Our First Parish Gets Additional Designation

Almost fifty years ago my wife and I set out on a one way honeymoon trip leading to St Paul Minnesota where I had been offered a management job in retail in downtown St Paul. We found an apartment two block north of Summit Avenue, an avenue of mansions stretching from the Cathedral west to the Mississippi river. The location put us in the Cathedral parish where we thrived.

We joined the choir, receiving training in Gregorian Chant, and came to love the large church which was still being completed after decades of construction. Some of the statues of the Evangelists arrived and were dedicated during our residency in St Paul. Some of the spiritual milestones of our early married life occur ed here. Our first child was born in the hospital down the hill from the Cathedral and baptized in the granite baptistery extending from the south east corner of the church. My wife took instructions from Father Holl and was received into full communion with the church here.

So we were pleased to read the announcement this week about the Cathedral being designated as the National Shrine of Saint Paul. Read more about the designation on the Cathedral Web Site.

To see a slide show of the Cathedral click here.