About Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes · Spokane, Washington
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane, located at 1115 W. Riverside Avenue in Spokane, Washington. Built between 1903 and 1908 in the Italian Romanesque Revival style, it traces its parish roots to 1881 when Jesuit Father Joseph Cataldo celebrated the first Mass in a converted carpenter's shop. Today the cathedral serves as both the diocesan seat of Bishop Thomas A. Daly and an active parish led by Rector Very Rev. Darrin Connall, VG, offering daily and Sunday Masses, frequent Confessions, and a robust program of formation, music, and outreach.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Very Rev. Darrin Connall, VG (Rector)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Spokane
Why belong here
Belonging to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes means joining the historic mother church of the Diocese of Spokane — a parish that daily offers two weekday Masses, four Sunday Masses, and multiple Confession slots, with First Friday Adoration and Benediction as well. It is a formation-rich community: an OCIA process for adults exploring Catholicism (Wednesday evenings), the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in the St. Philomena Atrium for ages 3 through 12, an altar society, a Knights of Columbus council, and a Cathedral Men's Group that meets weekly at 6:30 a.m. Worship is supported by a long-standing music program with Dr. Henry Bauer, and the parish reaches beyond its walls through homebound ministry, a prayer chain, and support of nearby St. Charles Catholic School and the Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame.
Mass times at Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM (two priests available)
- First Friday of the month 11:30 AM
- Saturday 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (two priests available)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (concludes with Benediction)
- First Saturday of the month 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Cathedral History
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes springs from the first Catholic Mass in Spokane Township, said by Jesuit missionary Father Joseph Cataldo in August 1881 inside a converted carpenter's shop — only five people attended. Within five years a brick church of the same Marian title had replaced the shed, and the Sisters of the Holy Names opened a school. The cornerstone for the present Italian Romanesque Revival church was laid in 1903, and the new school was completed in 1906. On December 17, 1913, Pope St. Pius X erected the Diocese of Spokane and named Our Lady of Lourdes its mother church. The cathedral was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 as a contributing property of the Riverside Avenue Historic District.
- 1881 — First Mass, Church of St. Joseph, a former carpenter's shop
- 1886 — Brick church dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes; Sisters of the Holy Names open school
- 1903 — Cornerstone laid for the present cathedral
- 1906 — New school completed
- 1908 — Cathedral completed (Italian Romanesque Revival, Julian and Williams / Preusse and Zittel)
- 1913 — Named cathedral of the new Diocese of Spokane
- 1971 — Interior remodel: arches retained, square baldachino installed, original Calvary altar retained as backdrop
- 1976 — Added to the NRHP as part of the Riverside Avenue Historic District
- 1991 — Major stained-glass restoration; over 350 panes replaced; exterior plastic sheets installed
- 2018 — New addition added to the bishop's cathedra
- 2019 — Sanctuary re-clad in marble; new altar and pews; Calvary altar moved to the apse
- 2023 — Exterior plastic removed; stained glass re-leaded
Architecture & Sacred Art
The cathedral was designed by the firm of Julian and Williams, using concept work by architects Preusse and Zittel, in the Italian Romanesque Revival style. Its exterior is red brick accented with granite, and twin square towers rise 164 feet above Riverside Avenue. Inside, Italian Romanesque arches span the nave and a square baldachino added in 1971 amplifies congregational prayer and song. The original Italian marble altar, depicting the sacrifice of Calvary, was kept after the 2019 renovation and now serves as a stunning artistic and symbolic backdrop for the new gathering altar. Bavarian stained-glass windows tell a panorama of Judeo-Christian history.
- Architects: Julian and Williams with concept work by Preusse and Zittel
- Style: Italian Romanesque Revival
- Exterior: red brick with granite accents
- Twin square towers, 164 ft (50 m) tall
- W.W. Kimball pipe organ (loft); Allen organ (gallery, currently functional)
- Bavarian stained-glass windows (conserved 1991 and 2023)
- Original Italian marble Calvary altar, relocated to the apse in 2019
- Composite bishop's cathedra combining elements from 1913, 1930s, and 2018
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at the Cathedral uses two complementary tracks. Adults exploring Catholicism or completing their sacraments participate in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), with classes typically held Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 PM and a dedicated Core Team that walks alongside candidates. Children are formed through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) in the parish's St. Philomena Atrium on the upper level of O'Connor Hall, offering Level I (ages 3–6), Level II (ages 6–9), and Level III (ages 9–12) environments.
- OCIA (adult initiation) — Wed 6:00–7:30 PM; Director Melia Langdon
- OCIA Core Team mentoring
- CGS Level I (ages 3–6): Mon 9:30–11:00 a.m.
- CGS Level II (1st–3rd grade): Wed 1:15–3:15 p.m.
- CGS Level III (4th–6th grade)
- Coordinator of Religious Ed: Sr. Christiana Marie, SMMC
- Catechists: Megan Fleischman, Kajsa McCann
Sacraments
The Cathedral prepares families and individuals for every sacrament of initiation and healing. Parents preparing for an infant Baptism work through the Augustine Institute's 'Reborn' video series on Formed.org and then meet with a priest or deacon; suggested baptismal times are Saturdays at 10:00 AM or Sundays during the 9:00 or 11:00 AM Mass (or after the 11:00 AM Mass). Older children of catechetical age (generally seven and up) are baptized through a separate process coordinated by Sr. Christiana Marie. Adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist join the OCIA and typically receive the sacraments at the Easter Vigil.
- Baptism (Reborn preparation on Formed)
- First Communion, Confirmation, RCIA via OCIA
- Marriage (Wedding Coordinators: Ann Smith, Erin)
- Anointing of the Sick (homebound twice yearly)
- Confession / Reconciliation (see schedule)
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music is anchored by a long-running Cathedral Music Program under Director of Music Dr. Henry Bauer. The parish's heritage organ in the choir loft was built by the W. W. Kimball Company of Chicago; after 102 years of service it is no longer functional, and an Allen organ in the gallery is the cathedral's currently playable instrument. The parish is planning to replace the Kimball with an organ built to last another century.
- Director of Music: Dr. Henry Bauer
- Receptionist/Music support: Justin Bullock (parish office)
- W. W. Kimball pipe organ (loft; retired after 102 years)
- Allen organ (gallery; currently functional)
- Cathedral Choir and Children's Choir
Cathedral Communities: Groups & Ministries
The parish calls its lay groups and ministries 'Cathedral Communities.' A weekly Cathedral Men's Group meets Wednesdays at 6:30 AM in the Cathedral dining room to discuss books, podcasts, and Scripture. The Knights of Columbus run a Cathedral council, and the Altar Society meets on the second Tuesday of each month. A Prayer Chain lifts up the sick and struggling in daily prayer, and Visitation to the Homebound brings monthly Holy Communion — and twice-yearly priestly Anointing of the Sick — to parishioners who can no longer attend Mass.
- Cathedral Men's Group — Wed 6:30 AM, dining room
- Knights of Columbus (Cathedral Council)
- Altar Society — 2nd Tuesday of each month
- Cathedral Prayer Chain
- Homebound Visitation (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)
Parish Life & Outreach
Cathedral life extends beyond the church walls into local Catholic education and diocesan-wide initiatives. A large number of Cathedral parishioners attend St. Charles Catholic School, and many Cathedral high-school students attend the Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame, where parishioner Shane O'Doherty serves as Headmaster. The parish also supports the Annual Catholic Appeal, the Diocese of Spokane's annual shared-fund appeal.
- St. Charles Catholic School (partner parish school)
- Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame (Headmaster Shane O'Doherty, parishioner)
- Annual Catholic Appeal (Diocese of Spokane)
- Advent Bible Study (parish-surveyed to fit schedules)
- Online giving via RebelGive (1.9% card-processing fee only; ACH free)
Clergy, Staff & Contacts
The pastoral team is led by Rector Very Rev. Darrin Connall, VG, who also serves as Vicar General of the Diocese, and Parochial Vicar Rev. David Gaines, with a Senior Priest in Residence. The parish's lay leadership includes Director of OCIA Melia Langdon, Director of Music Dr. Henry Bauer, Coordinator of Religious Education Sister Christiana Marie, SMMC, Office Manager Carolyn Berry, Receptionist Justin Bullock, and Wedding Coordinators Ann Smith and Erin.
- Rector: Very Rev. Darrin Connall, VG (ext. 102)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. David Gaines
- Senior Priest in Residence
- Bishop of Spokane: Most Rev. Thomas A. Daly, D.D.
- Director of OCIA: Melia Langdon
- Director of Music: Dr. Henry Bauer
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Sr. Christiana Marie, SMMC
- Office Manager: Carolyn Berry — [email protected]
- Receptionist: Justin Bullock (ext. 106)
- Senior Wedding Coordinator: Ann Smith
- Parish Wedding Coordinator: Erin
- Catechists: Megan Fleischman, Kajsa McCann (ext. 107)
- Parish Office: (509) 358-4290, Mon–Fri 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.