Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Fort Wayne, Indiana)

Last updated
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Catedral Catolica de la Inmaculada Concepcion, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Estados Unidos, 2012-11-12, DD 02.jpg
West façade in November 2012
USA Indiana location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location915 South Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, (corner of Jefferson and Calhoun Streets) Fort Wayne, Indiana
Coordinates 41°4′32.51″N85°8′16.19″W / 41.0756972°N 85.1378306°W / 41.0756972; -85.1378306
Arealess than one acre
Built1859 (1859)-1860
ArchitectBenoit, Rev. Msgr Julian
Architectural style Gothic
NRHP reference No. 80000048 [1]
Added to NRHPOctober 23, 1980

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is the primary cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, headed by Most Rev. Kevin Carl Rhoades. The parish was established in 1836, making it the oldest in Fort Wayne. The church was erected in 1860.

Contents

History

In 1836, Father Louis Mueller was appointed the first resident pastor of the Fort Wayne Territory in the Vincennes Diocese. Mueller began construction on a small log church. [2]

Father Julian Benoit became pastor in 1840. He paid off the debt and purchased the remaining portion of the square, initially for use as a cemetery. In 1849, the German portion of St. Augustine's parish built St. Mary Church (not the present-day St. Mary Church in Fort Wayne), the first German-speaking congregation in Fort Wayne. [3]

The parish rectory was built in 1854. In 1857, the Diocese of Fort Wayne was erected. Bishop John Luers designated St. Augustine's as his cathedral, while at the same time making plans for a larger, more permanent church. St. Augustine's was destroyed by fire in 1859. [2]

The cornerstone for the new cathedral was laid on Trinity Sunday 1859. Rev. Benoit who designed it, named it the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in honor of the Blessed Virgin. [4] : 3 

Benoit was the primary fundraiser, making trips to New Orleans and France. Much of the costs he covered himself. The cathedral was dedicated on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1860. [2]

In 1901, the Bishop's house and chancery was erected; paid for by the sale of a farm in Jasper County. [3]

Architecture

The large sanctuary window of Mary was made in Benoit's home country of France and installed in the summer of 1861. The brass candlesticks with the figures of the Apostles were also from France. The crucifix and altar stone were salvaged from St. Augustine Church.

In 1896, the Cathedral underwent a thorough renovation, supervised by Msgr. Joseph H. Brammer. [3] Twelve stained-glass windows from the Royal Bavarian Art Institute, in Munich depict scenes from the Life of Mary. [5] The wood-carved Stations of the Cross are also from Germany.

Burials

Present day

The Cathedral building still stands today, maintained through various renovations over the decades, the most recent by Schenkel and Sons, Inc.

The Cathedral grounds, called the Cathedral Square, includes the Chancery of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, MacDougal Chapel, Cathedral Center for C.C.D. classes (formerly the Cathedral Boys School), and the Rectory (the priests' residence), and the grave of the last Miami Indians chief, Joseph Richardville. [4] : 3  Recently, the Cathedral Museum housed in the basement of MacDougal Chapel and diocesan offices located in the Cathedral Center were moved to a new location a few blocks north of Cathedral Square.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. [1]

Current pastoral staff

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend</span> Diocese of the Catholic Church

The Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in north-central and northeastern Indiana in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis</span> Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Indiana, United States

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis is a division of the Roman Catholic Church in southern Indiana in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana</span> Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Indiana, USA

The Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in central Indiana in the United States. The current bishop is Timothy L. Doherty. The Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (PHJC) is a female congregation of the Catholic Church. It originated in Dernbach (Westerwald), where the generalate is still located. Their organization for associates is also open to men. The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ American Province has its motherhouse in Donaldson, Indiana.

The Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration is a papal congregation of the Roman Catholic Church, founded on July 20, 1863, by Mother Maria Theresia Bonzel in Olpe, Germany. In 1875, they opened St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana; now part of the Franciscan Health healthcare system. In 1890 they founded Saint Francis Normal School, a teacher training school; which is now the University of Saint Francis (Indiana).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Camden, New Jersey)</span> Historic church in New Jersey, United States

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic Cathedral located in Camden in Camden County, New Jersey. 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. Built in 1864, it was officially designated as a cathedral in 1937.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Luers</span> American prelate

John Henry Luers was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the new Diocese of Fort Wayne in Indiana from 1858 until his death in 1871.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception (Lafayette, Indiana)</span> Church in Indiana, United States

The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana. It is located at 1207 Columbia Street in Lafayette, Indiana. It is also a contributing property in the St. Mary Historic District.

In 1973, the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) established a three class state playoff system in football. In 1983, the tournament split into four classes, in 1985 into a five class system, and in 2013 into a six class system, with 6A for big schools and 1A for the smallest schools. This page represents all smaller school class tournament champions.

John Michael D'Arcy was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in Indiana from 1985 to 2009. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston in Massachusetts from 1974 to 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Dwenger</span> American prelate

Joseph Gregory Dwenger C.P.P.S was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne in Indiana from 1872 to 1893.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Rademacher (bishop)</span> American prelate

Joseph Rademacher was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Nashville in Tennessee from 1883 to 1893 and as bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne in Indiana from 1893 until his death in 1900.

Leo Aloysius Pursley was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in Indiana from 1956 to 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herman Joseph Alerding</span> German-born American prelate

Herman Joseph Alerding was a German-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne in Indiana from 1900 until his death in 1924.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Adalbert Parish, South Bend</span> Church in Indiana, United States

St. Adalbert Parish - dubbed the "Cathedral of the West Side" - is a Catholic parish in South Bend, Indiana, United States. The parish was founded in 1910, and is one of the Roman Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Memphis, Tennessee)</span> Historic church in Tennessee, United States

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic cathedral in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. It is the seat of the Diocese of Memphis. The parish buildings are contributing properties in the Central Gardens Historic District. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

The Cathedral of St. Joseph is a Catholic cathedral in St. Joseph, Missouri, United States. Along with the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, Missouri it is the seat of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. The Cathedral Church, rectory and convent are all contributing properties to the Cathedral Hill Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The school building and the auditorium do not contribute to the historical nature of the district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Matthew Cathedral (South Bend, Indiana)</span> Church in Indiana, United States

St. Matthew Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in South Bend, Indiana, United States. Along with Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne, it is the seat of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Mary's Catholic Church (Fort Wayne, Indiana)</span> Historic church in Indiana, United States

St. Mary's Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church located at Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church (Lagro, Indiana)</span> Historic church in Indiana, United States

The Oratory of St. Patrick, also known as St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic church located at Lagro, Wabash County, Indiana. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 LaBarbera, Vince. "Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception marks 150th anniversary of dedication", Today's Catholic, Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, December 1, 2010
  3. 1 2 3 Alerding, Herman Joseph. The Diocese of Fort Wayne, 1857-September 1907, Fort Wayne, Indiana., Archer Print Company, 1907, p. 202
  4. 1 2 "Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved 2015-07-01.Note: This includes Ann Bley (September 1978). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-07-01. and Accompanying photographs
  5. ↑ Doyle, Carmen. "A Brief History of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception", The History Center, Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society
  6. ↑ "Burial of Bishops Brooks and Dwenger". St. Louis Globe-Democrat . 1893-01-27. p. 4. Retrieved 2022-11-18– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  7. ↑ "Indiana Bishop is Dead; Burial at Fort Wayne". The Muncie Sunday Star. 1924-12-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-11-18– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.