About Blessed Sacrament · Sacramento, California
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is the mother church and seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, located at 1017 11th Street at the corner of K Street in downtown Sacramento, California. Modeled on the Église de la Sainte-Trinité in Paris and designed by San Francisco architect Bryan J. Klinch, it was dedicated on June 30, 1889, and at completion was the largest Catholic church west of the Mississippi River, seating 1,400 people. The Italian Renaissance-styled basilica was founded by Bishop Patrick Manogue, an Irish-born gold rush prospector-turned-priest who had studied at the Sulpician seminary in Paris. Today it operates as a vibrant, multilingual parish serving the heart of California's capital city and is one of three buildings most often cited as historically significant in Sacramento, rededicated in 2005 following a major two-year restoration.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- The Most Blessed Sacrament (dedicated 'to the Most Holy Sacrament for the greater glory of God')
- Rector
- Very Rev. Michael O'Reilly
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
Welcoming Catholics from across California's capital and beyond, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is the spiritual heart of the Diocese of Sacramento and offers something most parishes cannot: a Sunday Mass schedule in three languages (English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese at 2:00 pm), a beautiful sanctuary restored in 2005 with stunning frescoes and stained glass, daily 12:10 pm weekday Mass, weekly Wednesday and Thursday Adoration, weekday and Saturday Confession, and a deep bench of lay ministries — from a Choir and Music ministry to Front Door Outreach serving those in need, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Ushers, Altar Servers, and Marriage and Baptism preparation programs. Anyone who wants to encounter the diocese's mother church — to worship in a downtown landmark, serve the homeless through the parish's outreach ministry, or sit with the bishop in his cathedra at a solemn liturgy — will find an open door here.
Mass times at Blessed Sacrament
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 11:30 am to 12:00 pm
- Saturday: 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Adoration times
- Wednesday & Thursday: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm (hours subject to change if needed)
History
Founded by Irish-born Bishop Patrick Manogue, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament traces its origin to the 1886 Papal Bull by Pope Leo XIII establishing the Diocese of Sacramento. Manogue paid $40,811 for the half-block site one block from the State Capitol. San Francisco architect Bryan J. Klinch designed the Italian Renaissance / modified basilica, modeled on Paris's Eglise de la Sainte-Trinité. The cornerstone was laid June 12, 1887 and the cathedral dedicated June 30, 1889 — the largest Catholic church west of the Mississippi at the time. Mary Bethel's 1902 gifts of a Seth Thomas clock, four bells, and an earlier marble high altar rounded out the building. A comprehensive 2003–2005 restoration was completed and the cathedral rededicated on November 20, 2005.
- 1886 — Pope Leo XIII signs the Papal Bull creating the Diocese of Sacramento (May 28, 1886)
- 1886 — Bishop Manogue buys the cathedral site for $40,811
- 1887, June 12 — Cornerstone laid
- 1889, June 30 — Cathedral dedicated
- 1895 — Bishop Manogue dies
- 1896, June 16 — Thomas Grace consecrated second Bishop of Sacramento in the cathedral
- 1902 — Mary Bethel donates clock, four bells and the marble altar (the altar earlier)
- 2003–2005 — Major restoration
- 2005, November 20 — Rededication
Architecture & Art
The cathedral is Italian Renaissance in style — the diocese describes it as a Victorian interpretation of French Renaissance — about 200 feet long, 100 feet wide, with 1,400 seats and a 215-foot central bell tower. It is built of brick, mortar, wood, reinforced concrete, and steel. Inside, visitors find the bishop's cathedra, a frescoed central dome, a 13-foot crucifix, a tabernacle tower, and a century-old sanctuary lamp. Construction cost in 1889 dollars was $250,000. Frescoes around the dome and chapels were restored during the 2003–2005 restoration; Bishop Manogue's remains were translated into the sanctuary during that project.
- Style: Italian Renaissance (French Renaissance model)
- Architect: Bryan J. Klinch (San Francisco)
- Dimensions: ~200 ft long × 100 ft wide
- Capacity: 1,400 seats
- Central bell tower: 215 ft
- Construction cost: $250,000 (1889)
- Materials: brick, mortar, wood, reinforced concrete, steel frame
Sacramental Preparation
The Cathedral coordinates preparation for the three sacraments of Christian initiation and marriage. Baptisms are celebrated only on designated Saturdays — English on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, Spanish on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays — with a required baptism class and a strict cap of ten per session. Faith formation for First Communion and Confirmation is handled by Sister Lisa Marie Doty, FDCC (English) and Deyanira Galvez (Spanish). Marriage prep uses the FOCCUS inventory and covers sacramentality, communication, family of origin, faith and finances, the Rite of Marriage, and Natural Family Planning.
- Baptism: Deacon Omar Bardales ([email protected])
- Faith formation (English): Sister Lisa Marie Doty, FDCC ([email protected])
- Faith formation (Spanish): Deyanira Galvez ([email protected])
- Marriage prep: Deacon Omar & Janet Bardales ([email protected])
Parish Ministries
Cathedral ministries range from liturgical service to direct outreach. Music Ministry is led by Music Director Rex Rallanka; the parish choir sings regular Sundays and special liturgies. Media Ministry coordinates website, worship aids and bulletins under Titi Kila. Community Outreach, Front Door Ministry (housing/utility/medical referrals), Adoration, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Ushers, Altar Servers, and a parish Plant/Facilities team round out the volunteer life of the cathedral.
- Music Ministry / Cathedral Choir — Rex Rallanka
- Media & Communications — Titi Kila
- Front Door Ministry — Deacon Edgar Hilbert
- Community Outreach Ministry — Richard Zacaroli
- Plant / Facilities — Tom Waddock
- Lectors (English and Spanish)
- Altar Servers — Michael Ognisty
- Ushers (English and Spanish coordinators)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Clergy & Staff
The cathedral is staffed by Very Rev. Michael O'Reilly as Pastor/Rector with Rev. Michael F. Kiernan in residence and Rev. Msgr. James T. Murphy serving as Pastor Emeritus / Rector Emeritus. Deacons Omar Bardales and Edgar Hilbert assist with sacramental preparation and the Front Door outreach ministry. Bishop Jaime Soto is the Diocesan Bishop of Sacramento (seat at the Cathedral); Bishop Myron Cotta serves as Auxiliary Bishop. The Pastoral and Administrative Staff are listed on the parish website along with the Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council.
- Pastor/Rector — Very Rev. Michael O'Reilly
- Priest in Residence — Rev. Michael F. Kiernan
- Pastor Emeritus — Rev. Msgr. James T. Murphy
- Deacon — Dcn. Omar Bardales
- Deacon — Dcn. Edgar Hilbert
- Diocesan Bishop — Most Rev. Jaime Soto
- Auxiliary Bishop — Bishop Myron Cotta
Visiting & Docent Tours
The Cathedral is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm (left side gate ramp entrance). After Sunday Masses, complimentary docent-led tours meet by the Baptismal font — English at 9:00 am and 11:00 am, Spanish at 1:00 pm, English again at 5:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Sundays from March through October, and Chinese at 3:00 pm on the 4th Sunday. The on-site Cathedral Bookstore sells prayer cards and devotional items.
- Open daily 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Tours meet by the Baptismal font
- Cathedral Bookstore on-site
Bishop's Role & Diocese
Because the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is the mother church of the Diocese of Sacramento, the building hosts the bishop's cathedra (Latin 'chair'), the seat from which the bishop teaches as the diocese's chief shepherd. Most Rev. Jaime Soto is the current Diocesan Bishop; Myron Cotta is Auxiliary Bishop. Cathedral liturgies frequently include episcopal presbyteral ordinations, diocesan gatherings, and is a venue for clergy funerals and Civic prayer services for the capital city.
- Mother Church of the Diocese of Sacramento
- Bishop's cathedra located in the cathedral
- Diocesan Bishop: Most Rev. Jaime Soto
- Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Myron Cotta
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Grace1889-1895 (as first rector; continued as Bishop of Sacramento 1896 onward)
Originally pastor of St. Rose in Sacramento from 1881 by appointment of then-Coadjutor Bishop Manogue; transferred with the clergy to the new cathedral upon its dedication in June 1889. Consecrated second Bishop of Sacramento on June 16, 1896 inside the cathedral itself.
- Rev. Msgr. James T. MurphyRector Emeritus
Long-serving rector and pastor of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament; now retired and listed as Pastor Emeritus / Rector Emeritus on the diocesan clergy page.
- Very Rev. Michael O'ReillyCurrent pastor/rector
Listed as Pastor of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on the Diocese of Sacramento clergy page and on the parish's own website.