About Saint Joseph Old Cathedral · Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Saint Joseph Old Cathedral is a historic Roman Catholic parish in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, just southwest of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Founded in 1889 by Father Nicolas F. Scallon — the first priest to serve the newly settled town — it is the oldest Catholic parish in Oklahoma City and was the first cathedral of the Diocese of Oklahoma when that see was erected in 1905. The current Coffeyville-brick church, built 1901–1904 in the Gothic Revival style, was devastated by the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building across the street and lovingly restored and rededicated in 1996–97. Today the parish is a vibrant, multilingual downtown community (with weekend Mass offered in English and Spanish) belonging to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and pastorally served by Fr. Aaron Foshee.
- Established
- 1889
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Father Aaron Foshee
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Oklahoma City (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City)
Why belong here
St. Joseph Old Cathedral offers a genuinely historic Catholic home in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City — the oldest parish in the city, the first cathedral in Oklahoma, and a community reborn from the 1995 bombing. Worshippers can attend daily noon Mass, a full schedule of weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, extended Thursday Eucharistic Adoration, and a robust Reconciliation schedule. Active lay life flourishes here through the SJOC Young Disciples youth group, the Young Adults community (bible studies, rosary walks, brunches), Ministry2Men, a parish council and a hospitality ministry — all just steps from the Oklahoma City National Memorial.
Mass times at Saint Joseph Old Cathedral
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday 10:45–11:45am
- Saturday 3:00pm
- Sunday (as listed by the parish for Reconciliation around Masses): 11:15–11:45am and 3:00–3:45pm (per the Matrimony page)
Adoration times
- Thursday 12:30–7:00pm (begins right after the 12:00pm weekday Mass; ends before the 7pm close)
History of St. Joseph Old Cathedral
Founded in 1889 by Father Nicolas F. Scallon, St. Joseph was the first Catholic church in Oklahoma City and became the first cathedral of the Diocese of Oklahoma in 1905. Its current Coffeyville-brick Gothic Revival building was dedicated in 1904, served as the diocesan cathedral until 1931, and was devastated and lovingly restored after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. The parish has stood witness to nearly every defining chapter of Oklahoma Catholic history — from the Land Run to the bombing memorial.
- 1889 – Fr. Scallon arrives with the Land Run; first wooden church built on "Blue Hill" for $225 with a $101 bell.
- 1901–1904 – Coffeyville-brick Gothic Revival church built and dedicated Dec. 18, 1904 by Bishop Theophile Meerschaert.
- 1905 – St. Pius X erects the Diocese of Oklahoma; St. Joseph becomes its first cathedral.
- 1931 – Cathedral status transferred to Our Lady of Perpetual Help; St. Joseph remains downtown parish.
- April 19, 1995 – Bombing of the Murrah Building; church severely damaged but tabernacle candle reportedly remains lit.
- Dec. 1, 1996 – Rededication Mass after restoration.
- May 1997 – "And Jesus Wept" Italian-marble memorial statue dedicated.
- Dec. 2004 – Centennial Mass with Archbishop Beltran.
- Sept. 12, 2001 – Interfaith prayer service led by Archbishop Beltran in aftermath of 9/11.
Architecture and Historic Designation
The current St. Joseph Old Cathedral is a 137-by-64-foot Coffeyville-brick edifice in the Gothic Revival style. A central bell tower with a spire is flanked by two shorter crenellated towers, and the interior was historically covered with three layers of intricately embellished plaster and painted symbolic medallions, much of which was destroyed in the 1995 bombing. The building was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on January 30, 1978 (NRHP reference No. 78002253).
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Material: Coffeyville brick
- Dimensions: 137 × 64 ft
- Towers: central spired bell tower with two shorter crenellated flanking towers
- NRHP: listed Jan. 30, 1978, ref. #78002253
- Pipe organ restored after 1995 bombing damage
Our Staff — Clergy, Deacons and Seminarians
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Father Aaron Foshee (assigned July 2024) along with Parochial Vicar Rev. Father Showri Babu Gali (assigned August 2022). Three deacons and several seminarians assist with parish life, supported by Music Director Clint Davis and Office Manager Janessa Zane.
- Rev. Father Aaron Foshee — Pastor
- Rev. Father Showri Babu Gali — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Paul Albert
- Deacon Herb Vance
- Deacon David Ashton
- Juan Galindo — Parish Seminarian (active homeschool community background, OBU '09, St. Meinrad M.A. and M.Div.)
- Bryan Wietelman — Parish Seminarian
- Brice Jones — Parish Seminarian
- Clint Davis — Director of Music Ministries
- Janessa Zane — Office Manager
Sacraments
St. Joseph Old Cathedral regularly celebrates the Sacraments of Christian Initiation and Healing for its parishioners and beyond. The parish publishes detailed preparation guidelines for Baptism and Matrimony, and supports Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders vocations through the Archdiocese.
- Baptism — parents contact parish office, register, attend baptismal-preparation session; godparent requirements apply
- Confirmation — parish-office-based preparation
- Reconciliation — see Mass schedule above; never offered at wedding rehearsals or the day-of
- Eucharist — daily noon Mass and weekend schedule (English & Spanish)
- Matrimony — minimum 6 months' notice, baptismal certificate, affidavit of free status, civil license, and parish counseling session required
- Anointing of the Sick / Holy Orders — coordinated through the parish and the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Parish Life — Ministries and Groups
St. Joseph Old Cathedral runs a vibrant lay life drawing on its diverse downtown membership. Active ministries include a parish council, hospitality ministry, music ministry, youth and young-adult communities, and the men's Ministry2Men group.
- Parish Council — advisory to pastor; seven elected + two appointed members
- Hospitality Ministry
- Music Ministry under Director Clint Davis
- SJOC Young Disciples Youth Group (ages 13–17) — meets Saturdays 2:30pm then 4:00pm Mass
- SJOC Young Adults (ages 18–35) — Bible studies 2x/month, rosary walks, monthly brunches, happy hours, holy hours
- Ministry2Men — Thursday evenings 6:00–7:30pm in Parish Hall
- Parish Seminarian program supporting priestly vocations
Visiting — Location, Office and Accessibility
St. Joseph Old Cathedral sits at 307 NW 4th Street in downtown Oklahoma City, on the southwest side of and adjacent to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. New parish office hours (effective July 1) are Tuesday–Thursday 9:00am–4:00pm and Friday 9:00am–12:00pm; the office is closed Mondays, federal holidays and Holy Days. A robust online presence supplements the office, with online Mass Intentions and a parish app referenced on the homepage.
- Address: 307 NW 4th Street, P.O. Box 408, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
- Phone: 405-235-4565
- Office Hours: Tue–Thu 9am–4pm; Fri 9am–12pm; closed Mon, federal holidays & Holy Days
- Adjacent to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
- Online: new parish app and online Mass Intentions form on sjocokc.org
- Giving: online, text-to-give SJOCOKC to 73256, or pew-tag tap
The 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing — Restoration and Memorial
On April 19, 1995, the devastating truck bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building — located just across the street — inflicted massive damage on the cathedral: most east-side stained glass shattered, the pipe organ heavily damaged, the roof raised off its steel pillars, the elaborate multi-layer plaster broken up and many painted symbolic medallions destroyed. The parish remained closed for almost two years while restoration proceeded. A rededication Mass was celebrated on December 1, 1996, followed in May 1997 by the solemn dedication of the Italian-marble statue "And Jesus Wept" in the area adjacent to the Oklahoma City National Memorial. On September 12, 2001, Archbishop Eusebius Beltran led an interfaith prayer service at St. Joseph in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks, choosing the rebuilt cathedral because of its own tragic history.
- East-side stained-glass windows largely shattered
- Pipe organ badly damaged; pipes fell onto the pews
- Roof raised several inches off its steel pillars; rafters broken
- Three-layer plaster and painted symbolic medallions destroyed
- Tabernacle candle reportedly remained lit and crucifix corpus unscratched
- Church closed nearly two years; rededicated December 1, 1996
- "And Jesus Wept" Italian-marble memorial statue dedicated May 1997
- Sept. 12, 2001 interfaith prayer service with Archbishop Beltran
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Father Nicolas F. Scallon1889
First Catholic priest in Oklahoma City; arrived with the 1889 Land Run and built the original 24×40-ft wood-frame St. Joseph.
- Rev. Father Aaron Foshee2024–present
Current pastor; grew up in Jones, OK, came into the Church at Easter 2000 at St. John the Baptist, Edmond; ordained June 27, 2015; former parochial vicar at St. Francis Xavier (Sulphur), St. Gregory the Great (Enid), St. Michael (Goltry), Christ the King, and St. Joseph's Ada.