Sacred Heart Cathedral (Fairbanks, Alaska) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sacred Heart Cathedral |
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Sacred Heart Cathedral, Fairbanks
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 Location in Alaska
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| 64°50′11″N 147°46′50″W / 64.83639°N 147.78056°W | |
| Location | 2501 Airport Way Fairbanks, Alaska  |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Dedication | Sacred Heart of Jesus |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Modern |
| Completed | 1966 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | One |
| Materials | Brick veneer |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Fairbanks |
| Province | Archdiocese of Anchorage–Juneau |
The Sacred Heart Cathedral is a special church for Catholics in the United States. It is the main church for the Diocese of Fairbanks. This means it is where the bishop of the diocese has his official seat. The cathedral is located in the city of Fairbanks, in the state of Alaska. It sits right in the middle of the city.
Contents
History of Sacred Heart Cathedral
Before Sacred Heart Cathedral was built, another church called Immaculate Conception Church served as the main church in downtown Fairbanks.
Building the Cathedral
Work on Sacred Heart Cathedral began in 1962. It was built on a large piece of land where Airport and Peger Roads meet. Just a few years before, this area was mostly wild land. Then, new neighborhoods and a park area called the A-67 site were built nearby.
Father James Spils, a Jesuit priest, was in charge of the construction. He had also worked on other building projects in Alaska. The building process was slow because they built as money became available.
First Mass and Dedication
The very first church service, called a Mass, was held at Sacred Heart Cathedral on April 3, 1966. This was on Palm Sunday. The cathedral was officially blessed and opened by Bishop Francis Doyle Gleeson on June 17, 1966. This day is known as the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.
Jesuit priests served the church until 1982. After that, priests from the Diocese of Fairbanks took over. Bishop Donald Joseph Kettler was the church's pastor from 2007 to 2013.
Location and Surroundings
In the 1970s, Airport Road was made into a bigger road called Airport Way. This change put the north wall of the cathedral very close to the road. This made the church much more noticeable to people driving by.
Peger Road, which used to be a small road, has also been made bigger over the years. This road is a bit farther from the church, so the cathedral is not as easy to see from there.
The land where the cathedral stands is also home to other important buildings. These include the offices for the diocese, a house for priests (called a rectory), a hall for the Knights of Columbus, and buildings for maintenance. There are also homes for other priests and nuns.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral del Sagrado Corazón (Fairbanks) para niños
