Cathedral Dulce Nombre de Jesus

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Cathedral Dulce Nombre de Jesús is a cathedral of Roman Catholic denomination located in Corchado Street inCaguas, Puerto Rico. It is located in front of Plaza Palmer in the center of town. There are only five cathedrals in Puerto Rico and Cathedral Dulce Nombre de Jesús is the cathedral of the Diocese of Caguas. The cathedral is located next to the Colegio Católico Notre Dame Elementary. The Patron of the church, as well as that of the city, is the Dulce Nombre de Jesús (Sweet Name of Jesus).

[edit] History

The cathedral was constructed where the old hermitage of San Sebastián del Barrero used to be located.^[1]San Sebastián del Barrero was the first Christian village in the area that now comprises the City of Caguas. It is know that the hermitage was built prior to 1645.^[1] In the 18th century the hermitage was used for carrying out religious activities. When, in 1775, the town of Caguas was established, the church was nominated to be adopted as its official church and it started using the name of Church of Dulce Nombre de Jesús.^[2]

The church was expanded at the end of the 19th century and remodeled in the 1920s. In 1930, part of the reconstruction of its current facade was started. This project was finished in the middle of the century.^[1] In 1936, the church was improved and remodeled again to its present form. The church adopted the name Parroquial Church Dulce Nombre de Jesús.

The remains of Father Ximénez (1806), parish priest of the church, and of Monsignor Rafael Grovas (1991), the first bishop of Caguas. The remains of Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, candidate for future canonization, are also located in the cathedral. His tomb read: "This is the most important day of the year.", which was one of his favorite sayings.