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Cathedral of the Holy Spirit was built during World War II, 1941-1945 and was dedicated by Bishop Vincent J. Ryan on August 30, 1945.
The first bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck, Bishop Vincent Wehrle, O.S.B., had a special devotion to the Holy Spirit and it was his dream to construct a beautiful cathedral as a shrine to the Holy Spirit. In 1917, he bought land on the west end of Bismarck for the cathedral site. In 1921, he had architect Anton Dohman of Milwaukee draw up the plans. The first plan was similar to the Abbey Church, located in Richardton, ND, while his second draft was strikingly similar to the plan later adopted by Bishop Ryan.
In the spring of 1922, loads of prairie rocks were hauled to the site. They were to be used for the foundation and basement, while the superstructure was to be of brick. Negotiations continued for stained glass windows, copper roof, bricks, heating, statuary, etc., but no construction actually took place. Contributions were requested, but results were meager. Year after year construction was postponed. As late as 1935, Bishop Wehrle still dreamed of building the cathedral, but with his diocese in the midst of the Great Depression, he could not ask his people for any more money.
One of the first things Bishop Ryan did on becoming bishop in 1940 was to set things in motion for the construction of a cathedral, which would also be the parish church for a second parish in Bismarck (St. Mary’s Catholic Church was the first parish in Bismarck). Bishop Ryan hired William Kurke of Fargo, who designed the North Dakota State Capitol Building, as architect, and ground was broken in September, 1941.
During the war, materials were very scarce, as were construction laborers. At its opening in August 1945 there was much, especially interior decoration and furnishings, that was incomplete. These were added as things became available after the war.
The Cathedral was renovated in 1992-1993. This renovation brought a gathering space and the worship space more into accord with the liturgical directives of the Church since the Second Vatican Council.
The style of the church is Art Deco and it is constructed of monolithic concrete.
The first bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck, Bishop Vincent Wehrle, O.S.B., had a special devotion to the Holy Spirit and it was his dream to construct a beautiful cathedral as a shrine to the Holy Spirit. In 1917, he bought land on the west end of Bismarck for the cathedral site. In 1921, he had architect Anton Dohman of Milwaukee draw up the plans. The first plan was similar to the Abbey Church, located in Richardton, ND, while his second draft was strikingly similar to the plan later adopted by Bishop Ryan.
In the spring of 1922, loads of prairie rocks were hauled to the site. They were to be used for the foundation and basement, while the superstructure was to be of brick. Negotiations continued for stained glass windows, copper roof, bricks, heating, statuary, etc., but no construction actually took place. Contributions were requested, but results were meager. Year after year construction was postponed. As late as 1935, Bishop Wehrle still dreamed of building the cathedral, but with his diocese in the midst of the Great Depression, he could not ask his people for any more money.
One of the first things Bishop Ryan did on becoming bishop in 1940 was to set things in motion for the construction of a cathedral, which would also be the parish church for a second parish in Bismarck (St. Mary’s Catholic Church was the first parish in Bismarck). Bishop Ryan hired William Kurke of Fargo, who designed the North Dakota State Capitol Building, as architect, and ground was broken in September, 1941.
During the war, materials were very scarce, as were construction laborers. At its opening in August 1945 there was much, especially interior decoration and furnishings, that was incomplete. These were added as things became available after the war.
The Cathedral was renovated in 1992-1993. This renovation brought a gathering space and the worship space more into accord with the liturgical directives of the Church since the Second Vatican Council.
The style of the church is Art Deco and it is constructed of monolithic concrete.
Cathedral History
Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday 5:00 PM (Vigil Mass)
Sunday 8:30 AM; 10:00 AM;
and 11:30 AM
Sunday 8:30 AM; 10:00 AM;
and 11:30 AM
Weekday Masses
Monday 8:00 AM
Tuesday 6:45 AM; 8:00 AM
Wednesday 6:45 AM; 8:00 AM
Thursday 6:45 AM; 8:00 AM
Friday 6:45 AM; 8:00 AM
(9:00 AM school yr.)
Saturday 8:00 AM
Tuesday 6:45 AM; 8:00 AM
Wednesday 6:45 AM; 8:00 AM
Thursday 6:45 AM; 8:00 AM
Friday 6:45 AM; 8:00 AM
(9:00 AM school yr.)
Saturday 8:00 AM
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Monday - Saturday
7:40 AM to 7:55 AM
Saturday Evening
4:00 PM to 4:40 PM
7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
7:40 AM to 7:55 AM
Saturday Evening
4:00 PM to 4:40 PM
7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Eucharistic Adoration
Monday 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Tuesday 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Tuesday 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
February Highlights
February 22
Ash Wednesday
(a day of fast and abstinence)
Masses:
6:45 AM; 8:00 AM; 9:00 AM;
and 5:30 PM
No Religious Education Classes
February 24
Cathedral School
Stations of the Cross
9:00 AM
Lent Adoration
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Stations of the Cross
7:15 PM
February 26
1st Sunday of Lent
Knights of Columbus Breakfast
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Cathedral Cafeteria
Youth Ministry Knoephla Sale
Rite of Election
4:00 PM
Februrary 27
RCIA
6:30 PM
Parish Office
February 29
Religious Education Classes
4:00 PM; 5:30 PM; and 7:00 PM
The Bible Timeline
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Cathedral Cafeteria
February 22
Ash Wednesday
(a day of fast and abstinence)
Masses:
6:45 AM; 8:00 AM; 9:00 AM;
and 5:30 PM
No Religious Education Classes
February 24
Cathedral School
Stations of the Cross
9:00 AM
Lent Adoration
3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Stations of the Cross
7:15 PM
February 26
1st Sunday of Lent
Knights of Columbus Breakfast
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Cathedral Cafeteria
Youth Ministry Knoephla Sale
Rite of Election
4:00 PM
Februrary 27
RCIA
6:30 PM
Parish Office
February 29
Religious Education Classes
4:00 PM; 5:30 PM; and 7:00 PM
The Bible Timeline
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Cathedral Cafeteria