About St. Augustine Cathedral · Tucson, Arizona
The Cathedral of Saint Augustine (Catedral de San Agustín) is the mother church and seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson, located at 192 South Stone Avenue in downtown Tucson, Arizona. The parish traces its origins to a mission church established inside the Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón in 1776, making it one of the oldest Catholic communities in Southern Arizona. The current brick-and-cast-stone cathedral, completed in 1897 and given its Mexican Baroque façade in 1928, seats about 1,250 people and houses a 17-foot, 2,000-pound Pamplona crucifix dating from the 15th century. It serves a bilingual congregation (English and Spanish) of faithful from across the 43,000-square-mile Diocese of Tucson.
- Established
- 1776
- Patron
- Saint Augustine of Hippo
- Rector
- Rev. Alan Valencia (Rector)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
Why belong here
St. Augustine Cathedral is the spiritual heart of the Diocese of Tucson, offering the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church in both English and Spanish — including a sung bilingual Sunday liturgy and a mariachi Mass at 8 a.m. — alongside daily Mass, weekly confession, monthly First Friday adoration, and devotions such as the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Parishioners can grow through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA/RCIA), religious education, the Cathedral Choir, the Altar Server Society, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, the Knights of Columbus, the Finance and Pastoral Councils, and a docent-led tour program that invites visitors into the cathedral's 250-year story. Its outreach — through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a weekly food and clothing bank, the San Cosme Chapel ministry in Barrio Viejo, and a network of ecumenical and civic affiliations — gives members concrete ways to serve their neighbors.
Mass times at St. Augustine Cathedral
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Thursday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Individual appointments available by contacting the parish office
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
History of St. Augustine Cathedral
The parish's roots reach back to 1776, when Spanish colonists moved closer to the Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón and built a mission church in honor of San Agustín. After the Gadsden Purchase in 1854 brought Tucson under the U.S., Bishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy of Santa Fe sent the Italian priest Donato Rogieri to build a proper parish church, with bricks carried by the women of the parish after Mass. French-born Jean-Baptiste Salpointe arrived in 1866 and completed the adobe church in 1868; the Vicariate Apostolic of Arizona was erected the same year, making the parish Tucson's first cathedral. The current brick cathedral on South Stone Avenue was built by Bishop Peter Bourgade in 1897, given its Mexican Baroque façade modeled on the Querétaro Cathedral in 1928, and gutted and rebuilt in 1966–68. A 2010–2011 renovation restored the pews, lighting, sound, tile, and statues, and Bishop Gerald Kicanas rededicated the cathedral on February 12, 2011.
- 1776: mission church established at the Presidio
- 1862–1868: Father Donato Rogieri and Father J.B. Salpointe build the first adobe San Agustín Church
- 1868: Vicariate Apostolic of Arizona erected; Salpointe becomes vicar apostolic
- 1897: Present brick cathedral dedicated February 7 by Bishop Peter Bourgade
- 1928: Cast-stone Mexican Baroque façade added
- 1966–68: Interior gutted and rebuilt
- 2010–11: $1M+ renovation and rededication
- 2016: Four-story conference hall/office building added
- Feb. 20, 2026: Bishop James Misko ordained and installed in the cathedral
Architecture, Art, and the Sanctuary
The cathedral is a brick-and-cast-stone structure in the Mexican Baroque style, completed in 1897 and remodeled with its present façade in 1928. The interior was completely rebuilt in 1966–68 while preserving the façade and vestibule, and the building seats about 1,250 people. The most striking interior piece is a 17-foot-tall, 2,000-pound Pamplona crucifix carved in Spain more than 600 years ago. Surrounding it are stained glass windows bearing symbols of the Apostles, paintings of Old Testament prophets (Daniel, David, Isaiah, Ezekiel), a Good Shepherd mosaic over a side altar, and a section devoted to images of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The 2010s vestibule expansion added a wall-to-ceiling mural of 18 saints who served the poor and murals of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and Jesus blessing children.
- Style: Mexican Baroque (1928 façade), inspired by Querétaro Cathedral
- Materials: Brick with cast-stone façade
- Capacity: approximately 1,250
- Pamplona crucifix: 17 feet tall, 2,000 pounds, 15th-century Spanish carving
- Stained-glass windows bearing the symbols of the Twelve Apostles
- Old Testament paintings: Daniel, David, Isaiah, Ezekiel
- Good Shepherd mosaic over side altar
- Our Lady of Guadalupe devotional section
- Vestibule mural of 18 saints who served the poor
- Façade displays the coat of arms of Pope Pius XI
Parish Clergy and Staff
The cathedral is led by a rector, currently Rev. Alan Valencia, assisted by parochial vicars, a pastoral team, and a corps of deacons. The diocesan bishop, seated in the cathedra (bishop's chair) inside the sanctuary, is Most Rev. James Misko, ordained and installed at the cathedral on February 20, 2026 as the eighth Bishop of Tucson. Earlier directory listings identify Rev. Msgr. Arsenio S. Carrillo, V.G. as rector pro-tem and Rev. Gonzalo Villegas as parochial vicar, alongside an Office Manager, Director of Religious Education, OCIA director, and Outreach Coordinator. Day-to-day parish life is supported by Finance and Pastoral Councils.
- Bishop of Tucson: Most Rev. James Misko (ordained Feb. 20, 2026)
- Rector: Rev. Alan Valencia
- Rector Pro-tem (prior): Rev. Msgr. Arsenio S. Carrillo, V.G.
- Parochial Vicar (prior): Rev. Gonzalo Villegas
- Deacons: Keating Ackerly, Henry S. Borquez, Oscar L. Bueno, Salvador Carmona, Carlos C. Martinez, Carlos Valenzuela
- Office Manager: Margaret Aguirre
- Director of Religious Education: Barbara Valenzuela
- OCIA Director: Olga Valenzuela
- Outreach Coordinator: Sr. Paulette Shaw, C.S.A.
Faith Formation and the OCIA Process
The cathedral's Religious Education program forms children in the faith and prepares them for the sacraments, while the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) welcomes unbaptized adults, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and Catholics who have not yet received Confirmation or First Eucharist. The OCIA team at St. Augustine accompanies candidates step-by-step through the Catholic beliefs, sacraments, and liturgical life of the parish, with formation classes on Wednesdays.
- Religious Education for children (sacramental prep)
- OCIA / RCIA for adults
- Wednesday formation sessions
- Baptism preparation classes for parents and godparents
Liturgical Ministries and Music
Cathedral life is supported by a robust team of liturgical volunteers. The Cathedral Choir leads sung liturgy at the 12:00 p.m. English Mass and joins the Sunday bilingual schedule; a Spanish-language Coro sings at the 5:30 p.m. Mass, and mariachi musicians accompany the 8:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ministers of the Word (lectors), and the Usher Society ensure the smooth flow of the liturgies. The Finance Council and Pastoral Council provide governance and planning support.
- Cathedral Choir (12:00 pm Sunday English Mass)
- Coro (5:30 pm Sunday Spanish Mass)
- Mariachi (8:00 am Sunday Spanish Mass)
- Altar Server Society
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Ministers of the Word
- Usher Society
- Finance Council
- Pastoral Council
Outreach, Social Justice, and the San Cosme Chapel
St. Augustine Cathedral runs an active outreach program for neighbors in need. The parish's Society of St. Vincent de Paul helps families with rent and utility assistance, food, clothing, furniture, mattresses, and appliances through a parish-based store. The cathedral also operates a weekly food bank and clothing bank, and refers parishioners to a wider network of Tucson social-service partners. The San Cosme Chapel, founded in 1929 in the historic Barrio Viejo neighborhood, continues to host a monthly Mass celebrated with neighbors of the district — extending the cathedral's pastoral reach into one of Tucson's oldest neighborhoods.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — rent, utility, food, furniture assistance
- St. Vincent de Paul Store
- Weekly food bank and clothing bank
- San Cosme Chapel (Barrio Viejo) — monthly neighborhood Mass
- Ecumenical and civic affiliations across Tucson
Visiting the Cathedral and Tours
The cathedral welcomes visitors in downtown Tucson year-round. Free docent-led historical tours are offered Monday through Thursday following the noon Mass, walking visitors through the 1897 brick structure, the 1928 Mexican Baroque façade, the rebuilt 1968 interior, the 600-year-old Pamplona crucifix, the stained glass, and the 2010s vestibule murals. The cathedral also hosts diocesan liturgies, concerts, art exhibits, and educational seminars. Masses in English and Spanish are live-streamed on the cathedral's Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.
- Docent tours: Monday–Thursday after 12:00 pm Mass
- Live-streamed Sunday Masses on Facebook
- Holy Day and special diocesan liturgies
- Concert and educational events throughout the year
Getting Involved
St. Augustine's parish community offers many paths for service and belonging. Members can join one of the liturgical ministries (choir, altar servers, lectors, ushers, extraordinary ministers), support parish governance through the Finance or Pastoral Council, take on faith-formation roles with Religious Education or OCIA, or volunteer through the Knights of Columbus. Outreach-minded parishioners support the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the food and clothing bank, and the San Cosme Chapel. Visitors and prospective parishioners can contact the parish office at (520) 623-6351 to learn about current opportunities.
- Liturgical ministries (choir, servers, lectors, ushers, EMHC)
- Faith formation (Religious Education, OCIA)
- Parish governance (Finance Council, Pastoral Council)
- Outreach (St. Vincent de Paul, food and clothing bank, San Cosme Chapel)
- Knights of Columbus
- Docent program
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Donato Rogieri1862/1863–1863
Italian priest sent from Santa Fe by Bishop Lamy; began the adobe San Agustín Church on land donated by Solano León.
- Fathers Charles E. Messea and Aloysius Bosco1864
Briefly served Tucson after Rogieri's departure before moving on to California.
- Jean-Baptiste Salpointe1866–
French-born priest who arrived Feb. 7, 1866; completed the adobe church in 1868, built the adjoining convent/girls' school, and became Tucson's first vicar apostolic in 1868. Later Archbishop of Santa Fe.
- Bishop Peter Bourgade1897–
First Bishop of Arizona; built the present brick cathedral on South Stone Avenue, dedicated February 7, 1897.
