Corpus Christi Cathedral (Corpus Christi, Texas)
Encyclopedia
Corpus Christi Cathedral is a cathedral church
located in Corpus Christi, Texas
, United States
. It is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi
.
and Victoria
to minister to the pastoral needs of the Catholics in the area. Because there was no church building Mass was celebrated in private homes. The Rev. Bernard O’Reilly was assigned by Bishop Jean-Marie Odin
of Galveston
to be the first pastor in Corpus Christi. Mass was being celebrated in a small adobe
church by 1855, two years before the structure itself was completed. The property on which the church was built was bounded by Leopard, Tancahua, Antelope and Caranchua Streets. It had been donated by H. L. Kinney. Because of the large number of Irish immigrants in the parish it was named St. Patrick.
On August 28, 1874 the Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville was established by Pope Pius IX
. The Rev. Dominic Manucy
was named the Vicar Apostolic, however, because of conflicts in Brownsville he resided in Corpus Christi. Finding St. Patrick’s Church in need of repair he had a second and larger church built on the same property. The new church was ready for use in November 1882. On March 23, 1912 St. Pius X established the Diocese of Corpus Christi and St. Patrick’s became the cathedral for the new diocese. Major hurricanes hit Corpus Christi in 1916 and 1919 and St. Patrick’s provided refuge for those displaced by the storms. In November 1938 St. Patrick’s Cathedral was damaged in a fire.
was laid on March 1, 1940 and it was dedicated by Bishop Emmanuel Ledvina
in July of the same year. Pope Pius XII
made it known that he desired the cathedral’s name be changed to Corpus Christi and so the name was changed at the time of the dedication. The St. Patrick’s buildings were rebuilt and became Our Lady, Star of the Sea Church.
Bishop Thomas Drury
had the cathedral renovated in the 1960s to reflect the liturgical changes from the Second Vatican Council
. During the pastorate of Msgr. Richard Shirley the Cathedral Concert Series was initiated and the parish began participation in ecumenical outreach programs in the community. A chapel was created in the crypt of the cathedral for daily Mass and a new rectory
was built in 1979. In the 1980s a weekly televised Mass was originated from the cathedral.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
located in Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi
Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi is a Roman Catholic diocese in Texas. It was founded on March 23, 1912.The past bishops of the diocese are:*Dominic Manucy *Peter Verdaguer y Prat...
.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
In the early years of Corpus Christi priests would come from as far away as LaredoLaredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
and Victoria
Victoria, Texas
Victoria is a city in and the seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 60,603 at the 2000 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 at the 2000 census,...
to minister to the pastoral needs of the Catholics in the area. Because there was no church building Mass was celebrated in private homes. The Rev. Bernard O’Reilly was assigned by Bishop Jean-Marie Odin
Jean-Marie Odin
Jean-Marie Odin, C.M. was a French Roman Catholic missionary, first Bishop of Galveston , and second Archbishop of New Orleans .-Biography:...
of Galveston
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston encompasses of ten counties in the southeastern area of Texas: Galveston; Harris; Austin; Brazoria; Fort Bend; Grimes; Montgomery; San Jacinto; Walker; and Waller.The chancery of the diocese is located in Downtown Houston. The Archdiocese's...
to be the first pastor in Corpus Christi. Mass was being celebrated in a small adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
church by 1855, two years before the structure itself was completed. The property on which the church was built was bounded by Leopard, Tancahua, Antelope and Caranchua Streets. It had been donated by H. L. Kinney. Because of the large number of Irish immigrants in the parish it was named St. Patrick.
On August 28, 1874 the Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville was established by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
. The Rev. Dominic Manucy
Dominic Manucy
Bishop Dominic Manucy was a Roman Catholic bishop and the third Bishop of Mobile. He was a member of a prominent Minorican family from St. Augustine, Florida, and a first cousin of Bishop Anthony Dominic Pellicer of San Antonio, Texas...
was named the Vicar Apostolic, however, because of conflicts in Brownsville he resided in Corpus Christi. Finding St. Patrick’s Church in need of repair he had a second and larger church built on the same property. The new church was ready for use in November 1882. On March 23, 1912 St. Pius X established the Diocese of Corpus Christi and St. Patrick’s became the cathedral for the new diocese. Major hurricanes hit Corpus Christi in 1916 and 1919 and St. Patrick’s provided refuge for those displaced by the storms. In November 1938 St. Patrick’s Cathedral was damaged in a fire.
Corpus Christi Cathedral
St. Patrick’s Parish and the diocese had started to outgrow the old cathedral church before the fire. It was decided that a new church should be built. John Kenedy donated the land for the new church. Charles Monot designed the new cathedral in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. The cornerstoneCornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
was laid on March 1, 1940 and it was dedicated by Bishop Emmanuel Ledvina
Emmanuel Boleslaus Ledvina
Emmanuel Boleslaus Ledvina was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Corpus Christi from 1921 to 1949.-Biography:...
in July of the same year. Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
made it known that he desired the cathedral’s name be changed to Corpus Christi and so the name was changed at the time of the dedication. The St. Patrick’s buildings were rebuilt and became Our Lady, Star of the Sea Church.
Bishop Thomas Drury
Thomas Joseph Drury
Thomas Joseph Drury was the first Roman Catholic bishop of San Angelo and fourth bishop of Corpus Christi.He was born on January 4, 1908 in Ballymote, Ireland. He was ordained a priest on June 2, 1935 after immigrating to the United States. He was appointed Bishop of San Angelo on October 30,...
had the cathedral renovated in the 1960s to reflect the liturgical changes from the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
. During the pastorate of Msgr. Richard Shirley the Cathedral Concert Series was initiated and the parish began participation in ecumenical outreach programs in the community. A chapel was created in the crypt of the cathedral for daily Mass and a new rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
was built in 1979. In the 1980s a weekly televised Mass was originated from the cathedral.