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 large Catholic church in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It is located at One Cathedral Square. This beautiful building is the main church for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. It is also where the bishop of the diocese, currently Most Reverend Mark Leonard Bartchak, has his official seat. The Cathedral was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The first Catholic Mass in Altoona was held around 1850. It was led by Reverend John Walsh. The very first church in town, St. John the Evangelist, 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 started when Reverend Morgan Sheedy was the pastor. The old St. John's Pro-Cathedral was taken down to make space for the new building. A temporary hall was used for church services during construction.
Philadelphia architect George I. Lovatt, Sr. designed the new Cathedral. He also designed another cathedral in Harrisburg. A local company, Alfred D. Reid, built the Cathedral. A three-story house for the priests, called a rectory, was built at the same time. It is connected to the Cathedral.
Construction began 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.
Pauses and Completion
Building work stopped in 1929 because of the Stock Market Crash. This event caused many financial problems across the country.
Construction started again, and the unfinished Cathedral opened for services on September 7, 1931. The inside was still very plain, with bare brick walls. 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.
Bishop Howard Joseph Carroll continued the work. He also passed away within a year, but the construction had moved very quickly. His funeral was held in March 1960 in the nearly finished Cathedral. Finally, on November 13, 1960, Bishop J. Carroll McCormick officially opened the completed Cathedral.
Cathedral Architecture
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament has a beautiful and grand design. It mixes old European styles with some modern touches.
Outside Features
The most striking part of the Cathedral is its large dome. It rises 198 feet (60 meters) high. The dome's design was inspired by famous cathedrals in Rome and Florence, Italy. It has 24 windows, letting in lots of light. Because the Cathedral is on top of Gospel Hill, its dome is a major landmark in Altoona.
To reach the main entrance, you climb 48 stone steps. Along the staircase, there's a Latin phrase carved into the wall. It says, Ecce tabernaculum Dei cum hominibus, which means "Behold the dwelling place of God with men."
The main front of the Cathedral has a grand entrance with six tall Ionic columns. The building is made of steel and reinforced concrete. It is covered with a layer of Indiana limestone, which gives it a smooth, elegant look.
The main doors are made of etched glass. They show Jesus at the Last Supper. Other doors have symbols of the four Evangelists: Matthew (an angel), Luke (an ox), Mark (a lion), and John (an eagle). Statues of two American saints stand on either side of the main entrance. On the left is Saint John Neumann, the first American male saint. On the right is Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint.
Inside Features
While the outside looks very traditional, the inside has a more modern feel. The baptismal font is near the entrance. This symbolizes how people enter the Church through baptism. The main part of the church, called the nave, has six large pillars. Along the top of the nave, there are images of six holy people. They are all connected to the Blessed Sacrament.
The large dome is above the central area where the nave and transepts meet, called the crossing. From the floor to the top of the dome inside is 152 feet (46 meters). At the base of the dome, a Latin phrase is written: 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." Around the dome and sanctuary, you can see symbols of the Eucharist, like wheat, grapes, bread, and a chalice.
The altar is the most important part of the Cathedral. It is where the Eucharist is celebrated. The altar is 12 feet (3.7 meters) long. This number is important because it relates to the 12 Apostles and the 12 tribes of Israel. A golden canopy hangs above the altar.
The Cathedral has 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.
Underneath the altar, in the basement, there is a special chapel called the "crypt chapel." This chapel is a mausoleum where bishops of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown are buried. Six bishops and two rectors (pastors) of the Cathedral are buried there.
Pipe Organ
The Cathedral has a very special pipe organ. It was built in 1931 by a German company called G.F. Steinmeyer and Company. Mrs. Annie C. Wolf gave the money to buy and install the organ.
The organ is very large, with 62 different sounds (called stops) and 83 sets of pipes (called ranks). It has four keyboards. The organ was repaired in 1954 and again in 1959. In 1992, it was fully restored to its original condition. This historic organ is a key part of the Cathedral's beauty and worship. It stands below 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
Images for kids
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St. John's Pro-Cathedral, the first main church in Altoona
See also
In Spanish: Catedral del Santísimo Sacramento (Altoona) para niños
