Co-Cathedral of Saint Joseph (Burlington, Vermont)

Co-Cathedral of Saint Joseph
44°29′00″N 73°12′53″W / 44.483200°N 73.214595°W / 44.483200; -73.214595Coordinates: 44°29′00″N 73°12′53″W / 44.483200°N 73.214595°W / 44.483200; -73.214595
Location 29 Allen St.
Burlington, Vermont
Country United States
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website www.stjosephvermont.com
History
Status Co-cathedral
Founded 1850
Dedication Saint Joseph
Dedicated June 24, 1887
Architecture
Architect(s) Fr. Joseph Michaud
Style Classical Revival
Groundbreaking July 4, 1884
Completed 1887
Specifications
Capacity 1200
Length 176 feet (54 m)
Width 81 feet (25 m)
Height 55 feet (17 m)
Materials Red sandstone[1]
Administration
Diocese Burlington
Clergy
Bishop(s) Christopher J. Coyne
Rector Rev. Msgr. Peter A. Routhier

The Co-Cathedral of Saint Joseph is a cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Located in Burlington, Vermont, it serves the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Burlington. The mother church is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Burlington.

History

Tablet of the Co-Cathedral of Saint Joseph (Burlington, VT)

The original St. Joseph's church was the first French Canadian parish in the United States,[2] founded in 1850.[3] The cathedral was constructed to serve the growing French-speaking Canadian population that had immigrated to the North End of Burlington during the mid 19th century.[4]

The building was designed in 1883 by Fr. Joseph Michaud who was a self-taught architect hailing from Montreal.[5] The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1884.[6] The church was dedicated on St. Jean The Baptist Day (Fête de la Saint-Jean-Baptiste) on June 24, 1887,[7] and blessed by the Archbishop of Montreal, Édouard-Charles Fabre.[6]

The church seating capacity was designed to accommodate over 1200 worshipers.[3]

Because of low attendance and finances, the two Burlington Catholic cathedrals are in the process of merging. Sunday Masses will be celebrated at St.Joseph, while Immaculate Conception will have a weekday Mass at Noon and a monthly Mass in Vietnamese. Parishioners can also request to have their baptisms, weddings and funerals held there.[8]

Renovations

Interior of the Co-Cathedral, 2015

A number of renovations have taken place on the cathedral over the years, during 1920, 1968, and 2000–01.

On November 27, 2000, several contractors began renovations on the cathedral.[3]

Sometime between 2011 and 2012, the steeple spire was removed after a windstorm had damaged it. Repair crews had found that the steeple had undergone severe deterioration and it was subsequently determined that the 800 lb (360 kg) wrought-iron cross atop the artifice was at risk of toppling. The cross was placed into storage, while the lower sections of the steeple (e.g. the belfry) required renovations costing about $200,000. The steeple was not restored to its original height due to the estimated expense of $1 million, which the church could not afford.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Catholic Cathedrals of Burlington Vermont
  2. ↑ "When We Were French: Coming to St. J". The Chronicle. Barton, Vermont. 19 January 2011. p. 2.
  3. 1 2 3 The Catholic Cathedrals of Burlington Vermont, "St. Joseph Parish History." Accessed 14 Aug 2015
  4. ↑ "St. Joseph Parish History". The Catholic Cathedrals of Burlington. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Sacred Spaces of New England" - St. Joseph’s Co-Cathedral, Burlington, Vermont, Seth Thompson, Accessed 14 Aug 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Monsignor Cloarec Venerated by All, Dies in 87th Year". The Burlington Free Press and Times, New Series Vol. LXVI. February 12, 1920. p. 9.
  7. ↑ UVM Historic Preservation Program, "Early 20th-century Postcard Views" - St. Joseph's Church & Parish house, Leckie, Daniel, November 2012
  8. ↑ Baird, Joel Banner (January 6, 2017). "Catholic parishes eye merger in Burlington". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  9. ↑ Stigliani, Emilie Teresa (May 5, 2015). "Flashback: What's missing from BTV's skyline?". Burlington Free Press.
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