St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral - Cape Girardeau at 615 William St, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 US - St. Mary Cathedral History

Established in 1868

Louis Lorimier founded Cape Girardeau in 1793 as Governor under Spanish and French rule until the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.  As early as 1858, plans were formulated to establish a parish for the German population of Cape Girardeau, but the project was delayed because of the Civil War. 

On March 25, 1968, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, a group of German immigrants broke ground for St Mary of the Annunciation.  The parish site was purchased for $650., and  the church was built on the corner lot at Sprigg and William Streets.  The cornerstone was laid on August 2, 1868 and the first Mass at St Mary’s was celebrated on February 2, 1869.

Establishment of the parochial school followed in 1875 when Sisters of St Francis were brought here to teach the youngsters of the parish.  The sisters built their first convent on the northwest corner of Sprigg & William Streets in 1877; they expanded the facility in 1882, opening St Francis Hospital there.  A separate school building was constructed that same year.

The Franciscan Sisters continued their teaching work until October 1903 when they were replaced by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, who staffed our school until 1993.

No history of St Mary’s is complete without mentioning the Reverend Eberhardt Pruente, who served as pastor for over 50 years.  During his tenure, a rectory was constructed (1885), the familiar bells of St Mary’s were installed, the church was redecorated and heat was added (1891), land for St Mary’s Cemetery was purchased (1903),  a new convent was built (1905), a new brick grade school (the main part of the present building) was constructed (1912) and St Mary’s High School was founded (1925).

Under the leadership of pastors, improvements have been made to the church and school over the years.  In 1937, the front addition facing Sprigg Street was added to the St Mary Grade School.  In 1955, a new convent (the current Youth Center) was constructed and the current Rectory was built in 1957. 

A gymnasium, parish hall, and kindergarten were added to the grade school and facilities of the parish in 1978.  The church has been redecorated and remodeled with major renovation in 1954, 1968, and 1985.  The stained glass windows depicting “The Magnificat” were added in 1954. In 1984, the steeple of the church was restored to its original height and the people of St Mary’s purchased a new organ in 1990-91.

In 1956, St Mary’s became co-cathedral with St Agnes Cathedral in Springfield, when the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau was established.

Old St Vincent’s Church became a part of the Cathedral Parish in 1977, when it was named a Chapel of Ease.

Recent additions were the purchase of property on the corner of Frederick & William Street in 1996-97 (location of the current school playground), a new parish office building was completed in January 2000 and improvements to the interior of the school office, classrooms, library and in the gym in 2004 and 2006.