Houston Rising

In the largest diocese of the South, work continues on the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston.

Eyed for completion next September, the $40 million structure will serve as the new practical hub for the church in America's fourth largest city; Galveston's Cathedral-Basilica of St Mary remains the mother church of the archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, home to (officially) 1.3 -- in reality, more like 1.5 -- million Catholics.

Traditional in design, the external work is almost complete and attention's now gradually turns to its interior, all under the watchful eye of Archbishop-emeritus Joseph Fiorenza, for whom the cathedral project has been a long-cherished cause.

A virtual tour of the plans are available, as are shots of the placing of its dometop cross last week.

As Texas' founding diocese approaches the second anniversary of its elevation to metropolitan status and experiences sustained growth, the new cathedral is but the latest indicator of Galveston-Houston's continuing elevation in profile... with even more eminent things to come.


PHOTOS: Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

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