Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio dedicated the St. Joseph's Church in Prospect Heights as a co-cathedral.
The church was designated a co-cathedral for the Diocese of Brooklyn by Pope Benedict last year after Bishop DiMarzio petitioned the Vatican.
St. Joseph's Church is now 100 years old.
Construction of St. Joseph's, located on Pacific St. between Vanderbilt and Underhill Avenues, was begun in 1912 in the Spanish Colonial style.
It is the third church on that site and replaced the previous buildings that had been serving the large immigrant population that was moving into the City of Brooklyn. It was dedicated on May 3, 1914.
The church comfortably seats 1,500 people and served a congregation that at one time, according to parish records, swelled to 30,000 on any given Sunday.
Just three years ago, average Mass attendance had dropped to 80-90 people and the buildings were in a state of disrepair. Today, more than 700 people attend Sunday Mass and collections have increased from $300 a week to $4,500.
"It would seem that a Catholic church ought to be part of this massive urban renewal project," said Msgr. Kieran Harrington, pastor and rector of the Co-Cathedral. "The Church of St. Joseph is perfectly situated to meet that need."
Six years ago, an extensive renovation of the exterior of the church began and the building underwent pointing. A new roof was installed and the windows, which are of museum quality, have been cleaned and restored.
Shorter steeples were installed to replace those that were removed in the 1970's because of structural damage.
The bell was restored and hoisted into place in one of the steeples. The firm of Acheson and Doyle managed the renovation of the exterior and Botti Studios restored the windows.
One of the features of the new Co-Cathedral is the addition of modern artwork depicting contemporary saints as well as a series of murals that represent 22 Marian images donated by the ethnic apostolates of Brooklyn and Queens, depicting their national Madonnas. It is also home to a recently restored grand Moller Organ of 36 ranks and over 2,000 pipes.
"The faces of the people in the pews of St. Joseph's reflect the diversity of the many cultures that call the Diocese of Brooklyn home," said Bishop DiMarzio. "It is only fitting that this parish, among the largest in Brooklyn and Queens, becomes our co-cathedral."
