Cathedral of Saint Augustine (Kalamazoo, Michigan)

Cathedral of St. Augustine
42°17′30″N 85°35′29.2″W / 42.29167°N 85.591444°W / 42.29167; -85.591444
Location 542 W. Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Country United States
Denomination Roman Catholic Church
History
Founded 1856
Consecrated 1951
Architecture
Style Gothic Revival
Completed 1951
Specifications
Materials Brick
Administration
Diocese Diocese of Kalamazoo
Clergy
Bishop(s) Most Rev. Paul J. Bradley
Rector Msgr. Thomas A. Martin

St. Augustine Cathedral is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo.

History

The local residents constructed a church in 1852 as a mission used by traveling priests. Detroit bishop Peter Paul Lefevère established the parish of St. Augustine and appointed a permanent pastor in a letter from dated January 22, 1856. However, by 1869, the structure was no longer safe and inadequate for the growing congregation. It was replaced by a new church on the same site.

In 1883, Father Francis O'Brien became pastor and oversaw construction of a convent, school and rectory. He invited the Sisters of St. Joseph to Kalamazoo and aided them in establishing Borgess Hospital in 1889.

In 1937, the parish became part of the newly created Diocese of Lansing. Construction of the current church began in 1950 and Lansing Bishop Joseph H. Albers consecrated it December 4, 1951.

Pope Paul VI created the Diocese of Kalamazoo December 19, 1970, from portions of the Diocese of Lansing and the Diocese of Grand Rapids. He selected St. Augustine as the cathedral and the Most Rev. Paul Donovan was installed as the first bishop on June 15, 1971.

The entire St. Augustine campus includes an activities center, named the Fr. Crowley Cathedral Center, the St. Augustine Cathedral School, and the Cathedral itself.

The church and school were severely damaged in 1980 when a tornado struck the area. It was rebuilt in a simpler style and rededicated in 1989.[1]

The current organ was renovated in 2002 by the Nichols & Simpson, Inc., Organbuilders and incorporated parts of the Casavant organ installed when the church opened in 1951. It has 34 stops and 42 ranks of pipes.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "St. Augustine Cathedral Parish celebrates 150 years". Diocese of Kalamazoo. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
  2. ↑ "Cathedral of St. Augustine; Kalamazoo, Michigan". Nicholas & Simpson. Retrieved 2016-03-17.

External links

Coordinates: 42°17′30″N 85°35′29.2″W / 42.29167°N 85.591444°W / 42.29167; -85.591444

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