About Saint Matthew · South Bend, Indiana
St. Matthew Cathedral is the co-cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend, located at 1701 Miami Street on the southeast side of South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1922 by 75 southeast-side families as a humble wood-frame church, it grew into a parish of roughly 1,300 families serving a thriving school of nearly 400 students, and was elevated to co-cathedral status in 1960 when Pope John XXIII renamed the diocese. The current brick cathedral was dedicated November 13, 1960 and remains the seat of the diocesan bishop together with the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne. It is a designated Jubilee Church for Holy Year 2025 in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend.
- Established
- 1922
- Patron
- Saint Matthew the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew Budzinski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
St. Matthew's offers the rare combination of a downtown cathedral's liturgical riches and a tight-knit neighborhood parish — a parish of roughly 1,300 families served by a pastor, parochial vicar, and deacon, with weekday and Sunday Masses, three weekly blocks of Eucharistic Adoration, and a popular Cathedral School of about 400 students (the Blazers) right on campus. The parish is a designated Holy Year 2025 Jubilee Church in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend, runs Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and CCD religious education, has an active St. Vincent de Paul chapter, and maintains the long-running Thanksgiving Dinner for neighbors started by Msgr. Heintz — making it both a liturgical home and a community anchor on South Bend's southeast side.
Mass times at Saint Matthew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Saturday: 7:30 AM (following the 7:00 AM Mass)
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (during Adoration)
- Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (during Adoration)
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Holy Hour; Confession also available)
- Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:15 PM
- Saturday: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM (after the 7:00 AM Mass through the Saturday Vigil Mass)
History of St. Matthew Cathedral
The parish traces its origin to 1921, when Bishop Herman Alerding gave Father John DeGroote permission to buy 14 lots in the Oak Park addition. The first pastor, Rev. Theodore Hammes, organized 22 volunteers to build the wood-frame church at a cost of $10,000 in materials; it was dedicated August 13, 1922. By 1923 the parish had grown to 950 families and a school was built in 1929. The Depression-era debt was cleared in 1945 under Msgr. Arnold J. Wibbert, who also welcomed the Brothers of the Holy Cross to open Central Catholic High School in 1934. Ground was broken for the present brick cathedral in 1959 and it was dedicated on November 13, 1960, the same year it was elevated to co-cathedral of the newly renamed Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend.
- 1922: Parish founded; first church dedicated August 13, 1922
- 1929: School dedicated by Bishop John F. Noll (cost $167,000)
- 1933: Msgr. Arnold J. Wibbert becomes pastor
- 1934: Central Catholic High School opens on the school's second floor (Brothers of the Holy Cross)
- 1945: Parish debt liquidated
- 1954: New rectory built
- 1955: New gymnasium/meeting room built
- 1959: Ground broken for new brick church; old frame church demolished (bells saved)
- 1960, Nov. 13: Present cathedral dedicated; made co-cathedral of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
- 1969: Msgr. Wibbert retires; he dies a few months later
- 1989: St. Matthew Choir sings at the Vatican
- 1992: Cathedral Center opens (former convent repurposed as daycare)
- 1994: Kindercove daycare opens
- 2009: Bishop John M. D'Arcy retires; Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades appointed 9th Bishop (installed January 13, 2010)
Pastor and Pastoral Staff
St. Matthew's is led by Pastor and Rector Rev. Andrew Budzinski (since 2023), with Parochial Vicar Rev. Brian Carpenter and Deacon John Burzynski supporting parish life.
- Rev. Andrew Budzinski – Pastor and Rector
- Rev. Brian Carpenter – Parochial Vicar
- Deacon John Burzynski
- Daniel Tucker – Director of Liturgical Music & Organist
- Michael McMahon – Coordinator of Liturgical Ministries
- Anna Stein – Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Jeanette McKew – Director of Religious Education (CCD)
- John Fyrqvist – Adult Faith Formation Director; High School Youth Group Leaders
Cathedral School of Saint Matthew
The parish school, branded the Blazers, educates about 400 students in PreK through 8th grade on the same campus as the cathedral. The original school was dedicated by Bishop John F. Noll on October 13, 1929 at a cost of $167,000; six Sisters of St. Joseph from Tipton taught the first five grades with an opening enrollment of 150. The school added a grade each year until its first graduation on June 1, 1933. Significant boiler, HVAC, and interior upgrades were made under Bishop Jenky's capital campaign.
- Approximately 400 students (PreK–8)
- Mascot: Blazers
- Website: stmatthewblazers.org
- 2026–2027 New Student Registration available online
- Annual Vacation Bible School (e.g. 'Rainforest Falls' for grades K–4)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish runs a Religious Education (CCD) program under Director Jeanette McKew, plus the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium under Anna Stein. Adult Faith Formation is led by John Fyrqvist, who also oversees the High School Youth Group.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Anna Stein)
- Religious Education / CCD (Jeanette McKew)
- Adult Faith Formation (John Fyrqvist)
- High School Youth Group (John Fyrqvist)
- Altar Serving training and scheduling
Liturgical Ministries and Music
Liturgical life is coordinated by Michael McMahon (Coordinators of Liturgical Ministries) and Daniel Tucker (Director of Liturgical Music & Organist). The parish's long choral tradition was recognized in 1989 when the St. Matthew Choir was invited to sing at the Vatican.
- Coordinators of Liturgical Ministries – Michael McMahon
- Cathedral Music – Daniel Tucker (Director of Liturgical Music & Organist)
- Altar Servers
- Vatican Choir visit (1989)
Parish Outreach and Social Ministry
St. Matthew's operates a St. Vincent de Paul Society chapter that assists neighbors in need, and is supported by the diocesan Catholic Charities Foundation. The parish's annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the surrounding neighborhood — a tradition begun under Msgr. Michael Heintz — continues to this day as a hallmark of parish outreach.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society chapter at St. Matthew Cathedral
- Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the neighborhood
- Kindercove daycare (1994)
- Cathedral Center / parish daycare (1992)
Jubilee Year 2025 and Pilgrimage
St. Matthew Cathedral is one of nine designated Jubilee Churches in the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend for the 2025 Jubilee Year 'Pilgrims of Hope.' Bishop Kevin Rhoades has designated the cathedral (along with the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame) as a site where the faithful may obtain the Jubilee Indulgence by devoutly participating at Mass or making a pious visit for Eucharistic adoration and meditation.
- Designated Jubilee Church for Holy Year 2025 (also for the 2016 Jubilee of Mercy)
- Theme: Pilgrims of Hope
- Indulgence conditions: Mass or pious visit for adoration, plus the Sacrament of Reconciliation
- Diocesan Jubilee Year Mass scheduled to be celebrated by Bishop Rhoades at the cathedral
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Theodore Hammes1921–1933
First pastor; built the original wood-frame church with 22 volunteers in 1922.
- Msgr. Arnold J. Wibbert1933–1969
Elevated to Monsignor in 1959; paid off parish debt by 1945; oversaw construction of new brick cathedral and its elevation to co-cathedral in 1960.
- Bishop Joseph R. Crowley1969–1991
Came from St. Joseph's, Fort Wayne; ordained Auxiliary Bishop August 24, 1971; returned to St. Matthew's as rector two years later.
- Bishop John R. Sheets, SJ1991–1997
Auxiliary Bishop; ordained at St. Matthew's June 25, 1991.
- Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C.1997–2002
Auxiliary Bishop; previously rector of Sacred Heart Basilica at Notre Dame; led two capital campaigns; appointed Bishop of Peoria in April 2002.
- Msgr. Michael Heintz2002–2016
Started the parish's annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the neighborhood, which continues today.
- Rev. Terry Fisher2016–2023
Rector following Msgr. Heintz.
- Rev. Andrew Budzinski2023–present
Current pastor and rector.