Ukrainian Catholic cathedral of the Immaculate Conception celebrates important Jubilees

History: parish — 1886; church — 1909; new cathedral — 1963-1966

The earliest Ukrainian immigrants settled in Northern Liberties between 6th and 7th Streets, south of Girard Avenue, and Immaculate Conception parish anchored the “Little Ukraine” community.

The present Cathedral erected in 1966 through the effort of Ukrainian Catholics in America. This magnificent edifice, designed by Julian K. Jastremsky, replaced the old Cathedral Church which had been purchased in 1909 by Bishop Sotor Stephen Ortynsky.

On 14 October 1962 on the first page of “The Way” readers of this paper read with joy that the Archbishop-Metropolitan addressed the Ukrainian Catholic of the United States and announced the building of the new cathedral.

On Sunday, October 16 1966, the new Ukrainian Catholic cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was opened and its cornerstone was blessed .
 

The colorful ceremony was attended by a crowd estimated by the Philadelphia police of about 15 thousand.