Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Houston): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:33, 14 February 2007

Revision as of 07:11, 21 February 2007

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In 1847, Pope Pius IX established the Diocese of Galveston for the 20,000 Catholics who lived in a frontier land known as Texas. This new diocese covered an area as large as France and was served by one bishop and fewer than twenty missionary priests. A church was built in Galveston and in 1848 it was dedicated as [[St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica]]. St. Mary's was the first catholic Cathedral in the state of Texas and for over 100 years it as the only cathedral in the Diocese of Galveston.

Due to the tremendous growth in the City of [[Houston]], in 1959 the Most Reverend Wendelin J. Nold, fifth bishop of the Galveston Diocese, was permitted by Rome to erect a Cathedral of convenience in Houston and Sacred Heart Church, built in 1911, was named Coco-Cathedralcathedral. This did not change the status of the City of [[Galveston]] as a episcopal see city, however it did permit full pontifical ceremonies to be held in Houston, as well as Galveston. Both Cathedrals are coequal in rank; however, since St. Mary's is the original Cathedral for the State of Texas, it has the distinction of being the Mother Cathedral for all the Catholic Diocesesdioceses in Texas.

Today the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is home to over one million Catholics and its frontiers now lie in the areas of medicine, technology, energy, space travel, and the arts.

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== The evolution of Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral ==

In the early 2000s the Archdiocese had long outgrown itsthe cathedral.original Co-Cathedral Sinceof the buildingSacred Heart, which was constructed in 1911. Since it had originally been constructed as a parish church, its size had been increased over the years through various remodelings and additions. Rather than make more expensive additions, it was decided by the Archdiocese to construct a new cathedral: The Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

Ziegler Cooper Architects, an established firm in the Houston area, was selected to design and, in the spring of 2002, design began for the new co-cathedral. Working with the Galveston-HoustoHouston Diocese's Bishop Fiorenza, a model was constructed of the final design concept. Bishop Fiorenza himself hand-carried a picture of the co-cathedral model to the Vatican where he obtained the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II's, blessing.

In January of 2005 a groundbreaking for the new co-cathedral was held and construction began shortly afterwards. The new Sacred Heart will serve the archdiocese as both an ecclesiastical and civic center.

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3) Natural light - expressing peace, serenity, and spiritual joy.

Sited in Downtown Houston in the middle of three blocks owned by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the co-cathedral is bounded by St. Joseph's Parkway, Fannin, Jefferson, and San Jacinto. The master plan for the three-block property provides for the creation of a grand, landscaped plaza which will anchor the site and dramatically enhance the entrance to the co-cathedral itself.

The building footprint is 27,800 s.f. sitting on the building area of 37,000 s.f.. The co-cathedral will seat 1,820, with room for an additional 200 temporary chairs.

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*[[St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica]] - Mother Cathedral of Texas and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

*[[Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston]]

*[[Galveston, Texas]]

*[[Houston, Texas]]