| East Dubuque Local Area History Project | |
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St. Raphael's Cathedral by T.
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| St. Raphael Parish is the Mother Parish in the northeast of Iowa. It was started in 1833. A Dominican missionary by the name of Father Mazzuchelli, who was born in Milan, Italy, built the church out of native stones. Named for the Archangel Raphael. It stood on the spot next to St. Raphael School. | |
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Then Bishop Mathias Loras arrived with missionaries and finances in 1839. Seeing the large catholic population he immediately decided that Dubuque should have a Cathedral. Work was started in 1857. When Bishop Loras died Bishop Clement Smyth took over the Cathedral and New Melleray. The entire Cathedral was built by1876. In 1882 the Blessed Sacrament Chapel was built on the rear of the Cathedral. In 1983 Father John Dalton moved the Blessed Sacrament Chapel to what is now known as the Cathedral Center. |
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| In 1902 Archbishop John Hennessy said a Mortuary Chapel should be built in the Cathedral. Seven Archbishops and Bishops are buried beneath the Cathedral. They are Bishop Mathias Loras, Bishop Clement Smyth, Archbishop John Hennessy, Archbishop Francis Beckman, Archbishop Henry Rohlman, Archbishop Raymond Etteldorf, and Archbishop James J. Byrne. In 1997 they opened the doors to the parishioners so that they can go in and pay their respects. | |
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Bibliography Interview with Fr. O’Brien Pastor |
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