St. Stephen Cathedral (Owensboro, Kentucky) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Stephen Cathedral |
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| 37°46′11″N 87°06′57″W / 37.7697°N 87.1158°W | |
| Location | 610 Locust St. Owensboro, Kentucky |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1839 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Italianate |
| Completed | 1926 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Owensboro |
St. Stephen Cathedral is an important Catholic building in Owensboro, Kentucky, United States. It serves as a cathedral, which means it's the main church for the Diocese of Owensboro. It is also a local parish church where people attend services.
Contents
The Story of St. Stephen Cathedral
In the early days of Daviess County, Kentucky, priests would hold church services in people's homes. The very first church named St. Stephen in Owensboro was built in 1839. Reverend John C. Wathen became its first pastor.
As the town and the church community grew, they needed a bigger building. So, a second church was built on the same spot in 1856. The church building you see today on Locust Street was constructed between 1924 and 1926.
Becoming a Cathedral
On December 9, 1937, Pope Pius XII created the Diocese of Owensboro. A diocese is an area managed by a bishop. St. Stephen's was chosen to be the main church, or cathedral, for this new diocese.
The first Bishop of Owensboro, Francis Ridgley Cotton, was officially made a bishop at St. Stephen's Cathedral on February 24, 1938.
Recent Updates and Events
The cathedral's roof was repaired in 2007. They replaced the old shingles with special Ludowici tiles.
On May 29, 2017, the cathedral held the funeral for Nicky Hayden. He was a famous motorcycle racer from Owensboro. He passed away in Italy after a bicycle accident.
Catholic Schools in Owensboro
The first school in Daviess County was St. Francis Academy. It was opened by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in 1849.
In 1939, the same year St. Stephen's became a cathedral, its first parish school opened. It was on Frederica Street and taught five grades. Later, in 1951, Owensboro Catholic High School took the place of St. Francis Academy.
A new St. Stephen's school building opened in 1962 on Locust Street. In 1989, the Catholic schools in Owensboro joined together. They used the building at St. Angela Merici for the new combined school. That same year, a preschool also opened at St. Stephen's.
More to Explore
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Esteban (Owensboro) para niños
