June 2022

As work continues on the cathedral, you can look back to its creation story to witness the strong evidence of the faith and perseverance of our early Archdiocese. The mother church represents the strength and longevity of its community, and the faith of its people.

The first Catholic services in the Dubuque area were conducted in 1833, almost 190 years ago. They took place in a waterfront home of a parishioner, a Mrs. Brophy. Fr. Van Quickenborne, a priest hailing from St. Louis, celebrated Mass, blessed marriage unions and baptized children in a room of this house.

Before he left, Fr. Quickenborne had plans made for a log church to be built, but was not able to see to its completion, and his successor, Fr. Fitzmaurice, passed away due to cholera before progress was able to be made.

Rev. Samuel Mazzuchelli arrived in 1835, and with his skill in designing and architecture, he would build the first church in Iowa. It was 40ft by 77ft, with 24ft of height. Work began on the building that same year, and it was completed by the fourth of July in 1836.

When the first bishop of Dubuque arrived, Mathias Loras, the church was designated as a cathedral. However, the space was already being outgrown and Bishop Loras began searching for a location for a bigger church. He acquired land between 7th and 8th St on Main St, began laying the foundation in 1847 and laid the cornerstone on 1849. However, there was a delay of 3 years because of a shortage of funds and by that point the location had become surrounded by businesses and so the Bishop decided to look for a new location. A group of Irishmen disassembled the foundation and moved the rock to the site of the present day cathedral on Bluff St.

After Clement Smyth, Prior of the Trappist Community outside of Dubuque, became coadjutor to Bishop Loras, he took over the project and was then in charge of seeing it through. He laid the cornerstone for the new site on July 5, 1857. Originally, the building was meant to be constructed in the Romanesque style, but because of financial woes it was changed to the Gothic style instead. John Mullany was the architect for the new building, and bids were submitted for its construction. The contract was awarded to Leeman, Keenan & Co. for $39,800. With decorations, the final total would come closer to $50,000.

The first Mass in the cathedral was offered on Christmas of that year. Since its construction and throughout its storied history, the cathedral has seen many renovations and changes to meet the evolving needs of its parishioners and the structure of the building itself. This includes its redecoration for the centennial celebration of the Archdiocese in 1937.

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A quote from the Witness in the December 3, 1936 edition:
“Ever since 1858, when in spite of crushing difficulties Bishop Smyth managed to throw a roof over its walls, St. Raphael’s cathedral has been a church mystic and shadowy and prayerful and redolent with ancient essences; from Sunday, Nov. 29, 1936, on, and especially through its centennial year, 1937, it will be all these things and one more thing – it will be beautiful.”
– Mary Ellen Evans
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The cathedral's beauty and history will continue to live on, thanks to your generous support, for many years to come. The Cathedral of St. Raphael will remain a pillar of the faith community for the Archdiocese of Dubuque, and the location of its greatest celebrations.

Source materials:
A History of St. Raphael's Church Buildings by Thomas J. Callahan
St. Raphael Cathedral Parish by Rev. John W. Dalton and edited by Ann Hoppman
St. Raphael Cathedral History found on the Cathedral of St. Raphael website