Our Lady’s Cathedral celebrates 100 years

In every Catholic diocese, the cathedral stands not merely as a building of brick and mortar, but a profound symbol of faith and communion. 

Cathedrals inevitably become the spiritual heart of a Catholic community. A cathedral serves as a visible testament to the Church’s mission, proclaiming the presence of Christ in word and sacrament from one generation to the next.

It is the bishop’s church.

The term cathedral derives from a Latin word, cathedra, meaning “throne” or “chair.” The cathedra in every cathedral signifies the bishop’s teaching, governing and sanctifying authority as a successor of the apostles within a diocese. The bishop of the local church when celebrating the liturgy and preaching in his cathedral becomes a living reminder of our communion with Catholics everywhere through the living apostolic tradition.

Often, the architectural beauty of cathedrals plays a vital role in their symbolic importance. Majestic towers, breathtaking stained glass, finely crafted altars: all of these design elements remind us that the Church is called to lift the hearts and minds of all people to heaven.

Saint Augustine once noted that beauty within the church serves to reflect the beauty of God himself. 

Our cathedral, under the patronage of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, is an excellent example of how important a cathedral becomes in the life of the local Church. Think of the hundreds of ordinations that have taken place at Our Lady’s in the past 100 years! 

When you visit Our Lady’s, you will notice the striking icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help high above the altar in the center of the sanctuary. The image and the devotion dates to the 15th century, originating in the Byzantine Church. The icon shows the child Jesus in the arms of Mary. 

According to an ancient account, the child Jesus had experienced a vision in which he was shown the instruments of his future passion by the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Frightened, he rushed to the arms of his loving mother. In running to Mary, one of his sandal straps was broken and is shown hanging from his foot. 

Devotion to the image bears witness to the confidence of so many Christians in the loving concern of our Blessed Mother for all her children, and an enduring appreciation of her role as a model of steadfast faith. 

Generations of Catholics have venerated the image, and it has become for us, the Catholics of central and western Oklahoma, closely identified with the elegant Italian Renaissance styled church built 100 years ago at what was then the edge of Oklahoma City. 

The history of Our Lady’s is worth noting. Established first as a parish in 1919 by Bishop Theophile Meerschaert (and covering 80 square miles), many Irish and Polish immigrants were the first parishioners. Construction of the church we see today began in 1923 during a period of rapid expansion for Oklahoma City. The final brick was laid in February of 1924. 

In 1930, when the Diocese of Oklahoma became the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church became Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral (along with Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa). Many locals referred to it as the “Red Cathedral” because of the beautiful deep color of the brick. Renovations were done in 1947, 1975 and 1993, so the building and the community that worships there have experienced many changes over the past 100 years. 

In the 1970s, after the traumatic fall of Saigon to communist forces, thousands of Vietnamese refugees fled their country, often under the direst circumstances. The Catholic Church in Oklahoma City proved especially generous, and thousands of Vietnamese settled in central Oklahoma. 

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help became the first faith home for these Catholic Vietnamese families. Their presence in the cathedral parish and in Oklahoma City has proven to be a tremendous blessing to our archdiocese and community.

Today, as our cathedral celebrates its centennial, I wish to congratulate the community at Our Lady’s for its long history of faithful witness to the Gospel and service to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

As it should be, our cathedral is known for its beautiful liturgies and sacred music as well as its outreach, fine school and warm hospitality. 

I encourage all Catholics to make a pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Cathedral before the centennial year is out, and to give God thanks and praise for the vitality of the Catholic faith in Oklahoma and for Our Lady’s constant intercession.