Cathedral parishioners celebrate centennial

Photo caption: This photo of the interior of SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis was taken in 1907. The cathedral was dedicated on Dec. 21, 1906. (Archive photo)

By Sean Gallagher

On Dec. 21, 1906, Bishop Francis Chatard and a handful of servers and priests walked quietly through the snow into the recently completed SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral on what was then the northern outskirts of Indianapolis.

The occasion? The solemn dedication of the mother church of the Diocese of Indianapolis.

No fanfare greeted the prelate and his small entourage. No crowds of the faithful nor delegations of religious and civic dignitaries graced the occasion. The small group was alone in the massive church.

Bishop Chatard simply wanted to celebrate Christmas Mass in his cathedral three days later. And before that could happen, the church had to be dedicated.

The Catholics who make up the current Cathedral Parish are now in the midst of a year of celebrations marking the centennial of this landmark event.

It began June 29, the solemnity of SS. Peter and Paul, and will conclude during the Cathedral Parish’s patronal feast next June.

But from now until then, there will be many events at the church, located at 1347 N. Meridian St., that will mark its 100th year as the cathedral of the archdiocese.

Concerts will be held there. Lectures addressing diverse subjects, such as, evangelization, pro-life issues and teen chastity, will occur. And it will come to a close with a festive Mass and dinner next June 29. (See sidebar for more information.)

“These types of events are events that cathedrals host,” said Father Patrick Beidelman, rector of the cathedral and pastor of the Cathedral Parish.

“The fact that we are having them really was prompted by our desire to mark this year of celebration as [being] special. So we have events that we hope cross the gamut of possible topics or moments that can engage people in faith.”

People from across the archdiocese are invited to attend these events.

Judy Cunningham, director of administration for the Cathedral Parish, thinks the events might attract the many people over the years that have experienced important events in their lives—such as weddings, confirmations or first Communions—at the cathedral.

“Now that we’re having all of these events, it gives them more reason, besides just Mass, to come and see and bring back their memories,” she said.

Father Beidelman said he hopes the centennial celebration will help his parish community look forward to its next 100 years of worship at the cathedral and the ministry that will flow from it.

“It can help us to commit to serving those in our area who aren’t in our church walls, but who definitely need to hear the Gospel message through us,” he said.

One hundred years ago, the area around SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral was undeveloped and sparsely populated.

Since then, it has grown dramatically and experienced many changes.

“The area in which the cathedral sits is very developed, and has experienced great population influx and also a mass exodus,” Father Beidelman said. “And now it’s experiencing a re-gentrification.

“The number of people served by the cathedral [and] the number of people that will gather to celebrate this dedication will far exceed the number of people that gathered that day to pray for the first time in the church.”†