About St. Patrick · Charlotte, North Carolina
The Cathedral of Saint Patrick is the mother church and seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte in North Carolina. Located in the historic Dilworth neighborhood of Charlotte at 1621 Dilworth Road East, the Neo-Gothic limestone-and-stucco cathedral was built in 1938–1939 with funds from philanthropist John Henry Phelan, designed by Austrian architect Frank Frimmer, and consecrated under the patronage of St. Patrick on September 4, 1939 by Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness of Raleigh — the first Catholic church in North Carolina to be consecrated immediately upon completion. When Pope Paul VI erected the Diocese of Charlotte on January 12, 1972, St. Patrick was designated its cathedral and Monsignor Richard Allen became its first rector. The cathedral is one of the smallest cathedrals in the United States and remains the spiritual home of the diocese, hosting the annual Chrism Mass and other major diocesan liturgies.
- Established
- 1938
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Very Reverend Peter Nicholas Ascik
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
The Cathedral of Saint Patrick offers something rare — the intimacy of a 400-seat neighborhood parish combined with the spiritual riches of a diocesan mother church. Parishioners worship in a historic Neo-Gothic landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with original Henry Keck stained-glass windows, a Marian grotto, and a freshly renewed sanctuary featuring Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart imagery and 24-karat gold leaf. The cathedral grounds host a parish school, a Family Life Center, robust Faith Formation for children and adults (including a vibrant OCIA outreach with 40 inquirers in a recent year), daily 12:10 pm Mass Monday through Friday, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays and Sundays, and the diocese's most important liturgies such as the annual Chrism Mass. For about 500 families from across the Charlotte region, it is a warm community rooted in over 85 years of Catholic life in Dilworth.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–5:00 pm
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 11:15 am (when 12:10 Mass is scheduled)
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:15 am – 6:00 pm (in the Cathedral)
- Sunday 10:00 – 11:00 am (in the Cathedral)
History of the Cathedral of Saint Patrick
St. Patrick's roots in Charlotte go back to the city's first Catholic church, St. Peter's, whose cornerstone was laid on St. Patrick's Day, 1852. As the Catholic population of Charlotte grew through the early 20th century, a second church was needed. Ground was broken on March 17, 1938 — St. Patrick's Day — funded by John Henry Phelan in memory of his parents. Austrian architect Frank Frimmer designed a Neo-Gothic church with gray stucco, a 400-seat nave, balcony, and 77-foot tower. The church was consecrated on September 4, 1939 by Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness of Raleigh — the first Catholic church in North Carolina to be consecrated immediately upon completion. It became a parish in 1942 under Monsignor Arthur R. Freeman, and seeded the daughter parishes of St. Ann, St. Gabriel and St. Vincent de Paul.
- 1852: Cornerstone laid for Charlotte's first Catholic church, St. Peter's
- 1930: O'Donoghue School moved to the Dilworth neighborhood
- March 17, 1938: Construction began on St. Patrick's
- September 4, 1939: Church consecrated by Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness
- 1941: Rectory and convent completed
- 1942: Designated as a parish under Msgr. Arthur R. Freeman
- January 12, 1972: Elevated to Cathedral of the new Diocese of Charlotte
Renovations and Milestones
The cathedral has undergone several major renovations that have both preserved its historic character and modernized its liturgical furnishings. The 1979 renovation closed the building for six months and introduced a freestanding altar, a new blue-and-silver ceiling drawn from the diocesan coat of arms, and a W. Zimmer and Sons pipe organ. A 1994–1996 restoration returned the cathedral closer to its original 1939 appearance, removing the oak wainscoting and re-emphasizing the Italian-marble furnishings. The most recent, a $2.6 million project funded by the 'Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love' campaign (September 2022–2023), addressed long-standing water damage to the copper roof and plaster walls, applied 24-karat gold leaf to the stations of the cross and arches, and added new artwork by North Carolina artist Lisa Autry.
- 1979: Six-month renovation; new freestanding altar, ceiling, organ
- 1987: Listed as a contributing property in the Dilworth Historic District (NRHP)
- 1994–1996: Restoration toward original 1939 appearance; hardwood floor
- 2000: Permanent copper roof installed
- 2006–2008: Family Life Center built and dedicated to Fr. Paul Gary
- 2007: 700-pound 1875 bell raised into the bell tower
- 2012: Tabernacle, cathedra and ambo relocated
- 2013: New main entrance with two staircases
- 2014: Marian grotto constructed on the grounds
- 2022: Celtic cross atop the bell tower illuminated for the first time
- 2022–2023: $2.6M Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love renovation
Architecture, Stained Glass and Art
Frank Frimmer's Neo-Gothic design features gray stucco walls, a 400-seat nave, a balcony, and a 77-foot bell tower. The cathedral's original stained-glass windows were crafted in Syracuse, NY by the Henry Keck Studio — Keck was a German-born designer who had apprenticed under Louis Comfort Tiffany and developed a distinctive Arts and Crafts style using opalescent glass. The 2022–2023 renovation added detailed new artwork on the rib arches and walls by North Carolina artist Lisa Autry, including the diocesan crest, a Marian symbol, the St. Joseph crest, the Alpha and Omega, the Chi Rho, and prominently the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the apse wall, accented with 24-karat gold leaf.
- Original architect: Frank Frimmer (Austrian)
- Style: Neo-Gothic with gray stucco exterior
- Stained-glass studio: Henry Keck Studio, Syracuse, NY (Keck trained under Louis Comfort Tiffany)
- Altar windows: Annunciation, St. Patrick, deathbed of St. Joseph
- Choir loft: Rose window flanked by King David and St. Cecilia (patron of musicians)
- Side wall windows: scenes from the life of Christ (Nativity through Ascension)
- Bell tower: 700-pound bell cast 1875 in St. Louis, raised 2007
- New artwork (2023): Lisa Autry — Sacred Heart, Immaculate Heart, Chi Rho, Alpha and Omega
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
The Cathedral of Saint Patrick offers faith formation for every age and stage. Children in kindergarten through seventh grade attend weekly classes Sunday mornings from 10:15 to 11:15 am in the St. Patrick School building, September through May. Two-year Confirmation preparation begins in the second half of eighth grade (Confirmation I) and concludes in ninth grade (Confirmation II). For adults, the parish offers Scripture Study, Catechism discussions, Catholic-themed book clubs, Catholics Come Home, and the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA / RCIA) — a process of education, faith sharing, and rituals leading to full initiation into the Catholic Church. The parish reports a vibrant OCIA outreach, with 40 inquirers contacting the parish in a recent year.
- Faith Formation for Children (Grades K–7)
- First Penance and First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation (two-year program starting in 8th grade)
- Adult Faith Formation (Scripture Study, Catechism, book clubs)
- Catholics Come Home
- Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA / RCIA)
Parish School and Family Life Center
A Catholic grade school was built on the cathedral property in 1930 — originally the O'Donoghue School moved from Belmont — and was expanded in 1943 to include a high school. The on-campus school remains a vital part of parish life. On June 3, 2006, ground was broken for a Family Life Center to provide space for parish ministries, banquets and celebrations; the building was dedicated in January 2008 to former rector Father Paul Gary, who had started the project. The Family Life Center also houses the offices of the diocese's Family Life Office, currently directed by Father Peter Ascik.
- St. Patrick Catholic School (on campus)
- Family Life Center (dedicated January 2008 to Fr. Paul Gary)
- Diocesan Family Life Office (directed from the parish)
Clergy, Staff and Pastoral Succession
Father Peter Nicholas Ascik was installed as the 12th pastor in the cathedral's eight-decade history on August 24, 2025 by Bishop Michael Martin — the first new pastor in 17 years. Father Ascik was ordained in 2017 and came to the cathedral from St. Mary Help of Christians Parish in Shelby, where he served as pastor for four years; he also serves as director of the diocese's Family Life Office. He succeeds Very Reverend Christopher A. Roux (2008–2025), who led the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love renovation campaign. The parish office is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (closed Tuesdays).
- Current Pastor/Rector: Very Rev. Peter Nicholas Ascik (installed 2025)
- Bishop of Charlotte: Most Rev. Michael Thomas Martin
- Parish office: (704) 334-2283, [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon/Wed/Thu/Fri 10 am–3 pm (closed Tuesdays)
Visitor Information and Practical Notes
The cathedral welcomes visitors and seekers at any scheduled Mass or during Adoration and Confession times. Highlights to see include the original 1939 Henry Keck stained-glass windows, the 77-foot bell tower with its illuminated Celtic cross (lit first on St. Patrick's Day 2022), the 1875 bell installed in 2007, the Marian grotto on the grounds, and the newly repainted Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart apse artwork. The parish has publicly warned about an ongoing scam impersonating a 'Father Arturo Lopez' on social media; the real cathedral communications come only through its official channels.
- Address: 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte, NC 28203
- Phone: (704) 334-2283 | Fax: (704) 377-6403
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office: Mon/Wed/Thu/Fri 10 am–3 pm
- NRHP-listed: contributing property in the Dilworth Historic District (1987)
- Public warning: scam impersonator 'Father Arturo Lopez' on social media
Future of the Cathedral
Because St. Patrick is one of the smallest cathedrals in the United States — only 400 seats in the nave — it can no longer comfortably host most diocesan liturgies. In April 2024, the Diocese of Charlotte announced plans to build a new, larger cathedral to replace it; those plans were postponed in July 2024. In the meantime, the cathedral continues its ministry as the spiritual home of the diocese, with ongoing parish life, a recently completed $2.6 million renovation, and a new pastor installed in August 2025.
- April 2024: Diocese announces plans for a new, larger cathedral
- July 2024: Plans postponed
- 2023: $2.6M Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love renovation completed
- August 24, 2025: Father Peter Ascik installed as pastor
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Arthur R. Freeman1942–1948
First pastor when the mission became a parish; native of Goldsboro, NC.
- Rev. D. Edward Manley1948–1966
- Rev. Francis Tait1966–1968
- Very Rev. Richard F. Allen1968–1977
First rector when the church was elevated to cathedral status in 1972.
- Very Rev. Joseph A. (?)1977–1980
Presided over the 1979 major renovation.
- Very Rev. Thomas P. Burke1980–1988
- Very Rev. Francis O'Rourke1988–1996
- Very Rev. Paul Gary1996–2008
Began the Family Life Center project; the 2008 building was dedicated to him.
- Very Rev. Christopher A. Roux2008–2025
He led the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love renovation campaign and the 2022 illumination of the Celtic cross atop the bell tower; the 12th pastor in the parish's eight-decade history.
- Very Rev. Peter Nicholas Ascik2025–present
Installed August 24, 2025 by Bishop Michael Martin; previously pastor of St. Mary Help of Christians in Shelby; also serves as director of the diocese's Family Life Office.