About Cathedral of the Holy Cross · Boston, Massachusetts
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and serves as the seat (cathedra) of Archbishop Richard G. Henning. Located at 1400 Washington Street in Boston's historic South End, it is one of the largest Catholic churches in New England, seating roughly 1,700–2,000 worshippers. Designed in the Gothic Revival style by the prolific Irish-American architect Patrick C. Keely and dedicated on December 8, 1875, the Cathedral is built of local Roxbury puddingstone and gray limestone. Today it serves a large and diverse Catholic community with Mass celebrated in English, Spanish, Latin (Extraordinary Form), and the Alexandrian Ge'ez Rite of the Ethiopian-Eritrean faithful.
- Established
- 1808
- Patron
- Holy Cross (the relic of the True Cross owned by the diocese)
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher K. O'Connor (Rector)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross offers a worship experience and pastoral reach that few parishes can match: it is the mother church of the entire Archdiocese of Boston, serving a richly diverse population in English, Spanish, Latin (Extraordinary Form), and the Alexandrian Ge'ez Rite of the Ethiopian-Eritrean faithful. Parishioners benefit from multiple daily Masses, Saturday and weekday confessions, weekday Eucharistic Adoration in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, vibrant choirs (the Cathedral Choir, Archdiocesan Festival Choir, Schola Amicorum, and Spanish Coro), and a deep bench of social-justice and outreach ministries — including a food pantry serving 250 families weekly, the Cathedral Cares health clinic, Saint Helena House senior housing, homeless and human-trafficking outreach, and many more. As the seat of the Archbishop, it is also where the annual Chrism Mass and major archdiocesan liturgies are televised from CatholicTV.
Mass times at Cathedral of the Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Spanish, Lower Church)
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (Spanish, Main Church)
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM (English, Main Church)
- First Friday: confessions heard before the Holy Hour starting at 6:45 PM
- By appointment: call the parish office at 617-542-5682
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM — Blessed Sacrament Chapel (please check the calendar for changes)
Cathedral of the Holy Cross — Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Boston
Located at 1400 Washington Street in the heart of Boston's South End, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross is the mother church (cathedra) of the Metropolitan See of Boston and the seat of Archbishop Richard G. Henning. Dedicated in 1875 and rededicated after a $26 million renovation completed in 2019, it is one of the largest Catholic churches in New England, seating up to 2,000 people, and serves a richly diverse population through Masses celebrated in English, Spanish, Latin (Extraordinary Form), and the Alexandrian Ge'ez Rite of the Ethiopian-Eritrean faithful.
History
Replacing the original Charles Bulfinch-designed cathedral on Franklin Street (1800–1803), the present Cathedral was championed by Bishop John Fitzpatrick and brought to life by Archbishop John J. Williams after a Civil War delay. Construction began with groundbreaking on April 29, 1866; the building was dedicated on December 8, 1875 (the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception) and named for a relic of the True Cross owned by the diocese. Its cost was defrayed by donations from wealthy Catholics and a Church Debt Society of working-class parishioners, with supplemental fundraisers including concerts, fairs, and dramatic readings.
- 1860 — Bishop Fitzpatrick selects Patrick C. Keely to design the new cathedral
- April 29, 1866 — Groundbreaking in the South End
- December 8, 1875 — Dedicated by Archbishop John J. Williams; largest Catholic church in New England
- 1944 — Funeral Mass for Cardinal William O'Connell
- 1964 — JFK requiem Mass presided over by Cardinal Richard Cushing, broadcast nationally
- 1973 — Added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP #73000324)
- 1988 — Mother Teresa of Calcutta visits
- 2013 — Interfaith 'Healing Our City' service after the Boston Marathon bombings, with President Barack Obama
- 2018–2019 — $26 million renovation led by Elkus Manfredi Architects and Suffolk Construction under Msgr. Kevin O'Leary; rededicated on Palm Sunday 2019
Architecture
Designed in the Gothic Revival style by Irish-American architect Patrick C. Keely with construction supervised by his assistant John A. Dempwolf, the Cathedral measures 364 feet long, 90 feet across the transepts, and 120 feet tall — covering approximately 50,000 square feet. The exterior is built of local Roxbury puddingstone and gray limestone from Quincy, with some brick salvaged from the Ursuline convent in Charlestown that was burned in the anti-Catholic 1834 riots. The two western spires were never built. The lower level contains an oratory for smaller services.
- Architect: Patrick C. Keely (assisted by John A. Dempwolf)
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Materials: Roxbury puddingstone and gray limestone
- Dimensions: 364 ft long × 90 ft wide × 120 ft tall
- Capacity: ~1,700–2,000
The Hook & Hastings Opus 801 Organ
Installed in 1875, the Cathedral's Hook & Hastings pipe organ — Opus 801 — is the largest surviving instrument ever built by the prestigious American organ firm (originally E. & G. G. Hook). It boasts 101 ranks across three manuals and pedal, with imported Parisian reeds, bold mixtures, cornets, and a Tuba Mirabilis. The organ has been electrified but remains tonally original, retaining the historic 19th-century sound for which the Cathedral is renowned.
The 2019 Renovation
The $26 million restoration — the most significant in the Cathedral's 150-year history — was completed over 2018 and 2019, with the first post-renovation Mass celebrated on Palm Sunday 2019. Led by Rector Monsignor Kevin J. O'Leary alongside Elkus Manfredi Architects and Suffolk Construction, the project cleaned and repointed the exterior stonework, completed six months of ceiling stripping and refinishing, hand-restored the Stations of the Cross, refinished the pews, illuminated the stained-glass windows from within, replaced the original oak floors with stone, and upgraded electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, fire protection, and sprinkler systems.
- Exterior stonework cleaned and repointed
- Walls brightened; pews refinished
- Stations of the Cross hand-restored
- Six-month ceiling restoration
- Stained-glass windows cleaned and illuminated from within
- Stone flooring replacing original oak
- Modern HVAC, electrical, and fire-protection systems installed
Mass & Worship Schedule
The Cathedral offers one of the most liturgically diverse Sunday schedules in the Archdiocese, with four different rites/languages celebrated each week. Daily Mass is offered Monday through Saturday at 9:00 AM in English, with additional Spanish evening Masses on Tuesday and Thursday.
- Saturday Vigil 4:30 PM — English, Main Cathedral
- Sunday 8:00 AM — English, Main Cathedral
- Sunday 9:30 AM — Spanish, Main Cathedral
- Sunday 10:00 AM — Latin (Extraordinary Form), Our Lady's Chapel
- Sunday 11:30 AM — English with Cathedral Choir, Main Cathedral
- Sunday 1:00 PM — Alexandrian Ge'ez Rite, Our Lady's Chapel
- Sunday 5:30 PM — English, Main Cathedral
- Mon–Sat 9:00 AM — English, Blessed Sacrament Chapel
- Tue & Thu 7:00 PM — Spanish, Blessed Sacrament Chapel
Music & Choirs
Music is central to the liturgical life of the Cathedral, which hosts multiple choirs spanning Gregorian chant, Renaissance polyphony, and 21st-century sacred works in the spirit of Vatican II's ideals of sacred music.
- Cathedral Choir — Richard J. Clark, Director; 11:30 AM Sundays, Holy Days, archdiocesan liturgies
- Archdiocesan Festival Choir — combines the Cathedral Choir with singers from across the archdiocese; televised on CatholicTV
- Schola Amicorum — John Salisbury, Director; Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) on Sundays
- El Coro Español — Damaris Rosado, Director; sings at the 9:30 AM Sunday and Holy Day Spanish Masses
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Cathedral parish supports the full continuum of catechetical and sacramental preparation for children, youth, and adults, with special attention to its multilingual community.
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- RCIY — Rite of Christian Initiation of Youth
- Children's Religious Education
- Adult Faith Formation / Adult Religious Education
- Young Adult Religious Education
- Bible Study groups
Outreach & Social-Justice Ministries
True to its identity as a 'mother church,' the Cathedral runs a remarkably extensive set of social-justice and outreach ministries that serve thousands of people each week across the South End and greater Boston.
- Catholic Charities Food Pantry — serves ~250 families weekly
- Cathedral Cares Clinic — free health services staffed by a registered nurse, plus semi-annual health fairs with Boston Health Care for the Homeless
- Saint Helena House — HUD-administered housing for low-income seniors
- Off-site shelter for victims of human trafficking (in collaboration with the City of Boston)
- Homeless outreach — Order of Malta members bring water, clothing, and companionship to the streets
- Weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
- Help to homeless families transitioning from shelter to permanent housing
- Eucharist to the Homebound / Hospital Ministry
- Visits to the Sick and Shut-ins
Visiting the Cathedral
The Cathedral welcomes visitors throughout the week. Free Coffee and Cathedral Tours are hosted on the 4th Sunday of each month after the 11:30 AM Mass, and private tours for groups of 10 or more can be arranged through the parish office. Highlights for visitors include the restored Hook & Hastings organ, the stained-glass windows now illuminated from within, the hand-restored Stations of the Cross, and the striking Roxbury puddingstone facade.
- Coffee and Cathedral Tours — 4th Sunday of the month after 11:30 AM Mass
- Private group tours for 10+ available by appointment
- Address: 1400 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118
- Phone: 617-542-5682
Clergy & Leadership
The Cathedral is led by Rector Rev. Christopher K. O'Connor (appointed by Archbishop Henning in March 2026 and assuming leadership in late June 2026), with Rev. Rodrigo Martinez serving as Parochial Vicar. Most Rev. Richard G. Henning, Archbishop of Boston, is the celebrant at major archdiocesan liturgies. Deacon Ricardo M. Mesa assists in parish ministry.
- Rev. Christopher K. O'Connor — Rector (June 2026–present)
- Rev. Rodrigo Martinez — Parochial Vicar
- Most Rev. Richard G. Henning — Archbishop of Boston
- Deacon Ricardo M. Mesa
- Msgr. Robert Oliver — Vicar General (Archdiocese of Boston)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Bishop John Fitzpatrick1860–1866
Initiated the project for a new cathedral; selected Patrick Keely as architect; died in 1866 before construction could begin.
- Archbishop John J. Williams1866–1875
Took over the project after Fitzpatrick's death; broke ground on April 29, 1866; named the cathedral Holy Cross after the True Cross relic; dedicated the Cathedral on December 8, 1875 as Boston's first archbishop.
- Cardinal William O'Connellearly 20th c.
Funeral Mass for him was held at the Cathedral in 1944.
- Cardinal Richard Cushing1960s
Presided over the nationally televised 1964 JFK requiem Mass at the Cathedral.
- Msgr. Kevin J. O'Leary2008–2026
Rector for 18 years; ordained 1995; elevated to Monsignor in 2019. South Boston native. Oversaw the $26 million, 2018–2019 renovation with Elkus Manfredi Architects and Suffolk Construction. Granted senior priest status in 2026. Previously served Our Lady's in Scituate, Our Lady of the Assumption in Lynnfield, and Saint Peter Parish in Cambridge.
- Rev. Christopher K. O'ConnorJune 2026–present
Appointed by Archbishop Henning on March 13, 2026; assumed pastoral leadership in late June 2026. Ordained May 1998; previously served St. Mary in Chelmsford, St. John the Evangelist and Holy Rosary in Winthrop (later merged into St. Michael the Archangel), Logan Airport chapel chaplain since 2020, adjunct professor at St. John's Seminary and Pope St. John XXIII Seminary, former Vice Rector of St. John's Seminary, weekly chaplain to the Missionaries of Charity in Dorchester, monthly visitor to MCI-Framingham (women) and MCI-Norfolk (men).
