Cathedral of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Palm Beach
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of St. Ignatius of Loyola is a Roman Catholic Cathedral situated in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
. It is the seat of the Diocese of Palm Beach
, which administers to the counties of Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, and Indian River. The diocese oversees 49 individual parishes. The current bishop is Gerald Barbarito.
on June 25, 1970 by Archbishop Coleman Carroll
. The Rev. John Mulcahy was appointed to be the first pastor. The first Mass for the parish was celebrated at Palm Beach Gardens Community High School
for less than two dozen people on July 5, 1970. By 1974 there were over 600 families in the parish. Ground was broken in January of that year for a multi-purpose facility. It opened in December and served the parish for ten years. A rectory
was built in 1979 and by 1982 the parish had over 2,000 households and plans were made for a new church.
Construction for the present church was begun in 1983. While it was being built Blessed John Paul II established the Diocese of Palm Beach on June 16, 1984. St. Ignatius was chosen as the cathedral for the new diocese. The new cathedral church was dedicated by Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy
on October 6, 1984. Bishop Thomas V. Daily
was installed as the First Bishop of Palm Beach on October 24 of the same year.
architectural style. The pews are arranged on a sloped floor to promote better participation. Together with the chapel the cathedral holds 1,250 people. The sanctuary rises 75 feet (22.9 m) in an inverted arch. The wood reredos
and the marble sanctuary furniture was a part of a early 21st century renovation. It has a Rodgers Custom IV-manual organ, provided by Central Music
.
The Diocese of Palm Beach website describes this cathedral was designed to use natural light, the stained glass windows are stunning, and the walls are of native Florida coral. The bishop's chair was designed to be the focal point. One of the stained glass windows called "the East Window" covers an entire wall from floor to ceiling. It was designed by Liturgical artist Mario Agustin Locsin y Montenegro.
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County in the U.S. state of Florida. The city is in the center of a rapidly-developing area north of West Palm Beach in the northern part of the county and the South Florida metropolitan area. , the population was 48,452...
. It is the seat of the Diocese of Palm Beach
Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach is a Roman Catholic diocese in Florida. It was founded on June 16, 1984.The past bishops of the diocese are:#Thomas Vose Daily #Joseph Keith Symons...
, which administers to the counties of Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, and Indian River. The diocese oversees 49 individual parishes. The current bishop is Gerald Barbarito.
History
St. Ignatius Loyola was established as a parish of the Archdiocese of MiamiRoman 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,...
on June 25, 1970 by Archbishop Coleman 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:...
. The Rev. John Mulcahy was appointed to be the first pastor. The first Mass for the parish was celebrated at Palm Beach Gardens Community High School
Palm Beach Gardens Community High School
Palm Beach Gardens Community High School is a public magnet high school for grades 9-12 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The school mascot is the Gator. It is well known for its athletics and medical magnet program. It was built in 1969 as a public high school...
for less than two dozen people on July 5, 1970. By 1974 there were over 600 families in the parish. Ground was broken in January of that year for a multi-purpose facility. It opened in December and served the parish for ten years. A rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
was built in 1979 and by 1982 the parish had over 2,000 households and plans were made for a new church.
Construction for the present church was begun in 1983. While it was being built Blessed John Paul II established the Diocese of Palm Beach on June 16, 1984. St. Ignatius was chosen as the cathedral for the new diocese. The new cathedral church was dedicated by Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy
Edward A. McCarthy
Edward Anthony McCarthy , was the second Archbishop of Miami, Florida. He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Miami on September 17, 1976 and succeeded Coleman Francis Carroll as Archbishop of Miami on July 26, 1977. Archbishop McCarthy retired as Archbishop on November 3, 1994...
on October 6, 1984. Bishop Thomas V. Daily
Thomas Vose Daily
Thomas Vose Daily was the sixth Roman Catholic bishop of Brooklyn from 1990 to 2003 and since then has been Bishop Emeritus of the Brooklyn Diocese.-Early life and ordination:...
was installed as the First Bishop of Palm Beach on October 24 of the same year.
Architecture
The Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola was built in the ModernModern 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. The pews are arranged on a sloped floor to promote better participation. Together with the chapel the cathedral holds 1,250 people. The sanctuary rises 75 feet (22.9 m) in an inverted arch. The wood reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
and the marble sanctuary furniture was a part of a early 21st century renovation. It has a Rodgers Custom IV-manual organ, provided by Central Music
Central Music
Central Music, Inc., founded in 1958 is a piano and organ dealer located in Clearwater, Florida. Central Music represents Rodgers Instruments, Fratelli Ruffatti, Blüthner, Hammond organ and Roland Corporation instruments. They serve Florida, Georgia and the Caribbean.-History:Central Music is a...
.
The Diocese of Palm Beach website describes this cathedral was designed to use natural light, the stained glass windows are stunning, and the walls are of native Florida coral. The bishop's chair was designed to be the focal point. One of the stained glass windows called "the East Window" covers an entire wall from floor to ceiling. It was designed by Liturgical artist Mario Agustin Locsin y Montenegro.
Pastors/Rectors
The following priests have served St. Ignatius as its pastor and since 1983 they have been the cathedral rector:- Rev. John Mulcahy (1970-1976)
- Rev. Francis J. Dunleavy (1976-1978)
- Rev. Frank Flynn (1978-1988)
- Rev. Frank O’Loughlin (1988-1992)
- Rev. James P. Malvey (1992-1996)
- Msgr. Thomas Klinzing (1996-2000)
- Rev. John A. Kasparek (2000-2005)
- Rev. Thomas E. Barrett (2000-Present)