About The Cathedral of Christ the King · Superior, Wisconsin
The Cathedral of Christ the King is the mother church (seat) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Superior, located at 1111 Belknap Street in Superior, Wisconsin. Built in 1926–1927 by the St. Louis firm of Preuss & Widmer and inspired by the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, it is a Romanesque Revival limestone basilica that also functions as an active parish church serving about 780 households. Beyond its diocesan role — hosting ordinations, chrism Masses, and major feast celebrations presided over by Bishop James Patrick Powers — the Cathedral maintains a full schedule of daily and weekend Masses, confessions, and adoration, and is preparing for its centennial in 2027 with a multi-phase capital restoration campaign.
- Established
- 1926
- Patron
- Christ the King
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew P. Ricci
- Diocese
- Diocese of Superior
Why belong here
Worshipping at the Cathedral of Christ the King means belonging to the mother church of the Diocese of Superior — a vibrant parish of roughly 780 households served by a rector, an associate pastor, and four deacons, with daily Mass Tuesday–Friday, two Sunday Masses, Saturday Vigil, Saturday confession, weekday adoration, and a full choir and music program. The parish is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2027 and is investing in accessibility, livestreaming, and stonework so this Romanesque Revival limestone landmark can serve another century of Catholics in Superior.
Mass times at The Cathedral of Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (Cathedral)
- Or by appointment through the Cathedral Parish Office (715-392-8511)
Adoration times
- Adoration listed on the cluster church-schedules page (Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM per cluster schedule) — also available by appointment through the parish office.
About the Cathedral
The Cathedral of Christ the King is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Superior and the active parish church of approximately 780 Catholic households in Superior, Wisconsin. Located at 1111 Belknap Street, it combines the liturgical and ceremonial role of a diocesan cathedral — ordinations, chrism Mass, the Bishop's major feasts — with the day-to-day rhythm of a parish: weekend and weekday Masses, confession, adoration, baptisms, weddings, and funerals. The current rector is Fr. Andrew P. Ricci, who has served since 2009, assisted by an associate pastor and four deacons, and the parish is part of the Superior Cluster of parishes served by superiorcatholics.org.
History
Built in 1926–1927 as the new seat of the Diocese of Superior (erected 1905) after Sacred Heart Church had served as pro-cathedral for two decades, the Cathedral was formed by uniting Superior's Sacred Heart and St. Joseph parishes. It was designed by Louis Preuss of the St. Louis firm Preuss & Widmer, modeled on the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, and dedicated on Christmas Day 1927. The Great Depression halted interior finishing until Fr. Joseph Annabring's 1937 fund drive added pews, confessionals, and 95 stained glass windows; subsequent decades saw the parish hall (1946), rectory (1948), Cathedral School (1952), and convent (1960) added. A major 2003–2004 renovation closed the church for more than a year and rededicated it in February 2005, and a Cathedral Centennial Campaign launched in 2022 is preparing the building for its 100th anniversary in 2027.
- 1926: Construction announced and groundbreaking (June 23, 1926)
- October 24, 1926: Cornerstone laid by Bishop Joseph Pinten
- December 25, 1927: Dedication
- 1937–1938: Interior decoration, 95 stained glass windows installed
- 1946: Parish hall completed in basement (Kress Hall)
- 1948: New rectory built
- 1952: Cathedral School opens across Belknap Street
- 1960: New convent constructed
- 2003–2004: Year-long renovation, rededicated February 2005
- 2022: Cathedral Centennial Campaign launched
- 2027: Planned 100th anniversary
Architecture & Art
The Cathedral is a Romanesque Revival basilica clad in dressed Indiana limestone over a poured-concrete foundation, with a cruciform plan, semicircular apse, vestibule, and a four-story bell tower. Its design was inspired by the early-Christian Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Inside, 95 stained glass windows (1938) line the nave, clerestory and sacristies, paired with frescoes, mosaics (including a Pantocrator in the main apse and a St. Augustine of Hippo — patron of the Diocese of Superior — above the west transept), a coffered ceiling, and a terrazzo floor. The east transept houses the choir and musicians.
- Architect: Louis Preuss (Preuss & Widmer, St. Louis)
- Style: Romanesque Revival / Italianate basilica
- Exterior material: Indiana limestone
- Roof: Red terra-cotta tile (naves/transepts); copper (side aisles, apse, bell tower, sacristies)
- Stained glass: 95 windows (1938)
- Mosaics: Pantocrator in apse; St. Augustine of Hippo in west transept
- Choir: East transept
Clergy & Staff
The Cathedral is led by Rector Fr. Andrew P. Ricci, assisted by an associate pastor, with a parochial administrator serving in a temporary capacity, and supported by four permanent deacons. The diocesan Bishop, Most Rev. James Patrick Powers, presides at ordinations and major feasts in the Cathedral.
- Rector / Pastor: Rev. Andrew P. Ricci (since 2009)
- Associate Pastor: Rev. Anthoni Reddy Yannam
- Parochial Administrator (Temporary): Rev. Vijay Kumar Madani
- Deacon Robert Chammings
- Deacon Arthur Gil de Lamadrid
- Deacon Timothy Thom
- Deacon Kevin Feind
- Diocesan Bishop: Most Rev. James Patrick Powers
Ministries & Music
The Cathedral parish supports a robust music program — with choirs and musicians based in the east transept leading the assembly at liturgy — along with liturgical ministries (lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, servers, sacristans, environment and décor volunteers), faith formation and sacramental preparation (including RCIA), and stewardship of the Cathedral Centennial Campaign. Cathedral School, across Belknap Street, serves as the parish's catechetical arm.
- Cathedral Choir and music program
- Liturgical ministers (lectors, EMHC, servers, sacristans)
- Faith formation / RCIA
- Stewardship and Centennial Campaign volunteers
- Cathedral School (across Belknap Street)
Cathedral Centennial Campaign & Renovation
In preparation for the Cathedral's 100th anniversary in 2027, the parish launched a three-phase Centennial Campaign in 2022, totaling about $2.1 million. Phase 1 (about $1.2 million) addresses safety and accessibility: widening the fire lane to add diagonal handicap parking, rebuilding the exterior elevator entrance, replacing the front plaza and reducing the height of the entry steps, resurfacing the parking lot, and repairing the east steps to Kress Hall. Future phases will repair the exterior stone, replace lighting, upgrade sound and video for livestreaming Mass, replace the elevator and air conditioning, and re-roof the building — replacing the century-old fasteners beneath the original terra-cotta tiles.
- Campaign total: ~$2.1 million
- Phase 1: ~$1.2 million (safety/accessibility)
- Phase 2: exterior stone, lighting, livestream sound/video, elevator, HVAC
- Phase 3: roof replacement with new fasteners
Visiting & Jubilee 2025 Pilgrimage
The Cathedral is one of the Diocese of Superior's Jubilee Year 2025 Pilgrimage Sites. Cathedral Parish Office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM – noon (closed on Fridays in June, July, and August). An online tour is available at catholicdos.org/tour-of-cathedral-of-christ-the-king, and in-person tours outside Mass times can be arranged by calling 715-392-8511.
- Jubilee Year 2025 Pilgrimage Site
- Parish Office: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; Fri 8:00 AM–noon (closed Fri in summer)
- Online tour: catholicdos.org/tour-of-cathedral-of-christ-the-king
- In-person tours by appointment: 715-392-8511
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Annabring (later Msgr., then Bishop)1937–1954 (as rector of the Cathedral)
Led the 1937 fund drive that decorated the interior and added pews, confessionals, and stained glass windows; oversaw construction of Cathedral School (1952) and the new convent (1960); liquidated the parish's $250,000+ debt; elevated to domestic prelate (monsignor) in 1946; appointed seventh Bishop of Superior by Pope Pius XII on January 27, 1954, and consecrated in the Cathedral on March 25, 1954 — the first episcopal consecration held there.
- Rev. Andrew P. Ricci2009–present
Current rector (pastor) of the Cathedral of Christ the King and leader of the Cathedral Centennial Campaign preparing for the 2027 centennial.
 "The Cathedral of Christ the King")