Cathedral of Saint Andrew

About the Cathedral of Saint Andrew

The Cathedral of Saint Andrew is the mother church of the Diocese of Grand Rapids and the seat of its bishop. Located in downtown Grand Rapids on Sheldon Boulevard, it grew out of St. Mary's Mission, founded in 1833 by Father Frederic Baraga on the banks of the Grand River. The current building, completed in 1876 and rebuilt after the 1901 fire, is a Gothic Revival landmark serving a bilingual Catholic community through daily and Sunday Masses, Reconciliation, Adoration, faith formation for children and adults, and the Catholic Information Center.

Cathedral History

The cathedral's story begins in 1833 with Father Frederic Baraga's mission and Father Andreas Viszoczky's first St. Andrew Church on Monroe Avenue (1850). The parish moved to Sheldon Boulevard in 1875–1876. After the Diocese of Grand Rapids was erected in 1882, Bishop Henry J. Richter chose St. Andrew as his cathedral and was consecrated there on April 22, 1883. A 1901 lightning-strike fire led to a major rebuilding by Brielmaier and Sons (re-dedicated July 4, 1903). Major renovations followed in 1961–1963, 1979–1980, 1997–2000, 2002 (organ), 2004 (Quinn Evans restoration), and 2009 (Piazza Secchia), with the 2010 demolition of St. Andrew's Elementary School opening up Baraga Way.

• 1833 — St. Mary's Mission founded by Father Frederic Baraga
• 1850 — first St. Andrew's Church completed on Monroe Avenue (Grand River limestone)
• 1875 — cornerstone of present church sealed May 30
• 1876 — present church completed (architect John Grady)
• 1882 — Diocese of Grand Rapids erected by Pope Leo XIII
• April 22, 1883 — Bishop Henry J. Richter consecrated at St. Andrew's
• June 4, 1901 — lightning-strike fire destroys much of interior
• July 4, 1903 — cathedral re-dedicated and re-consecrated (Brielmaier and Sons rebuilding)
• 1915 — Munich-style stained glass by F. X. Zettler and Mayer installed
• 1961–1963 — Saint Ambrose Chapel wing; Maple Street closed
• 1979–1980 — altar brought forward into the congregation
• 1997–2000 — baptismal pool, refurbished stained glass, Stations of the Cross
• 2002 — current pipe organ installed
• 2004 — Quinn Evans Architects exterior restoration (spire, cross re-gilding)
• 2009 — Piazza Secchia laid at front entrance
• 2010 — St. Andrew's Elementary School demolished; Baraga Way green space created

Architecture, Art, and Worship Space

The cathedral is a Gothic Revival cruciform-plan church clad in pale yellowish-white Milwaukee brick with limestone trim, designed originally by parishioner John Grady (1874–1876) and rebuilt by Erhard Brielmaier and Sons of Milwaukee after the 1901 fire. The 192-foot north tower and spire, the unequal flanking towers, and the pointed-arch recessed entrance recall medieval European cathedrals. Interior highlights include the 1915 Munich pictorial stained glass, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel by Harry L. Mead, the 1997–2000 baptismal pool, bas-relief Stations of the Cross, and the charred original beams above the ceiling. The 2002 pipe organ anchors the music program.

• Style: Gothic Revival
• Materials: Milwaukee brick, limestone trim
• Spire height: 192 ft (59 m)
• Capacity: approximately 1,300 worshipers
• Architects: John Grady (1874–76); Erhard Brielmaier and Sons (1903); Harry L. Mead (chapels, 1920s–1938); Quinn Evans Architects (2004 restoration)
• Stained glass: F. X. Zettler of Munich, Mayer & Co. of Munich, Grand Rapids Art Glass Company
• Pipe organ installed 2002

Clergy and Staff

The cathedral is pastored by the Paulist Fathers (Congregation of St. Paul, C.S.P.), a community of priests dedicated to evangelization and ecumenical work. Very Rev. Dat Q. Tran, CSP, serves as Rector and Pastor and is also Director of the Catholic Information Center and Ecumenical/Interfaith Liaison for the Diocese of Grand Rapids. He is assisted by parochial vicars Rev. Mike Cruickshank, CSP, and Rev. Ryan Casey, CSP, and by several senior priests in residence.

• Rector/Pastor: Very Rev. Dat Q. Tran, CSP
• Parochial Vicars: Rev. Mike Cruickshank, CSP; Rev. Ryan Casey, CSP
• Senior Priests in Residence: Rev. William Edens, CSP; Rev. Joachim Lally, CSP; Rev. Ken Boyack, CSP
• Deacons: Dcn. Christian Cifuentes; Dcn. Dennis Rybicki
• Director of Religious Education & Adult Faith Formation: Sean Donovan
• Music: Jeff Poole (Director), with organist and choir staff
• Pastoral staff: Julie Bartholomew (Baptisms/Homebound), Steve Waterbury, Kelly DeVries, LaVell Fourcha, Daisy Sanchez, Jenna Jonaitis, Scott Barnes, Mark Mann, Amanda Koch, Mary Martin

Faith Formation and Religious Education

Faith formation is led by Sean Donovan, Director of Religious Education and Adult Faith Formation. Programs include Parish Religious Education for children in K–6 (Sunday mornings), First Communion and First Reconciliation preparation, Children's Liturgy of the Word during the 10:00 a.m. Mass on the first and second Sundays of the month, a Wednesday-evening Youth Group for grades 7–12 with Confirmation preparation and monthly parent/youth sharing nights, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) for those exploring Catholicism or completing their sacraments, and ongoing Adult Faith Formation institutes and presentations — many hosted by the Catholic Information Center.

• K–6 Parish Religious Education (Sunday mornings)
• First Communion & First Reconciliation preparation
• Children's Liturgy of the Word (ages 5–12, 1st & 2nd Sundays)
• Youth Group grades 7–12 (Wednesday evenings)
• Confirmation preparation
• OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
• Adult Faith Formation presentations and institutes

Catholic Information Center

The Catholic Information Center (CIC) is the evangelization arm of the Cathedral of Saint Andrew and has been helping Catholics and others deepen their faith for over 75 years. It offers a variety of presentations, institutes, and study programs — both virtual and in-person — and is the recommended starting point for adults considering returning to the Catholic faith or learning about it for the first time.

• Director: Very Rev. Dat Q. Tran, CSP (also Rector of the cathedral)
• Programs for returning Catholics and seekers
• In-person and virtual formation offerings
• Contact: [email protected] or 616-456-1454 x1909

Outreach and Social Action

Through its Community Outreach and Outreach & Social Action ministries, the cathedral serves neighbors in downtown Grand Rapids and across the wider Kent County community. The parish invites volunteers to help with both parish-based and external works of charity, complementing its liturgical and formational life.

• Community Outreach ministry
• Outreach & Social Action committee
• Volunteer opportunities listed on the parish website

Sacraments

The cathedral celebrates and prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments. Reconciliation is offered weekday mornings after Mass and Saturdays from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. Children enrolled in Religious Education receive First Reconciliation and First Communion together; adults prepare through OCIA. Infant Baptisms, marriage preparation, and visits to the homebound are coordinated through the parish office.

• Reconciliation (see Confession times above)
• First Reconciliation & First Communion for children
• Adult Confirmation and full initiation through OCIA
• Infant Baptism — contact Julie Bartholomew
• Marriage — contact the parish office
• Visits to the homebound — contact the parish office

Visit the Cathedral — Location, Access, and Visiting

The cathedral is located at 301 Sheldon SE (worship site) / 215 Sheldon SE (parish office), Grand Rapids, MI 49503, and is handicapped accessible. The building is open to the public most days; the surrounding Baraga Way green space and the Piazza Secchia at the front entrance make it a welcoming stop for visitors exploring downtown Grand Rapids. The Sunday 10:00 a.m. English Mass and 12:00 p.m. Spanish Mass are open to all and broadcast on WXMI FOX 17 and online, making it possible for those unable to attend in person to join the cathedral community.

• Worship address: 301 Sheldon SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
• Business address: 215 Sheldon SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
• Phone: 616-456-1454; Fax 616-456-5110
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: grcathedral.org
• Handicapped accessible
• Nearby: Grand Rapids Central Station (Amtrak), The Rapid bus lines, downtown hotels and parking

Notable Facts and Heritage

Few downtown American cathedrals combine this much living history: a mission founded in 1833, a 1901 fire rebuilt by Midwestern Catholic church specialists, Munich-school stained glass, a parish that pioneered televised Sunday Mass, and a current ministry served by the Paulist Fathers and shaped by a bilingual, urban Catholic community.

• Origin as 1833 mission by Father Baraga
• 1901 lightning-strike fire and 1903 rebuilding
• Among the first U.S. cathedrals to televise Sunday Mass
• Served by the Paulist Fathers (C.S.P.)
• Bilingual (English / Spanish) parish life
• Gothic Revival architecture by Brielmaier and Sons