St. Michael's Cathedral (Springfield, Massachusetts) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St. Michael's Cathedral

Location in Massachusetts
42°6′15.1″N 72°35′4.1″W / 42.104194°N 72.584472°W / 42.104194; -72.584472
Location	254 State Street Springfield, Massachusetts
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Cathedral
Founded	1847
Dedication	Saint Michael the Archangel
Architecture
Architect(s)	Patrick Keely
Style	Italianate, Federal
Groundbreaking	1860
Completed	1861
Specifications
Materials	Brick
Administration
Diocese	Springfield

St. Michael's Cathedral is a very important church located in Springfield, Massachusetts. It is the main church for the Catholic community in that area. This church was started way back in 1847. In 1974, the church building and its nearby rectory (the priest's house) became part of a special historical area called the Quadrangle–Mattoon Street Historic District. This means they are recognized as important historical places in the United States.

History of St. Michael's Cathedral
Images for kids
See also

History of St. Michael's Cathedral

St. Michael's Cathedral in 1908

The church began in 1847 as St. Benedict's parish. It was not easy for local Catholics to start a church back then. They bought an old Baptist church to use as their first building. For five years, they did not have a regular pastor.

Building the Current Church

In 1852, Father Michael P. Gallagher became the pastor. He started building the church you see today on State Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. Construction began in 1860 and finished in 1861. The famous architect Patrick Keely from Brooklyn designed the church. To honor Father Gallagher's hard work, the church changed its name to St. Michael's. Father Gallagher passed away in 1869 and is buried at the church entrance.

Becoming a Cathedral

In 1870, Pope Pius IX created the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. A diocese is like a large church district. When this happened, St. Michael's church became its "cathedral." A cathedral is the main church of a diocese, where the bishop has his special chair.

Modern Updates and Features

The church building was made bigger in 1996. They added the Bishop Marshall Center to the back of the church. This new center has several useful areas:

A small chapel that can seat 60 people.
A TV studio for broadcasting daily Mass.
A parish hall that can hold 120 people, with a kitchen.
It is also accessible for people with disabilities.

The St. Michael's Cathedral Choir

Since 2000, St. Michael's Cathedral has been home to a special choir. This choir sings for the bishop and performs at important church services. They also put on annual music events like the "Lessons and Carols" festival during Advent and the "Tenebrae" service during Lent. Besides singing, the choir also teaches basic music theory to the children who are part of it.