St. Mary Cathedral

History & Significance

Cathedral · Est. Present cathedral built 1975, dedicated 1976 (parish dates to 1884)

St. Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Gaylord, Michigan, serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord, erected by Pope Paul VI in 1970-71. The present octagonal cathedral was commissioned by the diocese's first bishop, Edmund Szoka; its cornerstone was laid July 25, 1975, and it was dedicated in 1976. The parish itself dates to 1884, with a 1900-01 church (now a Michigan State Historic Site) serving as the first cathedral until the current building opened.

Modern style, distinctive octagonal plan (built 1975-76)

• •Seat (mother church) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan, established 1970-71
• •Present cathedral commissioned by first Bishop of Gaylord, Edmund Szoka; cornerstone laid July 25, 1975, dedicated 1976
• •Parish founded 1884; the 1900-01 predecessor church was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 2005
• •Octagonal structure in the Modern architectural style, seating about 1,000
• •Houses relics of evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke and a Gabriel Kney pipe organ with over 2,000 pipes