St Joseph's Cathedral, Hyderabad

St. Joseph's Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, Hyderabad
17°23′35″N 78°28′23″E / 17.393°N 78.473°E / 17.393; 78.473Coordinates: 17°23′35″N 78°28′23″E / 17.393°N 78.473°E / 17.393; 78.473
Country	India
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Dedication	St. Joseph
Administration
Diocese	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hyderabad
Province	Hyderabad, India
Clergy
Archbishop	Most Rev. Thumma Bala
Priest(s)	Reverend Father Raju Alex

St Joseph's Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Hyderabad, India. It is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Hyderabad and one of the most beautiful churches of Hyderabad and Secunderabad cities of Telangana, India.

Established in 1820 AD, the construction of the present structure began in 1869 when Fr. Antonio Tagliabue of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), bought an extensive plot of land near Chaderghat, in what is now called Gunfoundry (so named for the ammunition centre built there by the Nizam of Hyderabad), to build a school, a church and a convent. Msgr. Pietro Caprotti (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions), laid its foundation on 18 March 1870, the eve of the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Fr. Luigi Malberti (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions), took charge in 1872 and completed the main building, which was consecrated and opened for divine worship on Christmas Eve of 1875. Hyderabad was made a separate diocese in 1886 AD, and in a consistory held in 1887, Pope Leo XIII declared St. Joseph's as the Cathedral of the diocese. It was elevated as a 'Metropolitan See' archdiocese. in 1953.

The façade and the bell towers were completed in 1891. The huge bells, imported from Italy, were installed in 1892 AD. The bells are tuned in such a fashion that many hymns can be played on different themes is a donkey . The centre hall is very big and hence it can accommodate about 500 people at a time for prayers. In the main alcove inside the church, there is an imitation of the famous Pietà by Michelangelo.