About Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception · Wichita, Kansas
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (popularly known as St. Mary's Cathedral) is the mother church of the Diocese of Wichita and one of the oldest Catholic congregations in the city, with the parish founded in 1887. The present Renaissance Revival building, designed by famed church architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray and constructed of Bedford stone, was begun in 1906 and dedicated by Cardinal James Gibbons on September 19, 1912. Located at Broadway and Central in downtown Wichita, the Cathedral serves as the spiritual home of every Catholic in the diocese, hosts diocesan liturgies, and is the entombment site of Venerable Servant of God Father Emil J. Kapaun, the Medal of Honor recipient and Korean War chaplain whose cause for sainthood was advanced to Venerable by Pope Francis in February 2025.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title of the Immaculate Conception)
- Rector
- Father Adam J. Keiter (Rector); the diocese parish directory more recently lists Reverend Gabriel A. Greer as Pastor
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
The Cathedral is the spiritual heart of the Diocese of Wichita — the seat of Bishop Carl A. Kemme and the place where every Catholic in the diocese is formally welcomed. Parishioners can worship in a Masqueray-designed historic landmark with a vibrant bilingual schedule (English and Spanish daily Masses), join a deep bench of ministries spanning youth, young adults, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Respect Life, ACTS retreats, the Cathedral Choir, cantors, lectors, eucharistic adoration every Wednesday, and a thriving Cathedral High School youth group. Above all, it is home to the tomb of Venerable Emil J. Kapaun, the Kansas-born Medal of Honor chaplain now one step from beatification — a unique pilgrimage draw that gives the parish a character no other church in the region shares.
Mass times at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each weekday Mass (no confessions before Monday noon Mass)
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM
- Sunday 12:00–12:25 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:30 AM – 11:15 AM
- Wednesday 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM
History of the Cathedral
The first Catholic church in Wichita was built in 1872, well before the diocese itself existed. In 1887 Pope Leo XIII erected the Diocese of Wichita and the cathedral parish was founded; the Rev. James O'Reilly was named first bishop but died before consecration, and John J. Hennessy of St. Louis was appointed in February 1888. Hennessy broke ground for the present Cathedral in April 1906 and laid the cornerstone that October. The completed Renaissance Revival church, designed by Emmanuel Louis Masqueray and built of Bedford stone, was consecrated on September 19, 1912, with Cardinal James Gibbons of Baltimore officiating alongside some 30 bishops. Bishop Hennessy served the diocese for 32 years until his death in 1920.
- 1872 — first Catholic church in Wichita
- 1887 — Diocese of Wichita erected; cathedral parish founded
- 1888 — Rev. John J. Hennessy named second bishop
- April 1906 — groundbreaking
- October 1906 — cornerstone laid
- September 19, 1912 — dedication by Cardinal James Gibbons
- 1997 — bronze doors by Domus Dei of Italy installed
- September 29, 2021 — remains of Father Emil J. Kapaun entombed in the east transept
- February 24, 2025 — Pope Francis advances Fr. Kapaun to Venerable
Architecture & Art
The Cathedral is a Renaissance Revival design by Emmanuel Louis Masqueray, the French-born architect whose credits include the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair and the Cathedral of Saint Paul. The cruciform building is constructed of Bedford stone, measures 169 feet long by 100 feet wide at the transepts, and rises to a central dome 135 feet above the ground. Three copper domes are the building's iconic skyline feature. The interior is graced by a Kilgen organ (still in use after a $76,500 renovation), large stained-glass windows now over 110 years old, and bronze main doors cast by Domus Dei of Italy and installed in 1997.
- Architect: Emmanuel Louis Masqueray
- Style: Renaissance Revival
- Material: Bedford stone
- Dimensions: 169 ft × 100 ft (at transepts); dome 135 ft
- Three copper domes
- Kilgen organ (renovated for $76,500)
- Bronze doors by Domus Dei, Italy (1997)
Father Emil J. Kapaun & the Tomb
The east transept of the Cathedral chapel holds the tomb of Father Emil J. Kapaun, the Pilsen, Kansas-born priest and U.S. Army chaplain who died in a Korean War POW camp on May 23, 1951, and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His remains were identified in Hawaii and returned to Kansas in September 2021; they were entombed at the Cathedral on September 29, 2021. Pope Francis advanced his cause for sainthood on February 24, 2025, granting the Decree that recognizes Kapaun's heroic 'offer of life' and conferring the title Venerable — the second step toward canonization. Pilgrims are welcomed to visit, pray at the tomb, and attend scheduled sacraments; a small museum display about Father Kapaun is also located in the parish hall.
- Medal of Honor recipient
- Died in Korean POW camp, May 23, 1951
- Remains identified in Hawaii, returned September 2021
- Entombed in east transept, September 29, 2021
- Declared Venerable by Pope Francis, February 24, 2025
- Cause handled by the Diocese of Wichita since 2008
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Rector Fr. Adam J. Keiter (with the diocesan directory more recently listing Rev. Gabriel A. Greer as Pastor) and Parochial Vicar Fr. Todd Shepherd (with the diocesan directory also listing Rev. Christopher J. Rumback and Rev. Nicholas S. Samsel as parochial vicars). Lay staff include Mike Rowland (Business Manager), Paty Verdin (Administrative Assistant), Jenny Friend (Communications), Maria Manning / Carina Vazquez (Receptionist), Aubrey Coulter (Liturgy Coordinator), Ariana Nayeli Esparza (Director of Evangelization & Mission), Francesca Chavez (Sacramental Records Secretary), Alan Held (Director of Sacred Music), Carole Pracht (Cathedral Organist), Aaron Guerrero (Maintenance Technician), and Ana Terrazas (Housekeeper).
- Fr. Adam J. Keiter — Pastor/Rector
- Fr. Todd Shepherd — Parochial Vicar
- Mike Rowland — Business Manager
- Alan Held — Director of Sacred Music
- Carole Pracht — Cathedral Organist
- Ariana Nayeli Esparza — Director of Evangelization & Mission
- Francesca Chavez — Sacramental Records Secretary
Parish Ministries & Groups
The Cathedral runs a wide slate of ministries spanning liturgy, formation, service, and community life. Liturgical roles include Lectors, Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers, Cantors, the Cathedral Choir, the Liturgical Environment Team, Livestream Volunteers, and Communion to the Homebound. Formation and parish life include ACTS Retreats, a Young Adult Group for ages 21–35, a Cathedral High School Youth Group meeting Sundays 2–4 PM in Good Shepherd Hall, a Prayer Line, Tour Guides, and the Fr. Kapaun Hospitality Guide/Docent program. Outreach includes the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Respect Life / Protection of Human Life Outreach. Stewardship and governance are served by the Parish Leadership Team, Finance Council, Stewardship Committee, and Parish Festival Committee.
- Cathedral Choir (rehearsals Wed 7:30 PM)
- Cathedral High School Youth Group (Sun 2–4 PM)
- Young Adult Group (21–35)
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- Respect Life Ministry
- ACTS Retreats
- Tour Guides & Fr. Kapaun Docents
Visiting the Cathedral & the Kapaun Tomb
The Cathedral is at Broadway and Central in downtown Wichita; parking for cars and buses is available behind the church, with the handicap-accessible entrance off Broadway Avenue through the south door. Because the church is closed to all visitors on weekdays while dome restoration is underway (as of May 29, 2025), the building is open for weekend Masses only until further notice — weekday Mass is celebrated in Good Shepherd Hall. Pilgrims visiting the tomb of Venerable Emil Kapaun are encouraged to attend scheduled sacraments; a small Kapaun display is located in the parish hall.
- Located at Broadway & Central
- Parking and bus parking behind the church
- South-door Broadway entrance is handicap-accessible
- Weekday church closure in effect since May 29, 2025
- Weekday Mass held in Good Shepherd Hall
- Weekend Masses only inside the church until further notice
Cathedral Restoration & Diocesan Capital Campaign
After more than a century of service, the Cathedral's three copper domes and stained-glass windows are in urgent need of repair. Moisture seals and support structures in the domes have deteriorated, causing some masonry damage; the stained-glass windows have begun to sag and bulge where the leading between glass segments has failed. A $12 million restoration project, part of Bishop Carl A. Kemme's $50 million 'One Family, Fully Alive in Christ' diocesan capital campaign, will cover copper replacement, structural repairs, and a full two-to-three-year stained-glass restoration in which each window is removed, workshop-restored, and hand-reassembled.
- Project scope: $12 million within $50 million diocesan campaign
- Copper dome replacement and structural repairs
- Full stained-glass restoration over 2–3 years
- Bishop Carl A. Kemme leading diocesan effort
- Cathedral is 'everyone's church' within the diocese