Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse

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Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

1 Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
2 History
3 Today
4 External links
5 References

[edit] Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse, New York is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse.

[edit] History

The church was initially constructed in 1874 by Lawrence J. O’Connor and named Saint Mary's Church and became the first parish in Syracuse. Formerly under the Diocese of Albany, the Diocese of Syracuse was created in 1887. In 1904, Bishop Patrick Ludden selected Saint Mary's Church to become the new Cathedral. Archimedes Russell was commissioned to expand the new Cathedral designing a new sanctuary and bell tower.

The Parish purchased the La Concha Turkish bath house, demolished it and built the Cathedral’s sanctuary. The Cathedral features the Shrine of the Blessed Mother sculpted by Jacqueline Belfort-Chalat.

The Cathedral was consecrated in 1910 and for the dedication, Pope Leo XIII gave Bishop Ludden a brick taken from the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. When Bishop Ludden died in 1912, he was buried in the crypt under the Cathedral.

[edit] Today

In addition to offering daily masses, the Cathedral operates Emergency Services for the countywide population. It offers a food pantry, free furniture and clothing, and diapers and formula for infants. The Cathedral also operates the Cathedral Oxford Inn Shelter. The Cathedral will serve any homeless person who comes to their door. The Cathedral hosts volunteer lawyers one day a month to assist those people in the shelters.

The Cathedral hosts many local musicals and concerts performed by both area schools and professional groups. A selection of works by Herbert Howells played on the Cathedral’s Roosevelt-Schantz organ has been released on CD.