St. Raphael's Cathedral (Dubuque, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Raphael’s Cathedral |
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Cathedral and rectory
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| Location | 231 Bluff St. Dubuque, Iowa |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral/Parish |
| Founded | 1833 (parish) |
| Dedication | Saint Raphael |
| Dedicated | July 7, 1861 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | John Mullany |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1857 |
| Completed | 1861 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 160 ft (49 m) |
| Width | 83 ft (25 m) |
| Height | 85 ft (26 m) (church) 130 ft (40 m) (tower) |
| Materials | Brick Limestone |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Dubuque |
St. Raphael's Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral and a parish church in Dubuque, Iowa. A cathedral is the main church for a bishop in a diocese. This church is part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
The church parish is the oldest Christian group in the state of Iowa. The cathedral building, the rectory (where the priest lives), the old convent (where nuns lived), and the old parochial school building are all important historical places. They are part of the Cathedral Historic District and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History of St. Raphael's Cathedral
How the Parish Started
The story of St. Raphael's Parish began in July 1833. The first settlers in the area gathered for Mass (a Catholic worship service) at the home of Patrick Quigley. Father Charles Felix Van Quickenborne, a Jesuit priest from Belgium, helped them form a parish. A parish is a local church community.
At first, the parish did not have its own church building. Members met in different homes for Mass. Father Quickenborne started planning for a church. However, he left before the building materials were ready.
Father Charles Francis Fitzmaurice arrived in 1834 to help the parish. He collected materials and money for the church. Sadly, he passed away in 1835 during a cholera outbreak. He didn't get to start building the church. For a while, the church members met in a simple log cabin.
The next pastor, Father Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli, came to Dubuque in late 1835. He helped organize the parish again. He named it after the Archangel Raphael. Under his guidance, a church made of stone was built. Father Mazzuchelli even drew the plans for this building himself. This first church served the community for 25 years. It was located just south of where the current cathedral stands.
In 1837, Pope Gregory XVI created the Diocese of Dubuque. A diocese is a church district led by a bishop. In 1839, Bishop Mathias Loras arrived. He was the first Bishop of Dubuque. He had traveled to France to find priests and raise money for the new diocese. St. Raphael's then became the main church for the bishop, known as the cathedral.
Growing the Church Community
The next 20 years were a time of growth for the parish and the Catholic Church in Iowa. Bishop Loras encouraged both Irish and German immigrants to move to Iowa. They came from crowded areas in the eastern United States. Because of this, the parish grew much larger.
By 1845, St. Raphael's was often very full on Sundays. In 1849, many German families were part of the parish. Because of the crowds and language differences, Bishop Loras allowed the German families to start their own parish. This new church was called Holy Trinity parish. It later became known as St. Mary's.
In 1853, St. Patrick's Church was built. It was about 12 blocks north of St. Raphael's. This church was meant to be a second parish for Irish families. However, Bishop Loras made it a "mission" of St. Raphael's. This meant St. Raphael's still received money from St. Patrick's. Bishop Loras needed this money to build a new, larger cathedral. This decision caused some disagreements with the local Irish community.
After St. Patrick's was founded, Bishop Loras realized that adding more parishes was only a temporary solution. He understood that St. Raphael's parish needed a much larger building to serve everyone.
Building the Current Cathedral
The new cathedral was first planned for a different location. But as the city's business area grew, Bishop Loras changed the plan. In 1857, construction began on land just north of the old cathedral building. On July 5, 1857, a large crowd watched as the cornerstone was laid. The cathedral's design was inspired by Magdalen College in Oxford, England.
The architect was John Mullany, who also designed other local buildings. He first designed the cathedral in the Romanesque Revival style. However, a financial crisis in 1857, called the Panic of 1857, forced a change. The church was then built in the Gothic Revival style instead. Even though Bishop Loras was not well, construction moved quickly. He was able to celebrate the first Mass in the new cathedral on Christmas Day, 1857. He passed away two months later.
The main construction of the cathedral was finished in 1861. The tower was not yet complete. Bishop Clement Smyth formally blessed and dedicated the church on July 7, 1861. Father Mazzuchelli, who built the first church, helped with the dedication.
St. Raphael's is made of brick and sits on a stone foundation. The lower part of its 130 feet (40 m) tall central tower is made of limestone. Inside, the church has three main sections, called naves. These are separated by fourteen wooden columns. The sides of the church have seven sections, each with a tall, narrow window called a lancet window. Smaller windows are above the side altars. There are also three windows on each side of the chancel (the area around the altar). A large lancet window is above the main entrance. This window was part of the original design and kept even when other plans changed. The top of this window can be seen from inside, but the bottom part is hidden behind the organ.
The cathedral's tower was finally finished in November 1876. The first plans called for a 243 feet (74 m) tall tower and spire (a pointed top). But when they started building it, cracks appeared in the front wall. So, instead of stone, the bell-chamber at the top of the tower was made of wood. This wood was covered in galvanized iron painted to look like stone. Four tall, pointed decorations (called pinnacles) were placed at the corners, but they are no longer there. New entrances were added to the sides of the tower. The main front of the church was covered with Portland cement to look like stone.
In 1882, a chapel was built at the back of the cathedral. This new building covered the three stained glass windows that were above the altar. So, these windows were moved and placed above the altar in the new chapel. For almost 100 years, this chapel was known as the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Its inside was even shown briefly in the 1978 movie F.I.S.T..
More changes were made starting in 1886. These included new iron ceilings and lowering the tops of the columns. The inside walls were replastered. New stations of the cross (pictures showing Jesus's journey to the cross) were brought from Germany. A new balcony was added at the back of the church. A large arch was cut into the tower. This allowed light from the big lancet window to brighten the main part of the church, which used to be dark.
Artists Luigi Gregori and his son Constantine painted the frescos (wall paintings) in the church. Luigi Gregori had worked at the Vatican. Bishop John Hennessy rededicated the cathedral on November 21, 1886. New stained glass windows were brought from London and installed in 1889. The openings for these windows in the main part of the church had been lowered 2 feet (1 m).
In 1902, a special chapel for burials was built in the lower level of the cathedral. Under the floor in front of the altar in this chapel are vaults. These vaults hold the bodies of past Bishops and Archbishops of Dubuque. The altar and communion rail in this chapel are made of Italian marble.
Two more renovations happened in the early 1900s, in 1914 and 1936. In 1966, a new, larger main entrance was built. This addition included new staircases. These replaced the old outdoor stairs that led to the side entrances. Three new sets of doors were placed at street level. An elevator was also added to make the building easier for people with disabilities to access. The chancel area was also changed after new rules from the Second Vatican Council (a big meeting of Catholic leaders). Archbishop James Byrne celebrated the first Mass in English at St. Raphael's.
1986 Renovations and Modern Changes
In 1986, the church had its biggest renovation in many years. It had been over 50 years since the last major update. The parish also wanted to make changes that fit new ideas in church design and worship.
Work started in the late summer and fall of 1986. The old Eucharistic Chapel was changed and became a gathering space for the parish. It was renamed the Cathedral Center. A new Eucharistic Chapel was created. A wooden screen was placed between the old main altar and a new altar that faced the people. Parts of the old communion rail were used in this new construction. The original main altar was kept because it was historically important. A new tabernacle (a special box for the Eucharist) was placed on this altar.
The dividers between the pews (church benches) were removed because they were a fire risk. Layers of varnish were taken off the woodwork, and the light oak wood was refinished. The walls were painted a lighter color. A new indirect lighting system was put in. A light green carpet was added throughout the building. Part of the Pietà altar (an altar with a statue of Mary holding Jesus) was fixed up. It was installed in the sanctuary as the new main altar. This replaced an older altar from the 1970s.
The platform where the altar is located was made larger. This allowed more parts of the Mass to happen closer to the people. The archbishop's large throne was replaced with a smaller, movable cathedra (the bishop's chair). This new chair allows the archbishop to face the congregation directly during Mass.
By November 1986, the renovations were complete. The remains of St. Cessianus were placed in the main altar. This happened during the first Mass in the newly renovated Cathedral on November 23, 1986. Archbishop Daniel Kucera celebrated this Mass. This tradition goes back to the early Church, when Mass was often celebrated over the tombs of saints. The bones of St. Cessianus, a Roman martyr from the second century, are considered the special relic for the state of Iowa. Pope Gregory XVI gave them to Bishop Loras in 1838.
In 2005, a pool was added to the baptismal font. This allows for immersion baptism (where a person is fully dipped in water) for older children and adults. It was ready for the Easter Vigil that year.
Working Together: Linked Parishes
In 2010, St. Raphael and St. Patrick parishes were linked by Archbishop Jerome Hanus. This means the two parishes share the same pastor. They also work closely together on different programs and activities.
The Pipe Organ
The cathedral's large pipe organ was built in 1890. It was rebuilt in 1937 by the Tellers-Kent Organ Company. It has 46 "ranks" (sets of pipes) and three keyboards. The organ has pipes in different areas. Some are in what used to be the choir loft. Others are along the southern wall near the front of the church. There is also a set of chimes connected to the organ.
Like some other organs, many of the pipes are visible. They are not hidden inside a case. The pipes are arranged in an artistic way, making a beautiful display.
The organ console (where the organist plays) is in the choir area. It is on the main level near the front of the church. It can be moved for different events, like Mass or concerts. In 1991, the organ was refurbished after several years of fundraising. This organ is one of the largest in Dubuque. It is also considered one of the best in the city.
Burials at St. Raphael's
Many important church leaders are buried at St. Raphael's Cathedral. Their remains are in the Mortuary Chapel in the lower level.
- Bishop Mathias Loras
- Bishop Clement Smyth, OCSO
- Archbishop John Hennessy
- Archbishop Francis J.L. Beckman
- Archbishop Henry P. Rohlman
- Archbishop James J. Byrne
- Archbishop Raymond Etteldorf, who was a special representative for the Pope in New Zealand and Ethiopia.
Other Parish Buildings
The cathedral is part of a historic group of buildings. This group includes the parish rectory, and its former convent and school buildings.
The Rectory
The rectory is the house next to the cathedral on the north side. It was built around 1870. This three-story brick house is a great example of the Italianate style in the Cathedral District. It has a low, hipped roof and decorative brackets under the roof edges. The windows have simple coverings, and the entrance has a canopy. The main door has side windows and a fan-shaped window above it. The ironwork and doors on the rectory originally came from a large mansion called Greystone. That mansion was torn down in the late 1950s.
The Convent and School Buildings
The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary arrived in Dubuque in 1843. They started teaching in the parish school. The building that later became their convent was first built as a girls' school in the 1880s. It is a three-story brick building with a stone foundation. It is built in the Second Empire style. It has a special mansard roof, roof edges, and stone trim. The front of the building has five sections with a small porch over the main entrance. The windows on the first two floors are flattened arches. The third-floor windows are round arches and are located in dormers (windows that stick out from the roof).
This building became living space for the sisters after a new school building was built in 1904. The parish has since sold the building. It has been changed into housing for older adults.
The former St. Raphael's School building is next to the cathedral on the south side. It was built in 1904 in the Neoclassical style. This new school replaced both the old boys' school and girls' school buildings. Those older buildings were located behind the cathedral property. The boys used to be taught by a group of religious brothers. The boys' school building was later torn down. St. Raphael's School closed in 1976 because not enough students were enrolling. The parish sold the building in the mid-1980s.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Rafael (Dubuque) para niños
