History
1867 – The first Catholic Church is established in Lincoln at 13th and M. It is simply called “The Catholic Church in Lincoln.”
1877 – “The Catholic Church in Lincoln” is now referred to as “Saint Theresa Catholic Church.”
August 3, 1879 – Saint Theresa’s wooden frame is expanded and replaced with brick.
December 21, 1887 – Bishop Bonacum is installed as the first Bishop of the newly established Dioceses of Lincoln. St. Theresa is now the pro-cathedral for the diocese.
September 7, 1890 – Built next to the Pro-Cathedral, St. Theresa School is dedicated. The school opens on September 15th, 1890 with 209 students.
March 29, 1904 – First Christian Church building at 14th and K is purchased by the Diocese to be renovated as the Cathedral.
August 8, 1906 – Renovations begin on the church.
August 28, 1906 – The church burns down in a fire; rebuilding starts immediately.
December 8, 1911 – The new cathedral is dedicated by Bishop J. Henry Tihen. The Cathedral is named Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.
Left Picture: 14 and K Church Building from 1888 to 1908
Middle: St. Mary Cathedral in 1911
Right: St. Mary Cathedral in 1924
1917 – Name of St. Theresa School changes to Cathedral School. The class of 1917 received the first diplomas from “Cathedral High School.”
July 15, 1919 – Sacred Heart parish is established, taking all parishioners east of 20th and north of O Streets.
January 22, 1921 – Blessed Sacrament parish is broken off from St. Mary Cathedral, taking all the households south of A Street.
February 23, 1926 – St. Mary Cathedral parish is divided again with the establishment of St. Teresa parish to the east.
March 13, 1949 – The new Cathedral School building opens to the east of the Cathedral on 14th Street. Saint Mary Cathedral is the only parish in Lincoln to offer all the grades through high school.
March 19, 1949 – The old school building at 13th and M Streets burns down.
May 27, 1956 – Cathedral High School graduates its last class. Pius X High School opens on A St. the following fall.
November 1956 – Current rectory is built to the east of the Cathedral.
1963 – The church’s red brick exterior is painted over in an off-white.
June 30, 1963 – The interior of the Cathedral was re-dedicated. The baldacchino took the place of the old high altars.
August 18, 1965 – The Cathedral of the Risen Christ is dedicated as the new cathedral for the Diocese of Lincoln. St. Mary Church is henceforth referred to as “The Old Cathedral.”
June 15, 1993 – Saint Mary, with 1200 families, is split in half when North American Martyrs Parish is established in the Highlands.
1993 – The baldacchino comes down; the current crucifix and tabernacle go up.
May 27, 2019 – St. Mary School closes Permanently.
Sanctuary from 1911 until 1963.
Sanctuary from 1963 until 1993.
Sanctuary from 1993 to present day.
Pastors
2021 – Present Fr. Joseph Walsh
2005 – 2021 Fr. Douglas Dietrich
1985 – 2005 Monsignor Paul Witt
1983 – 1985 Fr. Peter Gadient
1980 – 1983 Monsignor James Dawson
1955 – 1980 Monsignor John Flynn
1937 – 1955 Monsignor Clarence J. Riorden
Past Mass Schedules
2006 – Present Saturday 4 pm; Sunday 8 am, 10 am, 12:30 pm, 5 pm
1997 – 2005 Saturday 4 pm; Sunday 8 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm
1982 – 1997 Saturday 4 pm & 6 pm; Sunday 8 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 5:30 pm
1976 – 1982 Saturday 6 pm; Sunday 8 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 5:30 pm
1969 – 1976 Saturday 6 pm; Sunday 7:30 am, 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, 12:30 pm, 5:30 pm
1966 – 1969 Sunday 6 am, 7:30 am, 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, 12:30 pm, 5:30 pm
1943 – 1966 Sunday 6 am, 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, 12:30 pm
1933 – 1943 Sunday 6 am, 7 am, 8 am, 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 12 Noon