Take a pilgrimage to St. Joseph Cathedral, find beauty and history

As the weather warms up, now is the perfect time to plan a Jubilee pilgrimage to one of five designated sites in the diocese. A great place to start is St. Joseph Cathedral.

St. Joseph Cathedral, Buffalo, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, NY 14202

History: In 1849, Bishop John Timon, CM, went to Rome to report on the progress and condition of the two-year old Diocese of Buffalo. He used this opportunity to visit many of Europe’s cathedrals and to raise money to help build a cathedral in Buffalo. Donations of money, sacred objects, and art were given to Bishop Timon by Pope Pius IX, the kings of Bavaria and Naples, and other European notables.

Ground was broken for the cathedral on Feb. 2, 1851, and the cornerstone laid on Feb. 6. The cathedral was dedicated July 1, 1855, although the interior had not yet been completed.

Around the time of the Civil War, Buffalo expanded rapidly in population and industry. Its harbor became one of the busiest in the country. The newly-industrialized waterfront area encroached on the cathedral’s territory and office buildings dwarfed the cathedral edifice. By the late 1870s, the cathedral needed restoration and redecoration. These costs, maintenance, and the expense of operating a school and a mission church resulted in a rising debt for the parish. Father John Biden, rector under Bishop James Quigley, managed to reverse the financial situation while adding spiritual vitality to the parish. He also undertook a five-year plan to renovate and redecorate the cathedral for its golden jubilee in 1905.

In 1912, Bishop Charles Colton announced his plan to build a new cathedral on the corner of Delaware and West Utica Street. When it became necessary to raze the new cathedral in 1972, Bishop Edward Head once again made St. Joseph’s Old Cathedral the official seat of the Diocese of Buffalo. It underwent renovation at that time, and then again in the late 1990s under Bishop Henry J. Mansell in preparation for the sesquicentennial anniversary of the diocese and the celebration of the new millennium.

The cathedral is home to over 25 special events each year, including the Red Mass, the annual Respect for Life Mass, and the Chrism Mass. It is an indispensable treasure that symbolizes our glorious history and provides hope for future generations.

Windows: There has been debate about the authenticity of the King Ludwig windows.

Behind the altar are three windows depicting the Nativity, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. These were once believed to be displayed in the Munich Exposition of 1850 and donated to the church by King Ludwig I. Sadly this legend is just a story, as King Ludwig I abdicated in 1848, there was no exposition in Munich in 1850, and it is documented that the windows were purchased for $5,000.

Organ: The Hook & Hastings Organ in St. Joseph’s Cathedral has rendered service to the church and community for over 124 years. It has become part of the foundation and fabric of the cathedral, sounding forth daily since its installation in 1877. Historians recognize it as one of the finest surviving examples of late 19th century American organs.

Neat facts: In 1853, while the cathedral was being built, a winter storm destroyed several lakefront houses. Bishop John Timon allowed the mostly Irish workers to sleep inside the still unfinished church. So, the cathedral’s first work of mercy was providing shelter before it was even completed.

Make sure to check out: The graves of six bishops who are buried in the cathedral – John Timon, Stephen Ryan, Charles Colton, Joseph Burke, Edward Head and Edward Kmiec. 

Profiles on the ​​Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in Olean, Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Youngstown, Sacred Heart of Jesus in Lakewood, and St. Cecilia Worship site of St. John Neumann Parish in Sheldon will be featured in the upcoming weeks.