Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne

Infobox_nrhp | name = Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
nrhp_type =


caption = Front façade in winter
location = Fort Wayne, Indiana
lat_degrees = 41 | lat_minutes = 4 | lat_seconds = 32.51 | lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 85 | long_minutes = 8 | long_seconds = 16.19 | long_direction = W
locmapin = Indiana
area = Central business district
built = 1859
architect = Rev. Msgr. Julian Benoit
architecture = Gothic
added = October 23, 1980
governing_body = Private
refnum = 80000048 cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work = National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service] The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is the primary cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, headed by Most Rev. John M. D'Arcy. The parish was established in 1836, making it the oldest in Fort Wayne. The church was erected in 1860.

Cathedral information & description

The original church on what is now Cathedral Square was St. Mary's church (separate to the present-day St. Mary church in Fort Wayne), opened between 1834 and 1835. In 1840, Rev. Louis Mueller began construction on a new church, the Cathedral of St. Augustine. St. Augustine's served as the church until a fire destroyed it in 1859. In 1860, Rev. Julian Benoit erected a third church and named it the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in honor of the Blessed Virgin. The Cathedral building still stands today, despite going through various renovations over the decades.

The Cathedral grounds, called the Cathedral Square, includes the Chancery of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, MacDougal Chapel, Cathedral Center for C.C.D. classes (formerly the Cathedral Boys School), and the Rectory (the priests' residence), and the grave of the last Miami Indians chief, Joseph Richardville. Recently, the Cathedral Museum housed in the basement of MacDougal Chapel and diocesan offices located in the Cathedral Center were moved to a new location a few blocks north of Cathedral Square.

Current staff

*Pastor - Rev. Robert C. Schulte. He has been the rector of the church and Vicar-General of the diocese since 1999.
*Associate pastors - Father James Stoyle

Also living at the rectory, though serving the diocese as administrator to other Fort Wayne parishes, is retired Monsignor J. William Lester.

Cathedral Photos

* [http://robertpence.com/fort_wayne/cathedral_2004_0041.jpgrobertpence.com]
* [http://www.sacredarchitecture.org/pubs/saj/images/immaculate_conception.jpgwww.sacredarchitecture.org]

ee also

*Roman Catholic Marian churches

References