The spiritual heart of Corpus Christi

Since 1940, the Corpus Christi Cathedral has been the heart of the diocese. Sitting on North Upper Broadway, overseeing the bay, it serves as the main church of our diocese.

Although the parish has its roots in 1853, the church was constructed in 1940 in an impressively short timeframe—the cornerstone was laid on March 1, and it was dedicated on July 17, though the official consecration occurred only 12 years later. In 1951, Bishop Garriga relocated the old St. Patrick’s Cathedral to North Beach, where it became the church building for Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish.
Fr. James Stembler, Rector of Corpus Christi CathedralThe new Cathedral was meant to be dedicated to St. Patrick, who, at the time, was the Patron Saint of the diocese—the green marble of the altar, stairs, and backdrop still bear witness to this intention. “And the baptismal font features shamrocks as décor,” says Fr. James Stembler, the rector of the Cathedral. However, when Bishop Ledvina went for the ad Limina visit to the Pope that year, the name changed: “In the city named Corpus Christi, the Cathedral should also be dedicated to Corpus Christi.” Consequently, the next parish established in Corpus Christi was dedicated to St. Patrick (on Alameda Street). 

Corpus Christi Cathedral is a Holy Site for the Jubilee Year of Hope. Some groups have already made pilgrimages here, and “everyone can get their passport stamped in the parish office,” adds Fr. Stembler. He plans to offer evening reflections on the theme of Hope, with more details to follow soon.

While many people think they know the Cathedral from diocesan-wide events, there’s a lot to discover. The building, with its distinct, different-leveled towers, was designed by architect Charles Monot in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. It has a pieta at the entrance and Our Lady of Guadalupe in a side niche. 

The Cathedral is open during daily Mass – Monday to Friday at 12:05 pm, Saturday at 5:30 pm, Sunday at 8 am, 9:30 am, 11 am (Spanish), and 12:30 pm. There is also a morning mass from Monday to Friday at 7 am in the Emmanuel Chapel. Confessions are offered Tuesday to Friday from 11:30 to 12 pm and Saturday from 12 to 1:30 pm.