St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral (Metuchen, New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral
located in Metuchen, New Jersey
, United States
. It is the seat of the Diocese of Metuchen
.
The parish grew to more than 2,000 families by 1960 and the pastor, the Rev. John J. Foley had plans made for a new church. Columbia Hall was destroyed in a fire at this time and the plans were changed to include a parish hall and gymnasium as well. The rectory
was completed in June 1961 and the ground breaking for the new church began on July 24 of the same year. Masses were held in various locations until the CYO Hall was completed in December 1961. The present church was dedicated on May 19, 1963.
and the woodwork is oak. The altars are carved from Italian marble. A bronze crucifix is above the altar as a part of the baldacchino. The facade
features a rose window
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
located in Metuchen, New Jersey
Metuchen, New Jersey
Metuchen is a Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States, which is 8 miles northeast of New Brunswick, 18 miles southwest of Newark, 24 miles southwest of Jersey City, and 29 miles southwest of Manhattan, all part of the New York metropolitan area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the seat of the Diocese of Metuchen
Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen is a Roman Catholic diocese in New Jersey, centered in the borough of Metuchen. It was erected on November 19, 1981, from the territory of the Diocese of Trenton....
.
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
St. Francis began as a small frame mission church built in 1871 and dedicated to St. Joseph. St. Francis Parish was incorporated in that same church on January 26, 1878. A fire destroyed the church building on December 21, 1903. The second church, also built of wood, was dedicated in December 1904. Columbia Hall was built in 1920.The parish grew to more than 2,000 families by 1960 and the pastor, the Rev. John J. Foley had plans made for a new church. Columbia Hall was destroyed in a fire at this time and the plans were changed to include a parish hall and gymnasium as well. The 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 completed in June 1961 and the ground breaking for the new church began on July 24 of the same year. Masses were held in various locations until the CYO Hall was completed in December 1961. The present church was dedicated on May 19, 1963.
St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral
On November 19, 1981 Blessed John Paul II established the Diocese of Metuchen. St. Francis was chosen as the cathedral for the new diocese.Architecture
The Cathedral of St. Francis was built in the Gothic Revival style and seats about 1,000 people. The interior walls are composed of limestone with marble wainscotting. The floors are terrazzoTerrazzo
Terrazzo is a composite material poured in place or precast, which is used for floor and wall treatments. It consists of marble, quartz, granite, glass or other suitable chips, sprinkled or unsprinkled, and poured with a binder that is cementitious, chemical or a combination of both...
and the woodwork is oak. The altars are carved from Italian marble. A bronze crucifix is above the altar as a part of the baldacchino. The facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
features a rose window
Rose window
A Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery...
Rectors
The following priests have served as the rector of St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral since 1981:- Msgr. Dominic Turtora
- Msgr. Richard A. Behl
- Msgr. Michael J. Alliegro
- Msgr. Robert J. Zamorski