St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral (Metuchen, New Jersey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral |
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 Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey
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| 40°32′45″N 74°21′48″W / 40.5457°N 74.3634°W | |
| Location | 32 Elm Ave. Metuchen, New Jersey |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Dedicated | May 19, 1963 |
| Consecrated | 1981 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1963 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Limestone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Metuchen |
The St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral located in Metuchen, New Jersey, United States. It serves as the main church for the Diocese of Metuchen. A diocese is like a special area or region that a bishop oversees.
Contents
History of St. Francis of Assisi
Early Days of St. Francis Parish
St. Francis started as a small wooden church in 1871. It was first named after St. Joseph. The church officially became St. Francis Parish on January 26, 1878.
A fire burned down the church on December 21, 1903. A second wooden church was built and opened in December 1904. Columbia Hall, a community building, was built in 1920.
By 1960, the church community had grown to over 2,000 families. The pastor, Reverend John J. Foley, made plans for a new, larger church. Around this time, Columbia Hall was also destroyed in a fire. So, the plans were changed to include a new parish hall and a gymnasium.
The rectory, which is the home for the priests, was finished in June 1961. Construction for the new church began on July 24 of the same year. While the new buildings were being constructed, church services were held in different places. The CYO Hall, a youth activity center, was completed in December 1961. The current church building was officially opened on May 19, 1963.
Becoming a Cathedral
On November 19, 1981, Pope John Paul II created the Diocese of Metuchen. St. Francis Church was chosen to be the cathedral for this new diocese. This means it became the main church for the bishop of the diocese.
On April 30, 2019, the St. Michael's Choir School performed at Saint Francis of Assisi Cathedral. This was part of their 2019 New York Tour.
Cathedral Architecture
The Cathedral of St. Francis was built in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks back to the grand churches of the Middle Ages. The cathedral can seat about 1,000 people.
The inside walls are made of limestone with marble panels along the bottom. The floors are made of terrazzo, which is a mix of chips of marble, quartz, or glass. The wooden parts inside the church are made of oak. The altars, which are special tables used for services, are carved from Italian marble. Above the main altar, there is a bronze crucifix, which is a cross with a figure of Jesus. The front of the church has a beautiful rose window, which is a large, round stained-glass window.
Rectors of the Cathedral
Since 1981, the following priests have served as the rector of St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral. The rector is the priest in charge of the cathedral.
- Msgr. Dominic Turtora
- Msgr. Richard A. Behl
- Msgr. Michael J. Alliegro
- Msgr. Robert J. Zamorski
- Rev. Timothy A. Christy
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Francisco de Asís (Metuchen) para niños
