Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pueblo
Encyclopedia
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pueblo or Sacred Heart Church is a historic church building in Pueblo, Colorado
.
, north into Colorado Territory. Months later they arrived at the Arkansas River
, at the present site of the city of Pueblo. Initially the priests celebrated mass in the homes of local Catholic
s, then they began to hold public services in the old Courthouse on 3rd and Santa Fe Avenue, until finally a proper church was established on 13th and West Streets. In 1873 it was the first parish in Pueblo, and it was called St. Ignatius.
A fire destroyed St. Ignatius and its rectory in 1882. Under the direction of the Jesuit priests assigned to serve it, money was raised and second church was built. This time St. Ignatius was situated near the heart of the city, on Grand between 10th and 11th Streets.
Eventually it served as the parish hall when the present church was built under the pastorate of Msgr. Thomas Wolohan. In 1910, Msgr. Wolohan began planning for a new church to be dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On May 5, 1912, the church cornerstone was laid, and within a year, Sacred Heart was dedicated by the Most Reverend Nicholas Matz, Archbishop of Denver.
The construction costs of the church was $48,000, and was realized with the help of the congregation of 190 families. Msgr. Wolohan served as pastor of Sacred Heart for thirty-six years. He is buried in a crypt in the cathedral.
On November 15, 1941, Sacred Heart was elevated to the status of a Cathedral
with the establishment of the new Diocese of Pueblo
. Since the establishment of Sacred Heart as a Cathedral, it has been served by eight rectors and administrators. In the past few years, the parish has grown from 930 families to well over 1,200. It truly has become a model of good liturgy and ministry for other parishes to emulate as the parish church of the Bishop.
In 1997, the Cathedral celebrated its 125th anniversary with a year long series of events. It adopted as its motto that year, Strong at Heart after 125 years.
In 1989, the Cathedral was added to the National Register of Historic Places
by the U.S. Department of the Interior.http://www.dioceseofpueblo.com/parishes/City/bccathedral.htm#Cathedralhistory
In 2008, the steeple
of the cathedral was stuck by lightning and was engulfed by flames and was damaged. Work is being done to replace the steeple and install a lightning rod
. Work was completed by HW Houston Construction and Vision Mechanical and the new cross was dedicated.
The Current Bishop of the Cathedral is Fernando Isern.
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
.
History
In October 1860, Fr. Projectus Machebeuf, and Fr. J.B. Raverdy began the 400-mile journey from Santa Fe, New MexicoSanta Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, north into Colorado Territory. Months later they arrived at the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
, at the present site of the city of Pueblo. Initially the priests celebrated mass in the homes of local Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
s, then they began to hold public services in the old Courthouse on 3rd and Santa Fe Avenue, until finally a proper church was established on 13th and West Streets. In 1873 it was the first parish in Pueblo, and it was called St. Ignatius.
A fire destroyed St. Ignatius and its rectory in 1882. Under the direction of the Jesuit priests assigned to serve it, money was raised and second church was built. This time St. Ignatius was situated near the heart of the city, on Grand between 10th and 11th Streets.
Eventually it served as the parish hall when the present church was built under the pastorate of Msgr. Thomas Wolohan. In 1910, Msgr. Wolohan began planning for a new church to be dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On May 5, 1912, the church cornerstone was laid, and within a year, Sacred Heart was dedicated by the Most Reverend Nicholas Matz, Archbishop of Denver.
The construction costs of the church was $48,000, and was realized with the help of the congregation of 190 families. Msgr. Wolohan served as pastor of Sacred Heart for thirty-six years. He is buried in a crypt in the cathedral.
On November 15, 1941, Sacred Heart was elevated to the status of a Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
with the establishment of the new Diocese of Pueblo
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo is a Roman Catholic diocese in Colorado. The diocese was founded on November 15, 1941. It encompasses the southern half of Colorado, from Utah to the west, to Kansas in the east....
. Since the establishment of Sacred Heart as a Cathedral, it has been served by eight rectors and administrators. In the past few years, the parish has grown from 930 families to well over 1,200. It truly has become a model of good liturgy and ministry for other parishes to emulate as the parish church of the Bishop.
In 1997, the Cathedral celebrated its 125th anniversary with a year long series of events. It adopted as its motto that year, Strong at Heart after 125 years.
In 1989, the Cathedral was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
by the U.S. Department of the Interior.http://www.dioceseofpueblo.com/parishes/City/bccathedral.htm#Cathedralhistory
In 2008, the steeple
Steeple (architecture)
A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure...
of the cathedral was stuck by lightning and was engulfed by flames and was damaged. Work is being done to replace the steeple and install a lightning rod
Lightning rod
A lightning rod or lightning conductor is a metal rod or conductor mounted on top of a building and electrically connected to the ground through a wire, to protect the building in the event of lightning...
. Work was completed by HW Houston Construction and Vision Mechanical and the new cross was dedicated.
The Current Bishop of the Cathedral is Fernando Isern.