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Saint Paul, Minnesota: Cathedral of St. Paul (National Pilgrimage Site of the Apostle Paul)

 

About the Cathedral of Saint Paul:

Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota
AlexiusHoratius / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

The Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and one of the few National Shrines in the U.S.A. The waves of immigrants that flooded into Minnesota in the late 19th and early 20th centuries brought many Catholics to the area, and their influence is reflected in the various shrines surrounding the sanctuary.  These shrines honor saints who were important to the many different ethnic communities that helped to build the Cathedral that you see today. The church particularly honors St. Paul through a series of bronze grills that depict major events in his life, ranging from his conversion to his martyrdom.  In addition, the Cathedral has beautiful stained glass windows that make it an architectural wonder.

The parish hosts a regular organ concert series showcasing the Cathedral’s two Skinner organs. The Minnesota Orchestra and Vocal Essence are some of the groups that present concerts at the Cathedral each year.

In 2009 the Vatican designated the Cathedral of St. Paul to be the first national shrine in honor of the Apostle Paul, following the request of Archbishop John C. Nienstedt of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

The special distinction was granted by the Office of the Holy See and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, according to the Cathedral of St. Paul’s website. The cathedral will be the first national shrine in Minnesota and the only North American national shrine dedicated to honor St. Paul.

A shrine has a specific designation under canon law. It is a church or other sacred place to which the faithful may make pilgrimages for “a particular pious reason.”

Those who wish to participate in the National Shrine can do so by becoming members of the Archconfraternity of the Apostle Paul.

Tours of the magnificent Cathedral of Saint Paul are held every Tuesday through Friday at 1:00 p.m. Tours are free of charge, though donations are gratefully received, and we encourage you to be generous to help with the preservation of the Cathedral. There are no tours on Holy Days and civil holidays.

 

Finding the Cathedral of Saint Paul:

The Cathedral dominates the skyline in Saint Paul, and is very easy to reach.

Address:  239 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102

GPS coordinates:  44° 56′ 48.2388”N   93° 6′ 36.0864” W

Tel:  +1 (651) 228-1766

email:  Use the contact information on their website.

Click here for the official website of the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Saint Paul, MN

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