News - Cathedral History

June 12, 1949. The date is symbolic for Catholics in Northeast Amarillo, as the first Catholic faith community was formed, a community that would become St. Laurence Church in 1955 and St. Laurence Cathedral in 1974. The June 12, 1949 issue of the Amarillo Register, the diocesan newspaper, reported that “St. Lucien’s Chapel on the campus of Price College, Amarillo,

Established: According to diocesan records, St. Laurence Church was created as a parish on May 16, 1955. St. Laurence Church was designated by the Holy See as the cathedral of the Diocese of Amarillo on Nov. 10, 1974. After extensive renovation, St. Laurence Cathedral was dedicated on Oct. 5, 1975. The first pastor of St. Laurence Church was Father Leroy T. Matthiesen,

The story of Sacred Heart Cathedral has been told many times in the 75-year history of the West Texas Catholic. It’s a story that begins with a young priest, frail in health, but strong and genial in spirit. His name was Father David H. Dunn. He arrived in the Texas Panhandle in 1900, appointed pastor of St. Mary’s Church, Clarendon, and its missions. In 1902,

According to diocesan records, the first Sacred Heart Church in Amarillo was built in 1903. The second Sacred Heart Church was built in 1916. The first Mass was also the first funeral in the new church. The Mass was for Father David H. Dunn, who built Sacred Heart Church. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Joseph Patrick Lynch of Dallas and concelebrated by 10 other priests on Oct. 5, 1916.

St. Valentine Catholic Radio 1360 AM has just finished upgrading their towers and is now pushing out 6000 watts of power during the day. Their broadcasting range now reaches far beyond the city of Amarillo and covers most, if not all, of the Texas Panhandle. We are not 100% sure how far the new signal reaches, so please leave a comment and let us know if you can now hear our local Catholic Radio Station. Be sure to spread the Good News!

"We are most grateful to Kalina for building our church and our faith," said Fr. Daniel Dreher, director and chaplin of the CSC. "By her example as a Catholic mother to now stay home and foster the family, she has taught us so much." Kalina has dedicated the past five years of her life to campus ministry at West Texas A&M University and