St. Raphael's Cathedral (Dubuque, Iowa)
St. Raphael’s Cathedral | |
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Dubuque | |
Clergy | |
Archbishop | Most Rev. Thomas Robert Zinkula |
Rector | Rev. Dennis Quint |
St. Raphael’s Cathedral, Rectory, Convent, and School | |
Second Empire (convent) Neoclassical (school) | |
Part of | Cathedral Historic District (Dubuque, Iowa) (ID85002501[3]) |
Added to NRHP | September 25, 1985 |
St. Raphael's Cathedral is a
History
Origins
St. Raphael's Parish traces its origin to July 1833 when the first group of settlers gathered for
Father Charles Francis Fitzmaurice arrived in the area in 1834 and began working with the parish. He gathered materials and money to build the church, but he died during a cholera outbreak in the spring of 1835. He did not have a chance to begin work on the church building. For a time, the parishioners met in a log cabin that was set aside for worship.
The next
In 1837 Pope Gregory XVI created the Diocese of Dubuque. In 1839 Bishop Mathias Loras, the first Bishop of Dubuque, arrived after first going to France to recruit priests and raise funds to operate the new diocese. St. Raphael's became the cathedral church for the diocese.
Growth and expansion
The next 20 years were a period of growth and expansion for the parish, and of the Church in general in Iowa. Bishop Loras encouraged both Irish and German immigrants to come to Iowa from the crowded conditions in the eastern United States. As a result, the parish began to grow in size.
By 1845 St. Raphael's was usually quite crowded on Sundays. In 1849 there was a number of German families in the parish. Because of the crowded conditions, and because of the challenges of ministering to them, Bishop Loras granted permission for the Germans to form Holy Trinity parish in Dubuque. The parish eventually became known as St. Mary's. In 1853 St. Patrick's Church was built 12 blocks north to serve as a second parish for Irish families. Loras, however, made it a mission of St. Raphael's so he would not lose the income he needed to build a new cathedral. This created problems between him and the local Irish community.[6]
After St. Patrick's was founded, Bishop Loras soon came to realize that the founding of those additional parishes would only be a temporary solution. He realized that St. Raphael's parish needed a larger building.
The present building
The new cathedral was originally planned to be built on a "Bishop's Block" on Main Street.[1] As the city's business district began to encroach on that location, Bishop Loras terminated the plan. In 1857, construction began on land just north of the old cathedral building. On July 5, 1857, a large crowd watched as the cornerstone was laid. The cathedral was based on Magdalen College in Oxford, England. The architect was John Mullany, a local architect who designed New Melleray Abbey, and St. Mary's Church. He originally designed the cathedral in the Romanesque Revival style, however, the Panic of 1857 forced a change in plans and it was constructed in the Gothic Revival style instead. Despite his failing health, construction had advanced far enough that Bishop Loras was able to offer the first mass in the new cathedral on Christmas Day, 1857. He died two months later.
Construction on the cathedral, without its complete tower, was finished in 1861. The formal blessing and dedication were done by Bishop
The cathedral's tower was finally finished in November 1876. The original plans called for a 243-foot (74 m) tall tower and
Dubuque architect
In 1902, a mortuary chapel was built in the lower level of the cathedral. Contained within this chapel are vaults buried underneath the floor in front of the altar. These vaults contain the bodies of former Bishops and Archbishops of Dubuque. Four of Dubuque's Archbishops are buried elsewhere. Also buried in the chapel is Archbishop
Two more renovations were done in the first part of the 20th century. The first was done in 1914, and the second in 1936. A new expanded main entrance was built in 1966. The addition contained new staircases that replaced the old outdoor stairs that originally led to the side entrances. Three new sets of doors were placed at street level. Also, an elevator was added to make the building more handicapped accessible. The chancel was also altered in the wake of liturgical reforms from the Second Vatican Council. Archbishop James Byrne celebrated the first Mass in English at St. Raphael's.[11]
1986 renovations
In 1986, the most extensive renovation in years was done to the church. At the time, it had been more than 50 years since the renovation. Also, the parish wanted to make some updates to the design which coincided with certain architectural and liturgical trends that were emerging in the Church at the time.[5]
Work began in the late summer and fall of 1986. The Eucharistic Chapel was deconsecrated and remodeled into a gathering space for the parish and renamed the Cathedral Center. A new Eucharistic Chapel was created by placing a wooden screen between the original high altar, and the new ad populum-oriented altar. Portions of the original communion rail were used in construction. The original ad absidem altar was left intact because of its historical significance, and a new tabernacle was placed on the altar.
Because they were a fire hazard, the dividers between the pews were removed. The layers of varnish applied over the years to the woodwork were also removed, which was refinished to allow the light oak to show. The walls were painted a lighter color, and a new indirect lighting system was installed. A light green carpet was added and used throughout the building. Part of the Pietà altar was refurbished and installed in the sanctuary as the new main altar, replacing an early 1970s altar.
The sanctuary platform was extended so that more of the liturgical functions associated with the Mass took place closer to the congregation. The archbishop's throne was replaced with a smaller, movable, less elaborate cathedra that allows him to directly face the congregation during Mass.
By November 1986 the renovations were complete. The remains of St.
A pool was added to the baptismal font in 2005 for immersion baptism of older children and adults. It was completed in time for the Easter Vigil that year.[11]
Linked parishes
St. Raphael and St. Patrick parishes were linked in 2010 by Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB. The two parishes share the same pastor and they work closely together on various programs.[5][13]
Pipe organ
The cathedral's pipe organ was originally built in 1890 by a builder now unknown, and was rebuilt by the Tellers-Kent Organ Company in 1937.[14] It has 46 ranks, with three manuals. The organ is composed of a number of chambers in what was the choir loft, plus another chamber along the southern wall near the front of the church. There is also a set of chimes attached to the organ.
Like a number of other organs, the pipework is largely left out in the open rather than being contained with the case. The pipework was artistically arranged to make a stunning visual display.
The organ console is situated in the choir area on the main level near the front of the church. It can be moved for various functions, such as Mass and recitals. In 1991, the organ was refurbished after several years of fundraising. The organ is one of the larger ones in Dubuque, and is considered one of the finest in the city.[15]
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Burials
- Bishop Mathias Loras
- Bishop Clement Smyth, OCSO
- Archbishop John Hennessy
- Archbishop Francis J.L. Beckman
- Archbishop Henry P. Rohlman
- Archbishop James J. Byrne
- .
Rectory, convent and school
The cathedral shares its historic designation with the parish
The
The former St. Raphael's School building, which stands next to the cathedral on the south, was built in 1904 in the
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Lisa Hawks; Pam Myhre-Gonyier. "Cathedral Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 9781587296635. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ Gallagher, Mary Kevin, ed. (1987). Seed/Harvest: A History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Dubuque, Iowa: Archdiocese of Dubuque Press. p. 6.
- ^ a b c d e "St. Raphael Cathedral History". St. Raphael's Cathedral. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
- ^ Gallagher 1987, p. 14.
- ^ Gallagher 1987, p. 44.
- ^ "Part 2: February 1858 – March 1900". St. Raphael's Cathedral. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ Gallagher 1987, p. 45.
- ^ Sophia Meyers (2011). Artist in Residence: Working Drawings by Luigi Gregori. Notre Dame, Indiana: The Snite Museum of Art. p. 19.
- ^ a b "Part 4: 1954-1995". St. Raphael's Cathedral. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ISBN 9780307590749.
- ^ "Part 5: 1995 – Present". St. Raphael's Cathedral. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ "Tellers-Kent Organ Co., 1937". OHS Pipe Organ Database. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
- ^ "Cathedral of St Raphael RC". Pipe Organ List. Retrieved June 1, 2017.