Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (Rochester, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Co-Cathedral ofSt. John the Evangelist |
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Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| 44°01′23″N 92°28′07″W / 44.0230°N 92.4685°W | |
| Location | 11 4th Ave. SW Rochester, Minnesota |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Co-cathedral/Parish |
| Dedicated | 1987 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Edward F. Wirtz |
| Style | Modern |
| Groundbreaking | 1955 |
| Completed | 1957 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,200 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Winona-Rochester |
The Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist is a very important Catholic church in Rochester, Minnesota, United States. It serves as a co-cathedral and a parish church for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. A co-cathedral is one of the main churches in a diocese, sharing this role with another cathedral.
Contents
History of St. John the Evangelist
Starting the Parish
The St. John the Evangelist community, called a parish, began in 1863. It was started by a priest named Rev. James Morris. This makes it the oldest Catholic parish in Rochester. The land where the church buildings stand today was bought when the parish first started.
Building the Churches and Schools
The first church building was finished in 1872. Bishop Thomas Grace of St. Paul officially opened it. As more people joined the parish, a larger church was built in 1905.
In 1913, three schools opened for the community. There was a grade school for younger children. There was also a high school for girls and a high school for boys.
The Modern Church Building
Plans for the church building you see today were drawn by Edward F. Wirtz. He was an architect from New Ulm. Construction started in 1955. Local builders finished the church two years later, in 1957.
The church has a modern design. Its outside walls are made of Mankato stone. The building is quite large and can seat 1,200 people. The church was updated and improved between 2001 and 2002.
Becoming a Co-Cathedral
On March 27, 2018, something special happened. Pope Francis decided to make the church a co-cathedral. This new title was for the Diocese of Winona–Rochester. The change showed how much Rochester has grown. It also reflected how the population has shifted since the diocese began in 1889.
Today, about three-quarters of the people in the diocese live between Rochester and Mankato. St. John the Evangelist Church officially became a co-cathedral on June 24, 2018. This date is celebrated as the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.
See also
Images for kids
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Postcard image of the 1905 church
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Interior of the church, looking east
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Cathedra
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Mass of elevation
