Cathedral of St. Raphael &
St. Patrick Church

01/11/2023

Recently there was a meeting to review bids for the replacement of the roofs of the cathedral and cathedral parish rectory/offices.  Three bids were submitted and we decided to take the lowest one.  Work will begin in the spring.  Scaffolding will also be set in the spring to begin work on the steeple.  Bat feces and other undesirable materials were removed from inside the steeple this fall.  Yikes!  A new ladder will be installed inside which will enhance safety.  A contract was signed with the Verdin Bell Company to complete repairs on the steeple bells when the scaffolding is up.  The group decided to work with Glass Heritage from the Quad Cities to repair the stained-glass windows in the church and cathedral center and to replace the exterior “storm” glass.  Thankfully most of the stained glass is in good condition in the church, so little of it will need to be removed and taken to the shop.  The stained glass in the cathedral center has moredeterioration and the exterior covering (Lexan) has completely fulfilled its mission in this life.  The new glass frames will be vented and thus the leaded glass joints will be better protected.  We used this same company for the stained-glass work at Ss. Peter & Paul in Petersburg and they did an outstanding job.  Many of our air conditioner condensers will be replaced in the spring as well.  Thankfully much of the work that has been completed has come in under the bid amount, Praise God!  Thanks for your contributions to the ArchdioceseOne Appeal.  Keep lifting up this worthy pursuit in prayer.  God, come to our assistance.  Lord make haste to help us.

 

11/17/2021

All lots are open! Sidewalks are complete! There are a few details to be completed in the next couple weeks. Thanks to all who joined us for the tailgating celebration Saturday Nov. 6 - it was a great celebration. Thanks to all for your patience the last 4 months. We are open for business so no excuses for not joining us!!!!
 

11/06/2021

The large parking lot is open for use. Please note the driveway leads straight to the lot and is two-way. There are parking stalls on each side of the driveway. All stalls have been striped, so please park in designated areas. The smaller lot is  complete but is gated and will open next week, so access is only from West 3rd. Meanwhile, Tenants are parking in the large lot so a number of stalls are temporarily in use by them. There is still some equipment in the lot so please be careful. The Cathedral Center entrance is now fully accessible. The sidewalk on Bluff is complete; the entrance to the church is also completed and is now fully accessible. Parking along Bluff street may now resume. The sidewalks to the rectory were poured on Friday and will open on Monday. Join us for the blessing and tailgating celebration Saturday Nov. 6 at 5;30PM. We are open for business so no excuses for not joining us!!!!
 

10/30/2021

The large parking lot is open for use. Please note the driveway leads straight to the lot and is two-way. There are parking stalls on each side of the driveway. All stalls have been striped, so please park in designated areas. The smaller lot is not complete and is gated and under construction, so access is only from West 3rd. Tenants are parking in the large lot so a number of stalls are temporarily in use by them. There is still some equipment in the lot so please be careful. The Cathedral Center entrance is now fully accessible. The sidewalk on Bluff is complete ; the entrance to the church is also completed and is now fully accessible. Parking along Bluff street may now resume.

10/23/2021

The large parking lot is open for use. Please note the driveway leads straight to the lot and is two-way. There are parking stalls on each side of the driveway. All stalls have been striped, so please park in designated areas. The smaller lot is not complete and is gated and under construction, so access is only from West 3rd. Tenants are parking in the large lot so a number of stalls are temporarily in use by them. There is still some equipment in the lot so please be careful. The Cathedral Center entrance is now fully accessible. The sidewalk on Bluff is complete but is blocked off,; the entrance to the church is completed and is now fully accessible. We completed this weekend planting of cover on the west side hillside.
 

10/15/2021

GOOD NEWS! Beginning this weekend the large parking lot will be open for use. It is not totally completed but is able to be used. Please note the driveway leads straight to the lot and is two-way. There are parking stalls on each side of the driveway. All stalls have been striped, so please park in designated areas. The smaller lot is not complete and is gated, so access is only from West 3rd. There is still some equipment in the lot so please be careful. The rain slowed work, so the sidewalk on Bluff is not complete and is blocked off, but the entrance to the church is completed and is now fully accessible. Work continues next week, completing the sidewalk, and then beginning the small lot.
 

09/30/2021

As you walk the sidewalk on Bluff Street, you would have noticed it is bad. The cracks present a hazard and have been noted the last few years by our diocesan insurance carrier who has noted the need to repair.

While it was not on our current project proposal, we have added it since the equipment and crews are on site which makes it less expensive and able to happen now.

At preset the only points of entrance are the church doors on Bluff the front door of the rectory on Bluff.  While workers could create "work around accesses" so at least one door of the church was accessible it adds time and labor. In talking to them, we asked if it would help on time, cost and completion if they didn't have to work around things and of course a resounding and hopeful YES!

So the following plan has been adopted to complete the project.

Our joint bookkeeper for Cathedral and St. Patrick’s and secretary for Cathedral will be on vacation the week of October 11 on vacation. Since access to the rectory/office and the Cathedral will be greatly impeded due to sidewalk repair, we will "close the Cathedral campus" the week October 11-15 so the office and church will be closed and there will be no morning Mass Monday through Friday with all Masses being held at St. Pat's and the same would be true for funerals should they occur.

During this week, we ask that all phone calls be directed to the St. Patrick’s office to Mary Rae Bragg. Anything which needs to be dropped off for the Cathedral may be dropped off at St. Patrick’s and it will be taken to the Cathedral by one of the priests.

While things will be a bit inconvenient during the week, these actions will result in a greatly enhanced and safe Cathedral campus. Among the outcomes of the work being done, will be water mitigation, improved and some additional parking, improved accessibility to entrances, and improved lighting.

09/21/2021
The main parking lot is not available for parking-fencing has been installed so there is no access. The West 3rd Street entrance to the parking lot is closed. While the southern portion of the lot will remain intact at the moment, please do not park in the first lot by the former convent or school which are leased for the apartments and that section is for tenants. Tenants have been advised that lot is also closed for them from 7am-5pm on Tuesday and Wednesday.

 Please also do not park in the temporary Cathedral staff parking area next to the former school as this also doubles for the priest parking since the garage is not available. All four stalls are reserved

All entrances to the Cathedral campus buldings are closed except from Bluff street-the rectory office and church (when open)If someone is in need of extra asssitance, they can be dropped off on Bluff street before finding a parking space. A bench has been placed in front of the Cathedral for those may be dropped off and await pickup.

Please do not wander around the campus during construction as you might trip and fall on objects or into ditches.

On the weekends, in addition to on street parking, we have secured permission to park on Sundays in the Miracle Car Wash lot (except for marked rental spots), Artistic Cleaners, and the Dubuque Election Annex lot. Thanks to our neighbors!

09/07/2021
The main parking lot is no longer available for parking-fencing has been installed so there is no access. The West 3rd Street entrance to the parking lot is closed. While the southern portion of the lot will remain intact at the moment, please do not park in the first lot by the former convent or school which are leased for the apartments and that section is for tenants. Please also do not park in the temporary Cathedral staff parking area next to the former school as this also doubles for the priest parking since the garage is not available.

If someone is in need of extra asssitance, they can be dropped off on Bluff street before finding a parking space. A bench has been placed in front of the Cathedral for those may be dropped off and await pickup.

On the weekends, in addition to on street parking, we have secured permission to park on Sundays in the Miracle Car Wash lot (except for marked rental spots), Artistic Cleaners, and the Dubuque Election Annex lot. Thanks to our neighbors!

09/04/2021
The main parking lot is no longer available for parking-fencing has been installed so there is no access. While the southern portion of the lot will remain intact at the moment, please do not park in the first lot by the former convent or school which are leased for the apartments and that section is for tenants. Please also do not park in the temporary Cathedral staff parking area next to the former school as this also doubles for the priest parking since the garage is not available.

If someone is in need of extra asssitance, they can be dropped off on Bluff street before finding a parking space. A bench has been placed in front of the Cathedral for those may be dropped off and await pickup.

The West 3rd Street entrance to the parking lot is closed.  

On the weekends, in addition to on street parking, we have secured permission to park on Sundays in the Miracle Car Wash lot (except for marked rental spots), Artistic Cleaners, and the Dubuque Election Annex lot. Thanks to our neighbors!

09/01/2021
The main parking lot is no longer available for parking. While the southern portion of the lot will remain intact at the moment, please do not park in the first lot by the former convent or school which are leased for the apartments and that section is for tenants. Please also do not park in the Cathedral staff parking area as this also doubles for the priest parking since the garage is not available.

The West 3rd Street entrance to the parking lot is closed.  

If someone is in need of extra asssitance, they can be dropped off on Bluff street before finding a parking space. A bench has been placed in front of the Cathedral for those may be dropped off and await pickup.

09/01/2021
The main parking lot is no longer available for parking. While the southern portion of the lot will remain intact at the moment, please do not park in the first lot by the former convent or school which are leased for the apartments and that section is for tenants. Please also do not park in the Cathedral staff parking area as this also doubles for the priest parking since the garage is not available.

The West 3rd Street entrance to the parking lot is closed.  

If someone is in need of extra asssitance, they can be dropped off on Bluff street before finding a parking space. A bench has been placed in front of the Cathedral for those may be dropped off and await pickup.

08/30/2021
Workers have advised us that they will begin removing asphalt on the western end of the main parking lot, so begining Thursday the lot will not be available for parking. While the southern portion of the lot will remain intact, please do not park in the first lot by the former convent or school which are leased for the apartments and that section is for tenants.

The West 3rd Street entrance to the parking lot is closed. The Cathedral center entrance is not accessible by the steps, but the ramp is open if that area of the lot has not been removed. You will need to walk around the pile of rock and pass through the opening in the fence over the crush rock to enter.

If someone is in need of extra asssitance, they can be dropped off on Bluff street before finding a parking space. A bench has been placed in front of the Cathedral for those may be dropped off and await pickup.

08/27/21
The West 3rd Street entrance to the parking lot is closed. Due to rain delay, the parking lot remains usable and may be accessed from Emmett Street only. If using the lot, proceed through the opening in the fence. Do not park in the first lot by the former convent or school which are apartments and that section is for tenants. The Cathedral center entrance is not accessible by the steps, but the ramp is open. You will need to walk around the pile of rock and pass through the opening in the fence over the crush rock to enter. A bench has been placed in front of the Cathedral for those may be dropped off and await pickup.

08/23/21
The West 3rd Street entrance to the parking lot is closed. The parking lot is usable and may be accessed from Emmett Street at present. If using the lot, proceed through the opening in the fence. Do not park by the former convent or school which are apartments and that section is for tenants. The Cathedral center entrance is no longer accessible by the steps since some work began today on the lot, but the ramp is now open. You will need to walk around the pile of rock and walk through the opening in the fence over the crush rock to enter.

08/21/2021
The West 3rd Street entrance to the parking lot remains closed. The parking lot is usable and may be accessed from Emmett Street for this weekend of August 21-22 . If using the lot, proceed through the opening in the fence. Do not park by the former convent or school which are apartments and that section is for tenants. While the Cathedral center entrance is accessible by the steps, the ramp is closed. Anyone needing assistance may be dropped off on Bluff street and use the elevator which is ground level.

08 /14/2021
The West 3rd Street entrance to the parking lot is closed. The parking lot is usable and may be accessed from Emmett Street for the weekend of August 14-15 . If using the lot, proceed through the opening in the fence. Do not park by the former convent or school which are apartments and that section is for tenants. While the Cathedral center entrance is accessible by the steps, the ramp is closed. Anyone needing assistance may be dropped off on Bluff street and use the elevator which is ground leve.

08/09/2021     Work is progressing on the Cathedral campus sitework to mitigate our water problems and eliminate future flooding of the Cathedral and rectory basements. Beginning Monday, August 09 the West 3rd Street entrance to the parking lot is closed. The parking lot is usable and may be accessed from Emmett Street for the weekend of August 14-15 . If all goes well, access from West 3rd Street will be possible on the weekend. PLEASE watch for and follow all signs. We will give you frequent updates and share as much and as soon as possible.

08/04/2021     The reconstruction project of the Cathedral parking lot which is the first of three ArchOne Special Appeal projects has begun. The project is projected to be completed by early November. There will be some inconvenience to us all, but the end result will be an improved parking lot and eliminate flooding so to stabilize of our facilities.

Those attending weekday masses have been advised to use street parking when the lot is not accessible. Please be careful and observant of workers and equipment. We wish all to be safe. On the weekends, in addition to on street parking, we have secured permission to park on Sundays in the Miracle Car Wash lot (except for marked rental spots), Artistic Cleaners, and the Dubuque Election Annex lot. Thanks to our neighbors!

Some noticeable changes are that benches & statues were moved to temporary locations until the project is complete. Since the side kitchen entrance will eventually be replaced, the railing has been removed so it can be upgraded for re-use. If coming to that door, please use extreme caution. It is advised to come to the Bluff street entrance.

As of this being published, we were advised that the driveway center island will be removed and one lane to the parking lot. When completed, the outcome will lead to the creation of a two-way drive to the parking lot with additional stalls created.
Workers have begun to install an underground drainage system starting along Bluff St. to eliminate flooding in the rectory and church basements during heavy rains. You will note excavation. Supplies have been unloaded in the parking lot so parking is limited.