Saint Peter Cathedral, the mother church of the Diocese of Marquette. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012, construction began in 1864 with Venerable Bishop Frederic Baraga laying the cornerstone.
This is a beautiful Cathedral. We only explored a small piece but celebrated the Eucharist which is the most important part of life. We celebrated with new friends, Steve and Anita, met days earlier in the campground in which we were staying. God deigned to design the day for this God-incidental meeting at the Cathedral to take place. Believe it, Gods lays out a day if you surrender to His plan.
The first Mass in Marquette was celebrated by Father Menet, S. J., in a log cabin located on what is presently Spring Street. Thereafter, on occasion, the city was visited by the Jesuits stationed at Sault Ste. Marie.
On October 12, 1853, Bishop Frederic Baraja visited the city, confirmed 30 persons, and selected the site for the construction of a new church. This site is where the present St. Peter Cathedral stands, the corner of Baraga Avenue and Fourth Street.
Bishop Frederic Baraga, first bishop of the Diocese of Marquette (from 1853 until 1868), was the first of many Slovenian missionaries to come to the United States to help build up the American Catholic Church. Father Baraga arrived in the New World on December 31, 1830. For the next 37 years he travelled the length and breath of the Great Lakes area to minister to the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. During the summer months, Father Baraga traveled on foot and by canoe. During the winter months, he traveled on snowshoes thus giving him the titles of “Apostle of the Lakelands” and “Snowshoe Priest.”
Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam, et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam (Matt. 16: 15-19).
“Thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
