Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Denver)

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Denver of the Roman Catholic Church. It is located at the corner of Logan Street and Colfax Avenue in the North Capitol Hill neighborhood of central Denver.

Cathedral Basilica of the
Immaculate Conception
39°44′25.01″N 104°58′54.98″W
Location401 East Colfax Avenue
Denver, Colorado
CountryUnited States
DenominationRoman Catholic Church
Websitewww.denvercathedral.org
History
Founded1860
Consecrated1921
Architecture
StyleGothic Revival
Groundbreaking1902
Completed1911
Specifications
Capacity800
Number of spiresTwo
Spire height210 ft (64 m)
MaterialsGranite, Limestone
Administration
ArchdioceseArchdiocese of Denver
Clergy
ArchbishopMost Rev. Samuel J. Aquila
RectorVery Rev. Ronald Cattany
Designated3 March 1975
Reference no.7500506[1]
Reference no.5DV.111

History
A statue of John Paul II commemorates his 1993 Mass

Construction of the cathedral started in 1902 and was completed in 1911 with a final cost of approximately $500,000. The inaugural Mass was held on October 27, 1912, and consecration was in 1921. On August 7, 1912, lightning struck the west tower causing damage to the upper 25 feet (7.6 m); however, this was repaired before the opening.

The cathedral was raised to the status of minor basilica on Christmas Day 1979. On August 13 and 14, 1993 (for World Youth Day), Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at the cathedral, one of only a few cathedrals in the United States so honored. In June 1997, lightning struck a second time, but this time damaged the east tower. The parish completed work to restore the tower within eight months.[2]

During the first days of the George Floyd protests from 29 May to 1 June 2020, the Cathedral Basilica was vandalized multiple times by protesters and damaged by responding police. Damage included arson, spray-painted anti-Catholic phrases, and tear gas penetrating the building. Nobody in the Cathedral Basilica was injured during the protests.[3]

Architecture

Architect Leon Coquard of Detroit designed the cathedral in the French Gothic style.[4] Its character is influenced by the 13th-century Saint Nicholas Collegiate church (collégiale Saint-Nicolas) of Munster, Moselle, France, which is the birthplace of Bishop Nicholas Chrysostom Matz, who supervised cathedral construction.[5]

The building is in the shape of a Latin cross measuring 195 by 116 feet (59 by 35 m) with the nave rising to 68 feet (21 m). The main façade houses three entrances and is framed by two 210-foot (64 m) spires. The structure is constructed of Indiana limestone and granite from Gunnison, Colorado. The altar, statuary, and bishop's chair are all made of Carrara marble, while other elements feature Yule marble stone from Marble, Colorado.[6] The 75 stained glass windows are from the Royal Bavarian Art Institute in Munich founded by Franz Xaver Zettler. When opened, the cathedral could accommodate 1,000 worshipers. However, due to significant alterations in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council (including the removal of the historic stone altar rail and the expansion of the chancel to accommodate a second, freestanding altar) the church now accommodates only 800.[2][4]

Ministries

The cathedral offers three daily and six Sunday Masses as well as other sacraments regularly. Additional services to the community include the yearly provision of 50,000 - 60,000 lunches to the poor in the area.[2]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "History of the Cathedral". Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  3. "Homily and Reflection (1 June 2020)" (PDF). denvercathedral.org. Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Denver). 1 June 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  4. "Architectural Highlights". Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Archived from the original on 2016-02-29. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  5. "Munster Denver" (in French). Nature et Patrimoine du Saulnois. Archived from the original on 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2006-12-28.
  6. "Historic Resources of Marble, Colorado, and Vicinity". History Colorado. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
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