Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament (Altoona, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of theBlessed Sacrament |
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Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in 2018
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| 40°30′56.88″N 78°24′14.4″W / 40.5158000°N 78.404000°W | |
| Location | One Cathedral Square Altoona, Pennsylvania |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral/Parish church |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Dedication | Blessed Sacrament |
| Dedicated | November 13, 1960 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | George I. Lovatt, Sr. |
| Style | Renaissance Revival |
| Groundbreaking | September 17, 1924 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 264 feet (80 m) |
| Width | 120 feet (37 m) |
| Number of domes | One |
| Dome height (outer) | 198 feet (60 m) |
| Dome height (inner) | 152 feet (46 m) |
| Materials | Limestone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Altoona-Johnstown |
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is a beautiful Catholic church in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It's located at One Cathedral Square. This important building is part of the Downtown Altoona Historic District. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
This cathedral is the main church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. It is where the bishop, currently the Most Reverend Mark Leonard Bartchak, has his official seat. The current Pastor of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is Rev. Monsignor Stanley B. Carson.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The very first Catholic Mass in Altoona was held around 1850. It was led by Reverend John Walsh from a nearby town. The first church in Altoona, named St. John the Evangelist, was built and opened in 1851. In 1853, Reverend John Tuigg became the first resident pastor.
When the Diocese of Altoona was created in 1901, St. John's Church became the "pro-cathedral." This means it was a temporary main church for the diocese.
Building the New Cathedral
The idea for the current cathedral began when Reverend Morgan Sheedy was the pastor. The old St. John's Pro-Cathedral was taken down to make space for the new, bigger building. A temporary hall was used for church services during construction.
Philadelphia architect George I. Lovatt, Sr. was chosen to design the new cathedral. He also designed another cathedral in Harrisburg. A local builder, Alfred D. Reid, constructed the church. A three-story house for the priests, called a rectory, was built at the same time. It is connected to the cathedral.
Work on the new cathedral started on September 17, 1924. The first stone, called the cornerstone, was placed on May 30, 1926. This date was special because it was the 25th anniversary of the Altoona Diocese. However, construction stopped in 1929 because of the Stock Market Crash.
Completion and Dedication
Construction started again, and the unfinished cathedral opened for services on September 7, 1931. The inside was still bare brick and concrete. Over the next 28 years, Bishop Richard Thomas Guilfoyle worked to raise money to finish the cathedral. Sadly, he passed away before the work could begin.
His successor, Bishop Howard Joseph Carroll, started the completion work. He also passed away within a year. However, the work had moved so quickly that his funeral was held in the nearly finished cathedral in March 1960. Finally, on November 13, 1960, Bishop J. Carroll McCormick officially opened the completed cathedral.
Cathedral Architecture
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is a very grand building. Its design is inspired by early Renaissance cathedrals in Italy.
Exterior Features
The most striking part of the cathedral is its large dome, which reaches 198 feet (60 meters) high. It looks similar to parts of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Florence Cathedral. The dome has 24 windows, letting in lots of light. Because it sits on top of Gospel Hill, the cathedral is a clear landmark in Altoona.
To reach the main entrance, you climb 48 stone steps. Along the staircase wall, there's a Latin phrase carved into the stone: Ecce tabernaculum Dei cum hominibus. This means "Behold the dwelling place of God with men."
The front of the cathedral has a grand entrance with six tall columns. The building is made of strong steel and concrete. It is covered with a beautiful layer of Indiana limestone.
The main doors are made of etched glass. They show Jesus at the Last Supper, holding the bread and the cup. Other doors show symbols of the four Evangelists: Matthew (an angel), Luke (an ox), Mark (a lion), and John (an eagle). On either side of the main entrance are statues of two American saints: Saint John Neumann and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Interior Features
Inside, the cathedral has a more modern feel. The baptismal font is near the entrance. This symbolizes how people enter the Church through baptism. The main area, called the nave, is divided by six large pillars. Along the ceiling of the nave, there are images of six holy people connected to the Blessed Sacrament.
The dome is above the central part of the church. From the floor to the top of the dome, it is 152 feet (46 meters) high. Around the base of the dome, there's a Latin phrase: Hoc est enim Corpus Meum. Hic est enim Calix Sanguinis Mei. Mysterium Fidei. This means "This is My Body. This is the Cup of My Blood. The Mystery of Faith." You can also see symbols of the Eucharist, like wheat, grapes, and bread.
The altar is the most important part of the cathedral. It is 12 feet (3.7 meters) long. This number is special because it relates to the 12 Apostles and the 12 tribes of Israel. A golden canopy hangs above the altar.
There are seven beautiful stained glass windows in the sanctuary. They show important events like The Annunciation, The Nativity, The Last Supper, The Crucifixion, The Resurrection, The Ascension, and The Crowning of Mary.
Below the altar, in the basement, there is a special chapel called the "crypt chapel." This is where bishops of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown are buried. Six bishops and two rectors of the cathedral are entombed there.
Pipe Organ
The cathedral has a large and historic pipe organ. It was built in 1931 by a German company called G.F. Steinmeyer and Company. Mrs. Annie C. Wolf generously donated the money for the organ.
The organ has many different sounds, with 62 "stops" and 83 "ranks" of pipes. It is played using a console with four keyboards. The organ has been repaired and restored over the years. In 1992, it was fully restored by Columbia Organ Works. This amazing organ is a key feature of the cathedral. It stands beneath a stained glass window of Saint Cecilia, who is the patron saint of music.
Pastors of the Cathedral
Here are the pastors who have served the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament:
- Rev. John Tuigg, 1853–76
- Rev. John Walsh, 1876–80
- Rev. Thomas Ryan, 1880–83
- Most Rev. John Tuigg, 1883–89
- Administrators: Rev. Nicholas O'Reilly and Rev. Thomas Smith
- Rev. Edward Bush, 1890–94
- Rev. Morgan Sheedy, 1894–1939 (became the first Rector in 1901)
- Rev. Msgr. Ildephonse Denny, 1939–72
- Rev. Msgr. Thomas Madden, PA, 1972–87
- Rev. Msgr. Paul Panza, PA, 1987–95
- Rev. Msgr. Robert Mazur, 1995–2019
- Very Rev. Alan Thomas, VG, 2019
- Rev. Msgr. Stanley Carson, 2019–present
See also
In Spanish: Catedral del Santísimo Sacramento (Altoona) para niños
