| Sacred Heart Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| Basic information | |
| Location | Salina, Kansas United States |
| Geographic coordinates | 38.841 -97.612 |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Province | Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas |
| District | Diocese of Salina |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Leadership | Bishop of Salina |
| Website | www.shcathedral.com |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Edward J. Schulte |
| Architectural style | Modern |
| Completed | 1953 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Limestone |
Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina, Kansas, United States is the cathedral parish for the Catholic Diocese of Salina. It is the second cathedral for the diocese after Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Concordia, Kansas when the See was located there.[1]
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The Diocese of Concordia was established by Pope Leo XIII on August 2, 1887.[2] On December 23, 1944 Pope Pius XII transferred the See to Salina and Sacred Heart Church became the new cathedral.[3] Edward J. Schulte of Cincinnati was chosen as the architect for a new cathedral church.[4] The cornerstone was laid on June 4, 1951 and it was dedicated by Bishop Francis Thill on June 6, 1953.[5] A renovation project in 1998 altered the interior and an enlarged gathering space and parish hall were added in 2000.
Sacred Heart Cathedral’s architecture references the rural character of Northwestern Kansas and relates it to the Eucharistic aspects of the Catholic Church. Concrete grain elevators dot the landscape and contain the areas primary crop, wheat. The sides of the exterior of the cathedral are rounded and mimic the grain elevators and symbolize the Church as God’s granary from which people are nourished by the Eucharist.[4] The cathedral’s bell tower is also round and reflects the shape of a farm silo. As farm animals gather to be nourished at the silo, so people gather within the church building for their spiritual nourishment from Christ, the Good Shepherd.[4] The main entrance into the cathedral features a procession of the faithful in a bas relief. The figures represent a farm family, priests and religious who assist the bishop in carrying the cross. A Capuchin friar kneels before the cross in adoration. The panel carries a quote from the Bible, “He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
The interior features a large baptismal font in the shape of the cross in the gathering space. Nearby is a triptych containing icons of the cathedral’s patron the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the diocese’s primary patron Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Francis of Assisi, who is its secondary patron. The nave of the cathedral is lined with pillars that are 30 feet (9.1 m) around.[4] At the base of the bell tower is a room that was formerly used as a baptistery. It now contains a shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The statue in the chapel was from a small parish that closed in 1965. A bas relief of the Sacred Heart is featured on the back wall of the cathedral with a Latin phrase on its base, “Cor Jesu, inflama cor nostrum amore tui” (Heart of Jesus, inflame our hearts with your love).[4] Twelve crosses with candles line the walls represent the Twelve Apostles and are where the walls were consecrated with Sacred Chrism when the cathedral was consecrated. The fourteen Stations of the Cross are etched into the east wall.
A 20 foot (6 m) tall crucifix dominates the sanctuary area. The circular canopy around the crucifix contains three Latin phrases: “Cor Jesu, spes in te morientium” (Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in you); Domus Dei et porta coeli (House of God and gate of heaven); and “Cor Jesu, omni laude dignissimum, salve in te sperantium” (Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, salvation of those who hope in you).[4] The marble legs of the Altar were taken from the former communion rail and it contains the relics of St. Boniface and St. Clement.[4] The Blessed Sacrament is housed in the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The stained glass windows in the cathedral were designed by Anton Wendling from Aachen, Germany and were assembled by Erhardt Stettner in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The 25 foot high (7.62 m) windows depict various saints and cost $2,240.00 each.[4] There are five smaller windows above the confessionals that cost $1,000 each.