About St. Mary's Cathedral [Historic Church] · Grand Island, Nebraska
The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, commonly known as St. Mary's Cathedral, is the mother church and seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Island, located at 204 S. Cedar Street in Grand Island, Nebraska. Built in 1926–1928 in Late Gothic Revival style and modeled after the Parisian Sainte-Chapelle, the sandstone cathedral seats 900 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The parish itself traces its origin to 1859, when the Moore brothers — the first Catholic settlers in Hall County — arrived, and remains a bilingual (English/Spanish) congregation with a robust Immigration Program, faith formation, and a social-hall complex adjacent to the cathedral.
- Established
- 1877
- Patron
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Jorge Canela
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Island
Why belong here
St. Mary's Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Diocese of Grand Island — a 900-seat Late Gothic landmark and the spiritual heart of central Nebraska Catholicism, where English- and Spanish-speaking communities worship side by side (two Sunday Spanish Masses, weekly Spanish weekday Masses, and a full Hispanic Ministry). Belonging here means joining a parish with deep immigrant roots, an accredited low-cost Immigration Program, a bilingual Religious Education program and RCIA, weekly adoration, a Holy Hour for healing with the pastor every Thursday, a thriving Music Ministry, and a Catholic-service tradition that traces back to 1859 — all housed in a 1928 cathedral that is itself on the National Register of Historic Places.
Mass times at St. Mary's Cathedral [Historic Church]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday – Friday: 4:45 PM – 5:10 PM (prior to Mass)
- Saturday: 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM in the Church (look for the light on at the confessional)
- By appointment — call the Parish Office
Adoration times
- Saturday: 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
- 4th Tuesday of the Month: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Parish History
St. Mary's is the oldest Catholic parish in Grand Island. Its story begins in 1859 with the Moore brothers and grows through three early church buildings (the third finally completed in 1877) into the present 1928 Late Gothic cathedral, which was raised to cathedral status when the see of the Diocese of Kearney was transferred to Grand Island in 1917.
- First Catholic settlers in Hall County: Patrick and Richard Moore (1859)
- First Mass in the area: Father Almire Fairmont, 1861, in the Moore log cabin
- First resident pastor: Father P. J. Erlach, 1877
- Second (still-extant-parish-era) church built 1888–1889, two 104-foot towers, $20,000
- Current cathedral commissioned by Bishop James A. Duffy, built 1926–1928
- See transferred from Kearney to Grand Island, April 17, 1917
- Dedication by Cardinal Patrick Hayes, July 5, 1928
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, July 15, 1982
The Cathedral Building
A 177 × 80 ft modified-Latin-cross plan of load-bearing sandstone in English Perpendicular (Late Gothic Revival) style, modeled on the Parisian Sainte-Chapelle. Bishop Duffy traveled for months studying styles before selecting Gothic; the design is the work of Henry W. Brinkman and J. Stanley Hagan of Emporia, Kansas. Capacity is 900.
- Architects: Henry W. Brinkman and J. Stanley Hagan, Emporia, KS
- Construction: 1926–1928
- Exterior: sandstone, stepped buttressing, compound-arched entrance, Perpendicular tracery
- Crossing crowned by a gargoyled flèche with crocketed pinnacle (French Gothic touch)
- Interior: 75-foot fan-vaulted ceiling on engaged clustered columns
- Main altar and baldacchino: white Italian marble, 31-foot apex
- Statues of the four Evangelists atop the baldacchino piers
- Five Carrara marble altars, Italy-made and installed by Italian artisans
- Large rose window (Madonna and Child with angels and saints) imported from Italy fully assembled
Devotions and Special Services
Beyond the standard Mass and confession schedule, St. Mary's hosts a Thursday afternoon Holy Hour for healing and family led by the pastor, the Pro-Life Rosary, an annual Pet Blessing in May, and a monthly Friendship Luncheon.
- Thursday Holy Hour for healing & family with Fr. Canela — 3:30–4:30 PM, followed by 4:45 PM Confession and 5:15 PM Mass
- Pro-Life Rosary and Pro-Life Holy Hour with Bishop Hanefeldt (January, around Jan. 22)
- Pet Blessing — May
- Friendship Luncheon — second Thursday of each month
- Grief Support Group — two sessions per year, with Curran Funeral Chapel
Faith Formation & RCIA
The parish offers religious education for children in K–12, a separate Spanish-track program, and a robust RCIA for adults in both English and Spanish. The program uses the Thomistic Institute's CREDO curriculum for the English Journey of Faith track.
- Religious Education for K–6 at the parish center, Wednesdays 6:30–7:30 PM; grades 7–12 at GICC 6:15–7:15 PM
- First Communion generally in 2nd grade; Confirmation generally in 10th–12th grade
- RCIA (English) — Journey of Faith — Tuesdays 6:30–8:30 PM, September through April, using CREDO curriculum
- RCIA (Spanish) — contact Sr. Jesusmerling at [email protected]
- Adult Classes offered for those seeking Confirmation or returning to the faith
- Fees: 1 child $40; 2 children $80; 3+ children $100
St. Mary's Immigration Program (SMIP)
Launched at Bishop Hanefeldt's request in 2007 after the December 2007 immigration raids at the local meatpacking plant, SMIP is a ministry of the Cathedral accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Access Programs (OLAP) since 2012. It is affiliated with CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network). It serves immigrants of all faiths and nationalities — helping with family reunification, citizenship, DACA, U-visas, VAWA, naturalization, and more — at significantly lower cost than private attorneys.
- Accredited by DOJ OLAP since 2012
- Affiliated with Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC)
- Grand Island main office: 205 S. Cedar St (pink building across from the Cathedral), by appointment, 308-381-2855
- Lexington outreach office: 513 N Grant St, Suite 7A, 308-324-7300
- Services include family petitions, citizenship/naturalization, DACA, U-Visas, VAWA self-petitions, FOIA, TPS, consular processing, and more
Parish Outreach & Charity
Outreach is at the heart of the Cathedral's identity — the Christian Service Committee coordinates food, clothing, prayer, and fellowship ministries that touch both the parish and the wider Grand Island community.
- Mary's Table Food Pantry — Tuesday–Thursday 1:00–4:00 PM
- Mary's Closet Thrift Store — Mondays & Wednesdays 1–4 PM, Saturdays 10 AM–3 PM; in Cathedral basement (NW door)
- Prayer Chain / Prayer List
- Alpha — evangelization and faith-exploration course
- Grief Support Group (with Curran Funeral Chapel)
- Friendship Luncheon — second Thursday of the month
- Mary's Cradle — outreach to parents and expectant families
- Pax Christi Multimedia — Gospel outreach through mass media (Mark 16:15)
- El Pescador — Spanish-language outreach, rosary, retreats
Music & Liturgy
The Music Ministry/Choir leads the congregation in song at every Mass and welcomes musicians of all faiths. A Music Director coordinates all liturgical music — including for weddings, where no secular vocal music is permitted and all musical decisions rest with the director.
- Music Coordinator: Kristen Schutte ([email protected], ext 232)
- Choir serves all Sunday and weekday Masses, English and Spanish
- Weddings: arrangements made through the Music Director; no secular vocal music allowed
Clergy & Staff
The Cathedral is led by Fr. Jorge Canela, Nebraska's first married priest (ordained 2017, first ordination in the Diocese of Grand Island in five years), and Associate Pastor Fr. Vijaya Prabhakar. Five deacons assist with liturgy and parish life. The parish is supported by a large team of religious sisters and lay staff in faith formation, music, Hispanic ministry, administration, immigration, and maintenance.
- Pastor: Rev. Jorge Canela — [email protected], ext 201
- Associate Pastor / Pastoral Ministry: Rev. Vijaya Prabhakar — [email protected], ext 204
- Deacons: John Farlee (Maintenance Director, ext 226), Matt Lonneman, James Holys, Carlos Molina, Tarcisio Costilla
- Parish Administrator / Bookkeeper: Judy Priess — [email protected], ext 214
- Bulletin Editor: Barbara Bosak — [email protected], ext 220
- Parish Secretary / Communications Manager: Jenile Turek — [email protected], ext 220
- Sacramental Records: Patty Zuniga — [email protected], ext 221
- Music Coordinator: Kristen Schutte — [email protected], ext 232
- Director of Religious Education / Youth: Sr. Jesusmaikelyn de la Cruz — [email protected], ext 213
- Assistant DRE: Sr. Jesusabigail Alavez, ext 219
- Hispanic Ministry: Sr. Jesusmerling — [email protected], ext 212
- Immigration Office Director: Kellie Draper — 308-381-2855
- Mary's Closet Manager: Ann Baker — [email protected], 308-391-1527
- Mary's Cradle: Linda Kube — [email protected], 308-370-7654
Sacraments
St. Mary's Cathedral prepares Catholics for the full sacramental life of the Church. The parish offers a six-month minimum marriage preparation, requires FOCCUS pre-marriage inventory, and limits Saturday weddings to 10 AM, 1 PM, or 2 PM (latest start). No weddings are celebrated on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation.
- Baptism — preparation required; certificates submitted (see Religious Ed for school-age children)
- First Communion — typically 2nd grade; baptismal certificate required
- Confirmation — typically 10th–12th grade; birth, baptism, and First Communion certificates required
- Reconciliation — Wed–Fri 4:45–5:10 PM; Sat 11:15 AM–12:15 PM; by appointment
- Marriage — minimum 6 months preparation; FOCCUS inventory; Sat 10 AM, 1 PM, or 2 PM; no Sunday or Holy Day weddings; registered members of St. Mary's in good standing have first right to marry in the Cathedral
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Almire Fairmont1861
French missionary who celebrated the first Mass in Hall County at the Moore family log cabin.
- Father M. J. Ryan1864–c.1877
Came from Columbus to offer Mass monthly; oversaw three attempts to build the first church (1869 windstorm loss, 1873 depression, 1877 success).
- Father P. J. Erlach1877
First resident pastor of the parish; congregation of about 30 families.
- Father Richard PhelanJuly 4, 1880 – March 10, 1884
Died of a stroke of paralysis while serving the parish; found 52 families.
- Father P. Lynch1884 – October 6, 1886
Succeeded Fr. Phelan, with interim care from Father Smith of O'Connor.
- Father Wunibald Wolf1888
Sent by Bishop O'Connor to build the larger 1889 brick-and-stone church.
- Bishop James A. Duffy1912–
First Bishop of the Diocese of Kearney (1912), oversaw the move of the see to Grand Island (1917), and commissioned and dedicated the present cathedral (1928).
- Rev. Jorge Canela
Current pastor; first married priest ordained in Nebraska (2017) and Diocese of Grand Island's first ordination in five years.
![St. Mary's Cathedral [Historic Church] in Grand Island, Nebraska — photo 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/Cathedral_of_the_Nativity_of_the_Blessed_Virgin_Mary_2026.jpg/1280px-Cathedral_of_the_Nativity_of_the_Blessed_Virgin_Mary_2026.jpg "St. Mary's Cathedral [Historic Church]")