Sacred Heart Cathedral (Rochester, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sacred Heart Cathedral |
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Sacred Heart Cathedral in 2013
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 Location in New York
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| 43°11′35″N 77°37′58″W / 43.1931°N 77.6329°W | |
| Location | 296 Flower City Park Rochester, New York |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1925 |
| Completed | 1927 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Limestone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Cathedral Community |
| Deanery | Monroe Central |
| Diocese | Rochester |
The Sacred Heart Cathedral is a large Catholic church in Rochester, New York, United States. It is the main church for the Diocese of Rochester. This means it is where the diocesan bishop has his official seat. It is also home to a local church community. Today, this community is known as the Cathedral Community at The Sacred Heart Cathedral.
History of the Cathedral
The first Catholic church in Rochester was St. Patrick's, started in 1823. When the Diocese of Rochester was created in 1868, St. Patrick's became its first cathedral.
Later, in 1914, the Eastman Kodak Company built its main office next to St. Patrick's. Over time, Kodak grew and needed more space. So, in 1937, the diocese sold St. Patrick's Cathedral to Eastman Kodak. The old church building was taken down that same year.
Meanwhile, the Sacred Heart parish was started in 1911. The first stone for the current church building was placed in 1925. Charles H. Prindeville, an architect from Chicago, designed it. The church was finished in 1927. When St. Patrick's was sold, Sacred Heart became the temporary cathedral, called a "pro-cathedral." In 1952, it officially became the full cathedral for the diocese.
Big Changes in 2005
In January 2005, the cathedral finished a major renovation project. This work took about 18 months and cost $11 million. A priest named Fr. Richard S. Vosko helped guide the design changes.
Many parts of the church were updated. The altar, which is a special table used for services, was moved from the front to the center of the church. This change was made to help everyone feel more involved. A large statue of Jesus was moved, and a new organ was put in its place. The choir now sings where the altar used to be.
A new font for baptisms was placed in the main aisle. This allows the whole community to be part of the baptism ceremony. The old church benches, called pews, were replaced with padded chairs. This makes the seating more flexible for different events. Also, the tabernacle, which holds special religious items, was moved to a side chapel.
These changes caused some debate among church members. Some people who preferred traditional styles were unhappy with the new look. They felt the changes were too extreme. They also worried about the high cost, especially since other churches and schools in the diocese were closing. Some also thought the church should stay as it was, in case a former Rochester bishop, Fulton Sheen, became a saint. They believed it might become a special place for visitors.
The Cathedral Organ
The cathedral has a beautiful organ. It is called Opus 26 and was made by Paul Fritts & Company. This organ has three keyboards and 53 different sets of pipes, making many sounds.
See Also
In Spanish: Catedral del Sagrado Corazón (Rochester) para niños
