About Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle · Jackson, Mississippi
The Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi, located at 123 North West Street in downtown Jackson. Founded on August 23, 1846 by Bishop John Chanche and dedicated in its present form on June 3, 1900 (Pentecost Sunday), the Neo-Gothic brick cathedral is known for its soaring 119-foot bell tower and spire, stained-glass windows modeled on Raphael and Murillo paintings, Carrara marble altars quarried from the same source Michelangelo used, and a Venetian glass mosaic of Christ the Good Shepherd above the entrance. As both an active parish and the seat (cathedra) of the Bishop of Jackson, it hosts diocesan liturgies including ordinations, the annual Chrism Mass, and the Bishop Chanche Medal ceremony, while its current rector is Very Rev. Nicholas (Nick) Adam under Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz.
- Established
- 1846
- Patron
- St. Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Very Rev. Nicholas (Nick) Adam
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson
Why belong here
Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle offers something rare in central Mississippi: a downtown historic Catholic parish with daily Mass in English (Tuesdays through Fridays at 12:05 PM), weekend Masses in English (Saturday 4 PM; Sunday 8 AM and 10:30 AM) and a Spanish-language Mass every Sunday at 1 PM that draws the wider Hispanic community. As the mother church of the Diocese of Jackson, it hosts diocesan liturgies such as ordinations and the annual Chrism Mass, so parishioners worship in the same church their bishop does, with rich traditions including a 1988 Rieger pipe organ, Carrara marble altars, and Munich-style Mayer-Zettler stained glass depicting Raphael and Murillo masterworks. Regular Confession (including Saturday 3:00-3:45 PM and weekday slots) and Wednesday evening Adoration make it a steady spiritual anchor for downtown workers, students, and residents who want a sacred, historic place to pray in the heart of the capital city.
Mass times at Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:20 AM to 7:50 AM
- Sunday: 12:20 PM to 12:50 PM
- Tuesday–Friday: 11:25 AM to 11:55 AM
- Wednesday: 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM
History of the Cathedral
St. Peter the Apostle has been the heart of Catholicism in Jackson since 1846, when Bishop John Chanche dedicated a frame church at Court and President Streets. Three successive buildings have stood on or near this site: the original 1846 wooden church destroyed by General Sherman's forces in 1862, a 1860s frame church that was eventually hauled by mules to Cloister Avenue in 1908 to become Holy Ghost Parish, and the present brick Neo-Gothic cathedral begun in 1897 and dedicated June 3, 1900 by Bishop Thomas Heslin.
Founding and the Civil War Years (1846 – 1865)
Father William Huber led the post-war congregation in building the second (frame) church on the site of today's rectory, while the Sisters of Mercy came up from Vicksburg in 1870 to found St. Joseph Academy near 'The Ravine.'
Building the Present Cathedral (1897 – 1900)
Father Charles Oliver, the parish's first American-born pastor, let the contract in 1897 and Bishop Heslin dedicated the new church on Pentecost Sunday, June 3, 1900. Oliver continued until his death in 1914 and oversaw installation of the celebrated Mayer-Zettler stained glass.
Becoming the Cathedral of Jackson (1957 – present)
St. Peter was elevated to a Co-Cathedral in February 1957 shortly after Monsignor Joseph Brunini — the first Mississippian pastor — was installed. When Bishop Gerow retired in 1968 Brunini became the 8th Bishop of Jackson; under his leadership the Diocese of Biloxi was created, and St. Peter became the sole Cathedral of the Diocese of Jackson.
Architecture and Sacred Art
The Cathedral of St. Peter is a modified Gothic / Neo-Gothic brick church on a cruciform plan with a 119-foot bell-tower spire. Its interiors feature Carrara marble altars from the same Italian quarry used by Michelangelo, and its signature stained-glass windows — Mayer-Zettler of Munich copies of Raphael and Murillo masterworks — were installed between 1903 and the 1930s and placed unusually at eye level so visitors can approach them up close.
- Steeple, tower and 12 finials restored 2009–2010 (copper and slate cladding; gold-leafed cross).
- Stained-glass windows restored by Conrad Schmitt Studios (Wisconsin) in 2011.
- Venetian glass facade mosaic: Christ the Good Shepherd — 'There shall be one flock and one shepherd' (Bishop Brunini).
- Rieger pipe organ dedicated 1988 in honor of Bishop Brunini.
- Rose Window (1903) depicting a veiled Madonna after Giovanni Battista Salvi — symbolizing the call to 'uncover' Christ for all to see.
Worship and Sacraments
As the diocesan mother church, St. Peter offers daily noon Mass on weekdays (English), an early Saturday vigil, three Sunday Masses — two English plus a Sunday Spanish Mass — and a Wednesday evening Holy Hour with Adoration. Reconciliation is scheduled several times a week and is available by appointment.
Parish Ministries and Parish Life
St. Peter's historic ministries include the Knights of Columbus, founded at the parish under Monsignor Patrick O'Reilly. The Cathedral Center, dedicated in 1998 by Bishop William Houck, houses parish offices, a parish hall, and classrooms. The cathedral regularly hosts an organ recital/concert series, and it welcomes Spanish-speaking Catholics from across central Mississippi for its Sunday 1:00 PM Mass.
- Knights of Columbus council
- Spanish-language Mass community
- Cathedral Center (parish hall, classrooms, offices) — 1998
- Annual organ recital series (Bach/Baroque repertoire) on the 1988 Rieger organ
Clergy and Staff
St. Peter's is staffed by Rector Very Rev. Nicholas (Nick) Adam, with a priest in residence and two permanent deacons; the cathedral is also the home parish of Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, the 11th Bishop of Jackson.
- Bishop: Most Rev. Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
- Rector: Very Rev. Nicholas (Nick) Adam
- In Residence: Rev. Antony Chakkalakkal
- Deacon: Westley Lindsay
- Deacon: Dien Hoang
Visitor Information
Visitors to downtown Jackson will find the cathedral open for scheduled liturgies and devotions; secure parking is available on site. The building is a downtown landmark, with its tower visible from surrounding streets, and tours of the art (stained glass, mosaic, marble altars) are accessible during public hours.
- Address: 123 North West Street, Jackson, MS 39201
- Mailing: P.O. Box 57, Jackson, MS 39205-0057
- Phone: 601-969-3125
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocesan website: https://jacksondiocese.org
Diocesan Role
As the bishop's cathedral, St. Peter is the seat of the cathedra and the setting for ordinations of bishops and priests, the annual Chrism Mass, the Bishop Chanche Medal ceremony, and World Marriage Day. It is one of the two main Catholic worship sites in the Diocese of Jackson, alongside the Cathedral-Bascillica of St. Mary in Natchez.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William HuberPost-Civil War (c. 1866 onward)
Led Jackson Catholics in building the second (large frame) church on the site of the present rectory.
- Father Louis DuttoLate 19th century
Predecessor to Oliver; succeeded by Father C. A. Oliver in 1896.
- Rev. C. A. (Charles) Oliver, D.D.1896 – 1914
First American-born pastor of St. Peter; built the present cathedral (contract 1897, dedicated 1900); installed celebrated stained-glass windows (Raphael and Murillo copies); died while pastor in 1914.
- Monsignor Patrick O'ReillyEarly 20th century
Built the present-day rectory and installed the Carrara marble altars; founded parish lay organizations including the Knights of Columbus.
- Monsignor Joseph BruniniInstalled January 1957
First Mississippian to serve as pastor of St. Peter; a month after his installation the parish was elevated to Co-Cathedral; later became 8th Bishop of Jackson (1968); installed the Venetian glass Good Shepherd mosaic on the facade.
- Fr. Jeffrey WaldrepRector during 2009 renovation
Oversaw the major 2009-2011 renovation of the cathedral building.
- Very Rev. Nicholas (Nick) AdamPresent (current rector)
Current rector under Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz.