St. John's Cathedral, Cleveland
Encyclopedia
In the 1830s, Catholics
started to arrive in the Western Reserve region of Ohio
, United States, so the Archdiocese of Cincinnati sent priests up to the Northeast Ohio area to serve. The first parish in Cleveland
was St. Mary's of the Flats. In 1847, Pope Pius IX
established the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. The first Bishop appointed for Cleveland was Louis Amadeus Rappe
. Bishop Rappe established St. John's Cathedral on Superior Street and Erie Street (today's East 9th Street). At this time, this was the outside of Cleveland's Public Square. In 1852, Patrick Kelly designed the Cathedral. Under numerous bishops after Rappe the Cathedral was renovated.
In 1920 it was the site of the funeral for famed baseball player Ray Chapman
. Thousands gathered inside and outside the cathedral for what is still the largest funeral in the history of Cleveland. Chapman was a popular player that only days before was killed when hit in the head by a pitched baseball. He remains the only player to have been fatally injured during a Major League baseball game.
In 1943, Archbishop Joseph Schrembs
announced a plan to renovate the Cathderal, but due to World War II the plan did not go forward until 1945. After World War II
, Schremb's successor, Edward Francis Hoban
went through with Schrembs' plan. In 1946, the old cathedral was gutted and retrofitted with modern amenities. Electrical to water services were updated. The cathedral was skinned in orange Tennessee Crabtree limestone
, in an ashlar
pattern. The cathedral regained a bell tower, the bells were retrofitted in 1988 by Bishop Anthony Pilla
. The altar was also redone with an oak rear Panel of the apostles of Christ. The Bishops burial grottoes were also redone and so was St. Christine's Chapel, Cleveland Diocese has St. Christine's remains in the Cathedral, this was done in 1928.
In 1948, Archbishop Hoban with Cardinal Francis Spellman of New York City
celebrated the renovation of St. John's Cathedral. In 1977, Bishop James Hickey
renovated the altar due to Vatican II reforms, the altar lost its communion rail since Pope Paul VI
gave power to extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion under the General Instruction of the Roman Missal
. People now could touch the Blessed Sacrament so the rail was not needed.
The Cathedral renovation added St. John's College (now merged with Ursuline College
), this building was demolished for the Eaton Center
in 1981. In 1964, St. John's added a dormitory tower which became offices for the Diocese of Cleveland. In 2007, the Diocese relocated their offices and this was demolished for a parking lot for the upcoming Avenue District on St. Clair Avenue and East 12th Street area. A parking garage was built for mass goers.
In 1996, The Sacristy was renovated by Bishop Anthony Pilla as a gift from Cleveland's Italian American
Community for Bishop Pilla's election to the Presidency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
in 1995. In 1997, the Diocese celebrated its 150th anniversary. That year ABC-TV
did a special on celebrating Christ's splendor at the cathedral. In 2000, Pope John Paul II
made 2000 a Holy Year, the pope wanted Catholics to come to Rome, but if they could not, they would be allowed to go their respective cathedral.s Bishop Anthony Pilla dedicated a Holy Door in 2000 as part of Holy Year. In 2002, the cathedral renovated its flagpole and it was rededicated on 11 September 2002, one year after the September 11, 2001 attacks
.
In 2006, Bishop Pilla retired and Bishop Richard Lennon
of Boston took over the Diocese of Cleveland. The cathedral has seen many bishops come and go but it is the seat of Catholic faithful in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.
Cleveland does have a co-cathedral, it is the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus in Cleveland's Slavic Village
neighborhood. This was given distinction in 2006.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
started to arrive in the Western Reserve region of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States, so the Archdiocese of Cincinnati sent priests up to the Northeast Ohio area to serve. The first parish in Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
was St. Mary's of the Flats. In 1847, Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
established the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. The first Bishop appointed for Cleveland was Louis Amadeus Rappe
Louis Amadeus Rappe
Louis Amadeus Rappe was a French-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Cleveland from 1847 to 1870.-Biography:...
. Bishop Rappe established St. John's Cathedral on Superior Street and Erie Street (today's East 9th Street). At this time, this was the outside of Cleveland's Public Square. In 1852, Patrick Kelly designed the Cathedral. Under numerous bishops after Rappe the Cathedral was renovated.
In 1920 it was the site of the funeral for famed baseball player Ray Chapman
Ray Chapman
Raymond Johnson Chapman was an American baseball player, spending his entire career as a shortstop for Cleveland....
. Thousands gathered inside and outside the cathedral for what is still the largest funeral in the history of Cleveland. Chapman was a popular player that only days before was killed when hit in the head by a pitched baseball. He remains the only player to have been fatally injured during a Major League baseball game.
In 1943, Archbishop Joseph Schrembs
Joseph Schrembs
Joseph Schrembs was a German-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Toledo and Bishop of Cleveland .-Early life and education:...
announced a plan to renovate the Cathderal, but due to World War II the plan did not go forward until 1945. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Schremb's successor, Edward Francis Hoban
Edward Francis Hoban
Edward Francis Hoban was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Rockford and Bishop of Cleveland .-Biography:...
went through with Schrembs' plan. In 1946, the old cathedral was gutted and retrofitted with modern amenities. Electrical to water services were updated. The cathedral was skinned in orange Tennessee Crabtree limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, in an ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
pattern. The cathedral regained a bell tower, the bells were retrofitted in 1988 by Bishop Anthony Pilla
Anthony Pilla
Anthony Michael Pilla is a bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland from 1979 to 1980 and Bishop of Cleveland from 1980 to 2006.-Biography:...
. The altar was also redone with an oak rear Panel of the apostles of Christ. The Bishops burial grottoes were also redone and so was St. Christine's Chapel, Cleveland Diocese has St. Christine's remains in the Cathedral, this was done in 1928.
In 1948, Archbishop Hoban with Cardinal Francis Spellman of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
celebrated the renovation of St. John's Cathedral. In 1977, Bishop James Hickey
James Hickey
James Hickey may refer to:*James Hickey , colonel in the US Army who earned notoriety during Operation Red Dawn.*James Hickey , Irish Labour party politician, TD and senator...
renovated the altar due to Vatican II reforms, the altar lost its communion rail since Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
gave power to extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion under the General Instruction of the Roman Missal
General Instruction of the Roman Missal
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal —in the Latin original, Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani —is the detailed document governing the celebration of Mass of the ordinary form of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church since 1969...
. People now could touch the Blessed Sacrament so the rail was not needed.
The Cathedral renovation added St. John's College (now merged with Ursuline College
Ursuline College
For the English Catholic Sports College, based in Westgate, see Ursuline College .Ursuline College is a small, Roman Catholic liberal arts women's college in Pepper Pike, Ohio. It was founded in 1871 by the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland and is one of the oldest institutions of higher education for...
), this building was demolished for the Eaton Center
Eaton Center (Cleveland)
The Eaton Center is a skyscraper in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The building has 28 stories and rises to a height of 356 ft . The structure, was one of the structures that expanded Cleveland's central business district eastward in the early-1980s building boom in the city.The decision for Eaton...
in 1981. In 1964, St. John's added a dormitory tower which became offices for the Diocese of Cleveland. In 2007, the Diocese relocated their offices and this was demolished for a parking lot for the upcoming Avenue District on St. Clair Avenue and East 12th Street area. A parking garage was built for mass goers.
In 1996, The Sacristy was renovated by Bishop Anthony Pilla as a gift from Cleveland's Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
Community for Bishop Pilla's election to the Presidency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
in 1995. In 1997, the Diocese celebrated its 150th anniversary. That year ABC-TV
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
did a special on celebrating Christ's splendor at the cathedral. In 2000, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
made 2000 a Holy Year, the pope wanted Catholics to come to Rome, but if they could not, they would be allowed to go their respective cathedral.s Bishop Anthony Pilla dedicated a Holy Door in 2000 as part of Holy Year. In 2002, the cathedral renovated its flagpole and it was rededicated on 11 September 2002, one year after the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
.
In 2006, Bishop Pilla retired and Bishop Richard Lennon
Richard Lennon
Richard Gerard Lennon is the Roman Catholic bishop of Cleveland, Ohio, since May 15, 2006.-Background:A native of Arlington, Massachusetts, Lennon is the son of an Arlington, Mass. firefighter Lennon attended St. James the Apostle grammar school in St...
of Boston took over the Diocese of Cleveland. The cathedral has seen many bishops come and go but it is the seat of Catholic faithful in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.
Cleveland does have a co-cathedral, it is the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus in Cleveland's Slavic Village
Slavic Village
South Broadway is a neighborhood on the southeast side of Cleveland, Ohio. One of the city's oldest neighborhoods, much of the area has historically served as home to Cleveland's original Czech and Polish immigrants...
neighborhood. This was given distinction in 2006.