Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament (Altoona)
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Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
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| Location | One Cathedral Square Altoona, Pennsylvania |
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| Coordinates | 40°30′56.88″N 78°24′14.4″W / 40.5158000°N 78.404000°WCoordinates: 40°30′56.88″N 78°24′14.4″W / 40.5158000°N 78.404000°W |
| Built | 1924–60 |
| Architect | George I. Lovatt, Sr. |
| Architectural style | Baroque Revival |
| Part of | Downtown Altoona Historic District |
| NRHP Reference # | 92000946 |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1992 |
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is a Roman Catholic cathedral located at One Cathedral Square in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It is within the boundaries of the Downtown Altoona Historic District, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. It is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown and is the seat of its prelate bishop, Most Reverend Mark Leonard Bartchak. The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Pastoral staff is Rev. Monsignor Robert C. Mazur, rector, and Rev. Father Dennis Kurdziel, parochial vicar.
The cathedral was built between September 17, 1924 and November 13, 1960. The Cathedral's architecture is Baroque in style and capped with a Neoclassic dome. The architect was George I. Lovatt, Sr. of Philadelphia, who also designed the cathedral for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg Pennsylvania.
Located on the left and right of the cathedral's main entrance are statues of two key figures in the development of Roman Catholicism in the area:
Born into a princely Russian family at the Hague, Holland, Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, was baptized Russian Orthodox, but raised with no real faith. After his mother's religious conversion and return to her Catholic faith, Demetrius would become Catholic.On a tour of the United States before embarking on a military career, Demetrius (travelling under the name Augustine Smith) decided to become a missionary priest in this new land. Accepted by Bishop John Carroll, he was ordained in 1795 and became the first priest to receive all of his clerical orders in the United States. He came to this area on a sick call 1796 and returned a few years later to establish Loretto. He served the area for over 40 years.
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