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 |
Sacred Heart Cathedral is an important church for the Catholic Church in the United States. It is the main church for the Diocese of Fairbanks and where the bishop of the diocese works. You can find it in the city of Fairbanks, Alaska, 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 cathedral 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 Road and Peger Road meet. Just a few years before, this area was mostly wild land. Then, new neighborhoods and a park called A-67 site were developed nearby.
Father James Spils, a Jesuit priest, was in charge of the construction. He had also managed other building projects in Alaska. The building process was slow because they built as money became available.
The very first church service, called Mass, was held on Palm Sunday, April 3, 1966. Bishop Francis Doyle Gleeson, also a Jesuit priest, officially dedicated the cathedral on June 17, 1966. 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 cathedral's north wall very close to the road. This made the church stand out more to people driving by. Peger Road, which used to be a smaller road, has also been made bigger over the years. It is farther from the church, so the cathedral is not as easy to see from that road.
The land where the cathedral is located also has other important buildings. These include the offices for the diocese, a house for priests (called a rectory), a meeting 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
