Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe
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The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the southwestern region of the United States in the state of New Mexico. While the motherchurch, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, is in the City of Santa Fe, its administrative center is in the City of Albuquerque.
The Archdiocese has 93 parishes. The Dioceses of Gallup, Las Cruces, Phoenix, and Tucson are suffragan to the Archdiocese.
The current Archbishop is Michael J. Sheehan.
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[edit] History
Pope Pius IX created the Apostolic Vicariate of New Mexico on July 19, 1850 and installed its first bishop. Three years later, it became a full diocese taking the name of its principal city home. In response to the growth of Catholicism in the area, the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese on February 12, 1875.
[edit] Archbishops
[edit] Motherchurch
[edit] St. Francis Cathedral
Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy started construction on the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (commonly known as the St. Francis Cathedral) in 1869. It would be the third church to occupy the portion of land. The first was a Chapel constructed by Franciscan Friars in 1610 which was destroyed in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, the second was an abode church built in 1717 which St. Francis Cathedral replaced. Construction was not finished until 1884, by which time, the Diocese had become the Archdiocese, and the Cathedral - dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi - became its motherchurch. Archbishop Lamy is entombed in the sanctuary floor of the Cathedral, and a bronze statue, dedicated in 1925, stands in his memory outside the front entrance of the Cathedral.
It was built in a Romanesque style found in Bishop Lamy's native France. The interior reflects the pastel colors of New Mexico; The pews are made of blonde wood, and the walls and columns are painted a dusky pink with pale green trimmings. Stone for the building was mined from what is now Lamy, New Mexico - named in the Archbishop's honor - and the stained glass was imported from France. The Cathedral was originally intended to have two spires rising up from its landmark bell towers, but due to costs, this was delayed, and finally canceled, giving the bell towers a very distinctive look.
[edit] Conquistadora Chapel and Loretto Chapel
The adjoining Conquistadora Chapel is all that remains of the second Church. Built in 1714, this tiny Chapel houses Our Lady of Peace, the oldest Madonna in the United States brought by Franciscan Friars in 1625.
The Archdiocese is also the home of the Loretto Chapel--which contains an ascending spiral staircase--the building of which the Sisters of Loretto consider to be a miracle due to the unusual construction of the staircase (see Loretto Chapel for a more detailed discussion).
[edit] Elevation to a Basilica
On June 15, 2005, Archbishop Sheehan announced that Pope Benedict XVI had designated the Cathedral a Basilica. The Cathedral was officially elevated on October 4, 2005. Its full name, the Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi, was consequently changed to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. [1]
[edit] See also
- Roman Catholic Church
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Jean Baptiste Lamy
- Loretto Chapel
- Basilica
- List of the Roman Catholic dioceses of the United States
- List of the Catholic cathedrals of the United States
