Charlotte Diocese

Bishop
The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, J.C.D.

Parish Staff

Rector
Fr. Paul Q. Gary
email: PGary@StPatricks.org

Parish History
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The history of St. Patrick's Cathedral begins with St. Peter's Church. St. Peter's is the oldest catholic church in the City of Charlotte. That venerable church was built before the Civil War and served all the Catholics of the city. It was on St. Patrick's Day, 1851, that the cornerstone was laid. The original St. Peter's was built in 1893 at 507 South Tryon Street.

The Catholic population increased slowly. It was only in the 1930's that a decision was made to build a second church for the faithful. Plans were made for a church in the Dilworth neighborhood adjacent to the O'Donoghue School.

Before the church, there was the school. The history of the school begins with the story of St. Mary's Seminary. It was founded by the Sister of Mercy of Belmont. The doors opened for the first time on September 6, 1887. The "old" O'Donoghue school on Tryon Street was used as a soldier's center during World War II.  Afterwards it was sold for $50,000 to the Elks.

In 1905, the school was relocated to 531 South Tryon Street. It was at that time that the name was changed to O'Donoghue Hall to honor Dr. Dennis O'Donoghue, a local physician and head of the weather bureau, whose family made a very generous donation. The present day O'Donoghue School was moved to 1125 Buchanan Street in Dilworth in September of 1930.

It was on St. Patrick's Day, in 1938, that ground was broken for a new church in Charlotte.  On September 4, 1939, at 10 o'clock on a Monday morning. The Most Reverend Eugene J. McGuinness, D.D. of the Diocese of Raleigh, assisted by Abbot Vincent G. Taylor, O.S.B. of Belmont Abbey consecrated the church with elaborate ceremonies. It is his Episcopal motto, Omnia Omnibus which appears over the front doors. It is translated as: 'all things to all people. At that time, almost all of North Carolina belonged to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh.

The John Henry Phelan family of Beaumont, Texas donated the funds to build St. Patrick's. It was given in loving memory of his parents, Patrick and Margaret Adele Phelan. It was the first church in North Carolina consecrated as soon as it was completed.

On January 22, 1942, Reverend Maurice McDonnell, O.S.B. announced that St. Patrick's would become a parish in its own right.  Since January 6, 1942, Father Lawrence C. Newman, a young assistant priest of the Diocese of Raleigh, had been living at St. Peter's and now became the first priest to move into St. Patrick's rectory on a full time basis.  The day before this announcement, Msgr. Arthur R. Freeman, Vicar General of the Diocese of Raleigh, was appointed the first pastor of the new St. Patrick's parish with a debt of only $22,000, he arrived on February 1, 1942.  Up to this time, the care of St. Patrick was entrusted to the Reverend Maurice McDonnell, O.S.B. and the Benedictine priests of St. Peter's Church. The new parish was to serve the Catholics residing in the Dilworth, Wilmore, Myers Park, Rosemont, Elizabeth, Colonial Heights and Eastover portions of the city.

The first resident pastor was the Reverend Monsignor Arthur R. Freeman (1942-1948). Msgr. Freeman was a native of Goldsboro, N.C. His successors were the Right Reverend Monsignor John P. Manly (1948-1963), the Reverend D. Edward Sullivan (1963-1966), the Reverend Francis J. Tait (1966-1968), the Reverend Monsignor Richard F. Allen (1968-1977), the Reverend Joseph A. Kerin (1977-1980), the Reverend Thomas P. Burke (1980-1988), the Reverend Francis J. O'Rourke (1988-1996) the Reverend Paul Q. Gary (1996- 2008) and the Reverend Christopher A. Roux (2008 - present).

On January 12, 1972, His Holiness Pope Paul VI erected the Diocese of Charlotte. The new diocese of forty-six counties in Western North Carolina was entrusted to the care of the Most Reverend Michael J. Begley, D.D. On the same date, St. Patrick's Church became St. Patrick's Cathedral.

On January 3, 1979, the cathedral was closed for major repairs and renovation to accommodate the changes brought about by Vatican II. Every Catholic parish contributed funds to support the cathedral church of the Diocese.

Many improvements were made. Major changes included a new altar to allow the priest to offer the Mass facing the congregation. The new altar was made from the marble of the High Altar.

The ceiling was decorated with beautiful designs. Over the nave, St. Patrick's has a blue and silver ceiling depicting crowns with a cross. Wheat and grapes, Eucharistic symbols, are found above and below. It comes from the Diocesan Coat of Arms and serves also as a reminder of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg. The city was named after her. The cross and crown was used by the Queen as her heraldic symbol.

Over the sanctuary, the colors are red and gold. Surrounding the Holy Spirit is an array of Eucharistic and Episcopal symbols. The Holy Spirit is placed directly over the altar to remind us that by the Words of Institution and the calling down of the Holy Spirit, the gifts of bread and wine become for us the Body and Blood of Christ.

The large Moller pipe organ was replaced by a beautiful new pipe organ constructed by Zimmer and Sons of Charlotte. This and many other changes would give the Catholics of the Diocese of Charlotte and the parishioners of St. Patrick's a beautiful place to worship God.

On Sunday, June 10, 1979, Bishop Begley presided over a celebration on the occasion of the reopening of the Cathedral and the dedication of the altar.

Other events in the history of St. Patrick include the arrival of the Most Reverend John F. Donoghue, D.D., the second Bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte. Bishop Donoghue was consecrated on December, 18, 1984 at the Charlotte Convention Center. He was succeeded by Bishop William G. Curlin, D.D. who was installed on April 13, 1994.

It was shortly after the arrival of Bishop Curlin that the cathedral underwent another renovation which was completed by Palm Sunday, 1996 under Father Francis J. O'Rourke. The project's primary emphasis was to restore St. Patrick's to its original condition as much as possible. The beautiful Italian marble altar, baptismal font, statues and ambo were given new prominence. A beautiful hardwood floor and rich purple carpeting was installed. The dark oak wainscoting from the 1979 renovation was removed in an effort to brighten up the cathedral and make it look more like it did in 1939.

Today, St. Patrick's Cathedral is a parish of 1271 families who live all over Mecklenburg County. Many of them travel far to go to church and school. They are attracted by the beauty of the liturgy, the vibrancy of the parish and the excellent academic programs.

St. Patrick's has a long tradition of helping the poor. For more years than anyone can remember, on Christmas Day in the School, a dinner is served and gifts given away. Hundreds of volunteers sign up to help. In 2001, one thousand meals were served and eighteen hundred meals were delivered. Many of the poor are driven to St. Patrick's on school buses. This represented an increase of five-hundred over 2000.

At the invitation of Bishop Curlin, Mother Theresa came to Charlotte. A convent in the Cherry neighborhood with four sisters was opened on June 13, 1995 to help the poorest of the poor. The Missionaries of Charity have been instrumental in helping refugees from Africa and Asia find a spiritual home in Charlotte.

On June 3, 2006, ground was broken for the construction of our Family Life Center.  It was blessed by Bishop Peter J. Jugis, Bishop William G. Curlin and Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B. on January 26, 2008.  The Family Life Center has a Great Hall, with gothic windows, overlooking Latta Park.  The first floor has a library, meeting room, conference room, nursery and music room. A youth room is located on the ground level.  Noah's Ark Nursery was officially dedicated in honor of Tyler Scott on Friday, February 29, 2008.