Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

About the Cathedral Parish

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the mother church of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend and an active downtown parish in its own right. Its parish mission statement reads: 'We, the Cathedral Parish, seek to worship God, foster encounters with Christ, cultivate a diverse community of disciples, and strive to serve those in need.' The parish community worships in the historic 1860 cathedral and in the adjoining MacDougal Memorial Chapel, and is served by a rector, parochial vicar and several lay ministries.

History of the Cathedral

Catholic life on this site began with Father Stephen Badin's 1830 mission to the Potawatomi. In 1831 he helped local Catholics buy the land that became Cathedral Square, and in 1837 a 35-by-65-foot log church — St. Augustine's — was built there. After Pope Pius IX erected the Diocese of Fort Wayne in 1857, Father Julian Benoit and Bishop John H. Luers planned a purpose-built cathedral on the same property; the cornerstone was laid June 19, 1859 and the Cathedral was dedicated December 8, 1860. Two great waves of work defined its appearance: the 1896–1897 addition of the Munich stained glass and German carvings under Monsignor Brammer, and the 1924–1935 'Rebuilding of the Cathedral' under Monsignor Thomas Conroy, which produced the world-famous Oberammergau-carved oak reredos. The exterior was refaced with Indiana limestone and Wisconsin Lannon stone after WWII, the MacDougal Memorial Chapel was added in 1950, and the building was extensively restored and rededicated on December 8, 1998.

• 1831: Catholics purchase the square from Samuel and Eliza Hanna for $100 (site previously a Miami Indian burial ground)
• 1836: Father Louis Mueller becomes first resident pastor (parish foundation)
• 1837: St. Augustine's log church built
• 1840: Father Julian Benoit succeeds Mueller
• 1845: First Catholic school in Fort Wayne opened with the Sisters of Providence and St. Mother Theodore Guerin
• 1857: Diocese of Fort Wayne erected by Pope Pius IX; John H. Luers named first bishop
• 1859 (Jan): St. Augustine's burns after being moved
• June 19, 1859: Cornerstone laid by Bishop Luers
• December 8, 1860: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception dedicated
• 1896–1897: Brammer renovation — Munich stained glass, Stations of the Cross, communion railing
• 1906: Crypt improved under the sanctuary
• 1925–1935: Conroy renovation — Oberammergau-carved reredos and bishop's chair, new pews, terrazzo floor, chandeliers (1928–1932)
• 1944: Southern counties form Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana
• 1950: Exterior refaced with limestone and Lannon stone; MacDougal Memorial Chapel and chancery built
• 1957: Northwest counties form Diocese of Gary
• 1960: Diocese redesignated Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
• October 23, 1980: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• 1982: Diocese celebrates 125th anniversary with historical marker on Cathedral Square
• 1986: Parish celebrates sesquicentennial (1836–1986)
• Easter 1998: Cathedral closed for major restoration
• December 8, 1998: Cathedral reopened and consecrated anew
• 2010: 150th anniversary of the cathedral's dedication

Art and Architecture

The Cathedral is an 80-by-180-foot Gothic structure with twin bell-tower spires rising 200 feet, a vaulted ceiling on fourteen clustered columns and a 34-by-36-foot sanctuary. Its most celebrated features are its 14 Munich stained-glass windows by F. X. Zettler at the Royal Bavarian Art Institute (depicting scenes from the life of Mary), the marble communion railing and the Oberammergau-carved oak reredos and bishop's throne installed in the 1920s and '30s. The exterior is finished in Indiana limestone and Wisconsin Lannon stone, over the original red-brick-and-sandstone shell.

• Style: Gothic (originally French Gothic exterior refaced in English Gothic after WWII)
• Design: Msgr. Julian Benoit with builder Thomas Lau
• Dimensions: 80 ft wide × 180 ft long; towers 200 ft high
• Sanctuary: 34 ft deep × 36 ft wide
• 14 clustered columns supporting the vaulted ceiling, set 22 ft apart
• 14 Munich stained-glass windows (1896–1897), each appraised >$25,000
• 14 hand-carved German Stations of the Cross (1896–1897)
• Oak sanctuary reredos and bishop's chair, Oberammergau carvings (1925–1935)
• French brass candlesticks with apostle figures
• Salvaged altar stone and mission crucifix from St. Augustine's (post-1859 fire)
• Three pipe organs installed after WWII

Clergy and Staff

Father Francis Chukwuma is the current Rector and Pastor, having been appointed by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades effective June 17, 2025; he simultaneously serves as Judicial Vicar of the Diocese. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Father Bob Garrow, and Father Patrick Hake, who resides at the Cathedral while continuing as chaplain of the University of St. Francis. The parish staff also includes a Business Manager, a Director of Liturgy and Music (Michael Dulac), a Parish Secretary, a Director of Buildings and Grounds, a Parish Nurse (Nancy O'Brien, R.N., M.S.), and Baptism Preparation and OCIA coordinators.

• Rector and Pastor: Rev. Francis Chukwuma ([email protected])
• Parochial Vicar: Rev. Bob (Robert) Garrow ([email protected])
• In residence: Rev. Patrick Hake (Chaplain, University of St. Francis)
• Director of Liturgy and Music: Michael Dulac ([email protected])
• Business Manager: [email protected]
• Parish Secretary: [email protected]
• Parish Nurse: Nancy O'Brien, R.N., M.S. ([email protected])
• Baptism Prep: Michael Heinlein ([email protected])
• OCIA Coordinator: Jill Adamson ([email protected])

Faith Formation and Sacraments

Faith formation at the Cathedral parish includes a Religious Education program (for 2025/2026 using the Augustine Institute curriculum), preparation for adults and children entering the Church through OCIA/OCIC, Baptism Preparation for parents, and Marriage Preparation with the rector. The choir is open to anyone of high-school age and older and rehearses Wednesday evenings from 7:00–9:00 PM.

• Religious Education (Anne Gustus, (260) 424-1485)
• OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (Jill Adamson)
• OCIC — Order of Christian Initiation for Children
• Baptism Preparation (Michael Heinlein)
• Marriage Preparation (Fr. Francis Chukwuma)
• Music Ministry — Choir rehearsals Wednesdays 7:00–9:00 PM
• Library Committee and Cathedral Lending Library
• Safe Environment training required for all clergy, employees and volunteers

Parish Ministries and Outreach

The Cathedral parish is served by an unusually wide range of lay ministries, organized around four pillars: liturgy (altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers, sacristans, greeters, ushers, gift bearers, liturgical linens), faith formation (Religious Education, OCIA/OCIC, library), pastoral care and outreach (St. Vincent de Paul Cathedral Conference, Prayer Chain, Parish Nurse, Funeral Dinners, Homebound Communion, Praise Presence and Prayer, Seven Sisters), and parish life (Coffee & Donuts, Flowers and Grounds, Finance Council, Offertory Counters, Tours).

• Altar Servers
• Baptism Preparation
• Coffee & Donuts (1st Sunday)
• Eucharistic Adoration
• Eucharistic Gift Bearers
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (and Homebound)
• Finance Council
• Flowers and Grounds
• Funeral Dinner Volunteers (Jan Watts)
• Greeters
• Lectors (Marlene Hastreiter)
• Library Committee
• Liturgical Linen Service
• Marriage Preparation
• Ministries with Persons with Disabilities
• Music Ministry (Michael Dulac)
• Offertory Counters
• Parish Nurse (Nancy O'Brien)
• Prayer Chain (Deb Dickey)
• Praise, Presence and Prayer (Bev Armstrong)
• Religious Education (Anne Gustus)
• OCIA / OCIC (Jill Adamson)
• Sacristans (Marlene Hastreiter)
• Seven Sisters Apostolate
• St. Vincent de Paul — Cathedral Conference ([email protected])
• Cathedral Tours (free; volunteer guides welcome)
• Ushers

Visiting the Cathedral

The Cathedral is at 1105 S. Calhoun Street, Fort Wayne (corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Calhoun Street), with the parish business office at 1102 S. Clinton Street. Parish office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m., and the phone number is (260) 424-1485. The parish offers free guided tours of the cathedral; call the office or email [email protected] to arrange one or to volunteer as a tour guide. Cathedral Square is a designated historic site and visitor destination in downtown Fort Wayne.

• Cathedral: 1105 S. Calhoun Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
• Business Office: 1102 S. Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
• Phone: (260) 424-1485
• Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
• Free guided tours (advance booking via the parish office)
• Burial site of Miami Chief Jean-Baptiste de Richardville marked on the square (Daughters of the American Revolution)
• Diocesan historical marker commemorating the 125th anniversary (1982)

Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend

The Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend, which covers 14 counties of northern and northeastern Indiana and is led today by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades. The diocese was originally erected in 1857 by Pope Pius IX as the Diocese of Fort Wayne (with Father John Henry Luers as first bishop); it was redesignated the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend in 1960. The diocese's chancery sits on Cathedral Square adjacent to the cathedral.

• Jurisdiction: Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
• Current bishop: Most Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades
• Diocesan website: https://diocesefwsb.org
• Original diocese erected 1857 (Diocese of Fort Wayne)
• Redesignated Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend in 1960