Sacred Heart Cathedral

Our History

Catholic life in Salina began in 1861 when Jesuit missionary Father Louis Dumortier said Mass in the home of Peter Giersch Sr. A brick church was built at Ninth Street and Iron Avenue in 1876, and the parish grew steadily under pastors including Father Prosper Maurer (1881–1901) and Msgr. John Maher (1901–1939), who built the 1902 twin-towered church, schools, and convent. In 1944 Pope Pius XII transferred the See of the Diocese of Concordia to Salina, and Sacred Heart became the cathedral. The present modernist limestone cathedral was designed by Edward J. Schulte of Cincinnati, with cornerstone laid June 4, 1951, and dedicated June 6, 1953. The parish absorbed Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in 1971, and major additions came in 1998 (interior renovation) and 2000 (Hall of Bishops and gathering space).

• 1861 — First Mass in Salina, by Fr. Louis Dumortier, SJ
• 1876 — Brick church built at Ninth and Iron
• 1878 — Parish school opened
• 1902 — Twin-towered church dedicated
• Dec. 23, 1944 — See transferred from Concordia to Salina; Sacred Heart becomes cathedral
• June 4, 1951 — Cornerstone of new cathedral
• June 6, 1953 — Cathedral dedicated by Bishop Francis Thill
• 1971 — Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish merged in
• 1998 — Interior renovation
• 2000 — Hall of Bishops and gathering space dedicated
• 2005 — All Saints Cemetery blessed
• 2006 — Sacred Heart Grade School closed

Mission Statement

The Community of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Mother Church of the Diocese of Salina, is united in Christ to: Extend the Love and Mercy of God; Share our Faith and Unique Gifts; Strengthen the Family; and Proclaim the Truth to All People Everywhere. The cathedral's Latin motto, 'Cor Iesu, inflama cor nostrum amore tui' (Heart of Jesus, inflame our hearts with your love), is the prayer engraved at the base of the 20-foot sanctuary crucifix and is printed on the front of the weekly bulletin.

Architecture

Edward J. Schulte of Cincinnati designed the cathedral under the inspiration of Bishop Frank A. Thill, fusing classical Greek references with the functional forms of Kansas grain elevators and silos. The rounded limestone exterior walls evoke concrete grain elevators — symbolizing the Church as God's granary — and the round bell tower reflects a farm silo. The 30-foot rounded nave, the 20-foot crucifix with its Latin canopy, the cross-shaped baptismal font in the gathering space, the twelve consecration crosses with candles, the fourteen etched Stations of the Cross on the east wall, the Kilgen/Coombs pipe organ in its side chamber, and Anton Wendling's 25-foot stained-glass windows are the cathedral's defining interior and exterior features.

• Architect: Edward J. Schulte, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Style: Modern eclectic (classic Greek + Kansas grain elevator / silo)
• Materials: Limestone exterior
• Stained glass: 21 windows, 25 ft each, designed by Anton Wendling (Aachen, Germany), assembled by Erhardt Stettner (Milwaukee)
• Pipe organ: George Kilgen & Son (1926), rebuilt 1952, refurbished 1987, restored 2003 (Coombs)
• Notable art: 20-ft crucifix with Latin canopy, triptych of Sacred Heart / Our Lady of Perpetual Help / St. Francis, bas-relief farm-family procession at main entrance

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith formation at Sacred Heart is built on the principle that parents are the primary educators of their children. The parish offers a full religious-education program (CCD in English, Catecismo in Spanish) on Wednesday evenings, sacramental preparation for Eucharist and Confirmation (including a home-study option for grades 10–12 with 16 sessions, service hours, retreat, and interview), and the diocesan OCIA process for adults (RCIA, Tuesdays 6:00–7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room) and for children. 'Liturgy for Little Ones' dismisses preschool through first-grade children from the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass for an age-appropriate Liturgy of the Word in the Hall of Bishops.

• OCIA (RCIA) for Adults — Tuesdays 6:00–7:00 p.m., Conference Room
• RCIA for Children
• Religious Education (English) and Catecismo (Spanish) — Wednesday evenings
• Sacramental Preparation for Eucharist / Confirmation
• Liturgy for Little Ones — at 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass

Catholic Schools

Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Mary, Queen of the Universe, and St. Mary Queen of the Universe parishes of Salina jointly operate St. Mary's Grade School and Sacred Heart Junior-Senior High School, with Fr. John Schmeidler serving as pastor and chaplain. (Sacred Heart Grade School, the last remaining parish educational facility west of the cathedral, closed in 2006.) The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth taught in the parish school from 1879; the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia taught at the schools (and opened St. John's Hospital in 1914 and Marymount College in 1922) until 1987.

• St. Mary's Grade School (interparochial)
• Sacred Heart Junior/Senior High School (interparochial)
• Chaplain: Rev. John Schmeidler

Parish Organizations and Councils

Parish life is organized through the Parish Council (15 elected/appointed members meeting every other month), the Finance Council, the Maintenance Commission, the Knights of Columbus Council #601 (Grand Knight Tym Bonilla), the SHCCCW Ladies Guild (President Linda Struble), and CYO Youth Ministry (directors Chris and Renee Thompson). The Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Salina also lists a Sacred Heart Cathedral & Catholic Education Endowment Fund and a Sacred Heart Cathedral Expendable Fund to support the parish and its school subsidy.

• Parish Council — chair Bob Budke
• Finance Council — chair Susan Nelson
• Maintenance Commission
• Knights of Columbus Council #601
• SHCCCW (Ladies Guild) — president Linda Struble
• CYO Youth Ministry (with St. Mary's Parish)

Hispanic Ministry and Spanish-Language Life

Following the 1971 merger of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish into Sacred Heart Cathedral, the parish developed an extensive Hispanic ministry. Daily Spanish Masses are offered Monday through Friday, plus a Sunday 12:30 p.m. Mass and a Saturday 7:15 p.m. Mass. Confessions are heard in Spanish before every Spanish Mass and by appointment. The Spanish DRE is Mirna Aranda, and Spanish Catecismo classes and pláticas pre-bautismales are scheduled by the parish office.

• Spanish DRE: Mirna Aranda — 785-502-0784
• Pláticas pre-bautismales en español — call 823-7221
• Spanish Mass: Mon 7:15 p.m., Tue 7:15 p.m., Wed 7:15 p.m., Thu 8:00 p.m., Fri 7:15 p.m. (6:00 p.m. last Fri), Sat 7:15 p.m., Sun 12:30 p.m.

Sacraments

Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Confession, and Anointing of the Sick are all celebrated at the cathedral. Baptisms require a baptismal-preparation class (pláticas pre-bautismales in Spanish). The Diocese of Salina requires engaged couples to contact their parish priest at least six months before marriage. Confirmation preparation is offered as a 16-session home-study course for grades 10–12, incorporating reading, assessments, service hours, a retreat, and an interview.

• Baptism — prep class required
• Eucharist & Confirmation — sacramental prep
• Matrimony — 6-month notice required
• Confession — see schedule, English & Spanish
• Anointing of the Sick — by appointment / hospital chaplaincy

Cemeteries

The parish co-operates Mount Calvary Cemetery and the All Saints Cemetery (blessed in 2005 on the eastern edge of Salina) with the other two Salina parishes. Nancy Jaquay is the parish's contact for Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

• Mount Calvary Cemetery
• All Saints Cemetery (blessed 2005, east edge of Salina)
• Contact: Nancy Jaquay, [email protected]

Music and Liturgy

Music is led by Music Director Preston Sauers, with the pipe organ (originally built by George Kilgen and Son in 1926, restored in 2003 by Coombs Organ Specialists) supporting the sung liturgy. The cathedral's 30-foot rounded nave and sanctuary — with choir stalls flanking the altar for liturgical ministers and concelebrating priests — were designed to support congregational and choral liturgy.

• Music Director: Preston Sauers ([email protected])
• Pipe organ: Kilgen 1926 / Coombs 2003
• Choir stalls flank the altar and sanctuary

Cathedral Staff and Contact

The cathedral is staffed by Rev. John Schmeidler (pastor), Rev. Rafael Indave (parochial vicar), Rev. Justin Palmer (in residence / hospital chaplain), Deacon Jorge Rivera, Janie Garcia (Business Office Manager), Reyna/Nancy Jaquay (Pastoral Associate / Religious Formation), Mirna Aranda (Spanish DRE), Preston Sauers (Music Director), Josefina Torres (Receptionist), and Brent Helms (Maintenance). The Bishop of Salina is Gerald L. Vincke; the diocesan chancery is reached at 785-827-8746.

• Office: 785-823-7221 — Fax: 785-820-8063
• Parish office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Bishop of Salina: Gerald L. Vincke
• Diocesan Chancery: 785-827-8746