Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral

History of Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral

Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral traces its origin to the 2011 announcement by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge that a new cathedral would be built for the Diocese of Raleigh, and to the 1896 land purchase by Father Thomas Price for the Holy Name orphanage and chapel. Ground was broken January 3, 2015; the cornerstone blessed by Pope Francis was installed July 21, 2017; and the cathedral was dedicated July 26, 2017. The diocese's original cathedral, 320-seat Sacred Heart (1924), is preserved as part of the parish.

• December 12, 1924: Diocese of Raleigh established; Sacred Heart designated cathedral.
• 1972: Diocese of Charlotte erected from the western counties.
• 2011: Bishop Burbidge announces cathedral fundraising campaign.
• 2012: Father Thomas Price's Cause for Beatification and Canonization opened.
• January 3, 2015: Groundbreaking on the Memorial of the Holy Name of Jesus.
• December 2015: Cornerstone presented to Pope Francis for blessing.
• July 5, 2017: Pope Francis appoints Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama as sixth Bishop of Raleigh.
• July 21, 2017: Cornerstone installed at the cathedral.
• July 26, 2017: Cathedral dedicated.
• August 29, 2017: Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama installed.
• 2025: Diocese announces plan for cathedral cemetery.

Architecture, Art and Sacred Furnishings

Designed by O'Brien & Keane Architecture of Arlington, VA, the cathedral follows a cruciform plan with a copper-clad 173-foot dome over the crossing and a 154-foot bell tower. Exterior masonry uses wood-mold brick with grapevine joints and cast stone, while all liturgical furnishings are carved from Bianco Carrara C marble with Giallo Siena accents set on Bardiglio Nuvolato marble floors. Twelve large stained-glass windows were rescued from the closed Church of the Ascension in Philadelphia and restored by Beyer Studios, whose new companion windows use translucent diamond-patterned fields echoing the diocesan coat of arms.

• Cruciform plan, Doric-Ionic-Corinthian orders on the façade and dome.
• Beyer Studios restored 12 stained-glass windows from the Church of the Ascension (Philadelphia); designed new companion windows.
• Rose window depicts apparitions at Fatima, Tepeyac, Lourdes, and to St. Catherine Labouré — each panel also depicting Servant of God Father Thomas Price.
• 24 statues of saints, 14 Stations of the Cross, shrines to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph the Worker.
• 50 bells in the bell tower (one salvaged from Sacred Heart Cathedral).
• 61-stop pipe organ and 30-musician capacity in the 3,500-sq.-ft. choir mezzanine.
• Bardiglio Nuvolato and Bianco Carrara C marble sanctuary flooring.
• Wood-mold brick, multihued cast stone, copper roofs and dome.
• 162-ton copper-clad ribbed dome.

Mass and Worship Schedule

The parish celebrates Mass at two locations: Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral (715 Nazareth Street, weekends and Tuesday–Friday mornings) and Sacred Heart Church (200 Hillsborough Street, weekdays and Saturdays). Weekend Masses are offered in both English and Spanish; daily Masses include an English noon Mass at Sacred Heart and a Wednesday/Thursday evening Spanish Mass at Sacred Heart. Three Sunday Masses (8:30 AM Spanish, 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM English) plus 6:00 PM English and 7:45 PM Spanish holy day Masses are livestreamed on YouTube.

• Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM English at HNOJ.
• Sunday: 7:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM English; 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM Spanish at HNOJ.
• Tuesday–Friday 7:00 AM English at HNOJ; Monday–Friday 12:10 PM English at Sacred Heart.
• Wednesday & Thursday 7:00 PM Spanish at Sacred Heart.
• Saturday 9:00 AM English at Sacred Heart.

Clergy and Pastoral Staff

The parish is served by a pastor/rector, three parochial vicars, and four permanent deacons, in communion with the Bishop of Raleigh. A full-time administrative staff supports liturgy, music, faith formation, youth ministry, communications, facilities, finance, and Hispanic ministry. Monsignor David D. Brockman has served as rector since June 2018 and as Vicar General of the Diocese of Raleigh since 2007.

• Pastor and Rector: Msgr. David D. Brockman, STL, JCL.
• Parochial Vicars: Fr. Erik Reyes, Fr. John Vedanayagam (MSFS), Fr. Juan Manuel Alvarez.
• Deacons: Michael Alig, Jose Juan Banda, Michael Doyle, Glenn Dudek.
• Bishop: Most Reverend Luis Rafael Zarama.
• Director of Liturgy & RCIA: Dcn. Mike Alig.
• Director of Religious Education: Stacie Miller.
• Director of Youth, Adult & Senior Ministries: Elizabeth Bass.
• Director of Sacred Music: David Eaton.
• Director of Communications & IT: Michelle Connors.
• Director of Business & Administration: Cassidy Meiners.
• Director of Facilities: David Heinske.
• Office of Married Life: Suzanne Carter.
• Office of Human Life, Dignity & Justice: Barbara Quinby.
• Hispanic Ministry Administrative Coordinator: Olga Salas.
• Baptism Coordinator: Nora Alcantar.
• Assistant to the Pastor: Sarah Salas.

Faith Formation for Children and Youth

Children's Faith Formation follows a Color-Team model for elementary students (K–5) on Sunday mornings, with bilingual, English, and Sacred Heart-campus sessions. Middle-schoolers prepare for First Communion in a two-year program and meet in a youth group on Sundays. Confirmation is a two-year process beginning in 9th grade for teens at least 14 years old, with required informational meetings in August. The high-school youth ministry uses the Life Teen curriculum with Sunday Life Nights, retreats, service days, and trips including the March for Life, the National Catholic Youth Conference, and Steubenville-Atlanta.

• Elementary Faith Formation: Purple (K), Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange Teams.
• Sessions on Sundays 9:00 AM, 10:15 AM (bilingual), 12:30 PM, and 4:30 PM.
• Middle School First Communion Preparation at Sacred Heart Campus.
• Confirmation Year 1 and Year 2 for 9th–10th graders.
• Life Teen Youth Ministry Sundays 4:00–6:00 PM at HNOJ Parish Center.
• Registration May 1 through August 19.

OCIA and Adult Faith

The parish runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA — formerly RCIA) for adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church, with preparation coordinated by the Director of Liturgy & RCIA, Deacon Mike Alig.

• OCIA inquiry and formation for unbaptized adults and baptized Christians seeking full communion.
• Adult Confirmation preparation.

Music Ministry and Cathedral Music Program

The Music Ministry supports five sung weekend liturgies at the cathedral — Cantor & Organ (5 PM vigil, 7 AM), Cantor/Ensemble with instruments (8:30 AM Spanish), Traditional Choir & Organ (10:30 AM), Spiritual Choir with piano/organ (12:30 PM), and Spanish Choir with instruments (2:30 PM) — accompanied by a 61-stop pipe organ and instrumental ensemble in the choir mezzanine. The Sacred Music Scholar, Dr. Mi Zhou, supports the parish's musical formation program, and the parish also partners with Cathedral School for children's choirs.

• Traditional Choir (10:30 AM English).
• Spiritual Choir (12:30 PM English).
• Spanish Choir (2:30 PM Spanish).
• Cantor/Ensemble (8:30 AM Spanish).
• Cantor & Organ (5:00 PM vigil and 7:00 AM English).
• 61-stop pipe organ in the choir mezzanine.
• Children's Choirs in collaboration with Cathedral School.
• Sacred Music Scholar: Dr. Mi Zhou; Director: David Eaton.

Liturgical Ministries and the Stream Team

The parish trains and commissions lay liturgical ministers (ushers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion) through quarterly workshops led by Deacon Mike Alig. Since 2025 a dedicated Stream Team of volunteers also live-streams Sunday and holy day Masses to YouTube, onboarding new members through quarterly orientation sessions.

• Ushers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
• Quarterly training: Aug 18 / Nov 17 / Feb 23 (2026) / May 11 (2026).
• Youth liturgical training in Aug, Nov, Mar, May.
• Stream Team orientation, shadowing, novice, and primary phases.
• Electronic scheduling for 300+ liturgical volunteers.

Marriage and Family Life

The Office of Married Life directs marriage preparation, enrichment, and family-life programming for the parish under Suzanne Carter, with Sarah Salas supporting the pastor and the Office of Married Life.

• Pre-marriage preparation (FOCCUS-style inventories and meetings).
• Marital enrichment programming.
• Natural family planning and family resources.

Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano)

Hispanic Ministry at HNOJ coordinates the Spanish-language Masses (8:30 AM and 2:30 PM Sunday, 7:00 PM Wednesday and Thursday at Sacred Heart), Spanish confessions, baptism and quinceañera preparation, the Tuesday evening Hora Santa and rosary, and Spanish-language faith formation. Olga Salas is the Hispanic Ministry Administrative Coordinator.

• Spanish weekend Masses 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM Sunday at HNOJ.
• Spanish daily Mass 7:00 PM Wed & Thu at Sacred Heart.
• Spanish confessions Saturday 3:00 PM and Wed/Thu 6:00 PM at Sacred Heart.
• Spanish Tuesday Rosary 6:30 PM and Hora Santa 7:00 PM.
• Bilingual Faith Formation at 10:15 AM.
• Quinceañera coordination.

Outreach: Respect Life, Note in the Pocket, CPO Baby Drives and Grief Support

The Office of Human Life, Dignity & Justice (directed by Barbara Quinby) oversees the parish's pro-life and social-justice work, while the parish partners with two local charities: Note in the Pocket (twice-yearly clothing drives supporting Wake County homeless children) and Catholic Parish Outreach (twice-yearly baby supply drives in August and March). A Grief Support ministry provides bereavement resources for parishioners.

• Note in the Pocket clothing drives, led through Cathedral School.
• Catholic Parish Outreach baby supply drives (August and March/May).
• March for Life participation through the youth ministry.
• Grief Support and Bereavement Ministry.
• Respect Life and human dignity programming.

Cathedral School

Cathedral School is the parish's co-educational Catholic elementary school located on the cathedral campus, partnering with the Music Ministry for children's choirs and coordinating Note in the Pocket clothing drives.

Communications, Social Media, and Live Streaming

The parish maintains an active multilingual social media presence (Facebook and Instagram accounts for the main parish, Young Adults, Youth Ministry, and Hispanic Ministry; an X/Twitter account @HolyNameNC) and live-streams the 8:30 AM Spanish, 10:30 AM English and 12:30 PM English Sunday Masses (plus holy-day English and Spanish Masses at 6:00 PM and 7:45 PM) to its YouTube channel.

• Facebook: HolyNameNC.
• Instagram: @holynamenc.
• X/Twitter: @HolyNameNC.
• YouTube: regular Sunday and holy-day Mass livestreams.
• Weekly e-bulletin and parish bulletins posted online.

Getting Involved, Volunteering, and Stewardship

Parishioners are invited to join more than 300 liturgical volunteers, serve on choirs and the Stream Team, catechize children in Faith Formation, mentor youth or young adults, deliver outreach through Note in the Pocket or CPO, or support the cathedral's stewardship and facilities efforts. The electronic scheduling system and free mobile app coordinate volunteer scheduling across ministries.

• Become a Lector, Usher, Extraordinary Minister, or Stream Team member.
• Join a choir or instrumental ensemble.
• Catechist or small-group leader for Faith Formation.
• Volunteer with Note in the Pocket, CPO baby drives, or Backyard fellowship.
• Support the parish through online Stewardship/Giving.