Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes (Spokane, Washington)
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of Our Lady Lourdes is a Catholic cathedral
in Spokane, Washington
, United States
. It is the seat of the Diocese of Spokane
.
celebrated the Mass in August 1881 in a converted carpenter’s shop that he named St. Joseph. Five years later a brick church was constructed and named Our Lady of Lourdes. The Sisters of the Holy Names opened a parish school. The cornerstone
for the present church building was laid in 1903. A new school building was completed three years later. On December 17, 1913 St. Pius X established the Diocese of Spokane and Our Lady of Lourdes was named the diocesan cathedral.
pipe organ
is in the loft and the Druffel Memorial organ is located in the transept. The stained glass
windows are from Bavaria
.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the seat of the Diocese of Spokane
Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane
The Diocese of Spokane is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of Washington. Headquartered in Spokane, the diocese encompasses Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams, Whitman, Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin Counties...
.
History
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish can trace its beginnings to the first Mass celebrated in Spokane. The Rev. Joseph Cataldo, SJSociety of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
celebrated the Mass in August 1881 in a converted carpenter’s shop that he named St. Joseph. Five years later a brick church was constructed and named Our Lady of Lourdes. The Sisters of the Holy Names opened a parish school. The cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
for the present church building was laid in 1903. A new school building was completed three years later. On December 17, 1913 St. Pius X established the Diocese of Spokane and Our Lady of Lourdes was named the diocesan cathedral.
Architecture
The cathedral is designed in an Italian Romanesque Revival style. A renovation was completed to the interior in 1971. The altar was pushed forward closer to the congregation. The old marble high altar, topped by a Calvary scene, remains in the apse. The cathedral has two organs. A W. W. KimballKimball International
Kimball International is a manufacturer of furniture and electronic assemblies, serving customers around the world. Kimball International consists of two groups: the Furniture Segment and the Contract Electronics Segment. It is the successor to W.W...
pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
is in the loft and the Druffel Memorial organ is located in the transept. The stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows are from Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
.