St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral (Camden, New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral is a Catholic parish located on the east side of Camden, New Jersey
, United States
. It serves as the pro-cathedral
of the Diocese of Camden
. It is one of two parishes in the city of Camden to be named St. Joseph. The other one is St. Joseph Polish Catholic Church
, which was established in 1891.
The present church was built in the Modern
architectural style in 1952. The property had been the site of St. Patrick’s Cemetery. It was declared a pro-cathedral
as the main cathedral downtown, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
, is rather small in size.
On March 24, 1998 Romero Center Ministries was founded in the former convent
. The founding date was the 18th anniversary of the assignation of El Salvador’s Archbishop Oscar Romero
. It serves as an urban retreat center that focuses on service to the poor.
Camden bishop Joseph Galnate announced on April 4, 2008 that St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral would merge with St. Cecilia Parish in Pennsauken and St. Veronica Parish in Delair. St. Joseph's was maintained as the worship site.
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It serves as the pro-cathedral
Pro-cathedral
A pro-cathedral is a parish church that is temporarily serving as the cathedral or co-cathedral of a diocese.-Usage:In Ireland, the term is used to specifically refer to St Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin since the Reformation, when Christ Church...
of the Diocese of Camden
Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden is a particular church or diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, located in New Jersey, United States, and presides over Roman Catholic parishes and schools in the six southern New Jersey counties of Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland,...
. It is one of two parishes in the city of Camden to be named St. Joseph. The other one is St. Joseph Polish Catholic Church
St. Joseph Polish Catholic Church
St. Joseph Polish Catholic Church is a historic church at 1010 Liberty Street in Camden City, New Jersey. It is one of two churches in Camden named St. Joesph. The other is St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral.-History:...
, which was established in 1891.
History
The parish began as a mission station in the early 1890s and was served by the Franciscans from Sts. Peter and Paul Church. The mission was started in what was known as the Boyce residence on Cooper Street, now 27th Street, in the town of Stockton. The first Mass was celebrated on February 7, 1892 in Wright’s Hall on Marlton Pike, near Federal Street. The parish itself was established the following year. The resolution to build a new church was passed on April 20, 1893 and John D’Arcy of Camden was chosen as the architect. It was built on the corner of North 25th and Howell Streets and was dedicated on December 16, 1893. The Rev. Alphonse Lehrscholl was assigned to be the first pastor. The church was damaged in a fire in October 1915 and was repaired. The building was abandoned in 1929 when the present school building was erected on Westfield Avenue, and it was torn down ten years later after it was declared a fire hazard.The present church was built in the Modern
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
architectural style in 1952. The property had been the site of St. Patrick’s Cemetery. It was declared a pro-cathedral
Pro-cathedral
A pro-cathedral is a parish church that is temporarily serving as the cathedral or co-cathedral of a diocese.-Usage:In Ireland, the term is used to specifically refer to St Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin since the Reformation, when Christ Church...
as the main cathedral downtown, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Camden, New Jersey)
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic Cathedral located in Camden, New Jersey, United States. It is the seat of the Diocese of Camden, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 as the Church of the Immaculate Conception...
, is rather small in size.
On March 24, 1998 Romero Center Ministries was founded in the former convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
. The founding date was the 18th anniversary of the assignation of El Salvador’s Archbishop Oscar Romero
Óscar Romero
Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez was a bishop of the Catholic Church in El Salvador. He became the fourth Archbishop of San Salvador, succeeding Luis Chávez. He was assassinated on 24 March 1980....
. It serves as an urban retreat center that focuses on service to the poor.
Camden bishop Joseph Galnate announced on April 4, 2008 that St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral would merge with St. Cecilia Parish in Pennsauken and St. Veronica Parish in Delair. St. Joseph's was maintained as the worship site.