Cathedral of Saint Mary in Miami
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of Saint Mary is the seat of the Archbishop
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
. The cathedral
is named for Mary, mother of Jesus, and is located at 7525 N.W. 2nd Ave., Miami, Florida
. Archbishop Thomas Gerard Wenski
serves as the Cathedral's pastor.
(1922-1940) stated they would need one hundred Catholic families for a new parish. Three lots were purchased on the northwest corner of Northwest 2nd Avenue and Northwest 75th Street. In April 1930, ground was broken for a church. The first mass was celebrated in a wooden structure on July 20, 1930. Father William Wilkinson, S.J., of Gesu Church
was the celebrant and Monsignor William Barry, P.A., pastor of St. Patrick's Church on Miami Beach, preached the homily.
In October 1930, Father Patrick Joseph Roche of County Limerick, Ireland was appointed the first pastor of St. Mary's Parish. The parish area was from 36th Street North to the Broward line and from Biscayne Bay
west to the Dade County
line. In 1931, a rectory was constructed on the north side of the church. A parish hall was constructed in 1935 on the north side of the rectory.
One week before Christmas in 1936, the church was moved to a property that had been purchased on the east side of Northwest 2nd Ave. and 75th Street. The wooden church was then remodeled and enlarged by moving the sanctuary back and adding two wings. Capacity after the remodeling was 600 persons. The first ceremony in the renovated church was the Sacrament of Confirmation by Bishop Barry in Feb. 1937.
In 1953, Father Roche retired and Father Patrick J. Donoghue was appointed pastor. The groundbreaking ceremonies for a new church were held in 1955. Cardinal Edward Mooney of Detroit dedicated the new church building on January 27, 1957. The church dome was seven stories above the altar. A southwest corner tower was twelve stories tall. The two mahogany doors at the entrance were thirty feet high. The ceiling over the alter was seventy-six feet. The nave was one hundred and forty feet long, eighty-two feet wide, and five stories high with a seven foot main aisle and two five-foot side aisle altars.
On August 13, 1958, sixteen counties of Southern Florida were detracted from the Diocese of St. Augustine to form the new Diocese of Miami
. St. Mary's Church was announced by the Vatican as the new Cathedral. On October 7, 1958, Auxiliary Bishop Coleman F. Carroll
of Pittsburgh was installed as the first bishop of Miami. Shortly thereafter, many renovations for the cathedral began including the addition of a bronze bell weighing more than two tons, and the installation of the Cathedral's first pipe organ.
In 1966, Monsignor David Bushey, the newly appointed rector, completed work on a new rectory with new offices and living quarters. A new parish hall was built in 1967. On June 13. 1968, Bishop Coleman F. Carroll became the first Archbishop of Miami and Metropolitan of the newly-created province.
Final funeral services for Jackie Gleason
were held at St. Mary's Cathedral in 1987.
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
The Archdiocese of Miami is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America. Its ecclesiastic territory includes Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties in the U.S. state of Florida. The archdiocese is the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami,...
. The cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
is named for Mary, mother of Jesus, and is located at 7525 N.W. 2nd Ave., Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. Archbishop Thomas Gerard Wenski
Thomas Wenski
Thomas Gerard Wenski is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is currently Archbishop of Miami, having been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on April 20, 2010 and installed on June 1, 2010...
serves as the Cathedral's pastor.
History
In August 1929, under the title of The Little River Mission Club, fourteen men and women met in a store on Northeast 79th Street near 2nd Avenue to form a new parish. Bishop Patrick Barry of St. Augustine DioceseRoman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine
The Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine is a diocese of the Catholic Church's Latin Church in the U.S. state of Florida. Part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami, it covers much of North Florida, including the cities of St. Augustine, Jacksonville, and Gainesville. The bishop's seat is the...
(1922-1940) stated they would need one hundred Catholic families for a new parish. Three lots were purchased on the northwest corner of Northwest 2nd Avenue and Northwest 75th Street. In April 1930, ground was broken for a church. The first mass was celebrated in a wooden structure on July 20, 1930. Father William Wilkinson, S.J., of Gesu Church
Gesu Church (Miami, Florida)
The Gesu Church is a historic Roman Catholic church in Miami, Florida. It is located at 118 Northeast 2nd Street. On July 18, 1974, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places...
was the celebrant and Monsignor William Barry, P.A., pastor of St. Patrick's Church on Miami Beach, preached the homily.
In October 1930, Father Patrick Joseph Roche of County Limerick, Ireland was appointed the first pastor of St. Mary's Parish. The parish area was from 36th Street North to the Broward line and from Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay is a lagoon that is approximately 35 miles long and up to 8 miles wide located on the Atlantic coast of South Florida, United States. It is usually divided for purposes of discussion and analysis into three parts: North Bay, Central Bay, and South Bay. Its area is...
west to the Dade County
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
line. In 1931, a rectory was constructed on the north side of the church. A parish hall was constructed in 1935 on the north side of the rectory.
One week before Christmas in 1936, the church was moved to a property that had been purchased on the east side of Northwest 2nd Ave. and 75th Street. The wooden church was then remodeled and enlarged by moving the sanctuary back and adding two wings. Capacity after the remodeling was 600 persons. The first ceremony in the renovated church was the Sacrament of Confirmation by Bishop Barry in Feb. 1937.
In 1953, Father Roche retired and Father Patrick J. Donoghue was appointed pastor. The groundbreaking ceremonies for a new church were held in 1955. Cardinal Edward Mooney of Detroit dedicated the new church building on January 27, 1957. The church dome was seven stories above the altar. A southwest corner tower was twelve stories tall. The two mahogany doors at the entrance were thirty feet high. The ceiling over the alter was seventy-six feet. The nave was one hundred and forty feet long, eighty-two feet wide, and five stories high with a seven foot main aisle and two five-foot side aisle altars.
On August 13, 1958, sixteen counties of Southern Florida were detracted from the Diocese of St. Augustine to form the new Diocese of Miami
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
The Archdiocese of Miami is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America. Its ecclesiastic territory includes Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties in the U.S. state of Florida. The archdiocese is the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami,...
. St. Mary's Church was announced by the Vatican as the new Cathedral. On October 7, 1958, Auxiliary Bishop Coleman F. Carroll
Coleman Carroll
Coleman Francis Carroll was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Miami from 1958 until his death in 1977.-Biography:...
of Pittsburgh was installed as the first bishop of Miami. Shortly thereafter, many renovations for the cathedral began including the addition of a bronze bell weighing more than two tons, and the installation of the Cathedral's first pipe organ.
In 1966, Monsignor David Bushey, the newly appointed rector, completed work on a new rectory with new offices and living quarters. A new parish hall was built in 1967. On June 13. 1968, Bishop Coleman F. Carroll became the first Archbishop of Miami and Metropolitan of the newly-created province.
Final funeral services for Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor and musician. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, especially by his character Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners, a situation-comedy television series. His most noted film roles were as Minnesota Fats in the drama film The...
were held at St. Mary's Cathedral in 1987.
Diocese of Miami Archbishops
- Archbishop Coleman Francis CarrollColeman CarrollColeman Francis Carroll was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Miami from 1958 until his death in 1977.-Biography:...
, D.D. (1958-1977) - Archbishop Edward Anthony McCarthy, D.D. (1977-1994)
- Archbishop John Clement Favalora, D.D. (1994-2010)
- Archbishop Thomas Gerard WenskiThomas WenskiThomas Gerard Wenski is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is currently Archbishop of Miami, having been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on April 20, 2010 and installed on June 1, 2010...
, D.D. (2010-Present)
Pastors and Rectors
- Monsignor Patrick J. Roche, (1930-1953)
- Monsignor Patrick J. Donoghue, (1953-1966)
- Monsignor David E. Bushey, (1966-1970)
- Monsignor John J. Donnelly, (1971-1980)
- Monsignor Gerald T. LaCerra, (1980-1991)
- Monsignor Andrew A. Anderson, (1991-1999)
- Monsignor Terence E. Hogan, (1999-Present)
See also
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of MiamiRoman Catholic Archdiocese of MiamiThe Archdiocese of Miami is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America. Its ecclesiastic territory includes Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties in the U.S. state of Florida. The archdiocese is the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami,...
- Saint Mary's Cathedral School (Miami, Florida)Saint Mary's Cathedral School (Miami, Florida)-History:The school opened October 2, 1939, with eight grades and 230 students. An additional grade was added each year. Eight Sisters from the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine, Florida were the original teaching staff. Sister Anna Joseph, S.S.J., was the first principal. The school year...