Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation

The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation, also known as St. Mary’s Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States. Along with St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield, Missouri it is the seat of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.HistoryPlans were made as early as 1858 to establish a parish for Cape Girardeau’s German population. The Civil War caused a delay in carrying out the plans. Property was acquired at the corner of Sprigg and William Streets for $650. Ground was broken for the parish church on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, March 25, 1868 and the cornerstone was laid on August 2. The first Mass was celebrated in the church on February 2, 1869. A rectory was built in 1885. In 1891 the church was redecorated and the bells were placed in the tower.The Sisters of St. Francis arrived to teach in the parish school in 1875. Two years later they built a convent on the northwest corner of Sprigg and William Streets. They expanded the building in 1882 and opened St. Francis Hospital. St. Mary’s Cemetery was established in 1903.Major renovations of the church occurred in 1954 and 1968. The Magnificat windows were added in 1954. On July 2, 1956 Pope Pius XII established the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau St. Agnes Church in Springfield was named as the new diocese’s cathedral and St. Mary as the co-cathedral. The current rectory was built in 1957.