Holy Name of Mary Pro-Cathedral (Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan) facts for kids
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Holy Name of Mary Proto-Cathedral
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 320 East Portage Avenue Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan |
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| Built | 1881 |
| Architect | Joseph Connolly |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000540 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 27, 1984 |
The Holy Name of Mary Proto-Cathedral, also called St. Mary Proto-Cathedral, is a very old Catholic church. It is located in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, in the United States. This church was once a main church, known as a cathedral. It was the first cathedral for the Marquette Diocese. That is why it is called a "proto-cathedral," meaning "first cathedral."
This church is the oldest Catholic parish in Michigan. It is also the third oldest parish in the entire United States. The church started as a Jesuit mission way back in 1668. The building you see today was built in 1881. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. In 1989, it became a State of Michigan historic site.
History of the Church
The Holy Name of Mary church was started by Jesuits in 1668. On January 9, 1857, Pope Pius IX created the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie. This church was chosen to be the first cathedral for this new diocese. It was the first cathedral in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Frederic Baraga became its first bishop. In 1865, the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie changed its name. It became the Diocese of Marquette. The main church then moved to St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette.
The current church building is the fifth one for this parish. It was built in 1881. A Canadian architect named Joseph Connolly designed it. He used the Gothic Revival style, which looks like old European cathedrals. The church was updated many times from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. The house where the priest lives, called the rectory, was added in 1922.
In 1968, the church built the Tower of History. This tower was a special place to honor Catholic missionaries. These missionaries had served the community for many years. The tower was meant to be part of a bigger project. This project would have included a community center and a new church. However, the church's plans changed. The tower was sold to Sault Historic Sites in 1980. This group still runs the tower today. Money from the Tower of History still helps the church.
Catholic Schools
St. Mary's School first opened in 1885. Later, in 1896, the Sisters of Loretto started Loretto Academy. This academy taught girls from elementary school through high school. In 1945, it became a high school for both boys and girls.
The current school building was built in 1937. It held classes for students up to eighth grade. Both St. Mary's School and Loretto Academy closed in 1971. They closed because of money problems. The academy building was sold to the local school district. St. Mary's School reopened in 1993. Today, it teaches students from preschool up to eighth grade.
See also
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
- List of Jesuit sites
