About San Fernando Cathedral · San Antonio, Texas
San Fernando Cathedral (Catedral de San Fernando), also known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Candelaria and Guadalupe, is the mother church of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and the seat of Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS. Founded on March 9, 1731 by 16 Canary Island families at the invitation of King Philip V of Spain, it is the oldest continuously functioning religious community in the State of Texas and its 18th-century sanctuary walls are the oldest standing church building in Texas. Located at 115 Main Plaza, the cathedral sits at the literal geographic and cultural center of San Antonio and serves more than 5,000 faithful at its weekend Masses, with services offered in English, Spanish, and bilingual formats.
- Established
- 1731
- Patron
- Saint Ferdinand III of Castile (San Fernando), together with Our Lady of Candlemas (Candelaria) and Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Rector
- Very Rev. Carlos B. Velázquez, JCL — Rector (since July 1, 2021)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio (Diocese of San Antonio erected 1874; elevated to Archdiocese 1926 by Pope Pius XI)
Why belong here
San Fernando is the spiritual, geographic, and cultural heart of San Antonio — a parish where nearly three centuries of continuous Catholic worship meet the daily realities of a 21st-century downtown community. With more than 10 Masses each week offered in English, Spanish, and bilingual formats, plus a 25-year-old televised Mass (La Santa Misa) reaching shut-ins across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, the cathedral welcomes Anglophone, Latino, and bicultural Catholics alike. Its active ministries — Guadalupanos, OCIA, Faith Formation, Youth Group, online religious education for grades 3–8, the iconic Good Friday Passion Play, the December Serenata and Las Mañanitas for Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Gran Posada, and Los Padrecitos Gift Shop — give parishioners multiple ways to serve and belong.
Mass times at San Fernando Cathedral
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM (in the building adjacent to the Cathedral)
- Saturday: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Sunday: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Adoration times
- 1st Friday of the month: 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM (Adoration follows immediately after the 12:05 PM Mass)
- 1st Saturday of the month: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Our History
The parish was founded on March 9, 1731, when 16 families (about 55 immigrants) from the Canary Islands arrived in San Antonio at the invitation of King Philip V of Spain. The site on the west side of the central square of the villa of San Fernando de Béxar was laid out by Captain Juan Antonio Pérez de Almazán on July 2, 1731, and the cornerstone for the stone church was laid on May 11, 1738. After failed early attempts by soldiers, master stonemason Gerónimo de Ibarra and stonecutter Felipe de Santiago arrived from San Luis Potosí in 1749 to enlarge and complete the building, finishing it in 1755. Since then the church has been at the heart of San Antonio's religious, civic, and cultural life — for almost 95 years the only church in the city under Spanish and Mexican rule, a witness to the Texas Revolution, the seat of the Diocese of San Antonio from 1874, and the mother church of the Archdiocese of San Antonio since 1926.
- Founded March 9, 1731 by 16 Canary Island families at the invitation of King Philip V of Spain
- Oldest continuously functioning religious community in Texas
- Original sanctuary walls (1755) are the oldest standing church building in Texas
- Consecration of the rebuilt church: October 1873
- Designated a cathedral with the erection of the Diocese of San Antonio by Pope Pius IX in August 1874
- Pope John Paul II visited September 13, 1987
- Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places February 25, 1975
Reconstruction, Renovations, and the Cathedral We See Today
After falling into severe disrepair during the upheavals of the early 19th century (with half the roof gone by 1840), the church was rebuilt between 1868 and 1873 under architect François P. Giraud, who added a Gothic Revival nave, three entrance portals, a gable roof, twin bell towers, and buttresses. Only the 18th-century sanctuary was preserved. A second bell tower was finished in 1902. Major modern milestones include the 1975 NRHP listing, the 1977 restoration by Ford, Powell and Carson, a $15 million three-phase renovation in 2003 supervised by liturgical consultant Richard S. Vosko and designed by Fisher Heck Architects, and 2011 changes by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller that installed a permanent altar with relics of St. Anthony of Padua and Blessed Concepción Cabrera de Armida. Since 2014 the façade has hosted Xavier de Richemont's 'San Antonio: The Saga.'
- 1868–1873: Gothic Revival reconstruction by François P. Giraud
- 1872: original dome collapses
- October 1873: church consecrated
- 1902: second bell tower completed
- 1975: added to the National Register of Historic Places
- 1977: restoration by Ford, Powell and Carson
- 2003: $15 million three-phase renovation (Fisher Heck Architects, Richard S. Vosko)
- 2011: permanent altar, cathedra, and baptismal font relocated; relics sealed in the altar
- 2014: 'San Antonio: The Saga' by Xavier de Richemont begins on the façade
Worship, Sacraments, and Devotions
San Fernando offers more than 10 Masses each week in English, Spanish, and bilingual formats, plus a 25-year-old televised Mass, La Santa Misa, that reaches homes, hospitals, and prisons across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. The cathedral is also the setting for the diocese's largest annual Marian celebrations: the Serenata and Las Mañanitas for Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 11–12), and La Gran Posada during Advent. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard Monday through Friday mornings, Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the building adjacent to the Cathedral. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held on the first Friday and first Saturday of each month.
- Weekend Masses: Saturday 5 PM (English Vigil); Sunday 8 AM Spanish (livestreamed), 10 AM English, 12 PM Spanish, 2 PM English, 5 PM Bilingual
- Daily Mass: Monday–Friday 12:05 PM (English, livestreamed)
- Confession: Mon–Fri 10:00–11:45 AM, Sat 1:00–3:00 PM, Sun 1:00–3:00 PM
- Adoration: 1st Friday 12:30–1:00 PM (after Mass); 1st Saturday 6:00–7:00 PM
- Baptisms: 1st Saturday 10 AM (English); 2nd Saturday 10 AM (Spanish); $50 fee; class required
- Weddings: Weekdays 3 PM; Saturdays 12 PM, 3 PM, 7 PM; no Sunday ceremonies; Cathedral fee $2,200
Good Friday Passion Play
The annual San Antonio Good Friday Passion Play has been a signature Holy Week tradition since 1983, when parishioners of San Fernando first staged a procession through the streets to observe Good Friday outside the church walls. The bilingual, mostly Spanish reenactment depicts the trial, suffering, and death of Jesus Christ, beginning with an ecumenical service at Travis Park and concluding with the crucifixion in front of San Fernando Cathedral. About 75 volunteers — many of them San Fernando parishioners — rehearse for two months; the actor carrying the cross (now 50 pounds; originally 150 pounds) must be exceptionally strong. The event was cancelled in 2020 and produced for television in 2021 during the pandemic, but has since returned to the streets, drawing crowds estimated at 22,000 in 2019.
- Begun in 1983 by San Fernando Cathedral parishioners
- Procession: Travis Park → downtown streets → Main Plaza
- Concludes with the crucifixion scene in front of San Fernando Cathedral
- Cast and crew: ~75 volunteers, primarily Spanish-speaking
- Estimated 22,000 attendees in 2019
- Paused in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic (broadcast version produced in 2021)
Faith Formation, OCIA, and Youth
San Fernando provides formation for every age and stage. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) welcomes those exploring the Catholic faith and seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Faith Formation classes for children and an online Religious Education program for grades 3–8 complement parish schools, and the parish Youth Group gathers young people for fellowship, formation, and service. The parish also maintains links to the online Catechism of the Catholic Church as a study resource.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Faith Formation for children
- Online Religious Education for grades 3–8
- Youth Group
- Links to the online Catechism of the Catholic Church
Music and Liturgical Arts
Liturgical music is coordinated by Music Coordinator Cati Reyna, with an additional music team supporting wedding liturgies (coordinated through Maria Alicia Lopez, [email protected]). The Sanctuary is set against a 24-karat-gold retablo framing the tabernacle, crucifix, and statues of the four evangelists, while 18th-century-style retablos on the side walls highlight a 1770 painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe and a statue of Our Lady of the Candles — the latter a gift of the Canary Islands. Since 2014, after dark, the façade of the cathedral itself has served as a canvas for 'San Antonio: The Saga,' a 24-minute video artwork by Xavier de Richemont that tells the story of San Antonio and Texas.
- Music Coordinator: Cati Reyna
- Wedding musicians coordinated via Maria Alicia Lopez
- Gold-leaf retablo behind the altar with tabernacle, crucifix, and four evangelists
- 1770 painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe and statue of Our Lady of the Candles on the side walls
- 'San Antonio: The Saga' by Xavier de Richemont, on the façade since 2014
La Santa Misa — Televised Mass
For more than 25 years, San Fernando Cathedral has produced La Santa Misa, a televised Sunday Mass that brings the Word of God into homes, hospitals, and prisons across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The broadcast is funded entirely by private donations and is a lifeline for shut-ins, the elderly, and the homebound who cannot attend Mass in person. The cathedral's livestream page and a Vimeo feed carry current and past broadcasts.
- On the air for more than 25 years
- Reaches viewers in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada
- Funded solely through private donations
- Livestream: https://sfcathedral.org/livestream
- Vimeo archive: https://vimeo.com/388831135
Outreach, Hospitality, and Gift Shop
The cathedral sees itself as a refuge for the poor and a service center for the wider community, with counseling rooms, social-service space, and a community hall incorporated into the 2003-built Cathedral Centre and Community Center phases. The Los Padrecitos Gift Shop, managed by Lupe Rodriguez, sells religious items and gifts and helps visitors learn more about the cathedral's history. Volunteers serve as Eucharistic Ministers, Proclaimers of the Word, and Ministers of Hospitality at every Mass.
- Counseling and social-service offices in the Cathedral Centre
- Community hall for meetings and parish events
- Los Padrecitos Gift Shop (Lupe Rodriguez, Manager; Alma Mendez, Sales; Rosa Farias, Sales/Cashier)
- Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers/Greeters
- Fiesta San Fernando Committee
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Rector Very Rev. Carlos B. Velázquez, ordained in 1990 and appointed by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller in 2021 after pastorates at St. John Berchmans, Church of the Holy Spirit, St. Thomas the Apostle (Canyon Lake), and Sts. Peter and Paul (New Braunfels). He is assisted by Parochial Vicars Fr. Guillermo Cruz-Hernandez and Fr. Gaspar Masilamani, CMF, and four deacons: Roger Macias, DDS; Ramon Figueroa, MD; Rosendo Cantu; and Eddie Noriega. The lay staff includes bookkeepers, sacramental records coordinators, ceremony and venue coordinators, sacristans, and the gift-shop team.
- Rector: Very Rev. Carlos B. Velázquez (since July 1, 2021)
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Guillermo Cruz-Hernandez
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Gaspar Masilamani, CMF
- Deacon Roger Macias, DDS
- Deacon Ramon Figueroa, MD
- Deacon Rosendo Cantu
- Deacon Eddie Noriega
- Office Manager / Bookkeeper: Maria Alicia Lopez
- Music Coordinator: Cati Reyna
- Sacramental Records Coordinator: Norma Samarripa
- Receptionist: Ruth Hernandez
- Ceremony Coordinator: Maria Tovar
- Sacristans: Christine Rocha, Marta Figueroa
- Venue Coordinator: Lupe Rodriguez
- Gift Shop: Alma Mendez (Manager), Rosa Farias (Sales/Cashier)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Joseph de la Garza1731–
First secular pastor of the parish; Franciscans at Mission Valero had served before his arrival.
- Fr. Pedro Fuentes1771–1790
Long-serving pastor who was also appointed the bishop's vicar for all of the province of Texas and San Juan Bautista on the Rio Grande.
- Clemente Arochaearly 19th century
Native-born pastor exiled as a revolutionary during the Mexican War of Independence.
- José Dario Zambranoearly 19th century
Replaced Arocha; one of three native San Antonians from San Fernando who successively served as pastor in the first four decades of the 19th century.
- José Refugio Guadalupe de la Garzaearly 19th century
One of the three consecutive native-born pastors serving the parish c. 1800–1840.
- Father Garza (de la Garza)removed 1840
Removed from office by incoming foreign Catholic clergy after Texas statehood preparations.
- Claude M. Dubuis19th century
Future bishop, served as pastor of San Fernando.
- John Claude Neraz19th century
Future bishop, served as pastor of San Fernando.
- Claretian Fathers (Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary)1902–1978
Took responsibility for the parish and its mission stations, developing many into separate Mexican-American parishes; returned the parish to archdiocesan clergy in 1978.
- Archbishop Patrick F. Flores1993
Listed as pastor of San Fernando in the Texas State Historical Association handbook.
- Very Rev. Victor Valdez2016–July 2021
Served five years as rector; oversaw the cathedral's ministry through the COVID-19 pandemic, televised Masses, and the broadcast version of the Passion Play. After San Fernando, assigned as pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church.
- Very Rev. Carlos B. VelázquezJuly 1, 2021–present
Ordained June 8, 1990; previously pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul, New Braunfels, St. Thomas the Apostle, Canyon Lake, Church of the Holy Spirit, and St. John Berchmans.
