Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena
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The Cathedral Church of St. Catharine of Siena is the home of the Diocese of Allentown. It is located at 1825 Turner Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
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[edit] History of the Parish
Saint Catharine of Siena Parish was founded on October 8, 1919 when Dennis Cardinal Dougherty, Archbishop of Philadelphia, appointed the Reverend John C. Phelan as pastor of a new church in the west end of Allentown.
By 1952, the parish campus had grown greatly, with additions of a school and convent. There was a need for a new church. On June 9, 1952, Msgr. Leo Fink broke-ground on the new church. In April 26, 1953, the laying of the cornerstone of the new Church was presided over by the Most Reverend Joseph M. McShea, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, representing Dennis Cardinal Dougherty, Archbishop of Philadelphia. The building was designed in a colonial style. The exterior is faced with a variegated salmon brick trimmed with Indiana limestone. At the crossing formed by the transept, there is a tall spire toped a cross. The windows are colonial glazed antique cathedral glass.
[edit] The Cathedral
In 1961, the Diocese of Allentown was carved out from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The St. Catharine of Siena parish was honored to learn that their church was to be the seat of the new bishop. The church would become the Cathedral Church of St. Catharine of Siena.
The Most Reverend Joseph McShea, D.D. was installed as the first Bishop of Allentown on April 11, 1961, thus officially raising St. Catharine of Siena Church to a Cathedral.
