapel of ease, meaning it was a convenient place for people to worship. A parish hall was added in 1978. 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 parish office building was finished in January 2000.

Learning at St. Mary's School

St. Mary of the Annunciation Grade School

The parish grade school started 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 the teaching. They taught at the school until 1993.

A new convent for the Sisters was built in 1905. The main part of the current grade school building was constructed 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, this building is used as a youth center. In 1978, a gymnasium and a kindergarten classroom were added to the grade school. The school offices, classrooms, library, and gym were improved in 2004 and 2006.