About Nativity of the B.V.M. · Biloxi, Mississippi
The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, located at 870 Howard Avenue in Biloxi, Mississippi, is the mother church (cathedra) of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi and the oldest Catholic parish on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Founded in 1843 as a mission and now serving a vibrant, multi-ethnic congregation, the parish continues a Catholic tradition in Biloxi that stretches back to the French Colonial era. The present Late Gothic Revival cathedral was designed by New Orleans architect Theodore Brune and dedicated on September 14, 1902, and was designated a cathedral when Pope Paul VI erected the Diocese of Biloxi on March 1, 1977. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and rededicated in May 1990 after a major hurricane-restoration project that included the addition of the Marian Chapel.
- Established
- 1843
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (Nativity of the B.V.M.)
- Rector
- Reverend Godfrey Andoh (Rector)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Biloxi
Why belong here
Nativity BVM Cathedral is the oldest Catholic parish on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the mother church of the Diocese of Biloxi, with a Sunday Mass schedule of five weekend Masses (Saturday 4:00 PM, Sunday 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 AM and 5:30 PM) plus daily Mass Monday through Saturday in the Marian Chapel. The parish combines a living historic landmark — a 1902 Late Gothic Revival cathedral designed by Theodore Brune, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with stunning Seth Thomas clock, Munich-made stained glass, and Italian pearl marble altars — with an active, multi-ethnic Catholic community offering faith formation and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), a Catholic school, a Music & Fine Arts ministry, VBS, and ongoing outreach. Joining means becoming part of a parish whose stated mission is to respond, like Mary, to God's love, while serving one of the most historically rich Catholic communities on the Mississippi coast.
Mass times at Nativity of the B.V.M.
Weekly Mass schedule
History of Nativity BVM Cathedral
Founded in 1843 as a Catholic mission on the Mississippi Gulf Coast under the Diocese of Natchez, Nativity BVM is the oldest Catholic parish on the Coast and the parent church for the area's other Catholic missions. The first church (dedicated 1844) was destroyed by an 1869 hurricane; the second, larger frame church (dedicated 1870, $3,000 to build) was destroyed by the great 1900 fire that consumed half of downtown Biloxi. Under Pastor Alphonse Ketels the present Late Gothic Revival cathedral was designed by New Orleans architect Theodore Brune and built by J.F. Barnes & Company of Greenville, Mississippi, dedicated on September 14, 1902. It became a cathedral when Pope Paul VI erected the Diocese of Biloxi on March 1, 1977, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, and was rededicated in May 1990 after a 1989 hurricane-driven restoration that added the Marian Chapel.
- 1843: Mission founded; cornerstone of first church laid August 1843.
- 1844: First brick church dedicated (50 × 25 ft).
- 1869: First church destroyed by hurricane.
- 1870: Second frame church dedicated (75 × 35 ft).
- 1871: Parish school opened.
- 1893: Stone grotto to Our Lady of Lourdes constructed.
- 1900: Second church, school, convent and rectory destroyed by the Biloxi fire.
- 1901: Father Alphonse Ketels traveled to Europe to seek rebuilding assistance.
- 1902: Present Late Gothic Revival cathedral designed by Theodore Brune and built by J.F. Barnes & Company; dedicated September 14.
- 1903: Parish enrollment reaches 1,728.
- 1906: Nine stained-glass windows (Reis and Reis, Munich) installed; bell, clock, pews, altar railing, altar and Stations of the Cross donated.
- 1928: Visit of New York Governor Alfred E. Smith.
- 1929: Interior repainted with donation from Governor Smith.
- 1930: Radiators installed.
- 1942: 30 Keesler Field soldiers lay a new church floor overnight.
- 1943: Three Italian pearl marble altars installed; roof, altar rail and sanctuary remodeled.
- 1969: Damage from Hurricane Camille.
- 1977 March 1: Diocese of Biloxi erected by Pope Paul VI; Nativity BVM becomes cathedral.
- 1984: Cathedral added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1985: Damage from Hurricane Elena.
- 1989: Renovation/restoration begun; Marian Chapel added.
- 1990 May: Cathedral rededicated and Marian Chapel dedicated.
- 1997: Mississippi Department of Archives and History marker erected at the site.
- 2005: Damage from Hurricane Katrina.
Architecture & Interior Features
The 1902 building is a fine example of Late Gothic Revival. The exterior is articulated with lancet windows of all sizes and sturdy buttresses at every corner and between the side-aisle bays. The vaulted interior uses groin vaults in both the nave and the aisles — separated by an arcade of pointed arches — with the nave vaults higher and wider than those of the aisles. The arcade piers are made up of grouped colonettes with elaborate gilded capitals. A square tower on the southeast corner, originally designed to hold the steeple, houses the Seth Thomas four-faced clock, the large Baltimore bell, and the stairs to the choir loft where the pipe organ, piano and chimes are installed. The 1906 stained glass was built by Reis and Reis of Munich and installed by Frederick Thornley of New York.
- Architect: Theodore Brune (German-born, New Orleans)
- Builder: J.F. Barnes & Company, Greenville, Mississippi
- Style: Late Gothic Revival
- Tower clock: Seth Thomas Company, New York
- Bell: Baltimore
- Stained glass: Reis and Reis, Munich, Germany (1906); installed by Frederick Thornley, New York
- Altars (1943): Italian pearl marble — main altar with Agnus Dei carving, Saint Joseph east-side altar, Sacred Heart west-side altar (with Our Mother of Perpetual Help)
- Bishop's Chair: antique carved cathedra in the sanctuary
- Bishop's Coat of Arms: displayed in the sanctuary
- Handcarved wood altar: in the sanctuary
The Marian Chapel
The Marian Chapel was added in 1989 as part of the major renovation/rededication project (rededicated May 1990). The three Italian pearl marble altars and some statuary were relocated here from the main sanctuary, and the chapel now hosts daily Mass, small liturgical celebrations, weddings and funerals. It contains the Miriam west-side altar, a perpetual symbol of Mary's spiritual message that 'all generations shall call her blessed' (Luke 1:48).
- Daily Mass venue (Mon–Fri 6:30 AM and 8:00 AM; Saturday 8:00 AM)
- Weddings and funerals
- Small liturgical celebrations
- Miriam west-side altar
Cathedral Staff & Clergy
The current leadership of Nativity BVM Cathedral includes Rector Rev. Godfrey Andoh, Parochial Vicar Father Bartosz Kunat, and a Deacon (per the staff page). The Director of Music & Fine Arts is Terry D. Maddox, M.M., and the parish also lists an Office Manager ([email protected]), a Social Media Manager, an OCIA Coordinator, a Director of Religious Education (and VBS), an OCIA Coordinator, and a Principal/Extraordinary Minister of the (school) on staff.
- Rev. Godfrey Andoh — Rector
- Father Bartosz Kunat — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon (unnamed on staff page)
- Terry D. Maddox, M.M. — Minister of Music & Director of Fine Arts
- Office Manager ([email protected])
- Social Media Manager
- OCIA Coordinator
- Director of Religious Education (& VBS)
- OCIA Coordinator (second listed)
- Principal / Extraordinary Minister of the (school)
Faith Formation & OCIA
The parish operates a Religious Education program (with a dedicated Director of Religious Education also responsible for Vacation Bible School) and runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) — formerly the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults — under two OCIA coordinators listed on the cathedral staff page. OCIA is the process through which adults are received into the Catholic Church through the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist).
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)
- Religious Education for children
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
Music & Fine Arts
Music is led by Terry D. Maddox, M.M., who serves as Minister of Music and Director of Fine Arts. The choir loft above the main entrance houses a pipe organ, piano and chimes that supplement the cathedral's liturgical music program.
- Pipe organ, piano, and chimes installed in the choir loft
- Gothic vaulted acoustics in nave and aisles
- Minister of Music & Director of Fine Arts: Terry D. Maddox, M.M.
Parish School
The parish has operated a Catholic school since 1871, when it was opened alongside the second Nativity BVM church. The current school is administered by a Principal who is also listed among the staff as an Extraordinary Minister of (Holy Communion).
- Founded 1871
- Principal listed among cathedral staff
- Parish-operated Catholic school
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Alphonse Ketelsearly 1900s (led rebuilding after 1900 fire; traveled to Europe in February 1901 to seek assistance for rebuilding)
Pastor under whose leadership the present Gothic Revival cathedral was designed by Theodore Brune and built in 1902; the new church was dedicated September 14, 1902.