Saint Raphael's Cathedral, Madison, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Saint Raphael's Cathedral is the Cathedral
parish
for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison
. The parish is located in downtown Madison, Wisconsin
at 222 West Main Street. In March 2005 the building was heavily damaged in a fire. The parish community remains active, and in June, 2007 it was announced that a new Cathedral would be constructed to replace the structure damaged in the fire. As of October 1, 2009 no design for the cathedral has been developed by the diocese and no timeline has been set for the construction of a new cathedral.
was offered for the first time by Father Martin Kundig. The land upon which the parish buildings and a later parking lot would be built was donated by Governor James Duane Doty
, a close friend of Father Samuel Mazzuchelli.
From 1842 until 1853, the parish did not have a church of its own. Mass was often celebrated in homes and in the state capitol. In 1853, Father Francis Etchmann began the process of building the current church building. The cornerstone was laid in 1854. Archbishop
John Henni
of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee dedicated the new building as the parish was under his jurisdiction at the time. In 1885 the present bells and spire were built.
On January 9, 1946 Pope Pius XII
created the Diocese of Madison for an 11-county area in the southwestern area of the state. Territory was taken from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
and the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse
to form the new diocese
. St. Raphael's was then chosen as the Cathedral Parish for the Madison diocese. At the time of the parish's elevation to a Cathedral, Msgr. William Mahoney was the pastor.
The fire caused the roof to collapse into the building, although the walls and steeple remained standing. There was further damage from the water and there were fears that the refurbished steeple would collapse, although the steeple was found to be stable in the days following the fire. The mosaics sustained smoke and water damage, and the stained glass windows were damaged but still in place.
The cause of the fire was determined to be arson
. Forty-one-year-old William J. "Billy" Connell was arrested for setting the fire and charged with burglary
, arson
, and bail
jumping. Connell said that he had broken into the Cathedral using a crowbar, stole a bottle of wine, and then "messed around with some stuff". The fire had started in an office/storeroom under the spire, and the crowbar was found in that room. Connell had a history of mental problems, and had previously been in trouble with the law. Connell was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by 15 years of close supervision.
On June 10, 2007, Bishop Morlino announced his intention to have the structure demolished and replaced with a new and larger church capable of seating 1,000 people. A March 13, 2008 press release from the Diocese of Madison announced that St. Raphael's would be demolished during the summer of 2008, and that some items from the old Cathedral would be saved, including the spire, the three bells from the steeple, three mosaics from the sanctuary, the marble sanctuary appointments, one large undamaged stain glass window, three smaller undamaged semicircular stain glass windows, some ornamental stonework from around the doorways, and some other stone from the building. A city landmarks commissioner denounced the diocese for failing to hold off falling the church until a landmarks commission meeting could be held to determine the church's eligibility for landmark status, and a candlelight vigil was held by embittered preservationists.
As of the latest press release, no design for the cathedral has been developed by the diocese and there is still no timeline for its construction.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison
Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison
The Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, is the Roman Catholic Diocese for the southwest corner of Wisconsin. It comprises Columbia, Dane, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, LaFayette, Marquette, Rock and Sauk counties. The area of the diocese is approximately...
. The parish is located in downtown Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
at 222 West Main Street. In March 2005 the building was heavily damaged in a fire. The parish community remains active, and in June, 2007 it was announced that a new Cathedral would be constructed to replace the structure damaged in the fire. As of October 1, 2009 no design for the cathedral has been developed by the diocese and no timeline has been set for the construction of a new cathedral.
History
In the early 1840s, immigrants from Ireland settled in what would later become Madison. They were soon organized into a parish named after the Archangel Raphael. On August 15, 1842 MassMass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
was offered for the first time by Father Martin Kundig. The land upon which the parish buildings and a later parking lot would be built was donated by Governor James Duane Doty
James Duane Doty
James Duane Doty was a land speculator and politician in the United States who played a large role in the development of Wisconsin and Utah Territory.-Legal career:...
, a close friend of Father Samuel Mazzuchelli.
From 1842 until 1853, the parish did not have a church of its own. Mass was often celebrated in homes and in the state capitol. In 1853, Father Francis Etchmann began the process of building the current church building. The cornerstone was laid in 1854. Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
John Henni
John Henni
John Martin Henni was a Swiss-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Archbishop of Milwaukee, serving from 1843 until his death in 1881.-Early life and education:...
of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee dedicated the new building as the parish was under his jurisdiction at the time. In 1885 the present bells and spire were built.
On January 9, 1946 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....
created the Diocese of Madison for an 11-county area in the southwestern area of the state. Territory was taken from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is a Roman Catholic archdiocese headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States. It encompasses the City of Milwaukee, as well as the counties of Dodge, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha, all...
and the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse
Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse
The Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse covers an area of west-central Wisconsin, including the city of La Crosse and 19 counties: Adams, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marathon, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Portage, Richland, Trempealeau, Vernon, and...
to form the new diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
. St. Raphael's was then chosen as the Cathedral Parish for the Madison diocese. At the time of the parish's elevation to a Cathedral, Msgr. William Mahoney was the pastor.
Cathedral fire
On March 14, 2005 a fire caused extensive damage to St. Raphael's Cathedral, affecting not only those who attended the church, but the entire diocesan community.The fire caused the roof to collapse into the building, although the walls and steeple remained standing. There was further damage from the water and there were fears that the refurbished steeple would collapse, although the steeple was found to be stable in the days following the fire. The mosaics sustained smoke and water damage, and the stained glass windows were damaged but still in place.
The cause of the fire was determined to be arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
. Forty-one-year-old William J. "Billy" Connell was arrested for setting the fire and charged with burglary
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
, arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
, and bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
jumping. Connell said that he had broken into the Cathedral using a crowbar, stole a bottle of wine, and then "messed around with some stuff". The fire had started in an office/storeroom under the spire, and the crowbar was found in that room. Connell had a history of mental problems, and had previously been in trouble with the law. Connell was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by 15 years of close supervision.
On June 10, 2007, Bishop Morlino announced his intention to have the structure demolished and replaced with a new and larger church capable of seating 1,000 people. A March 13, 2008 press release from the Diocese of Madison announced that St. Raphael's would be demolished during the summer of 2008, and that some items from the old Cathedral would be saved, including the spire, the three bells from the steeple, three mosaics from the sanctuary, the marble sanctuary appointments, one large undamaged stain glass window, three smaller undamaged semicircular stain glass windows, some ornamental stonework from around the doorways, and some other stone from the building. A city landmarks commissioner denounced the diocese for failing to hold off falling the church until a landmarks commission meeting could be held to determine the church's eligibility for landmark status, and a candlelight vigil was held by embittered preservationists.
As of the latest press release, no design for the cathedral has been developed by the diocese and there is still no timeline for its construction.