Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament |
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Woodward Avenue façade and rectory
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| 42°23′19″N 83°05′06″W / 42.3885824°N 83.0850898°W | |
| Location | 9844 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral (also a parish church) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | NRHP |
| Designated | 1982 |
| Architect(s) | Henry A. Walsh, George F. Diehl |
| Style | Decorated Neo-Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Detroit |
The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament is a large and beautiful Catholic cathedral in Detroit, Michigan. It is the main church for the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. This archdiocese covers all Catholic churches in Michigan. Since 2000, it also helps with the Catholic Church in the Cayman Islands.
The cathedral is located at 9844 Woodward Avenue in Detroit. It is next to the Boston-Edison Historic District. In 1982, the cathedral was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historical building.
History of the Cathedral
The Most Blessed Sacrament parish (a local church community) started in 1905. At that time, it was in the northern part of Detroit. Building the church began in 1913, but it took a long time. The inside of the church was finished in 1930. It was officially opened on Thanksgiving that year.
In 1937, Detroit's Catholic area became an archdiocese. This meant it was a more important church region. The Most Blessed Sacrament was chosen to be the main cathedral church. Before this, St. Patrick's had been the cathedral since 1890.
The outside of the cathedral, including its two tall towers and a small spire called a flèche, was not finished until 1951. This was a special year because it was Detroit's 250th anniversary. The church's official opening on November 17, 1951, was even shown live on local TV! There were plans for even taller spires on top of the towers, but they were never built.
Starting in 1985, a famous local architect named Gunnar Birkerts worked on redesigning the inside of the cathedral. He also designed furniture for a special visit by the Pope. Some of his designs are still used in the cathedral today.
Cathedral Architecture
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The cathedral was designed by Henry A. Walsh from Cleveland, Ohio. He designed it in a style called Norman Gothic. This style is known for its tall arches and detailed stone work. Because the building took so long to finish, Walsh could not see it through. Another architect, George Diehl, took over in 1950 to complete the towers.
The outside of the building is made of Ohio sandstone. The decorative parts, like the buttresses (supports on the outside walls) and doorways, use Indiana limestone. The cathedral also has many statues both inside and outside. These were created by a sculptor named Corrado Parducci.
In 2001, Gunnar Birkerts was chosen again to update the cathedral. This included adding a plaza (an open public space) on the north side. He also changed some of the inside areas. A new sanctuary (the area around the altar), a new cathedra (the bishop's special chair), a new baptismal font, and a new organ were added.
The first organ was put in the church in 1925. It was a gift from Frederick Fisher, who owned Fisher Body. During the renovations, this old organ was fixed up. A second organ was also added near the altar. The new organ can be played together with the older one from a single control panel. This new organ was first played at a special ceremony on March 25, 2003.
Papal Visit in 1987
In 1987, Pope John Paul II visited the United States. His original plan did not include Detroit. However, Detroit's cardinal archbishop, Edmund Szoka, asked him to come. Cardinal Szoka even asked the Pope directly during a visit to Vatican City.
The Pope arrived in Detroit on September 18, 1987. He spoke to large crowds in Hamtramck. He also spoke to deacons (church helpers) from all over the U.S. at Ford Auditorium. During his visit, Pope John Paul II met guests at the cathedral. He also stayed at the archbishop's home next to the church.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral del Santísimo Sacramento (Detroit) para niños
