Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

About the Cathedral

As mother church of the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the spiritual, prophetic and physical symbol of Catholic presence in the Kansas City area. The parish family is home to thousands of worshipers and, through Morning Glory Ministries and other outreach, helps more than 2,000 needy people each year. The parish mission: 'We, the parish family and stewards of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph, invite all under the gold dome to celebrate the Eucharist, serve our guests in need, grow in the Catholic faith and proclaim the Gospel of Christ.'

History & Self-Guided Tour

Catholic Kansas City traces back to 1833 (Father Benedict Roux), 1835 (log St. John Francis Regis Church), 1845–1880 (Father Bernard Donnelly's ministry and the 1857 brick Immaculate Conception), 1880 (erection of the Diocese of Kansas City under Bishop John Joseph Hogan), 1882–1883 (the present Cathedral, cornerstone laid in 1882 and first services on Trinity Sunday 1883), 1895 (eleven-bell carillon), 1912 (stained-glass windows), 1955 (Bishop O'Hara interior renovation), 1956 (merger forming the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph), 1960 (gold-leaf dome under Bishop Cody), 2003 (Gift of Faith restoration under Bishop Boland), and 2024 (Father Donnelly Parish Hall). The parish publishes a self-guided tour covering the bell tower, the gold dome, the stained glass, the Berenice Menard Chouteau exhibit ('Mother of Kansas City'), and the Father Donnelly story.

• St. John Francis Regis log church (1835)
• First brick Immaculate Conception (1857)
• Cornerstone of the present Cathedral (1882)
• First services Trinity Sunday 1883
• Carillon of 11 bells (Dec 8, 1895)
• Stained-glass windows (1912)
• O'Hara interior renovation (1955)
• Gold-leaf dome, cupola and cross (1960)
• Gift of Faith restoration and rededication (Feb 22, 2003)
• Father Donnelly Parish Hall dedicated (August 2024)

Two Cathedrals, One Mission (Ecumenical Covenants)

Two blocks south of the Catholic Cathedral stands Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri's seat. The two cathedrals have shared joint Ash Wednesday services, retreats and classes, and have signed three formal covenants expressing their aspiration for unity in Christ's Church and partnership in Kansas City.

• Original Covenant — June 2, 1974
• Rededication Covenant — June 2, 1999 (25th anniversary)
• Renewal Covenant — May 13, 2008 (34th anniversary)

Architecture & the Gold Dome

Designed by architect T. R. Tinsley in a Romanesque style with Baroque and western American eclectic accents, the Cathedral is brick, built on the highest ground in Kansas City, and was once the tallest building in the city. The signature feature is the gilded dome, cupola and cross — 23-karat gold leaf applied in 1960 under Bishop John P. Cody. Interior stained-glass windows depict scenes from the life of Christ and other biblical themes, and the eleven-bell carillon rings across downtown.

• Architect: T. R. Tinsley
• Style: Romanesque with Baroque/western eclectic elements
• Materials: brick exterior
• Dome: 23-karat gold leaf (1960)
• Stained glass: Kansas City Stained Glass Works Company (1912)
• Carillon: 11 bells (1895)

Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation

Faith Formation at the Cathedral includes OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) Inquiry Sessions on Sundays at 10:00 AM, First Communion classes, Youth Confirmation preparation, and scheduled Confirmation Masses (Saturday 10:30 AM and Sunday 1:30 PM). Baptism Preparation Classes are held in the St. Regis Room. The Faith Formation Team — composed of parishioner volunteers — coordinates the work alongside the Pastoral Associate.

• OCIA / RCIA — Inquiry Sundays 10:00 AM
• First Communion classes — Sunday 9:30 AM, Conference Room
• Youth Confirmation — O'Hara Room
• Baptism Prep Class — St. Regis Room
• Sacrament of Confirmation Masses — Sat 10:30 AM; Sun 1:30 PM

Music & Liturgy

Liturgy and music are led by Dr. Mario Pearson, Principal Organist. The Cathedral's historic choir — famous in the 1920s and 1930s for sold-out concerts at the Grand Theatre — continues as a central liturgical and community ministry. Liturgical roles are filled by trained laypeople and clergy: Altar Servers/Masters of Ceremonies, Sacristans, Eucharistic Ministers, and Greeters & Ushers.

• Principal Organist: Mario Pearson, Ph.D.
• Cathedral Choir / Music Ministry
• Altar Servers & Masters of Ceremonies
• Sacristans
• Eucharistic Ministers
• Greeters & Ushers

Outreach & Charity: Morning Glory Ministries

Morning Glory Ministries (MGM) is the Cathedral's signature outreach to the homeless and poor of downtown Kansas City. For more than four decades the parish has served breakfast, distributed clothing, shoes, pantry items, hygiene supplies, and helped guests obtain documents such as birth certificates. Director John Kraus leads a staff and volunteer team that has served more than 2,000 people per year, with roughly 100–200 guests served each weekday. The ministry is currently housed in renovated space at The Catholic Center (20 W. 9th St., the bishop's chancery) and will continue to operate out of the new Father Donnelly Parish Hall on the cathedral campus.

• Morning Glory Ministries — daily breakfast & emergency assistance
• Dorothy Day House of Hospitality
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul
• St. Joseph the Worker Ministry
• Room in the Inn
• Ministry to the Sick
• Haiti Ministry
• Funeral Ministry

Parish Groups, Councils & Fellowship

The Cathedral runs a vibrant calendar of parish groups for adults, young adults, women, families, and students. Pastoral, Finance, and Stewardship Councils guide parish governance, while a Stewardship Committee and dozens of ministry teams put faith into practice. Hospitality ministries include Sunday Coffee & Donuts after the 9:00 and 11:00 AM Masses in the Gathering Place, and the Cathedral Guild supports congregational social events.

• Cathedral Young Adults — Catholics & Coffee; City on a Hill
• Cathedral Guild (co-coordinators Jeanne Matthews & Estella Morales)
• Women's Spirituality Group
• Catholic Social Teachings group
• Knights of Columbus
• Benedictine Oblates
• Pastoral Council (chair: Richard Stephenson)
• Finance Council (chair: Dean Bezdek)
• Stewardship Council / Stewardship Committee
• Hospitality — Coffee & Donuts (Sundays)
• St. Regis Vocations Committee
• Gift Shop Ministry

Building Glory: The Father Donnelly Parish Hall

Launched in 2023, the $14 million 'Building Glory' diocesan campaign demolished the former school, garage and rectory on the cathedral campus and replaced them with the Father Donnelly Parish Hall — an 18,900-square-foot, two-story building on the corner of 11th and Broadway, connected to the historic Cathedral by a glass walkway. The hall houses parish administration, conference and choir rooms, a 350-seat event venue, diocesan administrative offices, and Morning Glory Ministries' emergency and social services. It was dedicated in August 2024 and is named after Father Bernard Donnelly, the pastor who built the first brick Immaculate Conception Church and shaped Catholic Kansas City in the 19th century.

• Father Donnelly Parish Hall — 18,900 sq. ft., two stories
• 350-seat event venue for parish and community events
• Parish administration + choir + conference rooms
• Diocesan administrative offices
• Morning Glory Ministries offices and services
• Glass walkway connecting hall to the historic Cathedral
• Dedicated August 2024

Visit, Park & Contact

The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Telephone (816) 842-0416, ext. 110. The Cathedral publishes a parking map on its website; on-campus parking was expanded by the Father Donnelly Parish Hall project. A nearby bus stop provides public-transit access. Visitors are encouraged to use the self-guided history tour (available on kcgolddome.org) to see the bell tower, gold dome, stained-glass windows and the Berenice Menard Chouteau exhibit. Professional photographers must contact the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph to obtain permission before scheduling an appointment.

• Address: 416 W. 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64105
• Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Phone: (816) 842-0416 ext. 110
• Self-guided history tour available online
• Public transit via nearby bus stop
• Photography by appointment with the Diocese