Cathedral of Saint Augustine in Tucson
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of Saint Augustine (also called Saint Augustine Cathedral) is the mother church
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
. It is located in Tucson
, Arizona
.
's history began with the founding of the chapel of the Royal Presidio
of San Agustin in Tucson, which was constructed in 1776. By the 1800s, both the presidio and its chapel had fallen out of use, so Father Joseph Machebeuf was sent to survey the condition of the area in the 1860s. He advised the Bishop of Santa Fe that a priest should be assigned to the location, which had a population of 600 people.
Father Jean B. Salpointe was appointed as pastor of the new church in 1866. Work on the structure—commonly referred to as a cathedral, even then—was completed by 1868. The Holy See declared the territory of Arizona an apostolic vicariate
later that year, and Salpointe was appointed Vicar Apostolic.
The church was rebuilt by Bishop Peter Bourgade in 1897; the original plans called for a Gothic
structure, but the spires were never completed. It was only in 1928 that the brick structure was transformed into its present Mexican baroque form, including the cast stone
façade, which was inspired by the Cathedral of Querétaro, Mexico
.
A restoration project, which entirely demolished and rebuilt the cathedral with the exception of its façade and towers, coincided with the centenary anniversary of the completion of the original church. It was initiated in 1966 and completed in 1968.
, who was the pope at the time of the building's construction. Various indigenous desert plants are featured in the stone designs, such as yucca
and saguaro
blossoms, as well as a representation of the Mission San Xavier del Bac
.
A large 12th- or 13th-century crucifix hanging inside the cathedral's vestibule was carved at Pamplona
, Spain
.
The cathedral's floor is set on a slight grade, so that the main altar is clearly in view of the entire congregation. The seating can accommodate up to 1,250 people.
The pipe organ
was designed and built by David McDowell in Tucson and has thirty-eight ranks.
Inside the cathedral dozens of improvements have been made. All of the stained-glass artwork has been refreshed. The upper levels of glass pay homage to the apostles and the first 4 bishops of Tucson. The lower level of stained- glass follows the history of St. Augustine.
The side altars also known as retablos were made from handcrafted wood and decorated to honor the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine.
The crown jewel of the makeover is the Pamplona Crucifix. The crucifix was carved in Spain and is at least 600 years old. It was a special gift to the cathedral and installed in 1981. The crucifix stands at 17 ft and weighs two tons. Much work was done to preserve, strengthen, and enhance this sacred object. It now rests on the back wall of the sanctuary behind the altar.
The church also received updates in lighting and sound technology. Parishioners will notice the pews have been redesigned after the style in 1897. The tile flooring was also revamped.
On the outside the sanctuaries old white walls were treated to a warm beige paint job. In addition, the nearly one hundred year old statues of the Immaculate Conception and the Sacred Heart of Jesus were restored.
From the repairs on the roof to the tiles on the floor, this restoration project took over 2 years. To celebrate its completion a re-dedication mass was led by the Bishop of Tucson, Gerald Kicanas on February 12, 2011. Hundreds from the faithful catholic community turned out for this special day.
The total cost for all renovations was over 1 million dollars, donated by locals.
Mother Church
In Christianity, the term mother church or Mother Church may have one of the following meanings:# The first mission church in an area, or a pioneer cathedral# A basilica or cathedral# The main chapel of a province of a religious order...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southwestern region of the United States. It comprises nine counties of the state of Arizona, making it the fifth largest diocese in the continental United States in terms of area...
. It is located in Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
.
History
The cathedral parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
's history began with the founding of the chapel of the Royal Presidio
Presidio
A presidio is a fortified base established by the Spanish in North America between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. The fortresses were built to protect against pirates, hostile native Americans and enemy colonists. Other presidios were held by Spain in the sixteenth and seventeenth...
of San Agustin in Tucson, which was constructed in 1776. By the 1800s, both the presidio and its chapel had fallen out of use, so Father Joseph Machebeuf was sent to survey the condition of the area in the 1860s. He advised the Bishop of Santa Fe that a priest should be assigned to the location, which had a population of 600 people.
Father Jean B. Salpointe was appointed as pastor of the new church in 1866. Work on the structure—commonly referred to as a cathedral, even then—was completed by 1868. The Holy See declared the territory of Arizona an apostolic vicariate
Apostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
later that year, and Salpointe was appointed Vicar Apostolic.
The church was rebuilt by Bishop Peter Bourgade in 1897; the original plans called for a Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
structure, but the spires were never completed. It was only in 1928 that the brick structure was transformed into its present Mexican baroque form, including the cast stone
Cast stone
Cast stone is defined as “a refined architectural concrete building unit manufactured to simulate natural cut stone, used in unit masonry applications”. In the UK and Europe cast stone is defined as “any material manufactured with aggregate and cementitious binder, intended to resemble in...
façade, which was inspired by the Cathedral of Querétaro, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
A restoration project, which entirely demolished and rebuilt the cathedral with the exception of its façade and towers, coincided with the centenary anniversary of the completion of the original church. It was initiated in 1966 and completed in 1968.
Architecture
The cathedral features an elaborate cast stone façade with the coat of arms of Pope Pius XIPope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
, who was the pope at the time of the building's construction. Various indigenous desert plants are featured in the stone designs, such as yucca
Yucca
Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40-50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers. They are native to the hot and dry parts of North...
and saguaro
Saguaro
The saguaro is a large, tree-sized cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in the U.S. state of Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, a small part of Baja California in the San Felipe Desert and an extremely small area of California, U.S...
blossoms, as well as a representation of the Mission San Xavier del Bac
Mission San Xavier del Bac
Mission San Xavier del Bac is a historic Spanish Catholic mission located about 10 miles south of downtown Tucson, Arizona, on the Tohono O'odham San Xavier Indian Reservation...
.
A large 12th- or 13th-century crucifix hanging inside the cathedral's vestibule was carved at Pamplona
Pamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
The cathedral's floor is set on a slight grade, so that the main altar is clearly in view of the entire congregation. The seating can accommodate up to 1,250 people.
The 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...
was designed and built by David McDowell in Tucson and has thirty-eight ranks.
St. Augustine’s New Look
As part of the first ground up restoration project since 1968, the oldest cathedral in town began renovations under the leadership of John Alan a Phoenix artist and Historic Preservationist. The artist recognized the existing and potential beauty of the church and was brought in to enhance the sacred space and worship experience. Trompe l'oeil style painting and ornamental art are used frequently to create a more inviting atmosphere within the church.Inside the cathedral dozens of improvements have been made. All of the stained-glass artwork has been refreshed. The upper levels of glass pay homage to the apostles and the first 4 bishops of Tucson. The lower level of stained- glass follows the history of St. Augustine.
The side altars also known as retablos were made from handcrafted wood and decorated to honor the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine.
The crown jewel of the makeover is the Pamplona Crucifix. The crucifix was carved in Spain and is at least 600 years old. It was a special gift to the cathedral and installed in 1981. The crucifix stands at 17 ft and weighs two tons. Much work was done to preserve, strengthen, and enhance this sacred object. It now rests on the back wall of the sanctuary behind the altar.
The church also received updates in lighting and sound technology. Parishioners will notice the pews have been redesigned after the style in 1897. The tile flooring was also revamped.
On the outside the sanctuaries old white walls were treated to a warm beige paint job. In addition, the nearly one hundred year old statues of the Immaculate Conception and the Sacred Heart of Jesus were restored.
From the repairs on the roof to the tiles on the floor, this restoration project took over 2 years. To celebrate its completion a re-dedication mass was led by the Bishop of Tucson, Gerald Kicanas on February 12, 2011. Hundreds from the faithful catholic community turned out for this special day.
The total cost for all renovations was over 1 million dollars, donated by locals.