About Cathedral of St. Joseph · Burlington, Vermont
The Cathedral of St. Joseph is the mother church and seat (cathedra) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, Vermont, located in the North End of Burlington at 29 Allen Street. Founded in 1850 as the first French-Canadian national parish in New England, it is housed in a Baroque Revival edifice built 1883–1887 and remains the largest church in the state of Vermont, with seating for more than 1,200 worshipers. The cathedral became the diocese's co-cathedral in 1999 and the sole diocesan cathedral in 2018, when the neighboring Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was suppressed. It continues to host the Bishop of Burlington for major liturgies including ordinations, the Chrism Mass, and Confirmations, and remains a center of French-heritage Catholic life enriched by Vietnamese, Burundian, and Congolese communities.
- Established
- 1850
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Peter A. Routhier (Rector)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
Why belong here
The Cathedral of St. Joseph is the spiritual heart of Catholic life in Vermont — the seat of the diocesan bishop and the place where the great liturgies of the diocese (Chrism Mass, ordinations, Confirmations) are celebrated, all of which the faithful are welcome to attend. It is also a living immigrant parish: founded by French-Canadian workers in 1850, it remains bilingual in heritage and today worships alongside a growing Vietnamese community, as well as Burundian and Congolese parishioners whose choirs enrich the liturgy. The cathedral offers daily weekday Mass at 12:05 PM, Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass, regular Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, an active OCIA (RCIA) process, a strong music program with cantors, a contemporary/folk group, and a Vietnamese choir, a flourishing Knights of Columbus council (No. 279), and Joseph's House, a community-outreach ministry that helps with utilities, eviction prevention, food, and hygiene items for neighbors in need. For anyone seeking a historic, diverse, and liturgically central Catholic home in the Burlington area, the Cathedral of St. Joseph is the natural place to begin.
Mass times at Cathedral of St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (before noon Mass)
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM, downstairs in the Chapel
- Also by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered at the Cathedral (the Diocese of Burlington's online 'Open for Adoration' listing tracks daily openings; consult the parish bulletin or the cathedral's adoration page for the current weekly schedule)
Parish History and Heritage
St. Joseph Parish was founded in 1850 as the first French-Canadian national parish in New England, established so that French-speaking immigrants in Burlington's North End could worship in their own language and culture. The first church was finished in time for Christmas Mass that year, but a growing congregation soon required a larger building. Between 1883 and 1887 the present church was raised through the labor and sacrifice of parishioners themselves, and on Easter Sunday 1887 the first Mass was celebrated in the new, Vermont's largest house of worship. The cathedral's history is a story of immigrant faithfulness, French-Canadian craftsmanship (from architect Rev. Joseph Michaud down to the carved pews), and a steady broadening into a multicultural, multilingual Catholic community that now includes Vietnamese, Burundian, and Congolese parishioners.
- Parish founded 1850 — first French-Canadian national parish in New England
- First church completed Christmas 1850
- Current church designed 1883 by Rev. Joseph Michaud of Montreal
- Cornerstone laid July 4, 1884
- First Mass in new church: Easter Sunday, April 10, 1887
- Dedicated on the Fête de la Saint-Jean-Baptiste, June 24, 1887, by Archbishop Édouard-Charles Fabre of Montreal
- Co-cathedral of the Diocese of Burlington from October 14, 1999
- Sole diocesan cathedral from April 18, 2018 (decree of Bishop Christopher Coyne)
Architecture and Interior
Designed in the Baroque Revival style, the cathedral combines a Quebec-style façade with an interior modeled on the Chapel of the Palace of Versailles. The structure is built of local red sandstone and stretches 176 feet long by 81 feet wide, rising 55 feet, with a seating capacity of 1,200. Inside, fluted white Corinthian columns and pilasters with gold accents support a barrel-vaulted ceiling richly decorated with painted and gilded medallions, while the original oak-and-cherry pews, with their carved beaver-tail ends, line five aisles. Three major renovations — in 1920, 1968, and 2000–2001 — have kept the building in active use without erasing its 19th-century character.
- Style: Baroque Revival
- Architect: Rev. Joseph Michaud (Montreal, self-taught; also designed Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral in Montreal)
- Materials: Local red sandstone; oak and cherry interior woodwork
- Dimensions: 176 ft long × 81 ft wide × 55 ft high
- Capacity: 1,200 — largest church in Vermont
- Notable: barrel-vaulted ceiling with gilded medallions, Corinthian columns, carved beaver-tail pews, Paris-made Stations of the Cross (1889, in French)
- Renovations: 1920, 1968, 2000–2001
Steeple and 2010 Storm Restoration
In November 2010 a violent storm badly damaged the cathedral's steeple. Engineers found severe deterioration and determined that the 800-pound wrought-iron cross at the top was at risk of toppling, so the upper portion of the spire was removed in April 2011. The belfry renovation cost roughly $200,000, and the cathedral eventually raised the additional funds needed to restore the spire to its original full height through a community donation campaign and the sale of the salvaged iron cross and finial.
- Storm damage: November 2010
- Top of steeple removed: April 2011
- Cross weight: 800 lb wrought iron
- Belfry repair cost: ~$200,000
- Full-height restoration funded by donations and sale of salvaged cross
Co-Cathedral and Cathedral Status (1999–2018)
In October 1999 St. Joseph was named co-cathedral of the Diocese of Burlington alongside the older Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. By 2017, declining attendance and the cost of operating two large churches only blocks apart led Bishop Christopher Coyne to begin consolidating. In April 2018, with the approval of the Holy See, Bishop Coyne decreed St. Joseph the sole cathedral of the diocese; the Immaculate Conception parish was suppressed and merged into St. Joseph Parish, and the last Mass at the former cathedral was celebrated on December 8, 2018, the feast of its patroness. The Diocese of Burlington subsequently announced the sale of the Immaculate Conception property.
- Co-cathedral designated: October 14, 1999
- Merging process began: 2017
- Decree naming St. Joseph sole cathedral: April 18, 2018, by Bishop Christopher J. Coyne
- Immaculate Conception parish suppressed and merged into St. Joseph Parish
- Last Mass at Immaculate Conception: December 8, 2018
- Current diocesan bishop: Most Rev. John Joseph McDermott
Clergy and Staff
The cathedral is led by a Rector appointed by the Bishop of Burlington, assisted by a Parochial Vicar. The Rector also serves as Diocesan Director of the Propagation of the Faith. The broader diocesan curia — including the Bishop, Vicar General, Judicial Vicar, and Director of Vocations — supports the cathedral's ministry.
- Rector: Rev. Msgr. Peter A. Routhier (also Diocesan Director of the Propagation of the Faith)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Fr. Xavier Raj
- Bishop of Burlington: Most Rev. John Joseph McDermott
- Diocesan Vicar General: Fr. Yvon Royer
- Diocesan Judicial Vicar: Fr. Brandon Schneider, S.T.L., J.C.L.
- Music Director / Organist: Celia Asbell
Music and Liturgy
Music is a defining strength of the Cathedral of St. Joseph. Under music director and organist Celia Asbell, the cathedral supports an unusually diverse choral program: a parish choir, a quartet used for major feasts such as Pentecost and ordinations, a Vietnamese choir, a Burundian choir, a Congolese choir, and two contemporary/folk groups, alongside rotating cantors at Sunday Mass. The choir loft and balcony are noted for their generous size and acoustic openness.
- Music Director / Organist: Celia Asbell
- Parish choir + special-occasion quartet
- Vietnamese choir, Burundian choir, Congolese choir
- Two contemporary/folk groups
- Cantors at every Sunday Mass
Faith Formation — OCIA (RCIA)
The cathedral runs the full OCIA process (formerly called RCIA) for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, as well as for already-baptized Christians preparing for full communion with the Catholic Church. The parish website walks candidates through the canonical stages — Inquiry, Catechumenate, Rite of Election, Period of Purification and Enlightenment, Rites of Initiation at the Easter Vigil, and Mystagogy — and provides contacts for inquirers.
- Inquiry / Pre-Catechumenate
- Catechumenate with Rite of Acceptance (First Sunday of Advent)
- Rite of Election at the cathedral with the Bishop (First Sunday of Lent)
- Scrutinies (3rd, 4th, 5th Sundays of Lent)
- Rites of Initiation at the Easter Vigil
- Mystagogy following Easter
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Beyond the liturgy, the cathedral supports a wide range of lay ministries and outreach efforts. Liturgical roles (Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers) are scheduled regularly, and the parish operates Joseph's House, a community-outreach ministry that assists neighbors facing utility shutoffs, eviction, security-deposit needs, food insecurity, and hygiene-item shortages. The Burlington Knights of Columbus Council 279 is based at the cathedral, and the parish publishes a weekly bulletin and a periodic newsletter with announcements and sign-ups.
- Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers
- Joseph's House — utility, eviction, food, laundry, and hygiene assistance
- Knights of Columbus Council 279 (125th anniversary celebrated at the cathedral)
- Parish Events committee — annual community-building events
- Volunteer / Time & Talent ministry teams
- Propagation of the Faith diocesan office
Sacraments
The cathedral celebrates the seven sacraments as a parish and as the seat of the diocese. Reconciliation is offered on a fixed weekly schedule; Confirmations are typically conferred by the diocesan bishop at the cathedral; and baptisms, marriages, and the anointing of the sick are arranged through the parish office. Adults seeking full initiation are guided through OCIA.
- Eucharist (daily and Sunday Mass)
- Reconciliation (Monday and Saturday; by appointment)
- Confirmation (by the Bishop of Burlington at the cathedral)
- Baptism (by arrangement)
- Marriage (by arrangement; contact the rectory)
- Anointing of the Sick (by arrangement)
- OCIA (RCIA) for adult initiation
Visiting, Location, and Contact
The cathedral is located in Burlington's Old North End at 29 Allen Street (mailing address 113 Elmwood Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401), easily reached from downtown Burlington and the Church Street Marketplace. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (closed Friday). The phone line is (802) 658-4333 and the parish email is [email protected]. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any of the regular Masses and during office hours.
- Address: 29 Allen Street, Burlington, VT 05401
- Mailing: 113 Elmwood Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401
- Phone: (802) 658-4333
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–3:00 PM (closed Friday)
- Neighborhood: North End / Old North End, Burlington
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