About The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception · Springfield, Illinois
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the mother church and seat of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, located at 524 East Lawrence Avenue in Springfield, Illinois. The current cathedral was dedicated on October 14, 1928, after the diocese's episcopal see was transferred from Alton to Springfield in 1923. Built in a modified Greek Revival style and faced with golden Kasota limestone from Minnesota, the cathedral serves over 850 families and approximately 2,000 souls, drawing parishioners from across central Illinois. It is the site of diocesan celebrations, the bishop's cathedra, and a parish community with an attached Catholic elementary school staffed by Dominican Sisters since 1890.
- Established
- 1857
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Seth Brown
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the mother church of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, where the bishop's cathedra is located and where major diocesan liturgies, ordinations, and civic commemorations take place. Parish life centers on a strong schedule of daily and Sunday Masses, daily reconciliation (Monday through Friday afternoons, plus Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday evening), and weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The parish maintains an attached Catholic elementary school served by the Dominican Sisters since 1890, an active Faith Formation program, liturgical ministries, livestreamed Sunday Mass for the homebound, women's Bible studies, and youth retreats — all supported by an engaged staff of clergy, deacons, and lay ministers. Welcoming visitors and new parishioners from across central Illinois, the Cathedral offers a uniquely historic setting — the resting place of bishops and incorporating relics from its 1859 predecessor — combined with a vibrant, contemporary parish community.
Mass times at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Friday: 4:15 PM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
- Sunday: 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
History of the Cathedral
The Cathedral parish traces its origins to 1839, when Bishop Rosati of St. Louis appointed Rev. George Hamilton as the first resident priest of the Springfield mission. From a small frame church built in 1848 on Adams Street, the English-speaking congregation grew to roughly 380 families, leading to construction of 'Old St. Mary's' (the Church of the Immaculate Conception) at Monroe Street, dedicated on March 20, 1859. When Pope Pius XI transferred the diocesan see from Alton to Springfield on October 26, 1923, Old St. Mary's became the pro-cathedral. The current Cathedral was designed by Joseph William McCarthy in modified Greek Revival style, constructed of Mankato Kasota stone, and dedicated on October 14, 1928. Major restoration work followed in 2008–2009, and the cathedral was rededicated on December 2, 2009.
- 1839 – Rev. George Hamilton appointed first resident priest of Springfield mission
- 1848 – Small frame church dedicated to St. John the Baptist built on Adams Street
- 1859 – Church of the Immaculate Conception ('Old St. Mary's') dedicated
- 1860 – Parish school for boys opens under the Holy Cross Brothers
- 1890 – Dominican Sisters begin their ministry at the parish school
- 1923 – Diocese of Springfield in Illinois erected; Old St. Mary's named pro-cathedral
- 1927 – Diamond Jubilee Cathedral Campaign; cornerstone laid August 14, 1927
- 1928 – Cathedral dedicated October 14, 1928; first rector Rev. Peter Curran appointed
- 1948 – Bishop James A. Griffin interred in the sanctuary
- 2008–2009 – Major restoration; rededication December 2, 2009
- 2010 – Bishop Thomas John Paprocki installed as 9th bishop (June 22, 2010)
- 2016 – Original 1928 Wicks pipe organ replaced with a 58-rank Reuter organ
Clergy, Staff, and Parish Leadership
The Cathedral is led by the Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki, the ninth Bishop of Springfield in Illinois, who was installed on June 22, 2010. The current Rector is Rev. Seth Brown, with Rev. Pius Nwiyi serving as Parochial Vicar and Rev. Dominic Vahling and Rev. Dominic Rankin in residence. Two deacons — Deacon David Beach and Deacon Irvin Lawrence Smith — assist in parish ministry. Lay staff include Vicki Dhabalt Compton (Coordinator of Faith Formation and Mission), Haley Dutton (Coordinator of Communications), Mark Gifford (Director of Music), Kim Gunter (Parish Secretary/Business Manager), Steven Kehoe (Bookkeeper), and Rusty Overturf (Custodian/Maintenance).
- Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki — Bishop of Springfield in Illinois
- Rev. Seth Brown — Rector
- Rev. Pius Nwiyi — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Dominic Vahling — In Residence
- Rev. Dominic Rankin — In Residence
- Deacon David Beach
- Deacon Larry Smith
- Vicki Compton — Coordinator of Faith Formation and Mission
- Haley Dutton — Coordinator of Communications
- Mark Gifford — Director of Music
- Kim Gunter — Business Manager
- Steven Kehoe — Bookkeeper
- Rusty Overturf — Custodian
Ministries and Faith Formation
The Cathedral parish organizes its ministries into three main categories: Formation and Programming (support for the spiritual journey, including Bible studies and family faith events); Liturgical Ministries (service during Mass and personal growth in Christ); and Volunteer Opportunities (groups and organizations for parish-wide service). Coordinated by Vicki Dhabalt Compton, Faith Formation supports RCIA, ongoing faith formation, women's Bible studies, and youth retreats. Liturgical ministries include music (under Director Mark Gifford), lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, altar servers, and livestreaming for the homebound. Volunteer opportunities include charity, outreach, and parish events. The parish actively seeks Livestreaming volunteers, particularly for the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass.
- Formation and Programming (Faith Formation, RCIA, Bible studies)
- Liturgical Ministries (choir, lectors, EMHCs, ushers, servers)
- Volunteer Opportunities (outreach, parish events)
- Livestreaming Ministry for the homebound
- Women's Bible Study (Living in the Father's Love, 6-week series)
- Cathedral Summer Bible Study for Women
- Diocesan Called and Sent high-school retreat at Villa Maria Retreat Center
- St. Vincent de Paul and parish charity outreach
Cathedral Grade School
An elementary school building forms the southern component of the cathedral complex. The school has been continuously served by the Dominican Sisters since 1890 — a ministry now spanning over 135 years. The school partners with the cathedral parish in faith formation and academic education for children of parishioners and the wider Springfield community.
- Cathedral Grade School on the cathedral complex
- Dominican Sisters on staff since 1890 (125+ years)
- Maintenance staff: Rusty Overturf
Music and Sacred Liturgy
Music at the Cathedral is directed by Mark Gifford. In May 2016, the original 1928 Wicks pipe organ was replaced with a Reuter four-manual, 58-rank instrument featuring 3,369 pipes, specifically designed to suit the cathedral's 5.5-second reverberant acoustics and to support sacred music as the 'king of instruments.' The music program supports the cathedral's full schedule of liturgies, including the Sunday 10:00 AM livestreamed Mass and major diocesan celebrations.
- Director of Music: Mark Gifford
- 2016 Reuter four-manual organ (58 ranks, 3,369 pipes)
- 5.5-second reverberation time in the cathedral nave
- Music supports daily Mass, Sunday Masses, and diocesan liturgies
Diocesan and Civic Role
As the mother church of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, the Cathedral hosts major diocesan celebrations including ordinations, Chrism Mass, installations of bishops, and special liturgical events. The diocese currently comprises 28 counties in central Illinois, serving over 140,000 Catholic faithful. The Cathedral hosts civic commemorations as well — its 1928 dedication included a pilgrimage to Abraham Lincoln's Tomb. In July 2024 the Cathedral hosted the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage procession through Springfield, ahead of the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.
- Seat of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
- Hosts ordinations, Chrism Mass, and installations
- Hosts the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (Springfield stop)
- Hosts civic commemorations and pilgrimages
Visiting, Contact, and Practical Information
Visitors and those wishing to make the Cathedral their parish home are warmly welcomed. The Parish Office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and closed on Fridays. The parish can be reached by phone at (217) 522-3342 and by fax at (217) 210-0136. The mailing address is 524 East Lawrence Avenue, Springfield, Illinois 62703. Tours, group visits, and hospitality arrangements may be coordinated through the Parish Office.
- Address: 524 East Lawrence Avenue, Springfield, IL 62703
- Phone: (217) 522-3342; Fax: (217) 210-0136
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed Friday)
- Website: spicathedral.org
- Tours and group visits by appointment
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Peter Curran1928–1929
First rector of the Cathedral following its dedication on October 14, 1928.
- Rev. Msgr. Patrick Fox1929–1934
Managed early parish growth during the Great Depression era.
- Rev. Msgr. Timothy Maloney1934–1935
Brief tenure emphasizing parish stability.
- Rev. Msgr. John Franz1935–1951
Longest early tenure (16 years); later became the first bishop of Dodge City, Kansas in 1951.
- Rev. Msgr. Robert Eagar1951–1958
Oversaw post-war parish development and liturgical enhancements.
- Rev. Msgr. Irvin Will1958–1971
Directed expansions in education and community outreach.
- Rev. Msgr. Charles Mulcrone1976–1986
Focused on modernizing parish facilities and worship spaces.
- Rev. Msgr. John Ossola1986–2007
Served 21 years; emphasized spiritual formation and parish vitality.
- Rev. Fr. Christopher House2007 (interim) and 2014–2020
Parochial Administrator in 2007 during transition; Pastor from 2014–2020.
- Rev. Fr. Peter Harman2008–2013
Oversaw the major 2008–2009 structural restoration during which the cathedral closed for 15 months.
- Rev. Fr. John Nolan2013–2014
Short-term post-restoration leadership.
- Very Rev. Brian C. Alford2020–c. 2024
Served as rector under Bishop Paprocki; also Vicar for Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations.
- Rev. Seth Brownc. 2024–present
Current Rector per official Cathedral parish staff page.
