Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Pueblo, Colorado) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of the Sacred Heart |
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 Location in Colorado
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| 38°16′37.2″N 104°36′43.92″W / 38.277000°N 104.6122000°W | |
| Location | 414 West 11th Street Pueblo, Colorado |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral/Parish |
| Founded | 1873 (parish) |
| Dedication | Sacred Heart of Jesus |
| Dedicated | April 10, 1913 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Willison & Fallis |
| Style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1912-1913 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | One |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Pueblo |
The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, also known as Sacred Heart Church, is an old and important church in Pueblo, Colorado. It's like the main church for the Catholic community in the area.
The church building was constructed between 1912 and 1913. In 1989, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special building recognized for its history and amazing Gothic Revival architecture style. It has a tall spire, cool pointed windows, and a soaring ceiling inside.
History of the Cathedral
Early Beginnings in Pueblo
In October 1860, two priests, Fr. Projectus Machebeuf and Fr. J.B. Raverdy, started a long journey. They traveled about 300 miles from Santa Fe, New Mexico, heading north into what was then Colorado Territory. After months, they reached the Arkansas River, where the city of Pueblo is today.
At first, these priests held church services in people's homes. Later, they began to hold public services in the old Courthouse. Finally, in 1873, the first proper church was built in Pueblo. It was located on 13th and West Streets and was named St. Ignatius.
Building a New Church
Sadly, a fire destroyed St. Ignatius and its rectory (the priest's home) in 1882. But the community didn't give up! Jesuit priests helped raise money to build a second church. This new St. Ignatius was built closer to the center of the city, on Grand Avenue.
This second church later became the parish hall when the current church was built. Msgr. Thomas Wolohan was the pastor at that time. In 1910, he started planning for a brand new church. This new church would be dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Construction and Dedication
The cornerstone for the new Sacred Heart church was laid on May 5, 1912. A cornerstone is the first stone laid for a building, often with important items placed inside. Just one year later, on April 10, 1913, the church was officially dedicated. The Most Reverend Nicholas Matz, who was the Archbishop of Denver, led the dedication ceremony.
Building the church cost $48,000. This money was raised with the help of 190 families from the church community. Msgr. Wolohan served as the pastor of Sacred Heart for 36 years. He is buried in a special crypt (an underground room) within the cathedral.
Becoming a Cathedral
On November 15, 1941, Sacred Heart became even more important. It was elevated to the status of a Cathedral. This happened when the new Diocese of Pueblo was created. A cathedral is the main church of a diocese, where the bishop has his special chair.
Since becoming a Cathedral, eight different rectors and administrators have served there. In recent years, the church community has grown a lot. It went from 930 families to over 1,200 families. It has become a great example for other churches in the area.
Anniversaries and Recognition
In 1997, the Cathedral celebrated its 125th anniversary. They had a year-long series of events to mark this special occasion. Their motto for that year was "Strong at Heart after 125 years."
In 1989, the Cathedral was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This recognition came from the U.S. Department of the Interior. It highlights the building's historical and architectural importance.
Lightning Strike and Repairs
In 2008, something dramatic happened. The steeple (the tall, pointed tower) of the cathedral was struck by lightning! It caught fire and was damaged.
However, work was quickly done to fix it. The steeple was replaced, and a lightning rod was installed to protect it from future strikes. A new cross was also dedicated. At that time, the Bishop of Pueblo was Stephen Berg.
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