Country United States Website www.simonjude.org Opened 1966 Architectural style Modern architecture | Denomination Roman Catholic Church Founded May 15, 1953 Phone +1 602-242-1300 Material Brick | |
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Location 6351 North 27th Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85017 Dedication Saint Simon the Zealot
Saint Jude Thaddeus Address 6351 N 27th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85017, USA Diocese Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix Similar St Mary's Church, St Francis Catholic Cemetery, Seagram Building, Villa Savoye, Borgata | ||
The Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix.
Contents
History
The parish was established by Bishop Daniel James Gercke on May 15, 1953, when it was still part of the Diocese of Tucson. The founding pastor was Reverend Paul Smith, a native of Ireland, who brought with him the Sisters of Loreto. Fr. Smith celebrated Masses in the Maryland School while a temporary church was built. It was dedicated on October 17, 1954. The current building was dedicated on December 11, 1966, and became a cathedral with the formation of the Diocese of Phoenix in 1969, elevated to cathedral status under Pope Paul VI.
The current rector is the Very Rev. John Lankeit ()and the cathedral is overseen by the current bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted. The Auxiliary Bishop is Bishop Eduardo Alanis Nevares (ordained July 19, 2010).
Adjacent to the cathedral is the Saints Simon and Jude Catholic School. Other buildings on the campus of the school include the Mary Ward House. Standing in front of the cathedral is a large cross over a dome-like structure that stood over the temporary altar where Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass when he visited Phoenix.
Rectors
Saints Simon and Jude Elementary School
Kindergarten through Eighth Grade, staffed by the Sisters of Loreto. The school was founded in 1954 by Bishop Daniel J. Gerke of Tucson and Reverend Paul P. Smith. On August 20, 1954, four Sisters of Loreto from the Order of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (I.B.V.M.) arrived from Navan, Ireland to staff the new school.
Historic Visitors
Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral on September 14, 1987.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta also visited the cathedral in May 1989.