About the Cathedral of Saint Raphael in Dubuque, Iowa:
St. Raphael’s Parish has a long and rich history that reaches all the way back to 1833. In July 1835, Rev. Samuel Mazzuchelli, a Dominican priest, laid the foundation for a stone church that was dedicated to Raphael, the Archangel. With the appointment of Mathias Loras as the first Bishop of Dubuque, the stone church became a cathedral. Bishop Loras recognized the need for a larger church. The cornerstone of the present cathedral was laid on July 5, 1857, and Bishop Loras offered the first Mass on Christmas of that year. Bishop Loras died February 19, 1858. Rev. Clement Smyth, OCSO, from New Melleray Abbey became the second Bishop. The Cathedral has been the place of the installation of all the bishops since then.
In 1843, the Sisters of Charity (BVM) were the first women religious to arrive to staff a school built on the Cathedral property. At the invitation of the bishop, many religious communities made Dubuque their home. St. Raphael Cathedral School closed in 1976, and the school building and convent were eventually sold in the mid-1980s.
During the 1980s, Msgr. John Dalton established an advisory committee to study the proposed renovation of St. Raphael Cathedral. This task involved the challenge of maintaining the historicity of the Cathedral and updating elements to meet the current needs of worshipers. In 1983, the winter chapel behind the Cathedral was converted into the Cathedral Center. The renovation of the Cathedral was completed in 1986. In 2005, an immersion pool was added to the baptismal font,
There are many relics at the Cathedral contained in special cases called reliquaries. Under the altar is a box which contains the relics of St. Cessianus, a young boy who was martyred in the 4th century. . There are other relics in the Corridor of the Saints located behind the Statue of St. Joseph.
In 2010, St. Patrick Parish was linked to the Cathedral and one priest was appointed the pastor of both parishes. The Cathedral and St. Patrick parishes work with many agencies in Dubuque to minister to those in need in their downtown community.
Traveling to the Cathedral of Saint Raphael in Dubuque, Iowa:
Address: 231 Bluff St. Dubuque, IA 52001
Tel:+1 563-582-7646
Click here for the official website of The Cathedral of Saint Raphael in Dubuque, Iowa.