Parish Offices at 215 Sheldon Ave. SE
MAKING ROOM FOR MISSION
It’s great news: our parish is growing.
Over the past few years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of people worshipping at the Cathedral.
- 45 percent increase in weekend Mass attendance from 2022 to 2025.
- 245 more people are attending weekend Masses on average in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
GROWTH BRINGS CHALLENGES
If you’ve been a part of our parish family for any length of time, you’ve experienced the challenge of finding space for ministry events and gatherings.
- Meeting space is limited to the basement of the cathedral and a conference room in the parish office.
- Groups often have to change dates and times from their first choice to find an available meeting space.
- Two or more ministries have to share the Parish Center at times.
- Ministries have had to adjust programming to accommodate other groups using the same space on occasion.
THE SPACE TO GROW
The space above our current Parish Offices (215 Sheldon), previously occupied by the Dominican Sisters, is available to be renovated for our use, additionally giving us:
- One large gathering room, with a movable partition, that can accommodate 70–90 people
- One conference room for 20-25 people
- Two mid-size rooms for 25-40 people
- Six smaller rooms for office, meetings, or small groups
- A kitchenette and serving area for gatherings
- Three individual restrooms
- Storage space to support ministry use
The project involves no new construction. It repurposes existing space to provide flexible gathering areas that allow multiple groups to meet at the same time and adapt to the growing needs of our parish.
WHERE WE ARE NOW
This project has been in planning for the past year and a half, with input from parish staff, the Finance Council, and the Parish Council. After much discussion, review, and discernment, we believe this is the right step forward for our parish community.
The total cost of the project is $1,350,000 and will be financed through a combination of parish resources and a diocesan loan. The Finance Council has carefully reviewed the financials and confirmed that the parish can responsibly assume and repay the loan.
The Diocese has approved the renovation project, allowing us to move forward with the next phase of this effort.
WHAT’S NEXT
Renovation will begin in the summer of 2026 and will take place on the second level of 215 Sheldon, above the parish offices.
Throughout the project, the parish office will remain open, and we anticipate minimal disruption to parish operations and parish life.
We will continue to share updates through the bulletin and other parish communication channels.
A FUTURE FOR MINISTRY
We are deeply grateful for the faithful commitment and generosity of our parishioners, whose participation continues to help our parish grow.
Our parish needs space that supports its life and mission — room for faith formation, small groups, ministry meetings, and the everyday gatherings where people connect and find their place in the parish community.
As the parish has grown, so has the demand for space. This renovation is a direct response to that need.
PLEASE KEEP THIS IN PRAYER
As we move forward with this project, I ask for your prayers: for all those guiding and carrying out this work, and for our parish community as we continue to grow in faith, charity, and unity.
Please be assured of my prayers for you and for all that God continues to do in and through our parish.
Blessings,
Fr. Dat