St. Paul's Cathedral (Saskatoon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Paul's Co-Cathedral |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Co-Cathedral |
| Leadership | Bishop Mark Hagemoen D.D, Rector: Very Rev. Fr. Stefano Penna |
| Year consecrated | 1911 |
| Location | |
| Location |  Saskatoon |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Groundbreaking | 1910 |
| Completed | 1911 |
| Website | |
| http://www.saskatoonrcdiocese.com/ | |
St. Paul's Co-Cathedral is an important Catholic church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is a special church because it serves as a "co-cathedral" for the Diocese of Saskatoon. This means it shares the role of the main church with another, newer cathedral. It's a place where people gather for worship and community events.
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About St. Paul's Co-Cathedral
St. Paul's Co-Cathedral is a parish within the Roman Catholic Church. A parish is like a local church community. This church is also known as a "mother church" because it was once the main church for the Diocese of Saskatoon. Today, it shares this special role as a "co-cathedral."
The church is located in the downtown area of Saskatoon. You can find it at the corner of 22nd Street East and Spadina Crescent. It sits on the west bank of the South Saskatchewan River.
History of the Building
The first stone for St. Paul's was laid on July 25, 1910. This important event was done by the Canadian Prime Minister at the time, Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Just one year later, in 1911, the church was officially blessed. This blessing was performed by Archbishop Adelard Langevin.
When it was first built, St. Paul's was a regular parish church. But in 1921, it became a "pro-cathedral." This means it was acting as a cathedral temporarily. Then, in 1934, it became a full cathedral when the Diocese of Saskatoon was created. A special organ, made by a company called Casavant Frères, was put into the church in 1912.
Special Features and Art
The church has beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were added in 1945 to remember people who died in World War II. More stained glass was added in 1976 to honor those who died in a fire. The Institute for Stained Glass in Canada has recorded information about these windows.
In 2019, two paintings were brought to St. Paul's. These paintings show Saints Peter and Paul. They were created by a German artist named Berthold Imhoff. The paintings came from another church that was closing down. They were shown to the public on June 29, which is a special day for Saints Peter and Paul. You can still see them in the church's main area.
Becoming a Co-Cathedral
For many years, St. Paul's was the main cathedral. However, by the mid-1990s, the building was too small. It did not have enough space to grow or to serve all the needs of a large diocese.
Because of this, a new, bigger church was built. This new church is called the Holy Family Cathedral. It opened on December 18, 2011. After the new cathedral opened, St. Paul's became a "co-cathedral." It still serves as an important local parish church for the community.
