St Paul’s Cathedral – National Shrine of the St Paul in Minnesota

Cathedral of Saint Paul, Selby Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota, Združene države Amerike

Website of the Sanctuary

651 228 1766

Monday through Friday: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday: 7:30 am to 6:00 pm

The St Paul’s Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of St. Paul, Minnesota. It is the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. One of the most distinctive cathedrals in the United States, it sits on Cathedral Hill overlooking downtown St. Paul and features a distinctive copper-clad dome.

The current building opened in 1915 as the fourth cathedral of the archdiocese to bear this name. On March 25, 2009, it was designated as the National Shrine of the Apostle Paul by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Vatican. Its co-cathedral is the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis.

St Paul's Cathedral - National Shrine of the St Paul in Minnesota

Building and Architectural Facts of the St Paul’s Cathedral

  • Exterior walls are Saint Cloud granite
  • Interior walls are American Travertine from Mankato, Minnesota
  • Height: 306.5 ft. Length: 307 ft. Width: 216 ft.
  • Seating capacity: 3,000
  • The seven bronze grilles surrounding the altar depict the human response to God’s grace. Since the Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Paul, special recognition is given to him in the bronze masterpieces.
  • The chair in the sanctuary (the cathedra) denotes the St Paul’s Cathedral as the Archbishop’s church.
  • The Shrine of the Nations surrounding the sanctuary represents the national patron saints of the people who settled this city and state.
  • The main walls of the Chapels are finished in Italian Botticino marble.
  • The Ernest Skinner organ was installed in the sanctuary in 1927 and the Aeolian-Skinner organ in the choir loft in 1963.
  • The east-facing window is the Resurrection window. The south rose window takes its theme from the Beatitudes and the north rose window depicts the eight North American Martyrs. These windows are the work of renowned stained glass artist Charles Connick.

St Paul's Cathedral - National Shrine of the St Paul in Minnesota

Bond of Spiritual Affinity

In 2009 the St Paul’s Cathedral was designated as the National Shrine of the Apostle Paul to be a privileged place of pilgrimage for the United States. in 2012, the Vatican established a “bond of spiritual affinity” between the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome and our Cathedral. This means that you can make a pilgrimage here and enjoy all the spiritual benefits as if you are able to pray at the tomb of the Apostle Paul in Rome.

As a sign of this spiritual closeness, the St Paul’s Cathedral has received the gift of a stone taken from the ancient wall surrounding the tomb of Saint Paul. This precious relic was on display in the Cathedral’s sanctuary throughout the day on Sunday, May 20, 2012 to celebrate this newly-established “bond of spiritual affinity.”

St Paul's Cathedral - National Shrine of the St Paul in Minnesota

St Paul – Historical Overview

He, who is called “the Apostle to the Gentiles,” that is, to the Nations, never actually met Jesus during his life in Jerusalem or along the roads of Galilee, like the Twelve Apostles. He is the first apostle to have the experience of only the Risen Christ, as all Christians will continue to have through the centuries. This man, who was both a Jew and a Roman citizen, was born in Tarsus (currently Eastern Turkey).

After having received a rigorous teaching in the Law from Rabbi Gamaliel the Elder, he was given a specific mission to go and preach the Word of God to all human beings: first to Antioch and Asia Minor, later to Greece and Rome. With Paul, the words of the Prophet Micah, “…from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Micah 4:2), were fulfilled in just a few years and in an ardent manner. The words “go forth” have a double meaning here. Paul will go forth to witness to the teaching received from his Fathers and his personal experience: Christ is Risen!

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Paul is the most well-known figure of the first Christian generation, both for his Letters (seven were undoubtedly recognised to be authentic in the strict sense of the term) and for the story of his life described by Luke in the Acts of the Apostles. His Letters represent an extraordinary source of information for us. Nonetheless the figure of Paul remains mysterious.

On the one hand, the Letters cover only fifteen years of his life, while on the other hand, the Acts, which chronicle his journeys, were written twenty years after his death in the apologetic tone of the day. Therefore, we will give preference to the data contained in Paul’s Letters and their chronology, which greatly coincide with the duration of his travels (for example, the date of the “Council of Jerusalem”).

Missionary Journeys
After his conversion on the way to Damascus, Paul travelled throughout parts of Asia Minor (currently Turkey), Syria and Arabia (now Jordan), all the way to Jerusalem, before reaching Europe, Greece and ultimately Rome. One can reasonably date his journeys back to around the A.D. 50s.

Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Guided Tours and Gift Kiosk (main level)
Information Desk & Gift Kiosk: Tuesday through Friday: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Guided Tour: Tuesday through Friday: 1:00 p.m. (gather in the front pews)

Welcome Center and Gift Kiosk (lower level)
Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Cathedral Museum
The museum is open as volunteers are available. Call the Welcome Center at 651.228.1766 for details.

Parish Offices
Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

From Minneapolis:
Take 94 East to the Marion Street exit
Turn right onto Kellogg Boulevard
Turn right onto John Ireland Boulevard
Turn right again onto Selby Avenue

From the North or the East:
Take 35E south to 94 West in the direction of Saint Paul
From 94 West take the Marion Street exit
Turn left on Marion – this turns into Kellogg Boulevard, stay in the right lane
Turn right onto John Ireland Boulevard
Turn right onto Selby Avenue

From the South:
Take 35E north to Kellogg Boulevard exit
Turn left onto Kellogg Boulevard
Turn left onto John Ireland Boulevard
Turn right onto Selby Avenue

From the Airport:
Exit the Airport by taking MN Hwy 5 East heading in the direction of Saint Paul
Continue on Hwy 5 as it becomes West 7th Street, proceed until the 35 E Freeway junction
Take the 35E North on ramp from West 7th Street
Take the Kellogg Boulevard exit
Turn left onto Kellogg Boulevard
Turn left onto John Ireland Boulevard
Turn right onto Selby Avenue

Parking
Limited parking is available across from the Cathedral on Selby Avenue.

Accessibility
The Cathedral’s handicapped-accessible entrance is available off of Selby Avenue. The handicapped-accessible entrance to the lower level in on Dayton Avenue. There is an elevator inside the Cathedral. Street parking on Selby Avenue in front of this door is marked for handicapped use only.

The Cathedral of Saint Paul offers Assisted Listening services for the hard of hearing. If you would like to benefit from this service and you have a hearing aid with a T-coil, please pick up one of our FM receivers at the Ushers Room before Mass (between the vestibule and the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary). The system works either with the accompanying silhouette or your own neck loop.

Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Sunday Masses – Cathedral of Saint Paul

  • 5:15 p.m. Saturday evening (Anticipatory)
  • 8:00 a.m.
  • 10:00 a.m. (Solemn Mass)
  • 12:00 Noon
  • 5:00 p.m.

The 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass is recorded and aired on Relevant Radio™ 1330AM in the Twin Cities every Sunday morning at 11:00. Listen online at www.relevantradio.com. Mass and homily recordings are posted on the homepage on Mondays.

Daily Masses

  • Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.
  • Saturday, 8:00 a.m.

The Church opens thirty (30) minutes prior to the first Mass of the day.

Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Building and Architectural Facts

  • Exterior walls are Saint Cloud granite
  • Interior walls are American Travertine from Mankato, Minnesota
  • Height: 306.5 ft. Length: 307 ft. Width: 216 ft.
  • Seating capacity: 3,000
  • The seven bronze grilles surrounding the altar depict the human response to God’s grace. Since the Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Paul, special recognition is given to him in the bronze masterpieces.
  • The chair in the sanctuary (the cathedra) denotes the Cathedral as the Archbishop’s church.
  • The Shrine of the Nations surrounding the sanctuary represents the national patron saints of the people who settled this city and state.
  • The main walls of the Chapels are finished in Italian Botticino marble.
  • The Ernest Skinner organ was installed in the sanctuary in 1927 and the Aeolian-Skinner organ in the choir loft in 1963.
  • The east-facing window is the Resurrection window. The south rose window takes its theme from the Beatitudes and the north rose window depicts the eight North American Martyrs. These windows are the work of renowned stained glass artist Charles Connick

Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Posted in North America and United States