Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus (Joliet, Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral ofSt. Raymond Nonnatus |
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St. Raymond Cathedral in 2015
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 Location in Illinois
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| 41°32′07″N 88°06′03″W / 41.53528830°N 88.10095010°W | |
| Location | 604 N. Raynor Ave. Joliet, Illinois |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral/parish |
| Founded | 1917 |
| Dedication | Raymond Nonnatus |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Classical Revival |
| Completed | 1955 |
| Construction cost | $2.4 million |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | One |
| Spire height | 190 feet (58 m) |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Joliet in Illinois |
The Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus is a large Catholic church. It is located in Joliet, Illinois, in the United States. This church is the main church for the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois. It also serves as a regular parish church for local people.
Contents
History of St. Raymond
Starting the Parish
In the early 1900s, the city of Joliet was growing. Because of this growth, a Catholic leader named Archbishop George Mundelein decided to create a new church community. This new community was called St. Raymond Parish. It officially started on June 28, 1917.
The very next day, Father Francis Scanlan became the first pastor of St. Raymond. At first, church services were held at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate. This building was on Plainfield Road. Father Scanlan lived at St. Patrick's Church in Joliet.
Building the First Church and School
Work began on a new church building in November 1917. The first church service in this new building happened on December 8, 1918. A school for the parish, St. Raymond School, opened in September 1918. It had 178 students when it first started.
The Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate were the teachers at the school. The school quickly became very popular. Because so many students joined, the school building had to be made bigger many times over the years.
Building the Cathedral
A "diocese" is a special area managed by a bishop in the Catholic Church. The Diocese of Joliet was created by Pope Pius XII on December 11, 1948. St. Raymond's church was chosen to be the main church, or "cathedral," for this new diocese.
However, the original church building was not big enough for all the important cathedral events. So, plans were made to build a brand new, larger cathedral. Construction on the current cathedral began in 1952. The building was finished in 1955. It cost about $2.4 million to build.
First Mass and Changes
The first church service in the new cathedral was held on December 8, 1954. Bishop Martin Dewey McNamara led this special service. Later, in 1973, new marble pieces were added. These included the altar, which is a special table, and the ambo, which is a stand for reading. These were added for the diocese's 25th anniversary.
Father Roger Kaffer, who grew up in the St. Raymond parish, was the cathedral's rector for a short time in 1985. On April 25 of that year, Pope John Paul II chose Father Kaffer to be an auxiliary bishop for Joliet. He became a bishop in a special ceremony held at the cathedral on June 26, 1985.
The cathedral had a big makeover during the time Father Stanley Orlikiewicz was pastor. The altar was moved closer to where people sit. Also, the baptismal font, which is used for baptisms, was moved into the main part of the church, called the nave.
Leaders of St. Raymond
Many priests have served as leaders of St. Raymond's parish. After 1948, they were also known as the cathedral's rectors. Here is a list of some of them:
- Rev. Francis Scanlan (1917–1941)
- Msgr. Edwin V. Hoover (1941–1969)
- Rev. Thomas O’Keefe (1969–1985)
- Rev. Roger Kaffer (1985)
- Rev. Stanley Orlikiewicz (1985–2002)
- Rev. Jim Burnett (2002–2008)
- Rev. Brad Baker (2008–2018)
- Rev. William G. Dewan (2018–present)
More to Explore
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Ramón Nonato (Joliet) para niños
