About Saints Simon and Jude Cathedral · Phoenix, Arizona
The Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude is the cathedral church (mother church) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. Located at 6351 North 27th Avenue, it serves as the seat of the diocesan bishop — the place where the cathedra (bishop's chair) stands and from which the bishop teaches, sanctifies, and governs the faithful of central and northern Arizona. The parish was established on May 15, 1953, became the cathedral when the Diocese of Phoenix was erected on December 2, 1969, and today is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish with a school staffed by the Loreto Sisters and a full slate of pastoral, formation, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- Saint Simon the Zealot and Saint Jude Thaddeus (Apostles)
- Rector
- Very Reverend Matthew (Matt) Henry (Rector)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral is the spiritual heart of the Diocese of Phoenix and a parish where the universal and local Church come together — visitors regularly worship alongside Arizona's Catholic leadership, hear the Cathedral Choir and Spanish-language ensembles, and participate in perpetual Eucharistic adoration in the narthex chapel. Families can enroll children in the cathedral school staffed by the Loreto Sisters (Pre-K through 8th), adults can grow through RCIA and ongoing faith formation, and the parish's active St. Vincent de Paul pantry, Knights of Columbus Council #12708, and outreach to the Missionaries of Charity mean there are concrete ways to serve Phoenix's poor. Whether you're drawn by a bilingual Catholic community, a landmark church visited by a pope and a saint, or simply a deep bench of ministries for every age and stage, the cathedral welcomes you.
Mass times at Saints Simon and Jude Cathedral
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 7:00 AM – 7:45 AM
- Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 7:45 AM
- Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 7:45 AM and 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Thursday: 7:00 AM – 7:45 AM
- Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:45 AM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Adoration times
- Monday: 24-hour perpetual adoration (registered adorers scheduled); open to all visitors 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 24-hour perpetual adoration; visitors welcome 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 24-hour perpetual adoration; visitors welcome 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Thursday: 24-hour perpetual adoration; visitors welcome 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 24-hour perpetual adoration; visitors welcome 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 24-hour perpetual adoration; visitors welcome 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Sunday: 24-hour perpetual adoration; visitors welcome 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM
History
Saints Simon and Jude was established as a parish on May 15, 1953, by Bishop Daniel J. Gercke of Tucson, while Phoenix was still part of the Diocese of Tucson. The founding pastor, Father Paul P. Smith — a native of Ireland — celebrated the first Masses in the nearby Maryland School. The parish's original church was dedicated on October 17, 1954. Explosive postwar growth in Phoenix soon made that church too small; ground was broken for a much larger 1,200-seat church in 1965, and Bishop Francis Green of Tucson dedicated it on December 11, 1966. On December 2, 1969, Pope Paul VI erected the Diocese of Phoenix and elevated Saints Simon and Jude from parish church to cathedral — the seat of the new diocesan bishop. Subsequent decades brought a papal visit (John Paul II, 1987), the establishment of the Missionaries of Charity in Phoenix (Mother Teresa speaking in 1989), a major renovation (2021), and the installation of the cathedral's first pipe organ (2016).
- Parish established May 15, 1953
- First church dedicated October 17, 1954
- Current church (1,200 seats) dedicated December 11, 1966
- Elevated to cathedral December 2, 1969 when Diocese of Phoenix was erected
- Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass here September 14, 1987
- Mother Teresa spoke here in 1989 as the Missionaries of Charity began serving Phoenix
- First pipe organ (Peragallo, 51 ranks) installed 2016
- First major renovation completed October 2021
Cathedral School
Saints Simon and Jude Cathedral School, adjacent to the cathedral, serves approximately 460 students in Pre-K through 8th grade and is fully accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA). It was founded in 1954 by Bishop Daniel Gercke and Father Paul Smith. From its opening, the school has been staffed by the Loreto Sisters (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary), and Loreto Sisters remain on staff and in residence on the property today. Eighty-five percent of graduates go on to Catholic high schools, and the school counts more than 4,300 alumni — with roughly one in nine current students being a child of an alumnus.
- Founded 1954 by Bishop Daniel Gercke and Father Paul Smith
- Five Loreto Sisters arrived from Navan, Ireland, on August 20, 1954
- Serves ~460 students, Pre-K through 8th grade
- Accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association
- 85% of graduates continue to Catholic high schools
- 4,300+ alumni; many multi-generational families
- Director of Community Engagement: Sister Raphael Quinn (IBVM)
- Inspired by Mary Ward's values of Freedom, Justice, Sincerity, Joy, Truth
Loreto Sisters (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
The Loreto Sisters' mission at Saints Simon and Jude began in 1954 when founding pastor Father Paul Smith recruited five pioneering sisters from Navan, Ireland, to open the parish school. That mission has continued unbroken for more than seventy years: several Loreto Sisters still live in the Mary Ward House on the cathedral property, teach at the school, and participate fully in the spiritual and pastoral life of the parish.
- Institute founded in 1609 in Saint-Omer by Mary Ward, an Englishwoman
- Mary Ward's vision: education empowers young women to serve the faith
- Five sisters arrived from Navan, Ireland, on August 20, 1954
- Loreto charisms: Freedom, Joy, Justice, Sincerity, Truth
- Mary Ward House on campus houses the community
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, the cathedral hosts a wide spectrum of lay-led ministries. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul runs the parish food pantry with the help of poor boxes at each cathedral door and a fifth-Sunday second collection. The Knights of Columbus Council #12708 supports vocations, life issues, and parish-wide adoration, and recently dedicated a memorial to the unborn on the parish grounds. Friends of the Cathedral is an auxiliary organization with its own endowment fund at the Catholic Community Foundation.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul Cathedral Conference — contact Beany Bonanno (602-433-7613)
- Knights of Columbus Cathedral Council #12708 (Grand Knight: Faustino Lopez)
- Friends of the Cathedral (auxiliary organization; endowment fund with the Catholic Community Foundation)
- Legion of Mary
- Cursillo
- Sports leagues and prayer groups
- Cathedral Choir and Spanish-language ensembles
- Gift Shop (602-246-2569)
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are celebrated at the cathedral. Baptisms, weddings, and the Rites of Christian Initiation (RCIA for unbaptized adults; reception into full communion for already-baptized Christians) are scheduled through the Parish Office. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared in the parish Faith Formation program and the cathedral school. The Anointing of the Sick is available for the seriously ill or before surgery, including through the after-hours emergency line.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- First Holy Communion
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Mon–Sat at published times
- Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders (vocations support)
Campus and Visiting
The cathedral campus combines mid-century modern architecture with devotional landmarks added over the decades. Visitors will find the 1966 nave (recently renovated), a bell tower, an Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel, a Crucifixion scene, and the large cross and dome in front of the building that mark where Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass in 1987. Adjacent to the cathedral are the school, the Mary Ward House (home of the Loreto Sisters), and the Friends of the Cathedral office.
- Bell tower
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel (2013)
- Crucifixion scene (2013)
- Pope John Paul II cross and dome marker (1987 altar site)
- Rear gallery with pipe organ (2016)
- Mary Ward House (Loreto Sisters)
- Cathedral School building and Our Lady of Loreto Center
- Memorial to the Unborn (Knights of Columbus)
Diocese of Phoenix
The Diocese of Phoenix was erected by Pope Paul VI on December 2, 1969. Saints Simon and Jude was immediately named its cathedral. The diocese is led by Most Reverend John P. Dolan, Bishop of Phoenix, with Most Reverend Eduardo Alanis Nevares serving as Auxiliary Bishop. The cathedral is the bishop's own parish — the place where the cathedra (chair) stands and where, traditionally, the bishop teaches, sanctifies, and governs the local Church.
- Diocese erected December 2, 1969
- Cathedra (bishop's chair) housed at Ss. Simon and Jude
- Bishop of Phoenix: Most Rev. John P. Dolan
- Auxiliary Bishop: Most Rev. Eduardo Alanis Nevares
- Website: https://dphx.org
Getting Involved
Newcomers are welcomed through the Parish Office, where they can register, learn about ministries, and sign up for Faith Formation. The cathedral invites participation across the lifespan — from catechesis for children to choir, adoration, service to the poor, and Knights of Columbus outreach. Weekly parish bulletins and the online events calendar keep parishioners informed of upcoming activities.
- Parish Office: 602-242-1300
- Faith Formation: 602-433-7610
- St. Vincent de Paul: 602-433-7613
- School Office: 602-242-1299
- Gift Shop: 602-246-2569
- After-hours sacramental emergencies: 602-242-1300
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM – 4 PM; Fri 9 AM – 12 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Paul P. Smith1953 – unknown
Founding pastor (parish was not yet a cathedral); native of Ireland.
- Rev. Michael McGovernunknown – 1987
Served at the time of Pope John Paul II's 1987 visit.
- Msgr. Richard Moyer1987 – 1990
- Msgr. Michael O'Grady1990 – 2005
- Rev. Robert Clements2005 – 2010
- Very Rev. John Lankeit2010 – 2021
- Very Rev. Fernando Camou2021 – 2024
Departed to be part of a historic seminary project.
- Very Rev. Matthew (Matt) Henry2024 – present
Eighth rector; previously parochial vicar at the cathedral and at St. Mary's Basilica.