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June 23, 2026
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextRECOGNIZING CATHEDRAL PARISH OF SAINT PATRICK OF HARRISBURG,
PENNSYLVANIA
HON. SCOTT PERRY
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Cathedral Parish of Saint Patrick of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on the auspicious occasion of its 200th Anniversary.
Harrisburg, serves more than 242,000 Catholics in the 15 counties of central Pennsylvania, and welcomes parishioners, pilgrims in faith, curious tourists, or wanderers in search of a spiritual home with refreshment of soul and spirit in the peace of Christ. The sacrifices of many Catholics—from every demographic and background throughout the Diocese—built, renovated, and maintained this Cathedral for two centuries—particularly in 1949, 1976, 2003, to 2005, and 2006—up until this day.
pre-Revolutionary period; the first two churches were established in Conewago and Lancaster. Historical records indicate a small Catholic mission in Harrisburg in 1806. In 1823, the Allison Hill property known as Sylvan Heights was purchased, and purportedly, a chapel was built on that site. The influx of Irish laborers who built Pennsylvania's canals and railroads influenced the building of a church closer to the riverfront, and in 1824, land was purchased at the present State Street site, with the cornerstone being laid for Saint Patrick Church in 1826—originally part of the Diocese of Philadelphia.
the original Saint Patrick was designated as a “pro-cathedral”—a church that temporarily would house the cathedra—or the Bishop's chair—until permanent cathedral could be erected. The cathedral is a symbol of the unbroken apostolic succession of the bishop and unity with the Pope, the Bishop of Rome. At that time, the Diocese was placed under the patronage of Saint Patrick. During the 1880s the church was enlarged, and the entrance was relocated from Liberty Street to State Street. Graves from a cemetery that formerly occupied the space adjacent to the pro-cathedral were exhumed and relocated to Mount Calvary Cemetery, Harrisburg, along with the granite Celtic Cross that adorned the Saint Patrick Cemetery. As part of the diocesan synod in 1902, Bishop John W. Shanahan (third Bishop of Harrisburg) proposed the idea of building a proper cathedral. Construction began in 1904, was completed on March 1, 1907—less than 40 years since the formal founding of the diocese—and the current Cathedral was dedicated on May 14, 1907. The architectural design of the new Cathedral was modeled in the Romanesque-Renaissance style. It is cruciform in shape and the original main altar was patterned after Bernini's altar adorning the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. The current cathedral was constructed of North Carolina granite on the site of the original church, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property in the Harrisburg Historic District in 1976.
and dedication to the mission of the Church remains steadfast as the House of God, built with care, love, and devotion. It continues its legacy with grace and gratitude for what's been accomplished and focused resolve on what remains to be done.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 10th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, I am humbled and honored to celebrate the Cathedral Parish of Saint Patrick on this auspicious and blessed occasion of its 200th Anniversary. The church family's contributions to our communities—spiritual, charitable, educational, and social—are immeasurable, and I pray for God's continued blessings on their continued call to serve and honor Him.