St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral

St. Mary's Catholic Church, dedicated on September 11, 2009, at the cost of ten million dollars was able to completely pay off its debt note on the new church August 22, 2012.

The key to understanding our parish faith journey is summed up in one word: Stewardship.

I have worked to instill, model, live and teach my parish good stewardship and the visible return on my efforts are now showing a good harvest.

In the 1970's, Monsignor Francis Smyer intentionally steered the parish towards adult faith formation and said, "If you want to be a member of St. Mary's, you must be involved in adult faith formation." Monsignor Smyer and Father Ken Keller, who planned the course, were bold and innovative in their approach to parish life. The present harvest is rich and abundant because of the efforts put forth many years ago.

One of my seminary instructors at Marquette University, Father Bernard Cooke S.J., who taught Sacraments, often said of the catechists, "We teach the children and fool around with the adults, we need to teach the adults and fool around with the children."

My training and formation in education as a teacher brought me to build the parish I have been entrusted with around a one hundred year old school with a long record of excellence and stretch that education, catechesis and faith formation to the parish at all age levels, which is stewardship returned.

When St. Mary's is running up to its capacity in mid September through May, we have as many as one thousand people per week in faith formation and catechesis. This is an exemplar Catholic Church post Vatican II.

You need to experience St. Mary's for yourself. As you explore our website or come to visit us personally. The ministries, possibilities, the liturgy and the environment which is child and family friendly, is welcoming.

I have been pastor of four parish churches in the city of Amarillo, plus St. Anthony's Hospital, which became BSA Hospital and BSA Hospice. In fact, I am the only priest in Texas who has been pastor-rector of the Diocesan Cathedral Church two times in two different churches in one and the same Diocese. Trust me, there is only one St. Mary's and here my heart will remain forever.

On March 25, 2011, St. Mary's Church became the Cathedral Church of Amarillo, which is an honor and dignity of which the parish is most worthy as the daughter church of the former Sacred Heart Cathedral in downtown Amarillo, demolished in 1974.

Come visit us...or as the Johannine Gospel says, "Come and See" John 1:30

Reverend Monsignor Harold L. Waldow, Rector of the Cathedral