Cathedral of Saint Mary, Catholic cathedral in Miami, US.
The Cathedral of Saint Mary is a reinforced concrete building with steel rigid frames, located at 7525 N.W. 2nd Avenue. A concrete dome rises seven stories above the altar, and a southwest corner tower reaches twelve stories, both topped with colored-glazed tile domes. The entrance has two mahogany doors 30 feet high in a cut keystone frame; inside, the nave is 140 feet long, 82 feet wide and five stories high, with a terrazzo floor and five arches supporting the roof.
St. Mary's began in 1929 when 14 people formed the Little River Mission Club; a wooden church was dedicated on July 20, 1930. A larger church was dedicated on January 27, 1957. When the Diocese of Miami was erected in 1958, St. Mary's became its cathedral, elevated to archdiocese in 1968. Pope John Paul II visited in 1987, and the roof was replaced in a 2015 renovation.
The parish takes its name from Mary, mother of Jesus, and its congregation changed with Miami: after the Cuban Revolution, Cuban families arriving in the early 1960s swelled the parish school. The funeral of comedian Jackie Gleason was held here in June 1987, and Cardinal Jaime Ortega of Havana drew large crowds in May 1995.
The Cathedral maintains regular mass schedules throughout the week and welcomes visitors during designated hours for prayer, reflection, and viewing the architecture. It is best to check opening hours before visiting and wear respectful attire.
The two mahogany entrance doors stand 30 feet (9.1 m) high in a cut keystone frame, hung on brass hinges patterned with brass bolts and plates. The southwest corner tower rises 12 stories and is topped by a glazed-tile dome matching the roof.
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