Among all our parish churches, St. Mary Cathedral in Wichita has a place of prominence: it is the mother church of all parish churches in the Diocese of Wichita.

The Cathedral represents who we are as Catholics: united as members of the mystical Body of Christ, the family of God, the community of believers, whether we live in the Cathedral Parish itself, in Bushton, Baxter Springs, Fort Scott, Zenda or points in between.

The buildings of the Cathedral campus embody what we do as Catholics. We gather to worship God at Holy Mass, and nourished there by word and sacrament, we go forth to teach others about Jesus and his Catholic Church; we provide food to the hungry, shelter to the homeless and welcome to the stranger.

Repairing and renewing the Cathedral church is a loving response to God's love for us. It honors the sacrifices of our forbearers over the past 100 years who built and maintained the Cathedral campus.

If we do not do something now, we risk losing the use of parts of the buildings on the Cathedral campus. This is our time, our turn to act for the glory of God and the benefit of others in the next 100 years.

"I have a great affection for the Cathedral. It is a church that is available to everyone in the Diocese, and it belongs to everybody. The Cathedral was built by people who made great sacrifices, not only in Wichita but all around the United States. And the Cathedral has always been a place where Catholics could be proud of their religion. We have a responsibility to see that it is preserved and remains a focal center in this Diocese."

 

Rev. Msgr.  John Gilsenan