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 a very old and important church in Pueblo, Colorado. You can find it at 414 West 11th Street. It is the main church for the Diocese of Pueblo.
The church building was constructed between 1912 and 1913. In 1989, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. People consider it a great example of Gothic Revival architecture. It features a tall spire, pointed arch windows, and high, arched ceilings inside.
History of the Sacred Heart Cathedral
Early Beginnings in Pueblo
In October 1860, two priests, Father Projectus Machebeuf and Father J.B. Raverdy, traveled about 300 miles from Santa Fe, New Mexico. They journeyed north into what was then Colorado Territory. After several months, they reached the Arkansas River, where the city of Pueblo is located today.
At first, these priests held church services in the homes of local Catholic families. Later, they started holding public services in the old Courthouse on 3rd and Santa Fe Avenue. Finally, in 1873, the first proper church was built in Pueblo. It was located at 13th and West Streets and was named St. Ignatius.
Building a New Church
In 1882, a fire sadly destroyed the St. Ignatius church and its nearby rectory (the priest's house). Jesuit priests, who were in charge of the church, worked hard to raise money. They managed to build a second church. This new St. Ignatius church was built closer to the center of the city, on Grand Avenue between 10th and 11th Streets.
This second church later became the parish hall when the current Cathedral of the Sacred Heart was built. Msgr. Thomas Wolohan was the pastor at that time. In 1910, Msgr. Wolohan started making plans for a brand new church. He wanted it to 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 a special stone placed at the beginning of a building's construction. 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 the church's congregation, which included about 190 families. 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 church became a Cathedral. This happened when the new Diocese of Pueblo was officially created. A cathedral is the main church of a diocese, where the bishop has his special chair.
Since it became a cathedral, eight different rectors and administrators have served there. In recent years, the number of families attending the parish has grown a lot, from 930 to over 1,200. The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is now seen as a great example for other churches in the diocese.
Anniversaries and Renovations
In 1997, the Cathedral celebrated its 125th anniversary. They had a year-long series of special events to mark this important milestone. Their motto for that year was "Strong at Heart after 125 years."
In 1989, the U.S. Department of the Interior added the cathedral to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical building.
In 2008, the church's steeple was hit by lightning. It caught fire and was damaged. However, work was completed to replace the steeple and install a lightning rod to protect it in the future. HW Houston Construction and Vision Mechanical did the repair work. A new cross was also dedicated. At that time, Stephen Berg was the Bishop of Pueblo.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral del Sagrado Corazón (Pueblo) para niños
