The Cathedral of Saint Andrew, the mother church of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, is a vibrant and diverse parish community, worshiping God in a beautiful and inspiring historical church building. Not only a city landmark, but a place where all are welcome to experience the sacred, in the liturgies, in the music, and in the architecture.
The Cathedral is the mother church to all parishes and Catholics in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. The word “cathedral” comes from the Greek word “cathedra” which is the name for the bishop’s chair. From this chair, the bishop presides as the chief teacher and pastor of the diocese.
Priests of the Order of St. Paul have been serving at the Cathedral since 2008. The Paulist Fathers have been in Grand Rapids for over 75 years, serving West Michigan at the Catholic Information Center.
The Cathedral of Saint Andrew is located at 301 Sheldon Blvd. SE, where Maple and Sheldon intersect. It is part of Cathedral Square, which runs North to South from Cherry Street to Wealthy Street and East to West from LaGrave to Division. Cathedral Square includes the offices for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Catholic Central High School, the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, and the Cathedral Rectory, the residence of the Paulist Fathers.
Cathedral Square is in the Heartside neighborhood of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, so named for its many services benefiting the city’s underprivileged residents, including God’s Kitchen, run by Catholic Charities West Michigan.
The Cathedral of Saint Andrew is the Mother Church of the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids and through the decades, the Cathedral has been the spiritual center for the community. Whether it’s celebrating a wedding or a child’s baptism, giving recognition to a community leader or praying for strength, Catholics find the Cathedral to be the special place to gather as a community for worship as well as the center for performance of sacred music.
Cathedral Facts
• The Cathedral is open 365 days a year for Masses, individual visits and prayer.
• The Sunday televised Mass is a special ministry to the home-bound, as well as those in nursing homes, hospitals and prison.
• The Sunday Noon Mass is celebrated in Spanish, serving our vibrant Hispanic community.
• Once each month, a Sunday Mass is celebrated in Swahili for our African Refugee community.
• Week-day Masses are celebrated twice daily, bringing as many as 125 worshipers to the Cathedral each day.
• The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is available twice daily, five days a week, and once on Saturday.
• The Sacrament of Confirmation for diocesan young people is celebrated at the Cathedral bringing as many as 10,000 confirmandi, family members and guests to the area annually.
• Hundreds of people from throughout the diocese attend the annual White Mass for healthcare workers, Red Mass for the legal profession, Wedding Anniversary Mass for those celebrating milestone anniversaries, and many more special liturgies for the diocese and catholic schools.
• Outreach to the poor and vulnerable is a hallmark of the Cathedral as evidenced by the free clothing center it currently operates.
• Concerts and musical performances are regularly offered at the Cathedral. Numerous choirs have performed at the Cathedral along with several chamber, organ and vocal musicians.
• The Cathedral receives all new adult converts to the faith from all parishes in the diocese.
• The Cathedral hosts the Chrism Mass each year, where sacred oils used by parishes throughout the diocese are blessed and distributed.
• The Cathedral parish celebrates a Unity Mass and Festival each year in early June, welcoming the whole neighborhood for free food, kids activities, and cultural music and dance.
Contact our office any time.
616.456.1454 x1909
office@grcathedral.org
215 Sheldon Blvd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616-456-1454 | office@grcathedral.org
Website by Digital Glass
