Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation (Cape Girardeau, Missouri)
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation, also known as St. Mary’s Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral
in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
, United States
. Along with St. Agnes Cathedral
in Springfield, Missouri
it is the seat of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
.
caused a delay in carrying out the plans. Property was acquired at the corner of Sprigg and William Streets for $650. Ground was broken for the parish church on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, March 25, 1868 and the cornerstone
was laid on August 2. The first Mass was celebrated in the church on February 2, 1869. A rectory
was built in 1885. In 1891 the church was redecorated and the bells were placed in the tower.
The Sisters of St. Francis arrived to teach in the parish school in 1875. Two years later they built a convent on the northwest corner of Sprigg and William Streets. They expanded the building in 1882 and opened St. Francis Hospital. St. Mary’s Cemetery was established in 1903.
Major renovations of the church occurred in 1954 and 1968. The Magnificat windows were added in 1954. On July 2, 1956 Pope Pius XII
established the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau St. Agnes Church in Springfield was named as the new diocese’s cathedral and St. Mary as the co-cathedral. The current rectory was built in 1957.
St. Vincent De Paul Church became a part of the Cathedral Parish in 1977. St. Vincent’s Church was named a chapel of ease at that time. The parish hall was added in 1978 and another renovation of the cathedral’s interior occurred in 1985. The steeple was restored and a new organ was installed from 1990-1991. The parish office building was completed in January 2000.
in 1903. They continued to teach in the school until 1993. A new convent was built for the Sisters in 1905. The main part of the present grade school building was built in 1912. St. Mary's High School, now Notre Dame High School
, was opened in 1925. The front part of the grade school building was built in 1937. Yet another new convent was built in 1955. It is currently used as a youth center. In 1978 a gymnasium and kindergarten were added to the grade school. Improvements were made to the school offices, classrooms, library and gymnasium in 2004 and 2006.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and north of Memphis. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 37,941. A college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Along with St. Agnes Cathedral
St. Agnes Cathedral (Springfield, Missouri)
St. Agnes Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in Springfield, Missouri, United States. Along with the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation in Cape Girardeau, Missouri it is the seat of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.-St. Agnes Parish:...
in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
it is the seat of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau is a Roman Catholic diocese in Missouri. It was founded on August 24, 1956. The current bishop is the Most Reverend James Vann Johnston, Jr., appointed January 24, 2008, and installed March 31, 2008....
.
History
Plans were made as early as 1858 to establish a parish for Cape Girardeau’s German population. The Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
caused a delay in carrying out the plans. Property was acquired at the corner of Sprigg and William Streets for $650. Ground was broken for the parish church on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, March 25, 1868 and 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...
was laid on August 2. The first Mass was celebrated in the church on February 2, 1869. A rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
was built in 1885. In 1891 the church was redecorated and the bells were placed in the tower.
The Sisters of St. Francis arrived to teach in the parish school in 1875. Two years later they built a convent on the northwest corner of Sprigg and William Streets. They expanded the building in 1882 and opened St. Francis Hospital. St. Mary’s Cemetery was established in 1903.
Major renovations of the church occurred in 1954 and 1968. The Magnificat windows were added in 1954. On July 2, 1956 Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
established the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau St. Agnes Church in Springfield was named as the new diocese’s cathedral and St. Mary as the co-cathedral. The current rectory was built in 1957.
St. Vincent De Paul Church became a part of the Cathedral Parish in 1977. St. Vincent’s Church was named a chapel of ease at that time. The parish hall was added in 1978 and another renovation of the cathedral’s interior occurred in 1985. The steeple was restored and a new organ was installed from 1990-1991. The parish office building was completed in January 2000.
Catholic Schools
The parish grade school was established in 1875 with the Sisters of St. Francis serving as the faculty. A new school building opened in 1882. The Franciscans were replaced by the School Sisters of Notre DameSchool Sisters of Notre Dame
School Sisters of Notre Dame is a worldwide order of Roman Catholic nuns devoted to primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. Their life in mission centers on prayer, community life and ministry...
in 1903. They continued to teach in the school until 1993. A new convent was built for the Sisters in 1905. The main part of the present grade school building was built in 1912. St. Mary's High School, now Notre Dame High School
Notre Dame High School (Cape Girardeau, Missouri)
Notre Dame High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.-Background:...
, was opened in 1925. The front part of the grade school building was built in 1937. Yet another new convent was built in 1955. It is currently used as a youth center. In 1978 a gymnasium and kindergarten were added to the grade school. Improvements were made to the school offices, classrooms, library and gymnasium in 2004 and 2006.