Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Tyler, Texas)
| Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception | |
|---|---|
|
Main Altar of the Cathedral on Holy Saturday 2012 | |
  | |
| 32°20′45.92″N 95°18′3.6″W / 32.3460889°N 95.301000°W | |
| Location |
423 S. Broadway Tyler, Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| Membership | 2,600 families |
| Website | www.thecathedral.info |
| History | |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Dedicated | March 17, 1935 |
| Architecture | |
| Style |
Mission Revival Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Completed | 1935 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | One |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Tyler |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Most Rev. Joseph Strickland |
| Vicar(s) |
Rev. Justin Braun Rev. John-Mary Bowlin |
| Rector | Very Rev. Anthony McLaughlin, JCD |
| Deacon(s) |
Deacon Remigio Alfaro Deacon Shaun Black Deacon Rufino Cortez Deacon Steve Curry Deacon Bill Necessary |
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Tyler, Texas, United States. It is the seat and principal church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler.
History
Tyler started to grow as the railroad came to town in the 1870s. Priests from Nacogdoches and Palestine came to Tyler to celebrate Mass and attend to the pastoral needs of Catholics. Immaculate Conception Church was established in 1878. A wood frame church was built at the corner of West Locust Street and North College Avenue two years later.[1] By the 1910s it became evident that the parish needed a larger church, however, the present church would not be built until after the Rev. Sebastian A. Samperi became pastor in 1927 that the present church could be built. Property was purchased at Front Street and South Broadway and the new church was dedicated until March 17, 1935.[1] The church was renovated and redecorated in 1949 and 1978. Parish offices, a library and a large meeting room were built in 1984. Two years later the church basement was named for Father Samperi.
Blessed John Paul II created the Diocese of Tyler on December 12, 1986, from portions of Diocese of Dallas, Diocese of Beaumont and the Diocese of Galveston-Houston.[2] Immaculate Conception became the Cathedral at that time.
As the population of Tyler and Smith County grew,[3] the Cathedral parish expand as well. In the early 1990s, the Cathedral Center was built, featuring meeting and banquet rooms for parish activities. In 1994, with thousands attending Masses every weekend at the Cathedral, there became a need for an additional site for the celebration of the Mass. St. Paul’s Chapel was created as a temporary facility in the Chancery Office while a permanent location was planned. The patience of the parishioners was rewarded on December 8, 2011, when the 700-seat Chapel of Sts. Peter & Paul on the campus of Bishop Gorman Regional Catholic High School was dedicated by Bishop Alvaro Corrada.[4]
The parish includes St. Gregory Cathedral School which was opened in 1946. The school has twice been named a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School,[5]
References
- 1 2 "About Us". Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
- ↑ "Diocese of Tyler". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
- ↑ "Tyler (city), Texas Quick Facts". Census Bureau. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ↑ "History of Bishop Gorman Schools". Bishop Gorman Schools. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ↑ "History of St. Gregory Cathedral School". St. Gregory. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
External links
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Coordinates: 32°20′46″N 95°18′04″W / 32.34609°N 95.301°W